Following a Group 2 cancellation due to inclement weather last weekend, the forecast did a complete 360 and the skies cleared on Saturday, making for a picture-perfect day of racing. Wiscasset Speedway took full advantage of the opportunity, hosting a loaded Group 1 program that featured all weekly divisions plus the first 100-lap Enduro race of the season.

The racing action kicked off with a 40-lap spotlight feature for the Darling’s Brunswick Ford Super Streets, presented by Pepsi. Kevin Sherman took off with the slight advantage, but Sean Johnson was back to his door on lap 3, challenging for the top spot. Johnson got bent out of shape on lap 7, allowing Sherman to distance himself from the competition. The leaders encountered a lap car with 10 laps to go but swiftly navigated through the traffic. Kevin Sherman picked up the win over Sean Johnson and Noah Haggett, who beat David Greenleaf to the line by a mere .036 seconds.

The 25-lap Maine Army National Guard Thunder 4 Mini feature got off to a chaotic start as both Silas Hamm and Derek Cook went around, resulting in a caution. Ricky Austin and David Cook remained deadlocked on the restart, with Derek Cook making it a 3-wide battle on lap 4. David Cook nearly lost it on lap 5, allowing Ricky Austin to catapult to the lead. Silas Hamm went around on lap 6, bringing the leaders back together for the restart.

After a solid showing all day, David Cook was plagued with mechanical issues on the restart, forcing him to the rear while Ricky Austin pulled away with the lead. He maintained command for the remainder of the feature, scoring his first career win at Wiscasset Speedway while Derek Cook and Donnie Fletcher completed the podium. In true racing fashion, Ricky Austin loaded up and headed over to nearby Oxford Plains Speedway after the race, going an impressive 2-for-2 on the day as he won their Rebels feature.

JT Thurlow and Andy Gilbert went door-to-door for the early lead in the 40-lap feature for the T&L Automotive Pro Stocks. Unfortunately, the two drivers met trouble on lap 3 as Thurlow spun in turn 4 and Gilbert wound up in the infield grass, resulting in a caution. Trouble was brewing following the restart as Nick Hinkley and Tracy Morgan made hard contact while battling 3-wide for position, which resulted in an immediate red flag.

Kelly Moore powered ahead on the restart while Kevin Douglass pulled to second. There was a 3-way battle for third in the laps that followed, with Logan Melcher making a bold 3-wide move to take over the spot on lap 15. Moore maintained his command following a mid-race restart as Logan Melcher quickly navigated into the runner-up spot. Melcher was all over Moore’s back bumper in the closing laps of the race but didn’t quite have enough to catch him, settling for a second place finish. Veteran Kevin Douglass followed the two drivers, rounding out the top 3.

Rowdy Romano and Emmett Walker both spun during the opening laps of the 25-lap feature for the Country Truss 4-Cylinder Pros, resulting in 2 consecutive cautions. Max Parlin pulled ahead with the upper hand on the restart, but Chassidy Shorty was quickly navigating through the field, climbing up to second on lap 7 before tracking down the leader. She made a bold crossover move with just 4 laps to go, overtaking the lead. Chassidy paced the field for the remainder of the race, picking up the victory while Max Parlin and Sam Fogg completed the podium.

Allan Moeller and Ryan Phillips squared up for the early lead in the 30-lap feature for the Davis Erector Group 207 Crate Modfieds, with Phillips pulling ahead with the advantage on lap 6. Jim Storace spun shortly thereafter, resulting in a caution. Ryan Phillips pulled ahead on the restart, but John Ricci was all over his back bumper. Following the carnage in the Pro Stock race, Nick Hinkley was knocking on the door of the leaders around halfway, spearheading a battle for third.

Doug Tourtelotte spun in front of the leaders on lap 19, narrowly avoiding Nick Hinkley. Ryan Phillips and John Ricci made slight contact shortly after, resulting in rear quarter damage to Phillips’ machine and front-end damage to Ricci’s. The battle for the lead resumed on the restart but defending champion Ryan Phillips held off the competition, picking up the win over John Ricci and Nick Hinkley. 

The day concluded with the first 100-lap Enduro race of the season. 40 competitors started the feature, and Ian Campbell led the majority of the race until Ronald Gibson came into view, breaking through a 5+ second deficit to take over the top spot with 20 laps to go. Gibson widened his gap as the laps wound down, pulling away with it while Irving Doughty powered to second. Campbell retired to the pits shortly after, making for a heartbreaking end to his day. Come the end of the race, there were only two drivers remaining on the lead lap and 13 cars total on the track who survived the battle of attrition. Ronald Gibson captured the checkered flag while Irving Doughty and Jeremy Koenig rounded out the podium.

Saturday was filled with impressive and exciting racing action, but now it’s time to turn the page as Team Wiscasset gears up for the two-day Coastal 200 race weekend - one of the biggest race events of the year!

The green flag flies at 2 p.m. both days and Saturday’s program will include the Sport Modifieds, Crown Vics, Thunder 4 Minis and the visiting Wicked Good Vintage Racers while Sunday will spotlight the Strictly Streets, Roadrunners and the coveted Coastal 200, which is presented by CLH & Son, GT Overhead Door and Nitro Trailers.

As always, adult admission is just $5 while kids 6 and under get in for free - even for the biggest race events of the season!

For the official track schedule, race results and more, please visit http://www.wiscassetspeedway.com.