Tim Ferreira chief survivor on wild, full moon racing program at Unity Raceway

Unity, Maine – Unity’s Tim Ferreira survived a couple of early scrapes, bouncing back from a mid-race pit stop to roar past his competition and drive to victory lane for the first time this season in the Late Model division feature event at Unity Raceway Saturday night.

Clinton’s Cole Robinson dominated in round one for the Geo & Sons Teen Thunder division, while other feature event victories were posted by Nick Huff (Orrington), Ryan Robinson (Waterville), Steve Rackliff (Starks), Lance Chapman (Benton), Justin Moore (Madison), Chelsea Young (Winterport) and Henry Boudreau (Winterport).

Ferreira was one of many Late Model racers forced to the pit area after most of the field got caught up in a wreck triggered by race long leader Jeff Burgess and David Folsom I, who appeared to get clipped as he was almost completely past the early leader. Skowhegan’s Folsom got turned around and the balance of the field piled into the lead duo in turn one.

After a quick trip to the pit area for hasty repairs, Ferreira restarted from fifth position and quickly worked his way past reigning track champion Frank Moulton of Burnham into a lead he would not relinquish. Moulton hung on to finish second, while Folsom rebounded to claim third-place hardware. Will Collins of Appleton and Waldo’s Seth Raven rounded out the top five. Burgess and Ferreira won heat races. Several other minor caution periods slowed the event.

Nick Huff prevailed in Racin’ Paper Super Street competition, with rock-’em, sock-’em competition aplenty visible in his rear view mirror throughout the 25-lap distance. Mark Dodge of Anson, filling in for Brad Bellows, drove to a second-place finish in his first appearance of the season, with the final podium position filled by Skip Conner, also making his first appearance of the year at Unity Raceway. John Kalel II of Orrington finished in fourth position, followed by Allen Moeller of Dresden. Conner scored the heat race victory in his first on-track run of 2010.

Ryan Robinson survived several restarts and led all the way to score his first win of the season in the Keystone Automotive Wildcat class. Behind him there were several altercations, usually involving the second and third-place cars on the racetrack in a race featuring an inordinate amount of over-aggressive driving by several frontrunners. Robinson battled side-by-side with Wilslow’s Andy Turbovsky in the closing laps to secure the victory, with the division’s hottest driver, Bryan Robbins of Montville, right on their rear bumpers as the checkered flag waved. Burnham racers Chris King and Brent ‘Poochie’ Chase completed the top five rundown. Burnham’s Carl McAlpine won the heat race.

Lance Chapman made a dramatic, last-lap move to get by reigning division champion Mike Wilson of Chelsea and beat the king to the line by inches to claim the checkered flag following the Monster Energy Drink Monsta Mini feature. Chapman and Wilson diced with each other throughout the 20-lap race, building a healthy advantage over third-place finisher Gregg Cumming of Augusta, who had his best run of the season, to date. Dyaln Lancaster of Skowhegan raced to a fourth-place finish in a borrowed car after a heat race crash. Vassalboro’s John Fortin rebounded from a wild heat race ride to finish fifth in the main event. Wilson won the heat race.

Justin Moore dominated the competition in the Aable Auto Parts Flyin’ 4 feature, extending his slim point lead slightly. New Sharon’s Zach Audet claimed the second-place trophy, with Shadow Folsom of Skowhegan third under the checkered flag. Augusta’s Cody Sleeper and Bruce Nickerson of Norridgewock filled out the top five. Audet carried the checkered following the heat race.

Cole Robinson dominated the early laps in the 35-lap Geo & Sons Teen Thunder Triple Crown series race. Track promoter George Fernald offered both Robinson and his brother Kyle a $50 bonus to go to the back of the pack on a mid-race restart and they took him up on the offer. Cole was able to reclaim the lead and romp to victory lane, while Kyle had to settle for a third-place finish behind Cornville racer Jayson Bosworth. Emily McAlpine of Burnham led several laps before crossing the line in fourth position. Montville’s Westley Turner was the fifth-place finisher. Cole Robinson also claimed victory in the heat race.

In the Ladies class Chelsea Young drove away from her rivals in the closing laps after a long, fierce battle with eventual runner-up Mika Wilson of Chelsea and the runner-up’s mother, Carol Wilson, who finished third. Amanda Batchelder of Fairfield and Alica Goodwin of Clinton completed the top five. Mika Wilson won the heat race.

