WISCASSET — The Wiscasset Speedway celebrated its 45th birthday July 26 and a ceremony during half time introduced some of Wiscasset’s great drivers from the past including Teddy Palino, Dick Giles, Dick Williams, Bill Bailey, JC Marsh, Dale Chadbourne and Pete Silva.

The weather was beautiful and sunny, and when the day cooled and evening came around the bright lights of Wiscasset lit the track. The grandstands were jammed with fans, and they enjoyed giveaways, fireworks, celebration cake and some great racing action. On the schedule for the evening were Group One racing divisions, including Outlaw Mini’s, Prostocks, New England Four Cylinder Prostocks, and Napa Super Streets. 

The spotlighted feature of the week was a 35–lap Napa Super Street race. Starting on the pole was #1 Adam Chadbourne. Last time out on the track, Chadbourne flipped his car coming out of turn four, landing upside down against the front wall, due to a broken tie rod end. Chadbourne said prior to race time it had taken two weeks to repair the damage with crews working around the clock. The whole front end was rebuilt, and a new engine was installed.

Behind Chadbourne were #48 Dan Nessmith and #8 Kevin Morse. During lap five, #05 James Osmond passed Morse on the outside of the front stretch for third. Then, #2 Josh Bailey passed Osmond during lap eight for third on the inside of turn four.

Nessmith slowed on the back stretch during lap fourteen and Bailey took advantage of the opportunity and passed for second. The following lap, Osmond was also able to pass Nessmith on turn two for third.

There was a caution called with only eight laps to go. On the ensuing restart, Bailey and Osmond battled side by side for second. Then, during lap 28, Osmond pulled ahead of Bailey and clinched second.

Chadbourne had been watching the action from his rear view mirror, but everything changed during lap 30. Chadbourne’s car developed a mechanical problem and faltered on the track. Osmond moved to first, while Bailey moved to second and Nessmith moved to third. Chadbourne’s newly refurbished car headed to the pits. Race leaders remained constant to the finish.

This was Osmond’s second top place finish this season in Napa Super Streets, and his sixth top five finish. Coming into Saturday’s race, Osmond was second in points with 370. Chadbourne was first in points with 374 and third in points was Nessmith with 326.

Post-race Osmond said, “It felt good moving from the back up to the front and ending up with the win. Congratulations to the rest of my team for all finishing in the top four. I would like to thank my sponsors: Paul Garber Construction, Red’s Eats, and Possibilities Salon.”

An action packed New England Four Cylinder Prostock feature was next. 13 cars hit the track for a 25–lap race. Starting on the pole was #8 Craig Dunn. Jerry Bailey (#7) and #14 Bob Patten were behind him. After the green flag flew, Patten passed Bailey for second on the inside of turn two. Patten and Bailey battled for second place through lap five, when Bailey passed Patten for second on the outside of turn two.

Jeff Prindall (#24) passed Patten for third on the inside of turn two during lap seven. However, Prindall got loose on the track during lap thirteen and #98 Kamren Knowles passed Prindall for third.

Starting at the back of the pack this week was #38 Ryan Hayes. Hayes was feature winner when last on the track and had been advancing up the track. During lap 14, Hayes passed Kamren Knowles on the inside for third.

There was a caution during lap 15 and a chaotic restart resulted in some leader changes. Dunn maintained the lead, Hayes moved to second and Patten moved to third. Dave Patten (#12) passed Bob Patten during lap 16 to claim third. Then, during lap 20, Hayes headed to the inside and passed Dunn for the lead. Lap 22, saw Knowles pass Dave Patten on the inside of the back stretch for third. There were no other leader changes.

Hayes claimed first. This was Hayes sixth top five finish of the season, and his second win. Hayes was fifth in points coming into the race with 300 points. Dunn placed second and was third in points coming into Saturday’s race with 312 points. Knowles placed third and was point leader coming into the race with 366 points. Second in points was Prindall with 356.

Hayes said, “We did good. It was an awesome race. I didn’t know if I could pick my way through. But, we were patient and picked them off one at a time. I was getting worried at the end if we could nudge Craig out of there. Then, as soon as I got by him, I knew I could hold him off after that. I want to thank my Uncle, parents, all the people that help me in the pit: Jerry, Meaghan, Paige, Todd, and Drew. I also want to thank my sponsor All Season Automotive.”

A quick and exciting 25–lap Outlaw Mini feature was next on the agenda. Starting at the pole was #14 Matt Moore and behind him were #8 Calvin Rose Jr and #13 Nate Tribbet. Rose passed Moore during lap two on the outside of turn two for the lead. Rose gained a commanding lead and watched the pack try to catch up out of his rear view mirror.

It was not until lap 18 that the first leader change occurred. Shawn Kimball (#20) passed Nate Tribbet for third. Then, during lap 20, the cars went three wide on the track on turn one and there was a jumble that sent Tribbet into the wall. On the restart, cars got tangled on the back stretch and #10 Jimmy Childs and Moore made contact and both got sent to the back. Childs went to the pits, but returned to limp around the track through the finish. When racing action resumed, Rose was race leader. In second was Kimball and in third was #12 Darrell Moore.

