WISCASSET

There are convincing wins, and then there’s what Ben Ashline did Sunday afternoon at Wiscasset Speedway. On a cloudy cool day, in front of a packed house at Maine’s fastest track, on its biggest stage, Ashline turned in one of the most dominating performances in recent memory.

The veteran Fairfield racer, who turns wrenches for Distance Racing for a living, dominated the competition on his way to winning the 2018 Coastal 200 and pocketing the $5,000 winner’s check for his efforts.

Motivated by a runner-up finish in the marquee event just a year earlier, Ashline led 198-of-200 laps on the way to the win in what he called “a bucket list race” in victory lane.

Dave Farrington Jr. of Jay, the 2015 winner of the Coastal 200, was the only other driver to have a taste of the lead. Ashline who was at the top of the speed charts in all four practice sessions, started the race from the pole position and set a blistering early pace, putting half the 26-car field a lap down by the quarter mark on lap 50.

Shane Clark of Winterport tried to keep pace, not letting the leader get away by more than a couple of seconds. Cautions for minor spins scattered throughout the race gave Clark and others a shot at Ashline. But each time, it took just a couple laps for him to shake off the challenges and pull away.

Many drivers chose to pit early for tires and adjustments to try to get themselves back into contention. It did little to help. Just past the halfway point of the race, Farrington was able to chase down Ashline in lap traffic and pass him on lap 115. There was a caution for a minor spin a lap later, sending all remaining lead lap cars except Farrington to the pits for fresh tires. Ashline returned to the track to reline in fourth for the restart. A lap later, he was back in the lead by the time they finished lap 117.

From there he built up another big lead and used it to patiently pick his way through lap traffic and putting more and more lead lap cars in his wake. As the checkered flag flew, the fourth place car of Andrew McLaughlin, the 2017 Coastal 200 champ, was just two car lengths in front of him, leaving just four cars on the lead lap.

While positions No. 2 through No. 26 changed many times throughout the 200-lap marathon, the lead position was never in doubt.

In victory lane, Ashline fought back tears of happiness and heartbreak, having won the race and revealing the news that his grandmother had passed away that morning.

“I sat right up there in those stands when I was a kid, watching some big names win this race,” said Ashline. “This one was on my bucket list.”

Farrington was the last lead lap car to pit for tires. He kept his car in the top five for much of the race and brought it home in second. Clark finished third, making it a podium sweep for Jeff Taylor’s Distance Racing stable. McLaughlin was the last car on the lead lap in fourth. Reigning Prostock champ Darren Ripley of Thomaston finished fifth.

Other winners on Sunday afternoon’s show included Jimmy Childs of Leeds in the caution free 25-lap feature for the Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis. It was his first victory of the season. Childs was joined in victory lane by Zach Audet and Brent Roy.

The 30-lap feature for the K&A Property Services Modifieds went to Adam Chadbourne of Woolwich. It was his third straight win to start 2018 season. At press time the victory remains unofficial pending a mandatory engine inspection that comes after three wins.

Defending champ Allen Moeller of Dresden and Ryan Chadwick of Wiscasset took second and third respectively. The Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets turned in an exciting caution free 25-lap race. Jonathan Emerson of Sabattus outraced his dad, Zach Emerson to pick up the win. Brad Erskine of Solon took third for his first podium finish.

Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Saturday evening with the return of Ames True Value NEMA Night. The popular winged asphalt sprint cars will make an assault on the track record once again. The show will start with an on-track meet & greet with all the NEMA teams. They will be joined by Wiscasset’s regular Group 1 divisions; ServPro of Biddeford Saco Prostocks, Maxwell’s Market Super Streets, Cahill Tire 4- Cylinder Pros, and Thunder 4 Minis.

The pit gate will open at 1:00 p.m., the grandstand gate at 3:00 p.m. and the driver meet and greet at 4:00 p.m. Green flag will fly on the racing action shortly after 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for grandstand and $20 for pits. Information is available on the website www.wiscassetspeedway.com

Wiscasset Speedway

Top 5 finishers from Saturday
WOOD PELLET WAREHOUSE LATE
MODEL SPORTSMAN COASTAL 200
1. Ben Ashline, Fairfield
2. Dave Farrington, Jay
3. Shane Clark, Winterport
4. Andrew McLaughlin, Harrington
5. Daren Ripley, Rockland

K&A PROPERTY SERVICES MODIFIEDS (30 LAPS)
1. Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich
2. Allan Moeller, Dresden
3. Ryan Chadwick, Wiscasset
4. Nick Reno, West Bath
5. Wayne Allard, Stetson

KENNEBEC EQUIPMENT RENTAL
OUTLAW MINI (25 LAPS)
1. Jimmy Childs, Leeds
2. Zach Audet, Skowhegan
3. Brent Roy, Vassalboro
4. Jake Hensbee, Whitefield
5. Rob Greenleaf, Bath

NORMS USED CARS STRICTLY
STREETS (25 LAPS)
1. Jonathon Emerson, Sabattus
2. Zachary Emerson, Sabattus
3. Brad Erskine, Solon
4. Kimberly Knight, Chesterville
5. David Whittier, Poland