McLaughlin Scores 4th Win at Speedway 95
Andrew McLaughlin of Harrington continued to add to his win total at Speedway 95 Saturday night as he picked up win number 4 for the season in the Dysart’s Late Models. McLaughlin lined up 3rd on the grid for the green, but contact between pole sitter Don Alexander Jr. of Glenburn and Wayne Parritt Jr. of Steuben coming to the green sent Parritt into the turn one dirt berm and to the pits for the night, allowing McLaughlin to line up outside Alexander for the start. McLaughlin quickly put his car out front and remained there for the entire caution free 40 lap distance. Brenton Parritt of Steuben, the division’s defending champion and current points leader came from his 8th place start to finish second. Dean Smart of Bradley finished third, with Alexander coming in fourth. Milo driver Nick Jenkins rounded out the top five.
Shane Tatro of Levant easily won the caution free Darling’s Ford Sportsman series event, qualifying for the pole and leading all 25 laps. Winterport’s Trey Brown ran a steady pace behind Tatro and finished second, with Bradley’s Dean Smart coming in third. Outside pole sitter Ralph Melanson of Corinth finished fourth with Frankfort’s Mike Overlock finishing fifth. Missing at the start was Skowhegan’s Kris Matchett, who was sidelined after his engine exploded in practice earlier in the evening.
Alex Berry of Harrington was scheduled to start on the pole for the 50 lap Pine Tree Waste series event in the Casella Waste Systems Strictly Streets, but a quick trip to the pits for fuel after the playing of the National Anthem and prior to the start of the race forced him to start at the rear of the field. Fortunately for him, Wayne Parritt, subbing for the night in the Bimbo Look #88, delayed the start of the race when a mechanical issue with the car arose as the field was coming out of turn 4 for the green. Parritt ended up against the front stretch wall causing the start to be cancelled. Berry was able to rejoin the field before the green flag was thrown to start the race, and moved through the field quickly to take the lead on lap 5, following a caution that bunched up the field for a restart. Berry passed Zach Audet of Skowhegan following the restart and remained in the lead for the next 45 laps, taking the win. Audet finished second, followed by Bob Seger Jr. of Frankfort. Chris King of Burnham finished fourth with pole sitter Bradley Norris of Ellsworth ending up fifth.
Jason Trundy of Winterport made it two in a row and three for the season in the Coca-Cola Sport-Fours, leading from the green to the checkers in the 30 lap series race. Donny Silva of Hudson started second and finished second as he was unable to catch Trundy in the caution free event. Third went to Lewis Batchelder of Dixmont with a strong run in his first race of the season after recovering from a non-racing related injury. Fourth went to points leader Andrew Crosby of Hermon, with Hermon’s Jeff Overlock Jr. finishing fifth.
Racing continues at Speedway 95 on Wednesday, July 29th at 7:00 with racing in the RoadRunners, Modified Enduros, Stars of Tomorrow and RoadRunner stunt racing. On Saturday, August 1, Budweiser, King of Beers presents racing in the Dysart’s Late Models, the Outlaw Super Series/ Darling’s Ford Sportsman 50 lap series race #3, the Casella Waste Systems Strictly Streets and the Coca-Cola Sport-Fours.
Sources: Speedway 95