WISCASSET — A sunny, blustery and cold Saturday evening didn’t deter a large contingent of eager fans hungry to get some racing action.
Group 2 finally got the chance to get its 2019 season going, along with the first appearance of the season for the Wicked Good Vintage Racers.
Skowhegan’s Zach Audet appeared to have a dominant win within his grasp in the spotlight feature for the Outlaw Minis until an electrical issue late in the race on lap 31 changed everything. Defending champ Jimmy Childs was there to capitalize on the leader’s tough luck and cruised to the feature win.
Other winners on the program included Jonathan Emerson in the Strictly Streets and Chris Thorne in the Late Model Sportsman. Nick Reno took the checkers in the Modified feature.
In the 35-lap spotlight feature for the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis, the front row was made up of one of the track’s best rivalries in former champs Childs and Audet. Childs got the upper hand in the heat race and started from the pole position. But Audet didn’t let that last long as he blasted around Childs at the drop of the green flag and into the lead by the time they exited turn two.
From there he set the pace and gradually stretched out his lead to nearly a full straightaway.
Had the race ended at its normal 25-lap distance Audet would have celebrated in Victory Lane. Instead, the extra 10 laps allowed Childs to take advantage. As the field crossed the stripe to conclude lap 30, Audet suddenly began to slow with apparent electrical problems. Childs blew by him first in turn one, and by the time Audet coasted to a stop back on the front stretch, the remaining drivers had passed him by as well. Childs took care of business on the restart and drove on to the win in defense of his division title. Jason Kimball of Pittston returned from a 16-year break from racing and turned in a nice second-place run. Former champion Rob Greenleaf finished third.
The Norm’s Used Cars Strictly Street 25-lap feature showcased a great door to door battle between father and son. Third generation racer Emerson held off his father Zach Emerson for the entire race, with veteran Bryan Robbins in hot pursuit. The kid held strong all the way to the checkers to pick up the wire-to-wire victory. He was the top winner in the class last season with four victories. In the battle for second, Robbins was able to pull to the inside of Zach Emerson on the final lap and secure the runner-up spot by just seven one-hundredths of a second. Brad Erskine and Shawn Emery filled out the top five.
The Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman division rolled out an impressive field of 22 cars for the season opener. Rookies Jake Hendsbeee and Brent Roy — both moving up from the Outlaw Mini ranks — started on the front row for the 40-lap feature race.
A talented cast of former champions lurked back in the field, ready to make their charge to the front. Hendsbee made a strong statement, holding the lead and easily working his way through lap traffic as the race went caution free for the first 30 laps. Four-time champ Thorne had moved up from his seventh starting position to take the restart on the outside and quickly grabbed the lead from the rookie.
From there he held off challenges from Hendsbee and Josh St. Clair to grab his first win of the season. Hendsbee and St. Clair joined him in Victory Lane for second and third, respectively.
The K&A Property Services Modifieds may have been short on competitors, but it was long on action. Just four cars took the green for the division’s shortened 20-lap feature. Adam Chadbourne and Reno put on a hard-fought wheel to wheel battle for much of the race, with neither taking the lead by more than a car length. Reno ended up taking the checkered flag, with Chadbourne crossing the line a close second. Wayne Whitten Jr., of Kennebunk finished third.
The Wicked Good Vintage Racers three feature winners were John Knapp of Bowdoinham in the Hobby Class, Mark Zacadelli in the Late Model Class and Bill Pierce in the Outlaw Class.
Wiscasset Speedway returns to action this upcoming Saturday with Group 1 in action. The Thunder 4 Minis and 4-Cylinder Pros will each have a spotlight feature along with Pro Stocks and Super Streets in regular action.
The pit gate opens at 1 pm, grandstand gate at 3 pm and the green flag flies on the action at 5 pm. Full race day schedule and other info can be found on the track website www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
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