JOHNNY CLARK WINS INAUGURAL NEW ENGLAND DEALERS "TOYOTA TUNDRA 250" AT WISCASSET
by Ken Minott

It was only fitting that Sunday's running of the N.E. Toyota Tundra 250 at Wiscasset Raceway came down to a green-white-checkers finish between the two drivers who dominated the inaugural event. In the end it was Farmingdale's Johnny Clark who took home the win over Boothbay native Corey Williams to claim the $30,000+ payoff. Clark could not help but reflect on his long list of success at the track that launched his career. "I got my first prostock win here in 97' when I was seventeen" recalled the winner in victory lane. "I beat Stan Messerve and John Phippen that day and I thought that was the best. This one is right there with that one. It's great to get this one at my home track".

The big race highlighted a busy doubleheader weekend of action at Maine's Center of Speed. Fans packed the stands to near capacity Sunday evening as thirty-eight of the northeast region's top Super Late Model drivers pulled onto the track for the main event. Williams started on the outside of the front row with Fred Astle Jr securing the pole position. At the drop of the green flag Williams looked unbeatable as he shot to the lead and pulled away with Cushing's Chuck Lachance and Steve Knowlton of Ipswich, MA in tow.

First round of pit stops for the leaders would come just past the 100 lap mark and it turned things over to Knowlton until he would give up the lead for tires and gas himself on lap 111 along with contenders Scott Chubbuck, DJ Shaw, Travis Benjamin and Richie Dearborn. Clark was then left as the only contender yet to pit and that's where he decided to take a gamble. "I told the guys we needed to wait another 50 laps (longer than the leaders), but I had no idea we would go another 100 laps." said Clark, referring to his plan that almost backfired on him. He checked out on the field and pulled out to a full straightaway lead by lap 150, but the caution he was waiting for didn't come and his big lead was soon erased by Trevor Sanborn and DJ Shaw as Clarks tires faded away.

Shaw, who was a lap down early in the race, passed Sanborn for 2nd on lap 187 and then took the lead from Clark on lap 192. Finally, the yellow flag came out for a spin on lap 198 and Clark dashed to the pits for the tires he so desperately needed. The only question to be answered was if he had enough time to get back to the front. It took very little time for Clark prove that he was still in the running, as he quickly began picking off cars, sometimes three wide in a frantic charge through the field. He made it back up to 4th by lap 206 and then just a lap later drove around Adam Bates for 3rd. Knowlton would be his next victim, taking the 2nd position by lap 212. Five laps later he raced his way under Shaw to regain the lead. It looked like Clark was well on his way to the big payday, but as the laps ticked away there was some pretty heated action in the middle of the top ten with Williams moving back up into the top five after a second pit stop and several others racing hard for the money.

Four more cautions in the final 25 laps bunched up the field and gave Knowlton a couple more shots at the leader. The final caution on lap 248 provided on of the race's biggest twists as Kelly Moore, Trevor Sanborn and DJ Shaw tangled out of turn four. This would set up the exciting green-white-checker finish with Williams back up to take on Clark for the victory. The two made contact heading into turn one and Clark was able to shake off the challenge and run to the checkers, beating Williams across the stripe by .705 seconds. Williams knew the restart was his only chance. "I was hoping for a miracle, him missing a shift or something big. I knew that he a had a good car and I didn't know what I was going to be able to do to beat him". In victory lane Clark raved about his crew and his brand new car they prepared specifically for this race. "This is a brand new car.. a brand new car brand new motor, the only thing used on this thing is my seat!".

Clark was then presented a special custom made stainless steel and walnut trophy by representatives from Lee Toyota of Topsham representing the New England Toyota Dealers. Williams, the current PASS South division points leader, would take home a nice paycheck of $12,000 plus earned lap money for his efforts. Knowlton brought in $6,000 for 3rd. Chubbuck spent much of the day in the top five but would settle for 4th. Freedom's Randy Turner was the top finishing Wiscasset regular finishing 5th. The top ten was completed by Adam Bates of Warner,NH; Paul White of Corrina; Chuck Lachance, Richie Dearborn of Hollis, and Gary Smith of Bangor. For a complete recap of the race and supporting PASS races, go to www.racewithpass.com.