Moulton makes it five straight Late Model wins at Unity Raceway

Unity, Maine – Defending Unity Raceway Late Model champion Frank Moulton of Burnham took another big step toward his third straight championship in the premiere division at Maine’s Toughest Racing Oval Saturday night, posting his fifth straight victory in the 35-lap feature race.

Other racers visiting victory lane before one of the season’s best crowds included Brad Bellows (China Village), Chris King (Burnham), Corey Walker (Augusta), Mike Wilson (Chelsea), Justin Moore (Madison), Mika Wilson (Chelsea), Jason Bosworth (Cornville), Ryan Chadwick (Wiscasset) and Dan Snow (Pittston).

Moulton extended his streak with a little help from his rivals, after spending the first half of the race well out of the top five. But in his typical, patient fashion, the 21-year-old hotshoe was in a position to take advantage of his opportunities, especially after Jeff Burgess of Fairfield and Jefferson’s Mike Hodgkins wrecked on the backstretch just as Hodgkins appeared to take the lead away from Burgess, who had led the first half of the event. Several other cars were eliminated or forced to pit for repairs at that point, moving Moulton into fourth position, and he methodically worked his way to the front taking the lead away from his closest championship rival this season, Seth Raven of Waldo.

Ricky Morse of St. Albans was closest to Moulton under the checkered flag, with Freedom teenager Dylan Turner claiming the final podium position. Raven finished fourth, solidifying his second-place ranking in the season-long standings, with the top five filled out by Skowhegan’s David Folsom I. Burgess and Raven posted heat race victories.

Brad Bellows breezed to victory in the Racin’ Paper Super Street 25-lapper, leading from green to checkered flags. Second position was not the place to be during this race, as Skip Conner, Ricky Burgess and point leader Nate Weston all failed to finish the race due to mechanical woes after chasing Bellows for several laps. Nick Huff of Orrington ended up claiming runner-up honors, with Shaun Austin of Norridgwock in third position at the finish line. Brian Fortin of South China and Starks racer Steve Rackliff rounded out the top five. Weston won the heat race.

Chris King of Burnham led all the way in the 20-lap main event for the Keystone Automotive Wildcat division, but it was not without a stiff challenge by runner-up finisher Andy Turbovsky of Wilslow and third-place finisher Ryan Robinson of Waterville. Maurice Young of Chelsea was fourth across the finish line, with Vassalboro’s Ed Sleeper finishing up in fifth position. Robinson won the heat race.

Augusta’s Corey Walker tightened up an already-close championship battle in the Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four feature event with a late charge to the lead past his chief rival, multi-time division champion Steve Rackliff of Starks. Walker was chased to the checkered flag by Ben Clark, who also got by Rackliff very late in the 20-lap event. Rackliff was forced to settle for a third-place finish, in front of Skowhegan’s Mike Mason and Bill Ellis of Parkman. Mason prevailed in a wild, almost vicious heat race.

Aable Auto Parts Flyin’ 4 point leader Justin Moore of Madison inherited the race lead when his chief championship rival, Cornville teenager Brad Bosworth, suffered suspension failure while setting the pace in the 20-lap main event for the entry-level four-cylinder class. Moore then held off New Sharon’s Zach Audet to claim yet another victory. Oakland’s Rodney Williams was the third-place finisher. Moore also won the heat race.

Mika Wilson of Chelsea picked up her second straight victory in Waterville Oaks Ladies division competition. Benton’s Samantha Letourneau turned in a strong run to grab the runner-up trophy, with point leader Chelsea Young settling for a third-place finish. Wilson also won the heat race.

Cornville’s Jayson Bosworth continued his late-season surge in the Geo & Sons Teen Thunder division, driving to a convincing win in front of the top winner in the class this season, Cole Robinson of Clinton. Ricky Pease of Detroit, Kyle Robinson of Clinton and Mike Fernald of Benton rounded out the top five. Bosworth was the heat race winner.

The closest finish of the night was in the 25-lap Enduro race as Wiscasset’s Ryan Chadwick was triumphant by inches over Donny Silva of Hudson, who led the vast majority of the race. Even tighter than that was the race for third, with Clinton racer Zach Gagnon getting the spot by about a centimeter over Jamie Knight. Troy’s Daymon Dodge was the fifth-place finisher.