During lap 22, Kimball’s right rear tire went flat sending him into a spin at the entrance to pit row. This brought Darrell Moore to second and #2 Rob Greenleaf to third. On the restart, Darrell Moore passed Rose for the lead. However, Rose fought back and took back the lead, racing under the checkered in first. Darrell Moore placed second and rounding out the top three was Rob Greenleaf. This was Rose’s second first place finish in the Outlaw Mini’s this season. Coming into the race, Rose was fifth in points with 244. First in points was Jimmy Childs with 360 points and second in points was Kimball with 332.

A 30–lap Prostock race provided excitement for the crowd. This high energy race started with #15 Nick Hinkley on the pole. Will Collins (#25) and #19 John Rideout were behind him. Off the start, Rideout passed Collins and advanced to second. The cars were racing in a pack, equally matched, all vying for position.

Moving up from his 10th starting place was #21 Kevin Douglass. Douglass moved up beside Collins during lap 20 and passed Collins on turn four during lap 21 for third. Douglass then looked for his opportunity to pass Rideout for second. His chance came during lap 23 and he moved to the outside and passed on turn two, securing second.

With only two laps remaining, #77 Maggie Ferland spun alone on the track causing a caution. When racing action resumed, Rideout hugged the bottom of the track and passed Douglass for second. Coming up from behind was #15X Scott Chubbuck. Chubbuck passed Douglass for third during lap 24. Hinkley maintained his lead and drove his Greg’s Used Cars racecar under the checkered in first. Rideout placed second, while Chubbuck placed third.

This is Hinkley’s third win in the Prostock division this year, and his sixth top five finish. Hinkley was third in points coming into the race with 350 points. First in points was Mike Orr with 372 and second in points was Bill Penfold with 368.

Post-race Hinkley said, “The car was good. I expected to see the other 15 car take me down. He used to race for my father. They won 72 races in ten years, so they were competitive. I want to thank my sponsors ideal Portable Toilets and The Galley. I also want to thank my father, Thomas, Scott, Allen, Joey, Craig, Willie, Colton, and Brent.”

For information on the races at Wiscasset Speedway, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

Teddy Palino: One of Wiscasset’s Most Successful Drivers

Teddy Palino has won over 50 races at Wiscasset Speedway. He first began racing at Wiscasset when the track opened 45 years ago. He raced a few years for himself, and according to Steve Reny, he was one of the “winningest drivers at Wiscasset.” Palino was able to drive his #7 replica around the track on Saturday, giving the crowd a look at his vintage car.

In 1973, Palino and Neil Reny got together as a team. Reny provided the #7 car, and Palino drove it to victory after victory. Palino had 18 wins in a row from the 1973 mid-season until the following season. There were 22 races total, and he was champ. Palino was such a winner that there was a “bounty” of $500 for the first person to beat Palino in a race. It took 18 consecutive races for the bounty to be claimed. Palino went on to drive for Richard Moore, and drove all over New England.

Palino said, “I have won at least 50 to 60 races, I have the clippings. I never paid much attention to the wins though. We couldn’t wait for Saturday nights so we could race. For me it was fun. I drove cars and I met a lot of people. For me, it was about the people I met. The people in racing are good people. One great memory I have is when I raced Bobby Allison at Unity Raceway. He wrecked, and I won that race!”

RESULTS

NAPA SUPER STREET (35 LAPS)
1. #05 James Osmond, Woolwich
2. #2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset
3. #48 Dan Nessmith, Wiscasset
4. #06 Zac Poland, Woolwich
5. #8 Kevin Morse, Woolwich
6. #88 Jamie Norton, Farmingdale
7. #1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich
8. #02 Paul Hopkins, Camden

NEW ENGLAND FOUR CYLINDER PROSTOCK (25 LAPS)
1. #38 Ryan Hayes, Jefferson
2. #8 Craig Dunn, Strong
3. #98 Kamren Knowles, West Gardiner
4. #12 Dave Patten, Westbrook
5. #24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon Falls
6. #7 Jerry Bailey, Wiscasset
7. #27 Jacob Hensbee, Whitefield
8. #9X Brooke Knowles, West Gardiner
9. #99 Cameron Folsom, Augusta
10. #54 Jim Weymouth, Pittston
11. #14 Bob Patten, Westbrook
12. #35 Nathan McWilliams, Lewiston
13. #2 Jay Bailey, Wiscasset

OUTLAW MINI (25 LAPS)
1. #8 Calvin Rose Jr, Turner
2. #12 Darrell Moore, Oxford
3. #2X Rob Greenleaf, West Bath
4. #62 Tim Robinson, Clinton
5. #56 Pete McCollett, Readfield
6. #14 Matt Moore, Mechanic Falls
7. #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds
8. #13X Cody Tribbet, Richmond
9. #41 Dixon Smith, Sidney
10. #53 Nick Bissell, Lewiston
11. #20 Shawn Kimball, Augusta
12. #13 Nate Tribbet, Richmond

PROSTOCK (30 LAPS)
1. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
2. #19 John Rideout, Washington
3. #15X Scott Chubbuck, Bowdoin
4. #21 Kevin Douglass, Sidney
5. #25 Will Collins, Waldoboro
6. #01 Andy Saunders, Ellsworth
7. #07 Bill Penfold, Oxford
8. #25X Brad Bellows, China
9. #77 Maggie Ferland, Auburn
10. #32 Mike Orr, Wiscasset
11. #11 Ed Trask, Turner
12. #39 James Osmond, Woolwich
13. #28 Ken Beasley, Richmond

The PenBay Pilot sports department can be reached at sports@penbaypilot.com.