AND
THE WINNER
IS :
WISCASSET
RACEWAY
by Ken
Minott
If
mid-October's
turnout and
the mood
among
drivers and
fans
provided any
kind of
litmus test
as to the
future of
Wiscasset
Raceway,
then
"Maine's
Biggest &
Fastest"
could indeed
have a
bright
future
ahead.
Things have
been quiet
in the hills
bordering
Wiscasset &
Alna for
much of the
summer. The
once
buslting
racetrack
had fallen
quiet with a
"For Sale"
sign
replacing
the sign
that would
typically
welcome fans
each
weekend. But
on October
15th, thanks
to a large
and
enthusiastic
group of
volunteers,
the track
came to life
for one day
and the
result was
astounding.
Over 2000
fans &
supporters
packed the
stands on
the sunny &
blustery
autumn day
to watch
nearly 170
cars circle
Maine's
fastest oval
as a sign of
support in a
cause deemed
"Save
Wiscasset
Raceway".
Local
businessmen
Tony True &
Dale
Chadbourne
got
together,
leased the
track, and
put the
event
together to
spotlight
the
viability of
the track to
potential
buyers and
to keep
Wicasset
town noise
ordinances
in effect,
making it
easier for a
buyer to
keep the 42
year
facility
alive. The
pair called
it a
non-profit
raceday
"with a
twist". Fans
& drivers
alike were
charged a
modest $5
admission
fee in which
all proceeds
went back to
sponsors who
stepped up
to cover the
cost of
putting on
the event.
Any money
left over
would be
split evenly
between all
drivers
participating.
The
promotion
drew fans &
drivers from
throughout
northern New
England,
some who had
not been to
the track in
years. One
particular
guest that
caught the
attention of
many was
Wiscasset
native
Wilfred
Cronk, the
man who
originally
built the
track back
in 1968.
"This day
has been
amazing"
said
Chadbourne.
"It's bigger
than I ever
imagined,
I'm
speechless".
True echoed
his friends
thoughts as
the two
recieved
placques of
recognition
and
enthusiastic
appluase
from the
grateful
audience
during a
break in the
action. "I
can't think
you guys
enough. This
will
hopefully
show someone
out there,
interested
in buying
this place,
that this
place can
work and
people want
to see this
place
succeed".
Word came
later in the
day that
there were
as many as
three
interested
parties at
the track on
the 15th
taking in
the show.
While fans
got to see
many of
their
favorite
drivers in
victory lane
thoughout
the day, the
general
concensus
was that the
track itself
and the
event
organizers
were the big
winners.
Over ten
divisions of
racing
highlighted
the 8 hour
show,
including
Prostocks,
Late Models,
Street
Stocks &
Mini Stocks,
and the
Wicked Good
Vintage
Racers, also
a handful of
crazy races
were held
following
the regular
weekly
racers. In
the 25 lap
Prostock
feature
Yarmouth's
Bill Penfold
brought back
memories of
his glory
days at
Wiscasset,
passing for
the lead
with two
laps to go
and holding
on for the
win.
Penfold's
familiar
pink #0 was
locked in a
great
race-long
battle with
Sidney's
Chris Thorne
and Jay
Sands of New
Hampshire.
Sands would
take 2nd and
Thorne 3rd.
Ed Trask
held the
lead for
much of the
race but
faded to
finish 4th.
Travis
Dunbar
finished
5th. In the
35 lap Late
Model
Sprtsman
feature
Liberty's
Puncin St
Clair held
off all
challengers
and led wire
to wire for
the victory.
The former
champ
withstood
and early
challenge
from his son
Josh St
Clair and a
late race
run from
David Folsom
II. Folsom
took 2nd
followed by
Washington's
John Rideout
3rd, Steve
Reny of
Boothbay 4th
and Brian
Robbins of
Monteville
5th. In the
20 lap Super
Street
feature
Shawn Waitel
used strong
restarts to
hold off a
pair of
Wiscasset
veterans for
the win.
Allen
Moeller Sr
and Brian
Fortin
joined him
in victory
lane.
Multi-time
Strictly
Street champ
Maurice
Young of
Windsor
showed he
was still
the man to
beat at his
home track,
leading a
packed field
of Strictly
Streets &
Wildcats for
a green to
checkers
victory,
Perhaps the
most
impressive
run was from
Andrew
McLaughlin
who, despite
little
experience
at
Wiscasset,
picked his
way through
traffic and
held off a
pair of
former track
champs for
2nd place.
Mike Moody,
Wayne Ripley
and Steve
Peirpont
filled out
the top
five. Other
winners on
the busy
race program
included
Dave Cameron
in the 6
Cylinder
Roadrunner
class; Pete
McCollet in
the A Mini
Stocks; Ryan
Ripley in
the Flying
Four Mini
Stocks;
Derek
Peresien in
the Teen
Class;
Jeremy
Binnette in
the Trucks;
TJ Blue in
the Maine
Mini Mods;
Adam
Chadbourne
in the
Enduro;
Jaimie
Henderson &
George "DoDo"
Brockman in
the Wicked
Good Vintage
Racers. The
program
ended with a
burnout
contest, a
Flagpole
race and an
Applience
Race. Photos
and other
information
with be
provided on
the
Wiscasset
Raceway
website at
www.wiscassetraceway.info.
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