Saturday was a special day at Wiscasset Speedway as they were celebrating an event that only comes around once a year: their birthday! On top of celebrating 55 years of the speedway, Team Wiscasset used the day to honor their new 2024 Hall of Fame inductees and there was even a celebrity roaming around the grounds. You may know him as “Slugger”, or more formally, Slugger the Sea Dog.
The night’s racing action kicked off with a 20-lap makeup feature for the Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros. Jacobee Thacker and Max Parlin went head-to-head for the early lead, but defending champion Ben Burgess was quickly making his way through the field. He cleared Parlin for the runner-up spot on lap 4 and then made quick work of Thacker for the lead. Burgess continued to lead the charge through multiple restarts and ultimately picked up another win in the division. Jack McKee and Jacobee Thacker (first career podium) rounded out the top 3.
Jaxson Moreside held the upper hand in the opening laps of the second feature, but Ben Burgess was on a mission once again. He cleared John Ricci for the runner-up spot on lap 8 and then set sights on Jaxson Moreside, quickly maneuvering his way back to the top of the leaderboard. Burgess held strong in the closing laps of the feature, sweeping the night in the 4-Cylinder Pros. John Ricci and Jack McKee followed, completing the podium.
Jamie Wright got out to a sizable early lead over racing veteran Kelly Moore and Shane Lane in the 40-lap feature for the Norm’s Used Cars Pro Stocks. While the top 3 pulled away, the field behind them was gridlocked from fourth on back. Dan McKeage, Jr. broke free from the traffic on lap 15 and began tracking down the leaders. Fortunately, they had built up enough of a lead that could not be broken. Jamie Wright took home his first feature win in 5 years while Kelly Moore and Dan McKeage, Jr. rounded out the top 3.
Zach Audet powered into the early lead over Spencer Sweatt in the 20-lap Thunder 4 Mini feature. Mike Landry and Kyle Willette battled it out for third for the vast majority of the race but collided on lap 15. This resulted in a caution, bringing the field back together one final time. Audet took off on the restart, sailing away with the win while Spencer Sweatt and Ben Audet followed, completing the top 3.
The night concluded with the $1,500 to win Super Street 100, presented by Ward & Sons Builders. Bubba Pelton pulled ahead with the early lead, setting the pace. By lap 22, the leaders began approaching lap traffic. A 3-car collision on lap 39 resulted in a caution, but Pelton held strong on the restart.
While the leaders pulled out to a half-track lead, a 3-way battle for third was taking place behind them. Zach Bowie won the battle over David Greenleaf and Kevin Sherman, but his night ended prematurely on lap 76 as he made hard contact with the turn 3 wall. Nick Morton entered the picture in the closing laps of the feature and remained glued to Bubba Pelton’s back bumper, ready to strike. Pelton persevered through the pressure, taking home the victory over Nick Morton and Noah Haggett. Not only was Pelton awarded with a massive trophy, but he also took home $1,900 in total winnings and enjoyed a catered feast from Bingo’s BBQ after the finish was deemed official, of which he enjoyed with his family and crew members.