Dan Snow of Pittston prevailed in a 20-lap feature race for the visiting Maine Mods touring series. Ben Nile of Anson was the runner-up, with Kennebunk’s Tommy Stilphen claiming third position ahead of Tyler King of Livermore Falls and heat race winner Reid Lanpher of Manchester.

Racing continues throughout the month of September every Saturday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., with special events scheduled for October. Unity Raceway is located at 300 School Street (Route 139) in Unity, Maine. For more information call (207) 453-2021 or visit unityraceway.info

Late Model (35 laps): 1. Frank Moulton, Burnham; 2. 29 Ricky Morse, St. Albans; 3. 9 Dylan Turner, Freedom; 4. 12 Seth Raven, Waldo; 5. x15 David Folsom, Skowhegan; 6. 10x Markus Lowe, Jackson; 7. 99 Louis Picard, Palmyra; 8. 6 Kyle Turner, Freedom; 9. 5 Mike Moore, Madison; 10. 25 Will Collins, Appleton; 11. 69 Bobby Seger, Jr., Frankfort; 12. 34 Dickie Byron, Madison; 13. 22 Ajay Picard, Palmyra; 14. X Jeff Burgess, Fairfield; 15. 23x Mike Hodgkins, Jefferson; 16. 09 Justin Drake, Vassalboro.

Racin’ Paper Super Street (25 laps): 1. 73 Brad Bellows, China Village; 2. 21 Nick Huff, Orington; 3. 61 Shaun Austin, Norridgewock; 4. 03 Brian Fortin, South China; 5. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 6. 43 Skip Conner, Oakland; 7. 47 Nate Weston, Madison; 8. Ricky Burgess, Jr., Waterville.

Keystone Automotive Industries Wildcat (20 Laps): Chris King, Burnham; 2. 14 Andy Turbovsky, Winslow; 3. 2 Ryan Robinson, Waterville; 4. 03 Maurice Young, Chelsea; 5. 22 Ed Sleeper, Vassalboro; 6. 18 Carl McAlpine, Burnham; 7. 24 Ed Gilblair, Skowhegan; 8. 15 Russ Anderson, Portsmouth, N.H.

Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four (20 laps): 1. Corey Walker, Augusta; 2. 21 Ben Clark, Clinton; 3. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 4. 51 Mike Mason, Skowhegan; 5. 5 Bill Ellis, Parkman; 6. 38 Tim Robinson, Clinton; 7. 6 Cary Davis, Solon; 8. 26 Norm Cummings, Jr., Augusta.

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

Aable Auto Parts Flyin’ 4 (20 laps): 1. 5 Justin Moore, Madison; 2. 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 3. 77 Rodney Willaims, Oakland; 4. Brian Dickey, Madison; 5. 15 Brad Bosworth, Cornville; 6. Matt Beers,

Waterville Oaks Ladies (20 laps): 1. 92 Mika Wilson, Chelsea; 2. 21 Samantha Letourneau, Benton; 3. 18 Chelsea Young, Winterport; 4. 25 Christie Foster, Norridgewock; 5. 00 Alica Goodwin, Clinton; 6. 23 Amanda Batchelder, Fairfield.

Geo & Sons Teen Thunder (20 laps): 1. 51 Jayson Bosworth, Cornville; 2. 61 Cole Robinson, Clinton; 3. 20 Ricky Pease, Detroit; 4. 62 Kyle Robinson, Clinton; 5. 8 Mike Fernald, Benton; 6. 15 Colby Robbins, Montville; 7. 88 Wesley Turner, Montville; 8. 17 Levi Swan, Jefferson; 9. 18 Emily McAlpine, Burnham.

Enduro (25 laps, 23 cars, top 10): 1. 5 Ryan Chadwick, Wiscasset; 2. 71 Donny Silva, Hudson; 3. 95 Zach Gagnon, Clinton; 4. 60 Jamie Knight, unk.; 5. 16x Daymon Dodge, Troy; 6. 15 Alex Fernald, Benton; 7. 88 Henry Boudreau, Winterport; 8. 92 Barry Wright, Jr., Chelsea; 10. 81 Mike Brann, Readfield.

Maine Mods (20 laps): 1. Dan Snow, Pittston; 2. 14 Ben Nile, Anson; 3. 70 Tommy Stilphen, Kennebunk; 4. 11 Tyler King, Livermore Falls; 5. 59 Reid Lanphear, Manchester; 6. 10 Nate Haney, Caribou.