There was a bustle at Wiscasset Speedway as a pit area full of drivers and crew prepared for five exciting races to please the fans gathered in the grandstands. Despite a nip to the air, hundreds were at the track, to both watch and participate in short track racing.

On the line up were the group two division, including Outlaw Mini’s, Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Streets, and Wiscasset’s newest addition, Modified. The flex race of the week were the super-fast Amsoil Nelcar Legends.

The Outlaw Mini class was the Spotlight feature of the week. The Mini’s competed in a thirty-five lap event. Heat winner, Cody Tribbet, of the #13 started at the pole. Behind him was George Fortin of the #9. Fortin leapt to the lead early in the race, and looked out his rear view mirror at his competitors trying to catch up for the remainder of the race.

Starting in third was the #10 of Jimmy Childs. Childs lost position to the #34 of Justin Trombley during lap one. Trombley looked for his opportunity to claim second, but couldn’t gain an advantage over Tribbet until lap twenty-five, when he managed to get underneath Tribbet and complete the pass for second. Fortin had a commanding lead, and Trombley did not have enough time to challenge Fortin for the win. Fortin took the checkered, with Trombley placing second. Tribbet rounded out the top three.

“I pulled the car out of the trailer from last year at 7:00 this morning,” Fortin said. “I put two tires on it, and came out on top. We had won the last race last year. It is a good feeling to take the win. It is good to get back in the seat after a long winter. I want to thank all my sponsors, including Roger’s Reliable Auto, Wolf Den Racing, and Jim’s Nissan.”

Twenty-two Late Model Sportsman cars cruised onto the track, in what proved to be an action packed thirty five lap feature. The #25 of Will Collins started at the pole with the #15 of Nick Hinkley and the #04ME of TJ Watson behind. The action was heated from the start, with cars vying for position. Door to door racing ensued with everyone wanting to claim a win.

Collins pulled away from the pack, and Hinkley dropped back, allowing Watson to claim second. Chris Thorne of the #17 soon passed Hinkley from his fourth place starting position, and advanced up the track to challenge Watson. Thorne passed Waston during lap five, and a caution the following lap gave Thorne the opportunity to challenge Collins for the lead. It was heated side by side race, when a second caution put an end to the chase. The restart saw more door to door racing, but Collins ultimately took the lead once again.

Behind the leaders, Hinkley and Watson battled for third. Hinkley completed a pass before another caution was thrown during lap eight. When racing action resumed, Collins got a good start, and after a two lap battle, Thorne found himself dropping to third place as Hinkley had the inside track and advanced to second.

There was plenty of track action, with the field packed full of competitors. Starting in fifteenth place was the #26 of Andrew McLaughlin. McLaughlin proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with as he navigated through lap traffic towards the front of the pack.

Ahead, Thorne and Hinkley battle for second. Thorne heads to the outside and by lap twenty gets ahead of Hinkley by a nose, the pair determinedly race for several laps with one going ahead of the other. The fifth caution of the race during lap twenty-six saw Hinkley in second place, but on the restart Thorne gained advantage and went under Hinkley for second.

Excitement mounted as a chase for third began. The #4 of Ben Erskine is neck and neck with Hinkley, and McLaughlin close behind. Erskine slides sideways coming out of turn four during lap thirty three, and McLaughlin swooped up and in a close quarter battle, Hinkley and McLaughlin fought for position. It was anybody’s race for third.

Collins had the lead, and Thorne was unable to complete a pass during the final laps. Collins led the field across the finish line, making it his second Late Model win at Wiscasset. Thorne took second. In the heated battle for third, the duo of Hinkley and McLaughlin were nose to nose, with no clear leader. When the pair flew under the checkered, the #26 of McLaughlin was four one hundredths of a second ahead of Hinkley, an exciting finish for third.

“We worked on the car quite a bit over the last month, and finished it up last night,” Collins said post-race. “It was a good race and the car ran great. It was good racing with Chris because he races hard and clean. Thanks to my mom and dad, Randy, Andy, MG, and Guy. I also want to give a big thank you to my wife! I currently have no sponsors and I’m looking for them.”

Starting their 2015 Season at Wiscasset Speedway were the Amsoil Nelcar Legends Tour. Twelve Legends cars competed in a twenty five lap feature event. Starting at the pole was the #19 of Kevin Girard. Behind him were the #84 of Matt Grant and the #38 of Mathew Bourgoine. Bourgoine was the 2014 champ, who won at least once at every Maine racetrack he competed at last year.

The first lap saw the only leader change in the top three, with Bourgoine taking second on the inside. There were two cautions during the race, but Bourgoine was unable to take the lead despite his efforts. Girard took the win, and thanked his pit crew, family, and sponsors, including Mainly Plumbing. Bourgoine placed second. Grant took third.

The newest class at Wiscasset Speedway are the Modified division. A thirty lap feature was a crowd pleaser. The #5 of Mark Lucas was the heat winner and started at the pole. Gary Thorne of the #20 and the #85 of Jairet Harrison were behind.

During lap five, the #61 of Shawn Austin passed Harrison for third. From the start, Thorne and Lucas put on a show. The pair battled it out for the lead until Thorne spun out on the back stretch during lap fourteen causing a caution. The #96 of Scott Chubbuck moved to third.

When racing began on the track once again, Thorne spun coming out of turn two, and Harrison spun behind him. The #8 of Richard Jordan advanced to third. The restart saw Lucas once again leap to the lead, but behind Chubbuck and Jordan battled for second. Jordan got the inside track and by the time Jordan was heading down the backstretch during lap nineteen, he had secured second.

Behind, Thorne was navigating through the field back to the front, but was unable to reach the top three, and finished in fourth. Taking the win was Lucas. Lucas raced the Pass tour last year and was two points away from taking the Pass Modified championship. Jordan placed second. Chubbuck took third.

