Thorne Wins Late Model Season Opener at Wiscasset
A sunny but blustery and cold Saturday evening didn’t deter a large contingent of eager fans hungry to get some racing action. Group 2 finally got the chance to get their 2019 season going along with the first appearance of the season for the Wicked Good Vintage Racers. Skowhegan’s Zach Audet appeared to have a dominant win within his grasp in the spotlight feature for the Outlaw Minis until an electrical issue late in the race on lap 31 changed everything. Defending champ Jimmy Childs was there to capitalize on the leader’s tough luck and cruised to the feature win. Other winners on the program included Jonathan Emerson in the Strictly Streets and Chris Thorne in the Late Model Sportsman. Nick Reno took the checkers in the Modified feature.
In the 35 lap spotlight feature for the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis, the front row was made up of one of the track’s best rivalries in former champs Jimmy Childs and Zach Audet. Childs got the upper hand in the heat race and started from the pole position. But Audet didn’t let that last long as he blasted around Childs at the drop of the green flag and into the lead by the time they exited turn two. From there he set the pace and gradually stretched out his lead to nearly a full straightaway. Had the race ended at its normal 25 lap distance Audet would be celebrating in victory lane, but being a spotlight race, they would race for an additional 10 laps. Many times those extra laps make a world of difference, and this race proved the point once again. As the field crossed the stripe to conclude lap 30, Audet suddenly began to slow with apparent electrical problems. Childs blew by him first in turn one and by the time Audet coasted to a stop back on the front stretch, the remainder drivers had passed him by as well. Childs took care of business on the restart and drove on to the win in defense of his division title. Jason Kimball of Pittston returned from a 16-year break from racing and turned in a nice second-place run. Former champion Rob Greenleaf remained in the top 5 the entire race and finished 3rd.
The Norms Used Cars Strictly Street 25 lap feature showcased a great door to door battle between father and son. Third generation racer Jonathon Emerson held off his father Zach Emerson for the entire race, with veteran Bryan Robbins in hot pursuit. The kid held strong all the way to the checkers to pick up the wire to wire victory. He was the top winner in the class last season with 4 victories. In the battle for 2nd, Robbins was able to pull to the inside of Zach Emerson on the final lap and secure the runner-up spot by just .07 seconds. Brad Erskine and Shawn Emery filled out the top five.
The Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman division rolled out an impressive field of 22 cars for the season opener. Rookies Jake Hendsbeee and Brent Roy – both moving up from the Outlaw Mini ranks – started on the front row for the 40 lap feature race. A talented cast of former champions lurked back in the field, ready to make their charge to the front. Hendsbee made a strong statement, holding the lead and easily working his way through lap traffic as the race went caution free for the first 30 laps. 4-time champ Chris Thorne had moved up from his 7th starting position to take the restart on the outside and would quickly grab the lead from the rookie. From there he held off challenges from Hendsbee and from Josh St Clair to grab his first win of the season. Hendsbee and St Clair joined him in victory lane for 2nd and 3rd respectively. Fourth place went to defending champ Andrew McLaughlin who started 20th and mate a late race charge. Brandon Fowler of Rome completed the top five.
The K&A Property Services Modifieds may have been short on competitors, but it was long on action. Just four cars took the green for the division’s shortened 20 lap feature. Adam Chadbourne and Nick Reno put on a hard fought wheel to wheel battle for much of the race, with neither taking the lead by more than a car length. Nick Reno would end up taking the checkered flag with Chadbourne crossing the line a close 2nd. Wayne Whitten Jr of Kennebunk finished 3rd.
The Wicked Good Vintage Racers three feature winners were John Knapp of Bowdoinham in the Hobby Class, Mark Zacadelli in the Late Model Class, and Bill Pierce in the Outlaw Class.
Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Saturday, May 18th with Group 1 in action. The Thunder 4 Minis and 4-Cylinder Pros will each have a spotlight feature along with Pro Stocks and Super Streets in regular action. The pit gate opens at 1:00 pm, grandstand gate at 3:00 pm and the green flag flies on the action at 5:00 pm. Full race day schedule and other info can be found on the track website www.wiscassetspeedway.com
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL RESULTS 5/11/19
KENNEBEC EQUIPMENT RENTAL OUTLAW MINI (35 laps – spotlight)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Diff Gap Best Tm In Lap
1 10 Jimmy Childs Leeds ME 35 17.102 15
2 20 Jason Kimball Pittston ME 35 3.07 3.070 17.287 16
3 2 Rob Greenleaf West Bath ME 35 3.429 0.359 17.382 5
4 08 Kyle Willette Waterville ME 34 1 Lap 1 Lap 17.202 17
5 78 Brady Romano Livermore Falls ME 34 1 Lap 1.501 17.787 20
6 40 Dixson Smith Augusta ME 33 2 Laps 1 Lap 18.376 32
7 66 James Grover Jr Newcastle ME 31 4 Laps 2 Laps 17.228 4
8 19 Zach Audet Skowhegan ME 30 5 Laps 1 Lap 16.976 2
9 41 Leo Hatch Augusta ME 30 5 Laps 0.005 18.387 23
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NORMS USED CARS STRICTLY STREETS (25 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Diff Gap Best Tm In Lap
1 24 Jonathon Emerson Sabattus ME 25 17.557 12
2 51x Bryan Robbins Montville ME 25 0.087 0.087 17.624 11
3 23 Zachary Emerson Sabattus ME 25 0.165 0.078 17.575 4
4 29 Brad Erskine Solon ME 25 0.341 0.176 17.708 16
5 13 Shawn Emery Limington ME 25 1.345 1.004 17.729 3
6 61 Shawn Austin Norridgewock ME 24 1 Lap 1 Lap 17.871 4
7 09x Ryan Ripley Thomaston ME 23 2 Laps 1 Lap 17.717 10
8 05 Brett Osmond Wiscasset ME 9 16 Laps 14 Laps 17.835 3
9 00 Kimberly Knight Chesterville ME 8 17 Laps 1 Lap 17.900 3
10 1m Bob Russell Round Pond ME 2 23 Laps 6 Laps 20.010 1
dns 47 Brian Caswell Buxton ME dns
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WOOD PELLET WAREHOUSE LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN (40 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Diff Gap Best Tm In Lap
1 17 Chris Thorne Sidney ME 40 15.663 7
2 27 Jake Hensbee Whitefield ME 40 1.712 1.712 15.611 2
3 33 Josh St. Clair Liberty ME 40 1.737 0.025 15.589 4
4 26 Andrew McLaughlin Harrington ME 40 2.053 0.316 15.797 39
5 22 Branden Fowler Rome ME 40 3.27 1.217 15.874 3
6 30 Ryan St. Clair Liberty ME 40 3.55 0.28 15.879 5
7 4 Ben Erskine Fairfield ME 40 3.781 0.231 15.999 4
8 47 Brandon Bailey Woolwich ME 40 4.576 0.795 15.864 5
9 41 Logan Melcher Fayette ME 40 4.661 0.085 15.918 4
10 21x James Barker Turner ME 40 6.355 1.694 16.125 6
11 00 Alex Waltz Walpole ME 40 6.514 0.159 16.084 6
12 21 Shane Clark Winterport ME 40 6.82 0.306 16.168 5
13 26r Brent Roy Vassalboro ME 40 7.014 0.194 16.157 5
14 5x Mark Lucas Harpswell ME 39 1 Lap 1 Lap 16.489 18
15 19 Shane Kaherl Jay ME 39 1 Lap 0.899 16.131 5
16 73 Dylan Turner China ME 39 1 Lap 1.295 16.308 6
17 30a DC Alexander Carmel ME 39 1 Lap 0.529 16.204 4
18 4c Conner Wenners Edgecomb ME 39 1 Lap 1.394 16.192 7
19 25 Will Collins Waldoboro ME 30 10 Laps 9 Laps 15.608 3
20 15m Frank Moulton Clinton ME 22 18 Laps 8 Laps 16.147 10
21 12 Anthony Milano Skowhegan ME 2 38 Laps 20 Laps 18.139 2
dns 14 Dave St Clair Liberty ME dns
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K&A PROPERTY SERVICES MODIFIEDS (20 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Diff Gap Best Tm In Lap
1 77 Nick Reno West Bath ME 20 15.929 5
2 1 Adam Chadbourne Woolwich ME 20 0.136 0.136 15.898 6
3 2x Wayne Whitten Jr. Kennebunk ME 20 3.398 3.262 16.028 4
4 48 Brian Treadwell Hancock ME 20 3.583 0.185 16.071 13
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WICKED GOOD VINTAGE – HOBBY (15 laps)
1. #5 John Knapp – Bowdoinham
WICKED GOOD VINTAGE – LATE MODEL (25 laps)
1. #22 Mark Zacadelli – Warren
WICKED GOOD VINTAGE – OUTLAW (20 laps)
1. #94 Bill Pierce – South Bristol
Sources: Ken Minott/Wiscasset Speedway PR