Like all sporting events they are always better live and in living color. Maine has several asphalt and dirt ova race tracks and even a couple dragways. Maine also has several lost race tracks that I am now inspired to check out.
This past Saturday, September 26th, I went to Wiscasset Speedway with my three kids, Brother-in-Law and nephew. Wiscasset Speedway opened in 1969, it is a 3/8 mile high-banked asphalt oval that is the fastest race track in Maine.
The opening of Wiscasset was delayed because of the pandemic, however they did kick off an abbreviated 11 week season on August 1st, however with two groups each with four divisions alternating weeks each only ran five races, so they had no points system this year.
Gates opened at 3pm and at Wiscasset for years it's only been $5 a head! They were allowing 200 fans in divided up in four sections of 50 people each. We had no one around us and I felt very comfortable at the events.
This was the final night for Group 2 and the four divisions that we had the pleasure of watching were the Late Models Sportsman, Strickly Street, Outlaw Mini's and the Modifieds. The heats took about an hour and then after intermission we got underway. The big feature of the night was the Strickly Shootout 50 lap race, so they got the big driver introduction opening the night of features.
The Shootout featured 27 cars and the pole winner took the option of $300 cash upfront if he would start in the last position. Straight away I was not rooting for #51 Kyle Hewins to come from the back of the pack and win the race.
It was great race, we have a few cautions for some minor crashes, it was green flag racing so we got a legit 50 laps. Kyle Hewins powered back to finish 3rd, but in the post race inspections of the top 5 cars the winner had and illegal spacer on their carburetor and was penalized five positions so Hewins official finish was second place.
Next up was the Modified 30 lap feature, there was only eight vehicles in the race and they pretty much got in a line a and stayed that way for 20 laps until one car spun out. After the restart they got back in line to finish it out. Wesley's comment was that they were driving really fast very well.
The third feature was the Outlaw Mini division 25 lap, once again a small field of only eight cars. There were a few cautions in this race and it was a lot more competitive. It was during this race that Wesley asked if we could come here again.
The final race was the Late Models 40 lap feature. This was a darn good race that was highly competitive. The story in this one was St. Clair brothers Josh and Ryan, these two battled it out all race and even finished one two with younger brother Ryan getting the win.
Midway through this race there was a roll over crash directly in front of us, no one was injured. All the kids were very excited for the action. I had taken Canaan & Addison in the past and this was Wesley's first time and he absolutely loved it!
Short track racing really is the lifeblood of the stock car racing, the intimate settings, the local guy racing on weekends for the fun of it. A lot of the time the cars already look beat to hell when they first come out on the track for warm ups. Racing under the lights, the smell of the rubber, the overheated brakes, the engines that are about to go, there's really nothing else like it.
The last race of the season is in just two weeks on October 10th and there's a good chance the Labbe's will be back in the stands for it.
Until Next Time!
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