Reigning Enduro champion Henry Boudreau claimed his first victory of the year in a 25-lap event. Daymon Dodge of Troy was the best of the rest, with Rob Paddack of Clinton picking up the third-place trophy. Ken Pelotte ended up in fourth position, with first-time starter Chuck Robbins of Skowhegan claiming fifth position.

Racing continues this Saturday at 5:30 p.m., with fireworks added to the racing program. It’s also a benefit for the Volunteer Regional Food Pantry, with fans and competitors encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate. Unity resident with proof or residency will be admitted to the grandstand area at half-price. For more information call (207) 453-2021 or visit unityraceway.info

Smmary:

Late Model (35 laps): 1. 44 Tim Ferreira, Unity; 2. 15 Frank Moulton, Burnham; 3. x15 David Folsom I, Skowhegan; 4. 25 Will Collins, Appleton; 5. 12 Seth Raven, Waldo; 6. 3 Darren Doucette, Sidney; 7. 9 Dylan Turner, Freedom; 8. 10x Markus Lowe, Jackson; 9. 34 Jeff Burgess, Fairfield; 10. 23x Mike Hodgkins, Jefferson; 11. 10 Ralph Nason, Unity; 12. 99 Louis Picard, Palmyra; 13. 6 Kyle Turner, Freedom.

Racin’ Paper Super Street (25 laps): 1. 21 Nick Huff, Orrington; 2. 73 Mark Dodge, Anson; 3. 43 Skip Conner, Oakland; 4. 5 John Kalel II, Orrington; 5. 4 Allen Moeller, Dresden; 6. 9 Jim Shorey, Kingston NH; 7. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 8. 47 Nate Weston, Madison; 9. 9k Kyle Gallant, Veazie.

Keystone Automotive Wildcat (20 laps): 1. 2 Ryan Robinson, Waterville; 2. 14 Andy Turbovsky, Winslow; 3. 51 Bryan Robbins, Montville; 4. 29 Chris King, Burnham; 5. 31 Brent Chase, Burnham; 6. 22 Ed Sleeper, Vassalboro; 7. 33 Ed Gilblair, Sr., Skowhegan; 8. 24 Eddie Gilblair, Jr., Skowhegan; 9. 51r Brian Whitney, Burnham, DQ Carl McAlpine, Burnham.

Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four (20 laps): 1. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 2. 51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan; 3. 20 Corey Walker, Augusta; 4. 6 Cary Davis, Solon; 5. 26 Norm Cummings, Jr., Augusta; 6. 5 Bill Ellis, Parkman; DQ Ben Clark, Clinton.

Monster Energy Drink Monsta Mini (20 laps): 1. 64 Lance Chapman, Benton; 2. 92 Mike Wilson, Chelsea; 3. 2 Gregg Cummings, Augusta; 4. 1 Dylan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 5. 46 John Fortin, Vassalboro; 6. 77 Dominic Bailey, Benton; 7. 18 Tim Collins, Farmingdale.

Aable Auto Parts Flyin’ 4 (20 laps): 1. 5 Justin Moore, Madison; 2. 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 3. z24 Shadow Folsom, Skowhegan; 4. 29 Cody Sleeper, Augusta; 5. 11 Bruce Nickerson, Norridgewock; 6. 15 Brad Bosworth, Cornville; 7. 316 Mike Gilbert, Canaan; 8. 10x James Corson, Benton.

Waterville Oaks Ladies (20 laps): 1. 18 Chelsea Young, Winterport; 2. 11 Mika Wilson, Chelsea; 3. 92 Carol Wilson, Chelsea; 4. 23 Amanda Batchelder, Fairfield; 5. 00 Alica Goodwin, Clinton.

Geo & Sons Teen Thunder (35 laps): 1. 61 Cole Robinson, Clinton; 2. 51 Jayson Bosworth, Clinton; 3. 62 Kyle Robinson, Clinton; 4. 18 Emily McAlpine, Burnham; 5. 88x Westley Turner, Montville; 6. 3 Kayla Chesley, Skowhegan; 7. 15 Colby Robbins, Montville; 8. Ricky Pease, Jr., Detroit.

Enduro (25 laps, top five): 1. Henry Boudreau, Winterport; 2. 16x Daymon Dodge, Troy; 3. 17 Rob Paddack, Clinton; 4. 11 Kenneth Pelotte, Fairfield; 5. 7 Chuck Robbins, Skowhegan.