The Northeast Mini Stock Tour made its one and only appearance this year in Maine at the Wiscasset Speedway last Saturday night. Under the bright lights, 31 cars raced in an action packed 50-lap feature.

Starting the lineup were heat winners Mike Mason in an Acura Integra No. 51, the No. 33 driven by Matt Sonnhalter, and Shawn Swallow driving the No. 04. In what proved to be a close-quarter race, leader changes at the start were swift. Sonnhalter drifted back in the pack. Car No. 53 driven by Glen Thomas wove through traffic and took second place, George Fortin in his No. 9 advanced from sixth place to third.

Five laps into the race, a caution was thrown when Mason slowed on the front stretch then went off the track on turn one. Swallow became race leader.

Thomas and Fortin were close behind, looking for the lead. Thomas was unable to keep up, and Fortin passed him in lap six. No. 88 driven by Emerson Cayer was proving to be a force on the field, and advanced to fifth from his eleventh place start.

By lap 10, Swallow’s Honda Prelude had gained a five-car length lead. Cayer, now in third, driving a Ford Mustang was hot to catch up. Fortin went to the pits for adjustments.

Car No. 2 driven by Toby Wells was also making his way up through the pack, and looking to advance on the track.

Lap sixteen was action packed. Cayer, Thomas and Wells stalked Swallow down the track, all looking for opportunities to pass.

When Swallow’s No. 04 scraped a lap car, he fell back, losing his lead. In a scuffle, Wells moved to first, the Cayer Dimitri’s Pizza No. 88 to second, and Thomas back to third.

There was another caution with only 22 laps to go. Once again Skillings had spun on the front stretch. After the restart there was a battle between Wells and Cayer for first. They raced neck and neck around the track with Cayer briefly pulling ahead. Wells regained the lead.

Two laps later saw another caution, but once again Wells held off Cayer. Car No. 20 driven by Shawn Kimball took his opportunity during the restart. He had woven his up the track to forth from his fourteenth place start.

Wells gained a commanding lead over the ensuing laps, but the race for second and third position was fierce. In lap thirty-four Kimball was able to pass Thomas for third. Track leaders remained the same. Wells took first. Cayer, who holds first place in points standing in the NEMST took second.

In the Super Stock 25 lap feature, Car No. 1, Adam Chadbourne, was given a battle by Bobby Mesimer in the No. 3.

Mesimer briefly took the lead throughout the race. Chadbourne prevailed however, and secured his third first place finish at Wiscasset Speedway. Mesimer took second, and No. 2 driven by Josh Bailey placed third.

In a 15-lap show, the Thunder 4’s took the track. No. 91, Jamie Heath took the pole position, and there was a neck and neck battle between him and Ryan Ripley in the No. 09X. Ripley was black flagged due to fuel spilling out of his car.

Heath then took a commanding lead and placed first. Securing her third top three finish at Wiscasset was Leandra Martin in second. Kevin Sherman driving the No. 11 took third place.

Two cautions before the first lap was completed of a 30-lap feature marked the beginning of the Prostock race. When racing action resumed, the No. 09 Driven by Justin Drake and Chris Thorne driving the No. 17 were the race leaders.

Thorne gained a commanding lead by the conclusion of lap three, and drove his way to a first place finish. This was his third top three finish, but his first 1st place win at Wiscasset for the season. Drake placed second. Rounding out the top three was car No. 32 driven by Nick Jenkins.

Excitement filled the stands during the 20-lap Strictly Street race. Cheers were heard as Tasha Dyer in the No. 32 led the race Childs from her starting pole position. Childs made a determined effort to gain the lead, and the pair engaged in a 20-lap scuffle to the finish.

In lap seven, Childs passed Dyer on the back stretch, but coming out of turn three, Dyer tangled with Childs and he went off the track. A caution was called. Both went to the back of the pack. Both Dyer and Childs were eager to win, and furiously raced their way back to the lead. Lap 13 saw Childs back in first position, but Dyer was staring at his taillights, and coming on strong.

The pair scraped and bumped their way around the track to the finish. In lap 20, coming out of turn three, Dyer made one last effort to pass, and spun down the front stretch, crossing the finish line sideways. Childs took first, making this his third top three finish. Dyer placed second and Gerry Freve in the No. 39 was in third.

Four cautions in the N.E. 4-Cylinder Prostocks made for a lot of racing action on the track. However, Kevin Sherman driving the No. 11, was able to hold onto first from his starting position at the pole. This was his second win of the season at Wiscasset. Placing second was Tim Jeski in the No. 38. Third place went to No. 12 driven by Dave Patten, making this his third top three finish at the Speedway.

The 35-lap Late Model Sportsman race had four cautions. The first caution came in lap six when No. 15 driven by Nick Hinkley spun round, and Steve Minott in the No. 28 went off the track. The worst caution of the night was in lap 11 when rookie Steve Minott hit the wall coming out of turn one. His car saw damage. Lap 16 saw a caution when No. 20 driven by Corey Walker spun out on turn three.

With only twelve laps to go, another caution was called when there was a scuffle coming out of turn three. Car No. 23 driven by Dave Farrington Jr and Tyler Robbins in the No. 34 tangled from the turn to the home stretch. On the restart, Car No. 04 driven by T.J. Waston was in first, Farrington second, and Robbins third. Lap 24 saw Watson falter on the front stretch, and Farrington took the lead to win. Watson placed second, making this his third top three finish. Robbins took third, his first top three finish at Wiscasset.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, May 24 with its group two lineup of divisions: Strictly Street, Mini Trucks, Outlaw Mini, Late Model Sportsman, and the flex race of the week will be a 100 lap Enduro feature for six and eight cylinder cars. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. Racing begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset.

For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at: www.wiscassetspeedway.com/.