JOSH ST CLAIR WINS AGAIN IN 95 LATE MODELS

Josh St. Clair of Liberty is emerging as the man to beat in the Dysart’s Late Models at Speedway 95, as he is always up front and more often than not the winner if he finishes a race. Saturday night was no exception as St. Clair drove from his 11th place starting position to the front, taking the lead away from Hermon’s Dale Swoboda on the 29th lap of the 35 lap event. St. Clair was aided by one caution that bunched the field up, but he also had to be patient, as he sat behind a battle for position between Dean Smart of Bradley and Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs, as they went side by side for what were the fourth and fifth positions at the time. Once Seekins finally got by Smart, St. Clair took to the bottom groove and moved past Shane Clark of Winterport, then leader Dale Swoboda. Swoboda later failed an engine compression test in post-race inspection and was disqualified, placing Clark in the second finishing spot. Seekins beat Smart in the battle for what turned out to be the third spot, with Smart finishing in fourth. Bangor’s Doug Day was fifth.
Another close finish in the Sport-Fours saw newcomer Nick Jenkins of Brownville take the lead away from Ellsworth’s Brad Norris on the 19th lap of the 20 lap race. Norris had led from the pole until Jenkins caught and passed him two laps from the end. It was a great battle as Norris held Jenkins at bay for several laps, until Jenkins got underneath him and the two rubbed fenders as the two to go sign was shown. Norris held on to finish second with Rick Grant of LaGrange in third. Fourth went to Keith Ogden of Holden with Exeter’s Gary Richards finishing fifth. Jenkins had purchased the Brent Fletcher 32 two weeks ago and with Fletcher’s help, landed the car in victory lane in his second race in the car.
Shawn Hamel II of Bangor won the battle for the Strictly Street race win over Bradley Norris of Ellsworth, taking the lead for good on the ninth lap, but Norris’ second place finish in the feature gave him the overall win in the Coca-Cola three race series. Norris, last year’s champion in this division, only ran the three series races in the Strictly Street division this year as he regularly competed in the Sport-Fours. Jim Carr Jr, of Clifton worked all race long to secure the third place finishing spot as Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs battled with him for the entire 35 lap distance for the position Seekins finished in fourth with Shawn Racila of Dover-Foxcroft finishing fifth.
Super Street action saw Steve Moulton of Holden take his second win in a row since returning to action in the division as he passed Hermon’s Doug Sinclair for the lead on lap 12. Sinclair stayed in second, despite a challenge from Appleton’s Jeremy Glasier until fluid on the track caused Sinclair to spin off turn 2 and make contact with the retaining wall on lap 19l. Sinclair was able to return to the race, but damage to his car forced him to settle for a third place finish behind Moulton and Glasier. Mike Overlock of Franklin finished in fourth with Al Libby of Belfast in fifth.
On Saturday night, August 21, the Late Models will race under a different format as they compete in the Allen Fletcher Memorial Race. The race will consist of 10 lap qualifying races to set the field for the first 23 lap shoot-out. The winner of the shoot-out will receive $223.00 and a trophy, The drivers will then draw for position for the second 23 lap shoot-out, and the winner of that race will also receive $233.00 and a trophy. The points accumulated in the two 23 lap shoot outs will be tabulated, and the driver with the highest points total for the two shoot outs will be declared the overall winner, and will receive a check for $2323.00 and a huge trophy. Racing action that night, which will include racing in the Strictly Streets, Super Streets and aport-Fours will begin at 7:00. Former racers and Maine Racing Hall of Famers Harold “Pappy” Wilcox and Dana Graves will serve as Grand Marshalls for the event and will be available to fans for autographs during the evening.