Collins ‘Will’s His Way to Opening Day Win at Wiscasset
Wiscasset Speedway’s Late Model Sportsman class has established itself over the past 5 years as one of the most competitive divisions in the state, It’s a group that boasts as many as 8 previous track champions, and a handful of others who are capable of winning on a given night. Among them is 2-time champion Will Collins of Waldoboro. The second generation racer turned in a statement win Saturday afternoon, highlighting Wiscasset’s Group 2 opening day. Other winners on the program included Zach Audet in the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis; Kyle Hewins in the Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets; and Adam Chadbourne in the K&A Property Services Modifieds.
The 40 lap feature for the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman got off to a rocky start Saturday, with 3 cautions slowing the action in the first 11 laps. Liberty’s Josh St Clair set the early pace from the pole position with 4-time champ Chris Thorne in tow from his 3rd starting spot. Early movers from the middle of the pack included Will Collins from his 7th starting position and Ben Erskine from 11th. Thorne was able to take the lead from St Clair as they stormed out of turn 4 to complete 10 laps. That lead didn’t last long as Collins pulled up alongside Thorne on lap 16. Collins’ car was strong no matter where he put it on the track. He stormed around the leader to claim the point by the time they reached the backstretch. Just a lap later Thorne made the save of the day when his left front tire hooked the bottom edge of the track sending him careening to the top of turn two in front of the rest of the field. He was able to save it and settled into the 7th position. Just one more caution for a minor spin slowed the race. Several contenders made their expected charge into the lead pack, including Erskine, Andrew McLaughlin, and Ryan St Clair. However, the only driver that was able to mount a real challenge was Erskine, keeping Collins within a couple car lengths over the final 5 laps. Collins would seal the deal with the win, besting Erskine by just 2/10ths of a second. Thorne recovered from his mid-race slip to claim 3rd. Brothers Ryan and Josh St Clair filled out the top 5 respectively.
In the afternoon’s 35 spotlight feature for the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis, Oakland’s Zach Audet took advantage of a rare front row starting spot and ran unchallenged for a wire to wire victory. He was chased across the line by former champs Rob Greenleaf and Brent Row. However, post-race tech inspection penalties shook up the official finish order, eventually resulting in Richmond’s Scott Trask claiming the 2nd place trophy and Augusta’s Shane Smith 3rd. Brian Doloff of Jay was credited with 4th place, while Greenleaf slipped to 5th in the final running order.
The Norm’s Used Cars Strictly Street division rolled out a stacked field of contenders for their 25 lap feature, with 17 of the 18 cars in the paddock taking the green. The action-packed race went caution free with cars running 3-wide through the middle of the pack. Turner’s Glenn Reynolds emerged from the pack to take the lead and claim the checkers. He was chased across the line by former champ Kyle Hewins by just a half-second interval. Pole sitter Ryan Hewins of Leeds stayed in the top 5 for the entire race and crossed the line 3rd. However, similar to the Outlaw Mini race, the Strictly finish wasn’t solidified until post-race inspection. Reynolds succumbed to a 5-position penalty, handing the win over to Kyle Hewins. Ryan Hewins would be bumped up a spot to 2nd followed by 5-time champion Maurice Young of Chelsea. and defending champ Zach Emerson of Sabattus.
The 30 lap feature for the K&A Property Services Modifieds saw Adam Chadbourne of Woolwich shake off an early challenge from Nick Reno of West Bath on his way to a wire to wire victory. Joe Williams of Woolwich was able to grab the 2nd spot away from Reno on a late race restart. Reno settled for 3rd.
The Amsoil Nelcar Legends rolled out 21 cars for their 25 lap feature. Defending champion Austin Teras locked in a great race-long battle with Connecticut hot shoe Noah Korner. Teras took home the win by just a car length. Korner settle for 2nd and outside pole sitter Casey Call claimed 3rd.
