Robbins Clinches First Late Model Win of the Season at Wiscasset
Wiscasset, ME — Last Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway was a bit cloudy and overcast, but the races were completed before the rain began to fall. With the changing of the seasons, the bright lights illuminating the race track brightened earlier, and the weather cooled for some fabulous racing action. There were some new faces in Victory Lane as well. On the schedule was the group two line up of divisions: Strictly Street, Mini Trucks, Outlaw Mini, and Late Model Sportsman. The flex race of the week was a thirty lap Amsoil Nelcar Legends race.
In a quick, straightforward race, fifteen Strictly Street race cars participated in a twenty lap feature. In the pole position was Corey Morgan of the No. 26. Behind him were the No. 1 of Mike Moody and the No. 5 of Guy Childs. It was not until lap three when the top three saw a leader change. Coming out of turn four Childs attempted to pass Moody on the inside. Childs and Moody scraped together, causing Childs to spin on the front stretch. While Moody recovered, the No. 43 of Ben Erskine moved to the outside and passed Moody on the front stretch. Moody moved to third.
The No. 32 of Tasha Dyer was moving up from her seventh place starting position. During lap twelve she was able to pass Moody on the inside of turn four for third place. The drivers swept under the checkered in that order. Morgan placed first. This is Morgan’s fourth victory, and his eighth appearance in Victory Lane this year. Morgan said, “The car is running great. After the problem with the car last time out on the track, I put a new front right wheel bearing on it. I want to thank Josh, Julian, and Josh for the help. It’s been a great day.”
Erskine placed second, making this his second appearance in Victory Lane this racing season. Dyer placed third. This is Dyer’s ninth top three finish this season.
A fifteen lap Mini Truck race was action packed. Starting in the pole position was Kristopher Knox in the No. 88. Behind him were the No. 12 of Gerry McKenna and Herb Farrar in the No. 32. When the green flag went down, Knox faltered, and the No. 69 of Ryan Farrar went to the outside from his fifth starting position, passed three trucks, and fell in behind McKenna for second. Herb Farrar maintained third.
Lap two saw the No. 22 of Jeff Schmidt pass Herb Farrar for third. Then during lap three, Knox, who had dropped off at the start, began making a comeback. Knox passed Schmidt on the outside of turn two for third. Schmidt looked for his chance to take second. His chance came in lap six and he passed Ryan Farrar to take the spot. Schmidt moved to the outside of the back stretch during lap eight and passed Ryan Farrar to take third.
The one and only caution of the race came in lap ten. Knox attempted to pass race leader, Gerry McKenna, on turn three. Knox and McKenna made contact, and McKenna spun around on the track. Knox headed to the pit area with mechanical problems. He was able to get back on the track before the caution was over. Schmidt moved to first place. Ryan Farrar moved to second place. Opie Allard of the No. 68 moved to third place.
When racing action resumed, Allard moved to the outside and passed both Ryan Farrar and Schmidt for first place. Race leaders remained constant until the conclusion of the race. Allard took first. Prior to race time Allard said, “We have been trying to get a little better. We are close today, but working on it just a little more before race time. We should be able to get a top three finish today, she’s fast- thanks to Roger Allard!” Allard must have been pleased with his second top three finish of the racing season.
Schmidt took second place, making this his sixth appearance in Victory Lane this racing season at Wiscasset. Schmidt thanked the truck owner, Marion, and his sponsors including Dead Season and Farrar Logging. Rounding out the top three was Ryan Farrar with his fourth appearance in Victory Lane this season.
The next crowd pleaser was a twenty-five lap Outlaw Mini race. In the pole position was the No. 34 of Justin Trombley. Behind him were the No. 13 of Nate Tribbet and the No. 18 of Tim Collins. The first lap saw Collins pass Tribbet for second on the inside of turn three. Then, during lap two, the No. 20 of Shawn Kimball passed Tribbet for third.
Coming up from behind was Jimmy Childs in the No. 10. Childs started in the number six spot, and during lap five, Collins slowed, and Childs moved inside and passed both Collins and Kimball for second place. Kimball fell in behind Childs and also passed Collins, taking third.
Childs developed a mechanical issue during lap fifteen and had to head to the pits. Kimball moved to second place. Tribbet moved to third. Trombley spent the rest of the race looking out his rear view mirror for the others to catch up.
Trombley made his first appearance in Victory Lane with a top finish. Kimball placed second. Before race start Kimball said, “The car is not running as good as usual, but I am going to try and win it like always! I would like to thank my girlfriend Amanda, and the car owner, Pete, for giving me a chance to race.” Kimball also thanked his sponsors, including Soules Auto Supply and ERA Realty. This is Kimball’s seventh appearance in Victory Lane this racing season.
Tribbet placed third. This is Tribbet’s fifth top three finish this season.
The Amsoil Nelcar Legends made their fourth appearance at Wiscasset Speedway this season on Saturday night. Point leader Mathew Bourgoine was there, as was his closest competitor, Ryan Hammar, only a six point difference heading into the race. Also on hand was Alan Smith, third in points.
Starting in the pole position was the No. 38 of Mathew Bourgoine. Behind him were the No. 96 driven by Wyatt Alexander and the No. 33 of Alan Smith. When green flag racing began, both Alexander and Smith surged ahead of Bourgoine, and Bourgoine dropped to third.
During lap two, the No. 88 of John Peters moved to the outside worked his way up from his fourth starting position. Peters passed the top three and moved to first before the conclusion of the lap. Lap three saw Bourgoine pass Alexander the outside of turn two for second.