“It was a fun start,” Lucas said. “I was having a good time racing Gary Thorne until he got hung up on the track. I figured from the start he was going to be the one to beat, but that’s racing. Glad to see that many cars show up, and hope to see more in the future. I want to thank my crew and Lucas Auto Repair.”

Wrapping up the racing action for the evening was a twenty five lap Strictly Street feature. Heat winner, Corey Morgan, started at the pole with the #83 of Dan Brown in second. Starting in third was the #51 of Kyle Hewins. There were several restarts during lap one, with no full lap completed. Kyle Hewins suffered a right front tire down, causing a caution. He went to the pits and lost his third place start, with third going to the #55H of Kurt Hewins.

When action resumed, and the race restarted, Morgan shot to the lead. Brown dropped in behind him. Kurt Hewins saw an opportunity to get under Brown and take second during lap two, and Brown slipped to third. A caution during lap eight saw an exciting restart, as Brown and Kurt Hewins race door to door for second. During lap nine, Kurt Hewins went sideways on turn three, giving Brown the number two spot and the #01, of Billy Childs Jr., third place.

There were two additional cautions during race time. On both restarts, Brown and Morgan battled it out for the lead, with Morgan pulling ahead ultimately, even though Brown did edge ahead at times. 2014 Strictly Street champion Morgan took the win. Brown placed second. Childs took third.

“It’s going to be great racing this year,” Morgan said post-race. “It’s going to be a harder season for me, there were at least four guys who could easily have beaten me. Dan Brown almost had it. He had me there, but we whooped it out. He’s a great guy and a good driver, we’re going to have fun this year. The competition will be good for the fans too. I was to thank my sponsors, Nicely Built Racing Engines, Temp Setters, and The Sign Store.”

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, May 2 with its group one lineup of divisions: Prostock, Napa Super Street, Thunder 4’s, and New England Four Cylinder Prostock. The flex race of the week are the Wicked Good Vintage Racers. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., grandstand gates open at 4, and racing begins at 6. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Pit admission is $20.

Race fans and drivers can purchase their favorite pictures from not only this season, but from season’s past, at Peter Taylor’s (the track photographer) website: www.petespicks.smugmug.com. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

Official finish April 25

Outlaw Mini (35 Laps)

1. #9 George Fortin, Greene

2. #34 Justin Trombley, Winter Harbor

3. #13 Cody Tribbet, Richmond

4. #52 Dustin Damon, Buckfield

5. #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds

6. #29 Shawn Kimball, Augusta

7. #61 Chris Morris, Poland

8. #19 Shane Kaherl, Jay

DNS #17 Matt Weil, Biddeford

Late Model Sportsman (35 Laps)

1. #25 Will Collins, Waldoboro

2. #17 Chris Thorne, Sidney

3. #26 Andrew McLaughlin, Harrington

4. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset

5. #4 Ben Erskine, Farmington

6. #51 Puncin St Clair, Liberty

7. #30 Ryan St Clair, Liberty

8. #14 Dave St Clair, Liberty

9. #04ME TJ Watson, Cundy’s Harbor

10. #87 Chuck Colby, Wiscasset

11. #33 Josh St Clair, Liberty

12. #2 John Kalel II, Orrington

13. #34 Tyler Robbins, Montville

14. #28 Steve Minott, Windham

15. #21 Shane Clark, Winterport

16. #13 Nathan Tribbet, Richmond

17. #6 Chris Bowie, New Glouster

18. #3 Richard Jordan, Kingfield

19. #00 Alex Waltz, Walpole

20. #7 Jay Bailey, Wiscasset

21. #5 Bill Pinkham, Wiscasset

22. #5X Leon Cray, Dresden

DNS #5X Mark Lucas, Harpswell

DNS Wes Turner, Montville

Modified (30 Laps)

1. #5 Mark Lucas, Harpswell

2. #8 Richard Jordan, Kingfield

3. #96 Scott Chubbuck, Bowdoin

4. #20 Gary Thorne, Sidney

5. #85 Jairet Harrison, Freeport

6. #61 Shawn Austin, Norridgewock

7. #39 Mike Brown, Hope

8. #33 Ron Bryant, Livermore

9. #3 Ed Trask, Augusta

DNS #60 Dana Reed, Shapleigh

Strictly Street (25 Laps)

1. #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston

2. #83 Dan Brown, Peru

3. #01 Billy Childs Jr, Leeds

4. #55H Kurt Hewins, Leeds

5. #24 Jonathan Emerson, Sabattus

6. #22 Thomas Smith, Edgecomb

7. #11 Cody Verrill, Wiscasset

8. #51 Kyle Hewins, Leeds

9. #85 Chanler Harrison, Freeport

10. #00 Kimberly Knight, Chesterville

11. #02 Paul Hopkins, Camden

12. #14 Dave Brannon, Lisbon

13. #51X Bryan Robbins, Montville

14. #4X Travis Lincoln, Wiscasset

15. #36 Richard Spaulding, Lisbon

Amsoil Nelcar Legends (25 Laps)

1. #19 Kevin Girard Jr, Old Orchard Beach

2. #38 Mathew Bourgoine, Newport

3. #84 Matt Grant, Windham

4. #33 Alan Smith, Lincoln

5. #10 Ed Getty, Gray

6. #17 Terry Kirk, Durham

7. #00 Philip Brackett, South Portland

8. #72 Michael Humphrey, Cornish

9. #88 Pete Cannell, South Berwick

10. #92 Colby Meserve, Buxton

11. #8 Matt Chagnot, Derry, New Hampshire

12. #80 Dylan Varney, Windham

13. #33 Tylar Braunschwieg, West Newfield