Reid Lanpher Grabs First Win of 2013 at Wiscasset
WISCASSET, ME — The ninth race of the 2013 season saw the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour back at Wiscasset Speedway. Maine’s fastest track is always a driver’s favorite, and with a 20 car field, this race was one of the most thrilling races of the season. Under sunny skies in one of the most beautiful parts of Maine near the coast, the drivers were ready to show the crowd just how good Legends Car racing can be.
In the first heat race it was Wyatt Alexander in the 96 car on the pole with Matt Chagnot on the outside. Alexander got the jump on the start, but it wasn’t long before Ryan Hammar made his way by to grab the race lead. The caution free heat race saw Hammar getting the win over Alexander with Dan Winter in the 81 finishing third.
The second heat race had the 49 of Pete Cannel on the pole with the 33 of Alan Smith on the outside. Smith grabbed the race lead, and Cannel was forced to the rear after his car suffered a motor issue. It wasn’t long though before reigning Tour champion Matt Bourgoine took the race lead and drove away with the feature win. Longtime Legends competitor Ed Getty finished third with Kevin Girard Jr. rounding out the top three.
The feature race lineup was set, with Alexander on the pole position and Matt Bourgoine on the front row. At the start, the champion was able to grab the lead away from the sophomore driver, but Alexander wouldn’t let up as he held tight behind Bourgoine’s bumper with Reid Lanpher in the 59 right behind them. The races first caution flag came out as Kevin Girard Jr. and Matt Grant made contact as Girard’s motor went up in smoke, forcing his early retirement while Grant hit pit road to replace a tire. On the race’s restart, Alexander was able to get ahead of Bourgoine, and drove away from new second place driver Reid Lanpher. Bourgoine got back by Lanpher and tried to reel in Alexander before a caution with four laps to go slowed the field once again after Chad Harrington in the 46 and John Peters in the 51 made contact, resulting in Harrington spinning off turn four. Alexander got away on the resulting restart, but Lanpher was able to sneak his way by with three laps to go, and as Bourgoine and Alexander traded second behind, Lanpher took his first win of 2013! Bourgoine took second from Alexander with John Peters in fourth and TJ Laro driving from near the rear of the field to finish fifth.
The point’s race is as close as it’ll ever get at the seasons midway point, as Matt Bourgoine holds a three point advantage with the throwaways over Ryan Hammar, who finished sixth. After what was one of the best races of the season, the drivers are looking forward to their next event two weeks from now. The Tour will make their first appearance on the biggest weekend in short track racing during the 40th Annual TD Bank 250 weekend at Oxford Plains Speedway. The Tour will hit the track on Saturday, July 20th, racing begins at 7PM. For more news, info and how you can get into a Legends Car, visit Nelcar.net.
WISCASETT FEATURE FINISH 7-6-13
FINISH CAR # NAME
1 59 REID LANPHER
2 38 MATHEW BOURGOINE
3 96 WYATT ALEXANDER
4 51 JOHN PETERS
5 21 TIM LARO
6 2 RYAN HAMMAR
7 399 BOB WEYMOUTH
8 60 ANTHONY PAGLIARULO
9 81 DAN WINTER
10 8 MATT CHAGNOT
11 17 TERRY KIRK
12 84 MATT GRANT
13 33 ALAN SMITH
14 70 TYLAR BRAUNSCHWEIG
15 113 CASEY NASH
16 42 STEVE JOHNSON
17 49 PETE CANNELL
18 46 CHAD HARRINGTON
19 19 KEVIN GIRARD JR
20 10 ED GETTY
HEAT #1 FINISH
FINISH CAR #
1 2 RYAN HAMMAR
2 96 WYATT ALEXANDER
3 81 DAN WINTER
Sources: Evan Beaulieu/NELCAR PR