Of special note was the No. 23S of Shawn Buffington. Buffington started in eighteenth place. By midpoint of the race, he had managed to move to fifth position. When the Legends passed under the checkered, Peters was in first. Bourgoine was in second. In third was Alexander. Buffington took forth. Smith rounded out the top five. Prior to race time Smith said, “Car is going good. Made an adjustment and we’ll see what it’ll do. I think we have a shot at a decent finish. All we need is a little luck. I’d like to thank the Jordan’s for what they have done here. It takes a lot to save these tracks, and they are doing a great job.”
Hammar, second in points going into the race finished tenth.
The last race of the evening quickly sped by, a thirty-five lap Late Model Sportsman feature. Starting at the pole was the No. 34 of Tyler Robbins. The No. 04 of Allen Moeller was behind him, as was the No. 5 of Bill Pinkham.
The three race leaders raced in a pack. Moeller was hot on the heels of Robbins. Then, in lap twenty-nine, Moeller developed a mechanical issue, spilling oil on the track, causing another driver to spin. A caution was called and Moeller headed to the pits. Pinkham moved to second place, and the No. 15 of Nick Hinkley moved to third.
Upon the restart, Hinkley moved to the inside of turn two and passed Pinkham for second. The No. 00 of Alex Waltz followed suit, and headed to the inside and passed Pinkham for third on turn three. Race leaders remained the same until the finish.
Robbins placed first. This was his first Late Model Sportsman win of the season. A great way to celebrate turning twenty-one. Robbins is a former Teen Division champion at Wiscasset. Hinkley came in second. This was Hinkley’s fifth appearance in Victory Lane this year. Coming in third was rookie Alex Waltz. This was Waltz’s first visit to Victory Lane. Prior to race time, Waltz said, “The car is running pretty good. We are going to do good tonight- we just need a little luck. No matter what, it is always fun. I would not be here without my Grandpa, Dad, Ball, and Mark, my pit crew. Also my sponsors: Farrin’s Boat Shop, Alpaca farm, and KEA.”
Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, September 14, 2013 with its group one lineup of divisions: Prostock, Thunder 4, New England 4-cylinder Prostock, and the spot lighted race of the week is a twenty-five lap Super Stock feature. The flex race of the week is a New England Pro 4 Tour thirty lap race. Saturday’s races are sponsored by Napa Auto Parts. 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.
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL FINISH SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
STRICTLY STREET (20 LAPS)
1. #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston
2. #43 Ben Erskine, Farmington
3. #32 Tasha Dyer, Arrowsic
4. #1 Mike Moody, Topsham
5. #06 Zac Poland, Woolwich
6. #39 Gerald Freve, Buckfield
7. #2 Jason Oakes, NA
8. #13 Chuck Gray, Wiscasset
9. #66 Phil Main Sr, Trevett
10. #56 Thomas Smith, Boothbay
11. #42 Johnny Wolfe, Gorham
12. #88 Darryl Cook, Sabattus
13. #99 Phil Main Jr, Boothbay
14. #5 Guy Childs, Turner
15. #03 Ryan Ripley, Waldoboro
MINI TRUCKS (15 LAPS)
1. #68 Opie Allard, Harpswell
2. #22 Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls
3. #69 Ryan Farrar, Sumner
4. #88 Christopher Knox, Sanford
5. #1 Matt Curtis, Freeport
6. #12 Gerry McKenna, Milton
7. #18 Alfred McKenna, Bryant Pond
8. #17 William Wheil, NA
9. #32 Herb Farrar, Mechanic Falls
OUTLAW MINI (25 LAPS)
1. #34 Justin Trombley, Winter Harbor
2. #20 Shawn Kimball, Pittston
3. #13 Nate Tribbett, Richmond
4. #18 Tim Collins, Farmingdale
5. #17 Norman Cummings Jr, Augusta
6. #8 Calvin Rose Jr, Turner
7. # 10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds
AMSOIL NELCAR LEGENDS (30 LAPS)
1. #88 John Peters, Durham
2. #38 Mathew Bourgoine, Newport
3. #96 Wyatt Alexander, Ellsworth
4. #23 Shawn Buffington, Plainfield, CT
5. #33 Alan Smith, Lincoln
6. #399 Bob Weymouth, Topsham
7. #81 Dan Winter, Windham, NH
8. #17 Terry Kirk, Durham
9. #84 Matt Grant, Windham
10. #2 Ryan Hammar, Pembroke, NH
11. #70 Tylar Braunschweig, West Newfield
12. #59 Reid Lanphier, Manchester
13. #16X Jordan Lamothe, Woodstock, CT
14. #4 Peter Craig, Poland
15. #8 Matt Chagnot, Derry, NH
16. #42 Steve Johnson, Conway, NH
17. #49 Pete Cannell, South Berwick
18. #113 Casey Nash, Richmond
19. #66 Wally Silva, Scarbourough
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (35 LAPS)
1. #34 Tyler Robbins, Montville
2. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
3. #00 Alex Waltz, Walpole
4. #5 Bill Pinkham, Wiscasset
5. #03 Dan Trask, Chelsea
6. #3 Richard Jordan, Kingfield
7. #28 Steve Minott, Windham
8. #12 Jody Lewis, Boothbay
9. #04 Allen Moeller, Dresden
10. #6 Chris Bowie, New Gloucester
11. #25 Will Collins, Appleton
Sources: Lisa Maguire/Wiscasset Speedway PR