Ryan Chadwick takes second Thunder 4 win of season
Saturday, May 10 was a beautiful spring evening at Wiscasset Speedway. Feature racing started just as the bright lights of Wiscasset lit up the track. On the schedule were the group one division of racing: Thunder 4’s, Late Model Sportsman, Mini Trucks and Strictly Street. The Wicked Good Vintage Racers were also at the Speedway for two flex feature events.
First on the track was the spotlighted race of the week, a 25-lap Thunder 4 event. Starting on the pole was Robert McDonald (#14). Behind him were Jeff Davis (#1) Jeff Davis and Mike Mathieu )(#88me).
During lap two, Bill Grover (#7) passed Mathieu on the outside of turn one for third. Grover moved up the track and passed Davis for second on the inside of turn four during lap two.
Ryan Chadwick (#5) passed Davis on the outside of turn one during lap three to take third. The following lap, Chadwick passed Grover to take second. Chadwick advanced up the track and looked for his opportunity to pass McDonald for the lead. His chance came in lap seven, when he moved to the outside of turn three and completed the pass.
Race leaders remained constant for the rest of the race. Chadwick placed first. In Victory Lane, Chadwick said, “It was good racing throughout the race. I would like to thank Bath and Wiscasset Napa and my pit crew member, Shawn. Shawn helped me get it all together.”
McDonald came in second. Grover took third. Chadwick was point leader in the Thunder 4 division, coming into Saturday’s race with 60 points. Grover was close behind, with 54 points.
Making an appearance at Wiscasset Speedway were the Wicked Good Vintage Racers. There were two feature races by the Wicked Good Vintage Racers. First up was a 20-lap late model and modified event. Starting at the pole was Mark Hughes (#25). Behind him were Steve Kahler (#96) and George Harding (#48).
When green flag racing began, Kahler surged ahead and Rosey Gerry (#151) and Mike Willette (#D5) followed behind Kahler and slid into the second and third spot. During lap two, Gerry passed Kahler on the inside of turn two for the lead. Mike Willette then passed Kahler on the inside of turn four for second during lap three.
Moving up from behind was Norris Willette (#8). Norris Willette moved to the inside during lap four and passed Kahler on the backstretch for third. Then, during lap five, Norris Willette passed Mike Willette on the inside of turn three for second. Mike Willette then dropped back allowing Harding to claim third during lap five.
Norris Willette then challenged Gerry for the lead. It was not until lap 13 that Norris Willette saw his opportunity, and moved to the outside of turn three and passed Gerry for first. Norris Willette flew under the checkered in first. Gerry placed second. Rounding out the top three was Harding.
The Wicked Good Vintage Racers hit the track once again. This time Late Model Sportsman and Outlaws were competing in a 20-lap race. In the pole position was Dennis Fish (#35). Behind him were Kevin Waterhouse (#2) and Mark Thurlow (#M16). Waterhouse and Thurlow battled for second position for two laps, then during lap three Thurlow pulled ahead for second. Waterhouse then fell back allowing Don Mehurn (#76) to claim third. Lap four saw Mehurn pass Thurlow for second.
There was a caution during lap six. There was a jumble on the restart when race leader, Fish, was slow off the start. When the dust cleared, Mehurn was in first. John Rice (#11) was in second. In third was Thurlow. Neil Martin (#1) was coming up from the back of the pack. Martin moved to the outside of turn two and passed Thurlow during lap seven for third.
Lap nine saw Rice head inside and pass Mehurn on turn two for the lead. Then, Rice spun on the front stretch causing a caution. On the restart, Mehurn was in the lead, behind him was Martin, and Bobby Symonds (#82) had moved up to third. Symonds passed Martin on the inside of turn one on lap 10 to take second.
There was another caution during lap 16. On the restart, Martin passed Symonds on the inside of turn one and moved to second. Then, Rice passed Symonds on the outside of the front stretch during lap 16 to take third.
Mehurn roared over the finish in the lead. Martin placed second and Rice took third.
An action packed 35-lap Late Model Sportsman feature was next on the agenda. Will Collins (#25) was in the pole position. Josh St. Clair (#33) and Steve Reno (#68) were behind him. During lap 13, Reno came together with Ryan St. Clair (#30), who had moved up from his seventh place starting position. Nick Hinkley (#15) passed by both and took third. Hinkley then spun alone on the track coming out of turn three causing a caution.
When racing action resumed, Collins led the pack. Josh St. Clair was in second. Ryan St. Clair was in third. During lap 20 Ryan St. Clair moved to the outside of the front stretch and passed Josh St. Clair for second.
Ryan St. Clair then moved up the track looking for first. During lap 33, he made his move, going to the outside of the backstretch and nosed ahead of Collins. Collins raced furiously beside him on the inside. The duo raced side by side until the finish with Ryan St. Clair’s Dave’s World Chevy Impala taking the checkered by a fraction of a second. Ryan St. Clair said, “It was a good race. The car loosened up a little bit but it never once faded on me. I’d like to thank my grandfather, Dave St. Clair. I would also like to thank my sponsors, my aunt Barbara, Dave’s World, and ARC Electric.”
