Wet weather has been a factor all season long at both Wiscasset Speedway and local race tracks across New England. Leading into this past weekend, Mother Nature’s misfortune had already resulted in an abbreviated Group 1 racing program last week at and a 2-week postponement of the Group 2 season opener. 

With rain set to drench Coastal Maine yet again on Saturday, Team Wiscasset decided to make a rare but beneficial move and rescheduled the racing action to Sunday afternoon. Both fans and drivers packed the stands on Mother’s Day for 5 divisions of racing fun, starting with the Portland Glass Strictly Streets. 

Shawn Emery won his qualifying heat race in the division and took off with the early lead in the feature, distancing himself from the competition. Meanwhile, defending champion Dan McKeage, Jr. was climbing through the field, making his way to Emery’s back bumper as the laps wound down. With just under 10 laps to go, McKeage took over the top spot, but trouble was brewing behind the leaders. A 3-car accident with 5 laps to go brought the field back together and Scott Eck stepped up to the plate, going door-to-door with McKeage for the top spot. The two drivers led a spirited battle for the top spot in the closing laps of the race, but McKeage managed to pull it off, scoring the feature victory.

The visiting Wicked Good Vintage Outlaws took to the track next for their 25-lap feature. Brody Whorff was a standout from the drop of the green flag, but Wiscasset veteran James Osmond began to reel him in during the second half of the race. The two drivers were neck & neck in the closing laps of the race, but Whorff remained steadfast at the top of the leaderboard, taking home the victory. Jamie Young followed, rounding out the podium.

Fourth-generation driver Reed Reno scored the qualifying heat victory in the T&L Automotive Modifieds and led the field to green in the 30-lap feature. Reno broke free from the lead pack on lap 7 as Chuck Colby and Adam Chadbourne battled it out for position behind him. The competition continued to brew in the laps that followed, with Colby finding his way to Chadbourne’s door with just 10 laps to go. Colby completed the pass with two to go, quickly setting his sights on the leader. Reed Reno was able to hold him off, kicking off his season with a feature victory. Adam Chadbourne completed the top 3.

2024 division champion Kyle Enman led the early charge in the 25-lap feature for the Dale’s Cash Fuel Roadrunners. He was consumed by lap traffic on lap 10 and ultimately lost the battle, falling back to fourth as Tyler McCann took over the top spot. Nathan Pearson began to close in on Tyler McCann as the laps ticked away, riding his back bumper. McCann was able to hold off Pearson, picking up his first career victory at Wiscasset Speedway in his first-ever start at the track. Dylan York followed, rounding out the podium.

Daniel Harding, returning to the track after a one-year hiatus, kicked off Opening Day with a heat win in the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Models. He held the early lead in the feature, but Shane Clark stole it away following a restart on lap 9. Just as things were beginning to settle down, Chad Dow entered the picture at the halfway mark, overtaking both leaders for the top spot. A 6-car pileup on lap 23 halted the racing action and collected a few heavy hitters, including Brett Osmond, Branden Fowler and Colton Chubbuck, among others. Harding overpowered Dow on the restart and never looked back, picking up his first career points win in the division. Shane Clark followed, completing the top 3. 

With four race winners under the age of 21, it’s safe to say that the “young guns” had both talent and luck on their side during Sunday’s Group 2 season opener at Wiscasset Speedway. 

It will be fun to see if any seasoned veterans can snap the streak with the upcoming Group 1 race program on Saturday, May 17. The green flag flies at 5 p.m.

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