Brett Meservey Scores First Career MRS Victory at Wiscasset Speedway
by Amy Worrey / Chasing the Checkered
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After battling the weather for nearly a month, Wiscasset Speedway was finally able to get in a full program on Saturday night as they hosted all Group 1 divisions plus the visiting Milton CAT Modified Racing Series. It was also the first Fan Appreciation night of the season and drivers participated in an on-track autograph session prior to the start of the racing action.
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The night kicked off with a makeup 30-lap feature for the Gosline Insurance Group Super Streets. Nicole Benincasa and Noah Haggett squared up for the early lead and went toe-to-toe for a handful of laps before Haggett pulled away on lap 5. He carried Nick Morton in tow, who took over the runner-up spot. The top 3 had broken away at the halfway mark, but Jason Oakes had sudden troubles with 10 laps to go, forfeiting his spot to Kevin Sherman. Noah Haggett held tough on the final restart and picked up his first win of the season while Bubba Pelton beat Kevin Sherman to the line by a nose, scoring the runner-up spot.
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John Ricci powered to the early lead in the 25-lap feature for the Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros. Taylor Lane fell back on the opening lap, making way for Ben Burgess to take over the runner-up spot. Rookie Jaxson Moreside began to come to life in the closing laps of the feature, breaking the top 3 on lap 17. Nobody was any match for John Ricci, who took home his second career victory as Ben Burgess and Jaxson Moreside rounded out the podium.
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Following driver introductions, the Modified Racing Series drivers took to the track for their spotlight 75-lap feature. Kurt Vigeant won his qualifying heat early in the day and took off with the lead in the feature. Mike Collins was all over his back bumper from the jump, eventually taking over on lap 9 as Brian Robie followed in succession. Brett Meservey stayed tight to the leaders and made his move on lap 54, knocking on Brian Robie’s door for the runner-up spot. He took over the following lap and continued his mission, tracking down Mike Collins for the top spot. Meservey succeeded and continued to hold off the competition in the closing laps, picking up his first career win in the touring series. Brian Robie and Mike Collins followed, completing the podium.
Landon Tapley, who grew accustomed to drawing the “short straw” time after time, got the upper hand in the second Super Street feature as he pulled away with the early lead. Matt Beers was also on a mission early, breaking the top 3 in the opening laps before overtaking Josh Hall for the runner-up spot on lap 5. Tapley was able to hold off Beers for the remainder of the feature, scoring his first career win in the division. Nick Morton followed, rounding out the top 3.
There was a small but mighty field for the Thunder 4 Minis. The drivers still managed to put on a great show with a tight 3-way battle for the lead from the get-go. Teammates Kyle Willette and Zach Audet went head-to-head for a handful of laps before Willette broke free with two laps to go. He sailed into the victory while Zach Audet and Spencer Sweatt followed, finishing the podium.
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The night concluded with a 40-lap feature for the Norm’s Used Cars Pro Stocks. There was a hearty field, which included many veterans and returning drivers, including Kelly Moore, Nick Reno and Kenny Harrison, among others. Shane Lane held onto the early lead for a handful of laps before forfeiting the spot to Charlie Colby. Lane began to lose momentum, dropping back to fourth behind Dan McKeage, Jr. and JT Thurlow. A mid-race caution on lap 26 brought the field back together one final time.
Dan McKeage, Jr. took over the top spot on the restart, but Nick Hinkley began to come to life in the closing laps of the feature. He cleared Charlie Colby for the runner-up spot with ten laps to go and set his sights on the leader, overtaking McKeage for the lead on lap 35. It was a dog fight for second in the closing laps, but Charlie Colby was able to reclaim the runner-up spot with just two laps to go. While Hinkley sailed into the victory, Charlie Colby and Dan McKeage, Jr. rounded out the top 3.
Team Wiscasset pulled together on Saturday night, hosting an extended racing program in just 3 hours’ time. It was a great night of competition and the track hopes that it will continue into next week’s Group 2 program, which will include double features for both the Late Models and Modifieds.
The green flag flies at 5:00 pm and as always, adult admission is just $5!