Wiscasset Speedway returns to action on Saturday, May 5th with the return of the Group 1 divisions. Pit gate will open at 1:00 pm, the grandstand gate at 3:00 pm and the green flag flies on the action at 5:00 pm. ServPro of Biddeford Saco Prostocks, Cahill Tire 4-Cylinder Pros, Maxwell’s Market Super Streets, and Thunder 4 Minis will all be in action. The Prostocks will take center stage with a 50 lap spotlight feature. As always, grandstand admission is just $5 with kids 6&under free. Pit admission is $20 for all. For more information, go to the Wiscasset Speedway website www.wiscassetspeedway.com or call (207) 491-3720.
OFFICIAL FINISH 4-28-18
KENNEBEC EQUIPMENT RENTAL OUTLAW MINI (35 laps spotlight)
#19 Zach Audet Oakland
#99 Scott Trask Richmond
#41 Shane Smith Augusta
#6 Brian Dolloff Jay
#2 Rob Greenleaf West Bath
#26 Brent Roy Vassalboro
#20 Matt Glidden Chelsea
#40 Jake Hendsbee Whitefield
#10 Jimmy Childs Leeds
K & A PROPERTY SERVICES MODIFIEDS (30 laps)
#1 Adam Chadbourne Woolwich
#15 Joe Williams Woolwich
#77 Nick Reno West Bath
#7 Spencer Vaughan Canton
#48 Ryan Treadwell Hancock
#8 Richard Jordan Kingfield
NORMS USED CARS STRICTLY STREETS (25 laps)
results are UNOFFICIAL pending review
#51 Kyle Hewins Leeds
#5 Ryan Hewins Leeds
#03 Maurice Young Chelsea
#23 Zach Emerson Sabattus
#24a Jeff Alley n/a
#05r Glenn Reynolds Turner
#61 Shawn Austin Norridgewock
#21 Zach Bowie Turner
#45 Cole Watson Naples
#24 Jonathan Emerson Sabattus
#55 Kurt Hewins Leeds
#00 Kim Knight Chesterville
#58 Dave Whittier Poland
#05 Brett Osmond Wiscasset
#29 Brad Erskine Solon
#19 Ray Letellier Buxton
#66 James Grover Newcastle
#8x Ethan Dinsmore Hope
DNS #25 Brad Bellows China
WOOD PELLET WAREHOUSE LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (40 laps)
#25 Will Collins Waldoboro
#4 Ben Erskine Solon
#17 Chris Thorne Sidney
#30 Ryan St Clair Liberty
#33 Josh St Clair Liberty
#26 Andrew McLaughlin Harrington
#15 Frank Moulton Clinton
#21 Shane Clark Winterport
#18 Bobby Segar Frankfort
#33T Trey Brown Winterport
#22 Brandon Fowler Rome
#34 Tyler Robbins Montville
#19 Shane Kaherl Jay
#5 Bill Pinkham Wiscasset
#11 Cody Verrill Richmond
#66 Bryan Robbins Montville
#00 Alex Waltz Walpole
#35 Gerald Frost n/a
#41 Logan Melcher Fayette
#30A DC Alexander Carmel
#31 Todd Lawrence Levant
AMSOIL NELCAR LEGENDS (25 laps)
#29 Austin Teras Windham
#31 Noah Korner Bloomfield, CT
#90 Casey Call Pembroke, NH
#31x Trent Goodreau Carver, MA
#52x Jake Matheson Hillsboro, NH
#18 Parker Varney Windham
#92 Colby Messerve Buxton
#38 Matthew Bourgoine Stetson
#84 Matt Grant Windham
#07 Nick Calvert Steep Falls
#5 Brian Darling Gorham
#14ma Aliyah Nicole S. Royalston, MA
#20 Danny Weir Buxton
#52 Colby Benjamin Belmont
#09 Thomas Searles Upton, MA
#6 Brian Lancaster Skowhegan
#4nh Thomas Everson Gilmanton, NH
#10 Ed Getty Gray
DNS #47 Chris Burgess Buckfield
DNS #27 Glenn Korner Bloomfield, CT
DNS #39 Max Cookson Pittsfield
Sources: Ken Minott/Wiscasset Speedway PR