Osmond Backs Up Driver of the Month Honors with Thrilling Win at Wiscasset
Wiscasset, ME –Last Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway was bright and sunny. Fans gathered at the Speedway for the planned Fan Appreciation Day festivities. There was a car show at the speedway, with numerous cars both old and new. The car show entrants also had the opportunity to parade some laps around the speedway in their cars. There were kids bicycle races on the race track during intermission. Additionally, the drivers gathered on the track to greet fans and sign autographs prior to race time. Presented Saturday were its group one lineup of divisions: Prostock, Super Stock, New England 4-cylinder Prostock, and Thunder 4. After the races were completed the fans cheered as a display of fireworks brightened the Wiscasset sky.
First on the track were the Thunder 4’s for a fifteen lap feature race. Pete McCollett was in the pole position in the No. 20. Behind him were Adam Armstrong of the 31X and Leandra Martin driving the No. 31. There was plenty of action and numerous leader changes right from the start. Martin passed Armstrong in turn one on the outside, and took second before the first lap was even completed. The cars raced several laps with no leader changes.
Then, in lap five, the No. 13 driven by Cody Tribbett passed Armstrong on the outside of the front stretch for third place. The following lap Tribbett passed Martin on turn four for second. Coming up from behind was Ryan Chadwick driving the No. 5. Chadwick passed Martin during lap seven to take third.
A determined Chadwick raced furiously up the track, looking for second. Then during lap eleven, Chadwick passed Tribbett on the outside of turn three for second. The pair raced neck and neck around the track, close behind McCollett. Tribbett wanted second place back. He came up behind Chadwick in turn one of lap fourteen. The pair made contact. Tribbet was able to slide back into second place. Chadwick could not regain second before the finish. McCollett took first place. This is McCollet’s first Thunder 4 win at Wiscasset this season. Tribbett placed second. This is Tribbett’s fourth appearance in Victory Lane this season. Rounding out the top three was Chadwick in third. This was Chadwick’s first top three finish this season.
The Super Stock class provided an exciting twenty-five lap race for the fans. Josh Baily driving the No. 2 had the pole position. Behind him were James Osmond of the No. 05 and Bobby Mesimer of the No. 3. Bailey surged ahead at race start. The race for second was heated between Osmond and Mesimer. Mesimer pulled ahead on the inside of the back stretch during lap one. Osmond and Mesimer raced head to head for the following three laps, vying for position. Then, in lap four, Mesimer was able to pull ahead by a car length coming out of turn two onto the back stretch, solidifying second place. Osmond looked for his chance to pass Mesimer. His chance came in lap twelve when he pulled ahead of Mesimer on the outside of turn two to take second. Osmond looked ahead at Bailey, and headed up the track to challenge for first.
Mesimer found himself battling for third when he saw Adam Chadbourne driving the No. 1. coming up from behind. Chadbourne passed Mesimer during lap fourteen on the outside of turn three for third. Mesimer and Chadbourne battled for third for the next two laps, then during lap sixteen, Mesimer passed Chadbourne taking back third. The pair continued to battle for third. Then, in lap twenty-three, Chadbourne passed Mesimer coming out of turn three for third place.
Bailey, still in first, had held off Osmond. Osmond was in dogged pursuit of Bailey, and as the pair made their final lap, it looked as if Bailey was going to fly first under the checkered. However, as they were rounding turn four, Bailey got loose and fishtailed on the track. Osmond seized his opportunity and surged past Bailey on the front stretch and went across the finish line .183 seconds ahead. The crowd roared with enthusiasm. Prior to race time, Osmond had said, “My car is running so-so, but I feel good, like I am going to win!” Osmond must have had a crystal ball, because he did win! Osmond thanked his sponsors Red’s Eats and Dave the Tire Guy. This makes Osmond’s eighth appearance in Victory Lane this year. He had three prior first place wins, two second place finishes, and two third place finishes. Additionally, Osmond was selected as July’s Napa Auto Parts Driver of The Month.
Bailey placed second. Chadbourne took third.
The next crowd pleaser was a twenty-five lap New England 4-Cylinder Pro Stock feature. Driving the No. 14 was Bob Patten, winner of the heat race. Behind him were Craig Dunn of the No. 8 and Tim Jeski of the No. 38. Dunn pulled ahead of Bob Patten first lap around the track in turn two coming out onto the back stretch for the lead. Then, during lap one, Jeski pulled ahead of Bob Patten on the outside of turn three for second. Bob Patten then fell back and allowed the No. 24 driven by Jeff Prindall to take third.
A caution during lap twelve caused a restart. When the dust cleared and action resumed on the track, racing order remained the same. Dunn in first. Jeski in second. Prindall in third. During the last lap, the No. 54 of Kamren Knowles, which was in fourth place, clipped Prindall in turn three. Prindall spun to a stop on the track, and Knowles went on to take third place. Dunn placed first. Jeski took second. Although it was not Dunn’s first appearance in Victory Lane, it was his first top place victory in NE 4-Cylinder Pro Stock at Wiscasset.
Last on the track was the spotlighted feature of the week, a forty lap Pro Stock race. Starting in the pole position was the No. 0 of Bill Penfold. Behind him were the No. 11 Driven by John Rideout and the No. 59 of Reid Lanpher. When the green flag flew, Lanpher swept by Rideout and passed him on the inside of the front stretch for second. Penfold was in first, and had a commanding lead by lap one.
During lap one, Steve Reno, driving the No. 68, pulled ahead of Rideout on the inside of turn two for third. Reno and Rideout raced around the track for an entire lap going neck and neck, until Reno pulled ahead on the front stretch by a car length.
A caution was called during lap nine. On the restart, Reno battled for position. On lap ten, Reno passed Lanpher on the inside of turn two for second place. Reno held off Lanpher until lap eighteen, when Lanpher passed him on the inside of turn four for second. Reno then tried to hold off Rideout. Rideout passed Reno on the inside of turn two for third. Rideout moved up the track to challenge Lanpher for second. Then, on lap twenty-one Rideout passed Lanpher on the inside of turn one for second.
Lap twenty-three saw the second caution of the race when Reno spun on the track. When action resumed, Lanpher passed Rideout on the inside of turn four for second during lap twenty-three. Race leaders then remained constant until lap thirty-six, when Rideout went into Lanpher’s car on turn one, sending both into the wall. Reno was collected in the scuffle and also went into the turn one wall. Race officials called the race official at thirty-six laps. Penfold came in first. Mike Orr driving the No. 3 came in second. Lanpher came in third. This was Penfold’s fifth appearance in Victory Lane, and his second top place finish. Penfold said, “The car was absolutely perfect tonight. I would like to thank all of my sponsors and my girlfriend.”
Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, August 24, 2013 with its group two lineup of divisions: Strictly Street, Mini Truck, Late Model Sportsman, and the spotlighted feature of the week a thirty-five lap Outlaw Mini race. The flex race of the week is a twenty lap Wicked Good Vintage Racer event. There will be fireworks at the conclusion of the races. Pit gates open at 2:00 PM. Grandstand gates open at 4:00 PM. Racing begins at 6:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at: http:www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
Sources: Lisa Maguire/Wiscasset Speedway PR