Jon Emerson Scores First Career Late Model Victory at Wiscasset Speedway
Written By: Amy Worrey – Chasing the Checkered
An unfavorable weather pattern threatened to dampen yet another race day at Wiscasset Speedway on Saturday, but the track powered through and successfully hosted their first Group 2 night race of the 2024 season without any delays to the main racing program.
The racing action kicked off with a 30-lap spotlight feature for the Chestnut Auto Roadrunners. Carl Conant took off with the early advantage in the feature, but Dylan York was hard charging at the front of the pack, overtaking the lead on lap 3. Several heavy hitters fell victim to multiple cautions over the course of the feature but Dylan York held strong at the front of the pack. Although the leaders faced heavy lap traffic in the closing laps of the race, York maintained command, picking up his first feature victory in the division.
The Wicked Good Vintage Racers also visited the track on Saturday and both divisions put on a spectacle. Chris Oglivy, who is an accomplished doctor by trade but race car driver by hobby, took home the victory in the Early Late Models. Meanwhile, Ed Hughes held strong in the Outlaws and was crowned the race winner.
Jet Decker secured the early lead in the 40-lap feature for the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Models, which was their final tune-up prior to the $15,000 to win Coastal 200 on May 26th. While Decker paced the field, Jon Emerson was slowly biting into his lead, overtaking James Doucette for second on lap 15 before swiftly taking over the top spot. Emerson held a full straightaway lead with ten laps to go, but Brett Osmond suffered an equipment failure with just 4 laps remaining, halting the racing action. Jon Emerson maintained command following the restart, picking up his first feature victory in the division. He happily celebrated with a large group of friends and family in Victory Lane and Jet Decker and Tiger Colby rounded out the podium.
Reed Reno had quite a day in the T&L Automotive Modifieds, scoring the heat victory and leading the majority of the 30-lap feature. As the laps began to wind down, the handling started to fall off on Reno’s #77 machine, making way for veteran driver Chuck Colby as the leaders battled lap traffic. Colby took over with a handful of laps to go and held strong following a late-race caution, picking up the feature victory. Reed Reno (top career finish) and Brian Treadwell completed the top 3.
The night concluded with a 25-lap feature for the Portland Glass Strictly Streets. Multiple early race cautions plagued the racing action but once the field settled, Jeremy Glazier took off with a less-than-comfortable lead. Zach Emerson and Ashton Burgess remained pinned to Glazier’s back bumper but were in their own battle for the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Dan McKeage, Jr. was quickly charging through the field and had mowed down over a dozen competitors in the second half of the race, joining the lead pack. The top 5 were deadlocked with just two laps to go and it was truly anybody’s race to win. Drivers were 3-wide for third coming into the final turn, but Ashton Burgess was unable to hold onto it, taking a spin as the leaders crossed the finish line. Jeremy Glazier scored the win while Zach Emerson followed. Wade Kennedy completed the top 3, picking off his teammate Dan McKeage, Jr. at the line to pick up his first podium finish of the season.
Saturday’s program, especially the Street Stocks, had fans on the edges of their seats until the very last lap. It truly epitomized the thrill of short track racing and Wiscasset Speedway can’t wait to be the host of many more memories like these over the course of the 2024 season!
Catch the next Group 1 race on Saturday May 18th, which will also include the first Enduro race of the 2024 season. Grandstands open at 4:00 pm, racing begins at 5:00 pm and admission is still just $5 for adults and free for kids 6 and under.