Collins placed second. Collins came into Saturday’s race forth in points, with 48. This win will improve his standing. Post-race, Collins said, “I feel OK, a little disappointed I gave it away though. But, really, this is only my second time in this car, and there will be a learning curve.”
Josh St. Clair took third.
In a 15-lap show, the Mini Trucks took to the track. Starting at the pole was Matt Curtis (#1). Behind him were Jeff Schmidt (#22) and Gerry McKenna (#12). Right off the start, McKenna passed Schmidt on the inside for second. During lap two, Opie Allard (#68) passed Schmidt on the outside of turn three for third.
McKenna moved to the inside of turn three and passed Curtis for the lead during lap five. Allard and Schmidt followed the inside track and also passed Curtis, leaving Curtis in fourth.
McKenna took the win. Allard placed second and Schmidt placed third. Coming into the race, McKenna was second in points behind Kris Knox. Knox had 60 points. McKenna had 56 points. Knox did not race in Saturday’s race. Schmidt came into the race third in points with 52.
Sixteen Strictly Street race cars roared onto the track to compete in a 25-lap feature. Starting at the pole was Gerry Freve (#39). Behind him were Zach Emerson (#23) and Jonathan Emerson (#24). Off the start Freve and Zach Emerson battled for the lead. During lap one, Zach Emerson passed Freve on turn three for the lead. Tasha Dyer (#32) passed Jonathan Emerson for third during lap six.
Coming from his 14th starting position was Corey Morgan (#26). Morgan passed Dyer for third on the outside of the front stretch during lap ten. Then, during lap 15, Morgan passed Freve on the outside of turn three for second. Lap 21 saw Morgan pass Zach Emerson on the backstretch for the lead.
Zach Emerson fought back and passed Morgan on the inside of the backstretch during lap 24. Morgan tried to reclaim first, but Zach Emerson beat him across the finish for first. Morgan placed second and Freve took third.
In Victory Lane, Zach Emerson said, “It’s a little easier when you start up front. But, when I looked in my mirror and saw Corey Morgan coming up, I thought, 'uh-oh!' But really, he is a great driver and it was a good race.”
Morgan was point leader coming into Saturday’s race with 60. Zach Emerson was in eleventh with 32 points.
For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website, www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
Unofficial results
Thunder 4’S (25 laps)
1. #5 Ryan Chadwick, Wiscasset
2. #14 Robert MacDonald, Chelsea
3. #7 Bill Grover, NA
4. #1 Jeff Davis, Woolwich
5. #33 Trey Brown, Winterport
6. #88me Mike Mathieu, Oakland
7. #42 Kyia Roussel, Portland
Wicked Good Vintage Racers Late Model And Modified (20 laps)
1. #8 Norris Willette, Winslow
2. #151 Rosey Gerry, Lincolnville
3. #48 George Harding, Fairfield
4. #96 Steve Kahler, Warren
5. #97 Brian Hughes, West Paris
6. #D5 Mike Willette, Winslow
7. #25 Mark Hughes, West Paris
Wicked Good Vintage Racers Late Model Sportsman And Outlaws (20 laps)
1. #76 Don Mehurn, Lincolnville
2. #1 Neil Martin, Freeport
3. #11 John Rice, Bristol
4. #155 Wally Henderson, Litchfield
5. #82 Bobby Symonds, Casco
6. #420 Keith Smalley, Warren
7. #22 Hal Clark, Brighton
8. #M16 Mark Thurlow, Lincolnville
9. #35 Dennis Fish, Livermore
Late Model Sportsman (35 laps)
1. #30 Ryan St. Clair, Liberty
2. #25 Will Collins, Waldoboro
3. #33X Josh St Clair, Liberty
4. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
5. #17 Chris Thorne, Sidney
6. #28 Steve Minott, Windham
7. #00 Alex Waltz, Walpole
8. #04 Allen Moeller Jr., Dresden
9. #12 Dave Patten, Westbrook
10. #98 Dan Trask, Chelsea
11. #68 Steve Reno, West Bath
12. #14 Dave St. Clair, Liberty
13. #21 Shane Clark, Winterport
Mini Trucks (15 laps)
1. #12 Jerry McKenna, Milton
2. #68 Opie Allard, Cundy’s Harbor
3. #22 Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls
4. #1 Matt Curtis, Freeport
5. #14 Dave Gammon, NA
6. #55 Larry Marshall, Dresden
7. #17 Matt Weil, Camden
Strictly Street (25 laps)
1. #23 Zach Emerson, Sabattus
2. #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston
3. #39 Gerry Freve, Buckfield
4. #32 Tasha Dyer, Freedom
5. #55 Mike Marshall, Dresden
6. #83 Dan Brown, NA
7. #85 Jairet Harrison, Freeport
8. #24 Jonathan Emerson, Sabattus
9. #43 Ben Erskine, Farmington
10. #6 Mike Brown, Union
11. #57 Corey Mullins, Wiscasset
12. #14 Dave Brannon, Lisbon
13. #28 Josh Toothaker, Hollis
14. #67 Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls
15. #22 Thomas Smith, Edgecomb
16. #00 Kim Knight, Chesterville
For official race results please visit www.wiscassetspeedway.com.
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