WISCASSET

Wiscasset Speedway features the fastest cars in Maine. Sure, they have a popular Kids Club, keeping even the youngest members of a family entertained on race day. And of course, track owners, Richard and Vanessa Jordan, schedule countless celebrations throughout the season.

But leaving all of that aside, the track has a reputation for sponsoring events that keep motorheads coming back year after year to the state’s fastest track. Formidable competitors known throughout New England battle for the track championships.

With that said, Saturday night’s regular division races were delayed briefly for a lively, albeit competitive 20-lap Go-Kart race. Think it was simply a feel-good, fluff piece to keep crowds entertained? Think again! At Wiscasset Speedway, even a Go-Kart race becomes Daytona 500, with fans not only filling the grandstands, but crews surfacing from prepping cars in the pits to watch these mini speed demons.

Taking first was Spencer Wenners, with Wyatt Oakes in second and Deliah Lamarre in third.

First up in Group One’s regular division races was a 35-lap New England 4-Cylinder Prostock spotlight race. With cars going three-wide into the first turn, the drivers of those mighty minis wasted no time thinning out the herd early on. The lead was immediately taken by Jeff Prindall, followed by RJ Pinkham and Ryan Hayes. As Jamie Wright and division points leader Kamren Knowles worked their way into the top three, the first caution of the night brought the field to a crawl when John Shorey and Spencer Vaughan spun coming out of turn one in the fourth lap.

When the yellow flag was lifted, deja vu set in as fans watched Prindall take the lead again, followed by some heavy competition from Pinkham, who refused to back down. Hayes lost his edge on the regroup, which forced him to battle three-wide with Knowles and Wright throughout lap seven. Just as the threesome broke up, deja vu struck again from another caution on lap nine involving Shorey and Vaughan.

At the halfway point, Prindall was finally able to gain the upper hand by clearing significant distance between himself and any potential competitors.

Knowles finally worked his way into the top three to pass Pinkham and Hayes. Without any cautions to regroup the pack, Prindall’s head start left Knowles to follow from almost a full straightaway behind.

During lap 28, Hayes relinquished his position in the top five to exit down pit road, which shifted the pack forward across the well-spaced field. With such wide margins between each driver in the top five, the spotlight race was checkered on a peaceful, yet far from uneventful note. After a season plagued by bad luck, Prindall, who resides in Lisbon, shook things up with his second feature victory of the year. Ending his four-race winning streak, Knowles took home second for the first time this season, followed by Wright in third.

The Prostocks’ 40-lap feature began on a rocky note after Nate Tribbett hit difficulties coming out of turn three on the first lap. Coming back after the race’s first caution, Kevin Morse took the lead as Thomas True held a close second. Less than a car length behind flew some of the division’s heavy hitters, including Scott Chubbuck, Nick Hinckley and Mike Moody. Each kept the others on their toes lap after lap as everyone looked for an opportunity to advance.

Morse earned himself some breathing room just as True lost his to Chubbuck, who successfully passed Moody on lap 14 and closed the gap the take second. Clearly intent on taking charge of the field, Chubbuck passed both True and Morse in the outer lane, then rode out the remaining 22 laps with a generous lead for his second win of the season. After working his way up from mid-pack, Hinkley was able to break his way into the top three with six laps to go. Although he continued to challenge until the bitter end, Hinckley settled for third after True, who earned second in a career-best finish.

Other division races included the Thunder 4 Minis racing a 20-lap feature, where Curtis Anderson of Richmond achieved a career first feature win. Second place went to Logan Melcher and third to Donald Mooney.

Closing out the night was a 25-lap Super Streets feature that put the ‘grrr’ in aggressive, as drivers remained competitive from start to finish. Earning his second feature win of the season was Cody Buzzell, followed by Josh Bailey and Jason Oakes.

If you have never been to Wiscasset Speedway, this upcoming weekend is the time to start. The track is the place to be during Mainely Motorsports doubleheader weekend, with races throughout Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Clear your schedule to watch the drivers of Group Two compete, as well as three visiting divisions, including the NELCAR Legends, Wicked Good Vintage Racers and Granite State Prostock Series. Each day the individual admission price is $5 — less than the cost of a movie ticket! Bring the whole family.

For more information, visit www.wiscassetspeedway.com.