WISCASSET

The North East Midget Association (NEMA) made its second appearance of the season at Wiscasset Speedway on Saturday night. Ames True Value NEMA Night always brings fans out to thrill at the amazing speed and quickness of the winged asphalt sprint cars.

The NEMA Lites had center stage this time with a 50-lap main event; twice the distance that they normally run. Ryan Locke took an early lead and never looked back, turning in a dominant victory. He crossed the finish line nearly two-and-a-half seconds ahead of Richie Coy and Danny Cugini. The Ford Focus powered cars wound around the 3/8 mile track in just over 14 seconds. The high powered NEMA Midgets, the fastest asphalt sprint cars in the world, showed their stuff in a 25-lap support feature, with the track record on the line on a cool evening.

Avery Stoehr was the class of the field, grabbing the lead on lap two, running away to a convincing win. He hustled his No.. 39 Bertrand Motorsports machine around the track in near record time, turning in a 13.038-second lap for an average speed of 102 mph. He missed the track record, held by John Zych, by just 0.034 seconds. Stoehr was joined in victory lane by defending champ Randy Cabral and record holder Zych.

In support action on the card, the Serv Pro of Biddeford Saco Pro Stocks ran double duty with a pair of 40-lap features. The first race was a makeup race carried over from an August rainout. Just seven of the 13 eligible cars answered the call. Reigning champ Daren Ripley took the lead just prior to the midpoint of the caution free feature. From there, he ran away to his first win of 2018. He was joined in victory lane by Dave Farrington Jr. and point leader Nick Hinkley of Wiscasset.

In the regularly scheduled 40-lap nightcap, Ripley repeated the feat, besting a field of 10 cars for his second win of the night. Former champ Andy Saunders and Farrington took home the second and third place trophies.

In the 25-lap feature for the Maxwell’s Market Super Streets, it looked like reigning two-time champ Josh Bailey was going to run away with a convincing win until his motor went up in smoke with 10 laps to go. The top two drivers in the class picked up from there and put on a great race to the checkers with point leader Mike Hodgkins grabbing his third win of the season. Michael Harrison of Durham was close behind in second, followed by former champ Jason Oakes in third. Hodgkins and Harrison will head into the season points finale separated by just two points. Other winners on the night included Hayden Norris of Gardiner in the Cahill Tire 4-cylinder Pros and Michael Golding of Pownal in the Thunder 4 Minis.

Wiscasset Speedway returns to action this Saturday with Group 2 in action. The Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman will have a 50- lap spotlight feature, plus action in the K&A Property Services Modified, the Norms Used Cars Strictly Streets and Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Minis. Joining them will be the Northeast Classic Lites who will be making their first ever appearance at Maine’s fastest track, plus the Star Troopers Kids Class from Star Speedway.

Pit gates will open at 1:00 p.m. and the grandstand gate at 3:00 p.m. with racing action starting at 5:00 p.m. Grandstand admission is just $5 with kids 6- and-under free. Pit admission is $20 for all.

For more information and complete race day schedule, go to www.wiscassetspeedway.com.