Pinkham Ends Winless Drought at Wiscasset Speedway
Just a few years ago Wiscasset Speedway’s Super Street division was a class on life support, on the verge of being eliminated. Fast forward to 2019 and the Maxwell’s Market Super Streets have not only rebounded and flourished but has become one of the track’s most competitive divisions. This continued on Saturday evening as Group 1 classes took to Wiscasset’s high banks for a regular race program. Wiscasset’s Bill Pinkham has been turning laps at his hometown track for over twenty years but victory lane is a place where he hadn’t visited but once in the past twelve. But the 2001 Driver of the Year returned to the top of the chart with a dominating win in the 35 lap spotlight feature. Driving a team car for point leader Mike Hodgkins, Pinkham started outside the front row and took the lead by the time they reached the backstretch. From there he built a half straightaway advantage and held the lead for the remainder of the race. He would pick up his first feature win since 2014 and his first Super Street checkered flag since 2000. There was plenty of action behind the leader in the caution-free race. Former champ Mark Lucas of Harpswell started back in the pack in 9th and raced his way up to a runner-up finish. Previous race winner Dan Trask of Chelsea took home the third-place trophy after starting 11th.
In support action, Lisbon’s Jeff Prindall picked up his 4th win of the season in the Cahill Tire 4-Cylinder Pro Stocks. The defending champ was joined in victory lane by rookie Colby Peacock of Yarmouth and Taylor Lane of Phillips. Richmond’s Curtis Anderson held firm to his point lead in the Thunder 4 Minis with his 3rd win of the season in their 25 lap tilt. Spencer Sweatt of Albion, the division runner-up took 2nd, and Jacoby Perry of Pittston took 3rd. The ServPro of Biddeford Saco Pro Stocks lined up 14 cars for the regular 40 lap feature. Second-generation racer Jamie Wright of Woolwich grabbed the early lead and then held off a late charge from Andy Saunders to grab his third win of the season. Just one early caution slowed the action. Saunders, a 2-time champ from Ellsworth, started back in10th and took home his second straight runner-up finish. Point leader and defending champ Nick Hinkley of Wiscasset is still in search of his first checkered flag of 2019, but once again turned in a strong race, picking up his class high 6th podium appearance in 3rd. Kevin Morse turned in an inspiring 4th place finish as he raced side by side with Kevin Douglass, without the benefit of power steering. Douglass rounded out the top five. The “flex” division race of the night was for the G.O. Motorsports Nelcar Legends. Veteran Shawn Buffington made his drive up from Plainfield, CT well worth it as he charged up from the back of the field to claim the 25 lap feature win. Chris Burgess of Buckfield made it interesting with late pressure but had to settle for 2nd. Thomas Everson of Gilmanton, NH recovered from an early spin to claim the 3rd place trophy.
Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Saturday, August 17th with Group 2 Fan Appreciation Night presented by Bozzuttos Inc and Mainely Motorsports TV. Fans can enjoy an on-track driver autograph session, plus kids bike races, back to school backpack giveaways and more. Plus, for the third straight year, the folks from Mainely Motorsports TV will hold a big prize raffle to raise money for The Hometown Foundation and Special Olympics. The pit gate will open at 1:00 pm, the grandstands open at 3:00 pm, and the driver autographs begin shortly after 4:00 pm. The green flag flies on the race action shortly after 5:00 pm. For full race day schedule and other info, go to www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
WISCASSET SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL FINISH 8/10/19
MAXWELL’S MARKET SUPER STREETS (35 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Diff
1 32 Billy Pinkham Wiscasset ME 35
2 5 Mark Lucas Harpswell ME 35 1.308
3 03 Dan Trask Chelsea ME 35 6.032
4 2 Josh Bailey Wiscasset ME 35 6.211
5 8 Bouncer Knight Jay ME 35 7.365
6 23 Mike Hodgkins Jefferson ME 35 7.369
7 11 Jason Oakes Boothbay ME 35 8.012
8 85 Michael Harrison Durham ME 35 9.803
9 05 Brett Osmond Wiscasset ME 34 1 Lap
10 3 Bobby Mesimer Woolwich ME 34 1 Lap
11 35 Mike Wallace Wiscasset ME 29 6 Laps
12 55 Bob Crocker Freeport ME 2 33 Laps
13 24 David Thompson Jefferson ME 35 Laps
.
