On Saturday, May 7, Wiscasset Speedway went under the lights for the first time in 2022 with a full Group 1 racing program which included the Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros, Norm’s Used Car Pro Stocks, Sweatt’s Concrete Thunder 4 Minis, Market 27 Super Streets and a flex division, the Wicked Good Vintage Racers Hobby Class. 

The night was sponsored by JBRH Excavation & Welding Fabrication, who generously put up a winner’s bonus in the Pro Stocks and a contingency bonus for all divisions. An extra $500 bonus would be awarded to the winner (pending post-race technical inspection) of the Pro Stock feature. In addition to this bonus, a $500 contingency prize was up for grabs in each division. The pole sitter for each feature had the option to drop back to the tail-end of the field to start the race. If the driver ended up winning the race (pending post-race technical inspection) after dropping back to the tail, they would receive $500 in bonus prize money.

The spotlight feature of the night was the Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros, who displayed a growing 10 car field. 12-year-old Daniel Harding won the heat race and elected not to take the option to start the feature from the tail of the field. Harding went from fifth to first in just 7 laps, but week 1 winner, Josh Hall, was quickly maneuvering through the field. Hall took over on lap 17 and never looked back, securing his second career feature victory in the division. Ben Burgess and Daniel Harding rounded out the podium, making for a perfectly mirrored Victory Lane from Opening Day in the division. 

Neither Logan Melcher or Nick Reno decided to take the “back row challenge” for the 40-lap Pro Stock feature. Melcher took the early lead, but was quickly presented with a challenge by Nick Reno, who overtook the top spot on lap 6. After a mid-race caution, Nick Reno found himself on the front row with last year’s division champion, Josh St. Clair. The two drivers collided on the restart, unfortunately sending St. Clair hard into the turn 2 wall. Due to being involved in the caution, Nick Reno had to restart at the tail end of the field and Kevin Douglass became the new race leader. Douglass pulled away on the restart and maintained his advantage throughout the second half of the race, securing his second straight win in the division and a healthy $500 bonus. Nick Hinkley and Logan Melcher rounded out the podium.

Brothers, Addison and Mark Bowie, remained side-by-side for a major portion of the Hobby Class feature. Addison took the win as his brother Mark and fellow competitor, Bub Dow, rolled through the finish line door-to-door, making for a picture-perfect finish. Mark Bowie ultimately beat Bub Dow to the line, finishing runner-up behind his brother. 

Dustin Salley got off to a roaring start in the 25-lap Thunder 4 Mini feature and began approaching lap traffic by lap 7. Meanwhile, David Cook had accepted the back row challenge and was quickly making his way through the 20 car field. Cook had made his way to the front of the field by lap 20, where he made quick work of Butch Keene for the runner-up spot. Cook was attempting to close in on Salley in the closing laps of the race, but Dustin Salley was too far gone at the front of the field. Salley was deemed the race winner in Victory Lane, but was penalized 3 positions following post-race technical inspection due to a camber violation. Due to this, David Cook was crowned the official race winner and received the $500 race bonus from JBRH Excavation & Welding Fabrication. Jeff Farrington and Shane Webber rounded out the official top 3.

The Market 27 Super Streets rounded out the night with a final 30-lap feature race. Brett Osmond and Charlie Sanborn paced the field early, but an 8 car pile-up on the initial start took out a lot of heavy hitters and weekly contenders, including PJ Merrill and Dominic Curit. A botched restart resulted in Osmond and Sanborn having to restart on the second row and it was a battle from there on out. Zach Bowie and Brett Osmond swapped the lead back and forth before another caution brought the field back together on lap 10. This led Josh St. Clair back into the picture as he swiftly stole the top spot away from Brett Osmond. St. Clair remained strong throughout the second half of the feature, picking up his second win in a row in the division. Brett Osmond (first career podium in the division) and Bubba Pelton rounded out the top 3. 

Week 2 of Group 1 racing action surely brought the excitement to Wiscasset Speedway on Saturday, but there is plenty more racing to come! Join us on Saturday, May 14 for all Group 2 divisions and the much-anticipated Mini Stock Mayhem! Grandstands open at 4 p.m. and racing will commence at 5. As always, grandstand admission is just $5 with kids 6 and under free. For the full season schedule and more track information, please visit http://www.wiscassetspeedway.com. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset.