WISCASSET

Saturday was fan appreciation night at Wiscasset Speedway.

Drivers gathered on the track for a meet and greet as fans collected autographs and had the chance to view the race cars up close.

As a special event for the day, three divisions of bicycle racing including, five-years old and under, 5-7 and 8-12 all took place to kick things off. Winners in each category took home trophies for their accomplishment.

Saturday was the group one division of racers, featuring a spotlighted division of Prostock. Also on the schedule was the Thunder 4 Mini’s, NAPA Super Street and the New England Four Cylinder Prostock.

First on the track was a 50-lap main event Prostock race. Starting things off was John Rideout, with Mike Orr to his side and Kevin Morse behind him.

There were several lead changes throughout most of the first half of the race. Come lap 35, Scott Chubbuck, who had started in eleventh, headed to the outside and passed Andy Saunders coming out of turn two for third.

Then, during lap 45, Chubbuck again went to the outside and raced door to door with Morse for second. He completed the pass two laps later and Morse slipped back to third. There was a caution during the same lap and on the ensuing restart, Chubbuck took over the lead.

Jeff Burgess was able to pass Morse for third a lap later, while Chubbuck held on to claim the checkered. Rideout placed second, with Burgess rounding out the top three.

Burgess was the point leader going into the race, with James Osmond holding second place, 26 points below Burgess. In third was Saunders, who was nipping at the heals of Osmond at just four points behind.

The Thunder 4 Mini’s were next on the track for a 20-lap feature. Ryan Chadwick was not racing Saturday, and after proving he was the man to beat, competition was stiff to claim the top spot. David Greenleaf led things off, with Noah Haggett and Jeff Minchin Jr. joining him in the top three.

There was an initial caution right out of the gate, but when racing action resumed, Haggett shot to the lead and Michael Golding moved from fourth to third.

By lap 15, Haggett took an outside line and raced door to door with Curtis Anderson for second. While the pair were battling, Anderson moved up the track, pushing Haggett high toward the outer edge. Leandra Martin saw her chance and passed both on the inside, sliding into second. Haggett held on for third, as Anderson slipped back to fourth.

Cody Tribbet, who took the lead on lap four, crossed the finish line first. However, after failing postrace inspection the win was awarded to Martin. Haggett took home second and Anderson took third. This was Martin’s first career win, after being the runnerup eight times during the last two seasons.

An action packed NAPA Super Street 25-lap event was next on the agenda. Leading things off was Dave Patten, Jamie Norton and Brandon Sprague.

After the third caution flag in the first 10 laps, Mark Lucas passed Jason Curtis on the inside for second, while Dan Trask took the outside on lap 11 and snuck by Curtis for the third slot. Trask stayed on the outside and passed Lucas for second on the backstretch during lap 16.

There was a caution during lap seventeen, and on the restart, Lucas and Trask raced door to door for a full lap, but Lucas had the advantage and crept ahead for second. The last lap saw a caution just as the leaders were to cross the finish line, so the race ended under a checkered and a caution flag. Josh Bailey, who took the lead on lap eight, finished in first. Lucas and Trask finished second and third, respectively.

Bailey was point leader heading into the race. Adam Chadbourne was only eighteen points below Bailey in the second slot. However, he found difficulty on Saturday, finishing only in ninth.

Finishing up the evening’s action under the bright lights was the New England Four Cylinder Prostocks. The race was nearly caution free, and the 25-lap event sped by quickly with action through the finish.

Bob Patten had the duties of leading things off, with Tyler Bailey to his right and Cody Billings behind him.

The one and only caution came during lap three, when Patten and Billings spun on the track, sending the pair went to the back. The new running order put Mike Kibbin in the lead, Bailey in second and Kamren Knowles in third.

During lap four, Knowles passed Kibbin for the lead. Kibbin dropped back after the pass and Alex Waltz was able to advanced to second, while Bailey moved back into third.

Moving from his ninth place start was Jacob Hendsbee, who passed Bailey during lap nine for the third spot. He later passed Waltz on the inside of turn two during lap 17 for second. Race leaders remained constant until the finish, with Knowles taking the checkered and Hendsbee finishing second. Waltz held on to round out the top three.

Knowles was the point leader going in with 294 points, while Hendsbee sat in second with 258. In third place was Brooke Knowles with 214 points.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action this Saturday with its group two lineup of the Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Street, Outlaw Mini and Modfieds. Next week’s flex race is a 100-lap Enduro.

For detailed rules of Enduro racing, visit www.wiscassetspeedway.com. On there you can also find schedule of events, division rosters and rules, race results, driver profiles and details on how to find photos and videos of past races.

Pit gates will open this Saturday at 2 p.m., with grandstand gates opening at 4 p.m. Racing action will begin at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children ages seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Pit admission stands at $20.