.
CAHILL TIRE 4-CYLINDER PRO (25 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Diff
1 24 Jeff Prindall Lisbon ME 25
2 26 Colby Peacock Yarmouth ME 25 1.170
3 70 Taylor Lane Phillips ME 25 9.902
4 5 Dominic Curit Saco ME 25 9.952
5 00 PJ Merrill Canton ME 25 10.398
6 41 Nicole Benincasa Buxton ME 25 11.760
7 17A Noah Alexander Orrington ME 25 14.177
8 01 Jet Decker Chesterville ME 24 1 Lap
9 42 Mike Kibben Lisbon Falls ME 24 1 Lap
10 8 Callahan Cox Strong ME 24 1 Lap
11 7b Benjamin Burgess Hartford ME 24 1 Lap
12 19 Andy Kaherl Saco ME 23 2 Laps
13 11 Marissa LaPointe Peru ME 19 6 Laps
.
.
THUNDER 4 MINI (25 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Diff
1 04 Curtis Anderson Richmond ME 25
2 84 Spencer Sweatt Albion ME 25 1.443
3 23 Jacoby Perry Pittston ME 25 16.586
4 13 Greg Gibbs Richmond ME 25 17.944
5 50 Bo Locke Cornville ME 24 1 Lap
6 25 Brian Burr Brunswick ME 25 Laps
7 46 Ches Williams Hope ME
.
.
SERVPRO OF BIDDEFORD SACO PRO STOCKS (40 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Diff
1 84 Jamie Wright Woolwich ME 40
2 01x Andy Saunders Ellsworth ME 40 0.502
3 15 Nick Hinkley Wiscasset ME 40 3.042
4 29 Kevin Morse Woolwich ME 40 6.016
5 18 Kevin Douglass Sidney ME 40 6.472
6 72 Charlie Colby Newcastle ME 40 6.600
7 13T Cody Tribbett Richmond ME 40 7.080
8 12 Rodney Brooks Thomaston ME 40 8.901
9 5 Jacob Dore North Berwick ME 40 10.179
10 11 Cody Verrill Woolwich ME 40 12.677
11 2 Chris Ryan Newburgh ME 40 15.148
12 17 Joey Peaslee Jefferson ME 2 38 Laps
13 02 Shane Lane North Anson ME 2 38 Laps
dns 13 Nate Tribbett Richmond ME dns
.
.
G.O. MOTORSPORTS NELCAR LEGENDS (25 laps)
Pos No. Name Home Town State Laps Diff
1 23S Shaun Buffington Plainfield CT 25
2 47 Chris Burgess Buckfield ME 25 0.107
3 4NH Thomas Everson Gilmanton NH 25 6.481
4 07 Nick Calvert Steep Falls ME 25 10.358
5 4 Peter Craig Poland ME 25 13.881
6 21 Tyler Barry Griswold CT 25 15.301
7 05 Darren Gallant Hampton NH 25 18.961
8 33 Alan Smith Lincoln ME 25 20.470
9 35r Ryan Rice Biddeford ME 25 22.082
10 95 Thomas Searles Upton MA 25 26.038
11 15 Trevor Krouse Gorham ME 23 2 Laps
12 6 David Kinney Skowhegan ME 23 2 Laps
13 92 Colby Meserve Buxton ME 1 24 Laps
14 53 Cody Rice Biddeford ME 25 Laps
Sources: Ken Minott/Wiscasset Speedway PR