He had never driven a Late Model race car until a Friday practice session, but Hermon’s Mike Hopkins is evidently a quick learner as he won his first outing in the new division on Sunday by winning the qualifier, then led the field from start to finish in the feature event. The event went smoothly, with only a couple of single car incidents causing the yellow flag to fly until a lap 17 melee on the front stretch scattered the field. Winterport’s Joey Doyon and Liberty’s Josh St.Clair, who were running second and third, came together while racing for position and spun in front of the field. Cars spun everywhere as the 14 car field tried to slow up and miss the spinning leaders. Most made it through with minor damage, but Dale Swoboda and Josh St. Clair were finished for the day. On the restart, Hopkins held off Bar Harbor’s John Phippen Jr. for the final 7 laps to post the win. Phippen finished second, with Dave St.Clair of Liberty coming in third. Dean Smart of Bradley and Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs rounded out the top five in the season opener.

 

In Super Street action, Kris Watson of Hermon and Winterport’s Mike Lynch put on a side by side battle, swapping the lead for most of the event, with Watson taking the win when Lynch ducked into the pits on the white flag lap, leaving Watson to finish the race alone in the lead. Steve Moulton of Holden finished second, with Hermon’s Doug Sinclair in third. Mike Overlock of Ellsworth and former Ladies Division champion Lindsay Seekins-Young were fourth and fifth respectively.

 

The Strictly Street field was led to the finish line by Bradley Norris of Ellsworth after then leader Travis Poulin of Holden suddenly pulled his Monte Carlo from the front of the field to the pit area. Norris was followed to the checkered flag by Bangor’s Shawn Hamel, Shawn Racilla of Dover-Foxcroft and Shawn Hamel II of Bangor.

 

David Green of Hampden crossed the finish line ahead of the Sport-Four field with Rick Grant of Lagrange close behind, as he had been since a lap 16 restart. Grant finished second with Tim Robinson of Clinton recovering from an early race trip off turn one to finish third. Fourth went to Hermon’s Ralph Allen with Brent Fletcher of Milford in fifth.

 

In other racing action, the NELCAR Legends visited the speedway on opening day, with Charlie Buxton of Windham picking up his first win in the series. Buxton inherited the lead when early leader Max Zecham of Preston Connecticut had his engine expire on the 14th lap. Second place went to Bob Weymouth of Topsham, with Durham’s Terry Kirk in third. Windham’s Bobby Timmons and Lincoln’s Alan Smith rounded out the top five.

 

Also on hand were the Maine Super Car Racing League with their ½ scale racing machines. Josh Ireland of Howland picked up the win in the 20 lap feature with Hermon’s Gerry Phillips in second. Third went to Peter Rafuse of Milford with Francis Bernard and Fred Ireland, both of Howland, fourth and fifth.

 

Adding a little old time flavor to the day’s activities were the Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association, with their resurrected bomber and modified cars of yesteryear. Leading the field under the checkered flag was Jim Sprague of Morrill in a 1932 Ford Modified. Second went to Robert Hills of Searsmont in his 1938 Chevy Modified, followed by Dick McPhail of Fairfield in a 1947 Ford Bomber, Haggie Pratt of Dexter in a ’38 Chevy and Mike Willett of Winslow in a 1946 Plymouth, completing the top five in that order.

 

Racing continues at Speedway 95 on Sunday May 3 at 2:00, with an opportunity for fans to hop a ride with their favorite driver starting at 1:30