Another big race at Wiscasset Speedway, another big win for Mike Hopkins.
This one was the biggest one yet for the Hermon racer.
Hopkins took the lead for the third time with just over 50 laps to go to win the Coastal 200 at Wiscasset Speedway on Sunday. It comes on the heels of Hopkins winning his second Boss Hogg 150 at Wiscasset last September.
He is now only the second driver to win both of the track’s crown jewel races. Last year’s Coastal 200 winner, Ben Ashline, was the first to do so, capturing the Boss Hogg 150 in 2019 to complete the feat. Ashline won the Coastal 200 in 2018, 2019 and last year.
On Sunday, Ashline took the lead from Hopkins on lap 5 after Hopkins led the opening four laps. Ashline held that lead until 2016 race winner Chris Thorne crossed the line first on lap 57. Ashline retook the lead for two laps before Hopkins became the front runner from laps 60-105. Eddie MacDonald (laps 106-135) and Thorne (136-148) both took turns at the front in the second half of the race before Hopkins held the lead for good from lap 149 on.
Chesterville’s Jet Decker was the runner-up and 2015 race winner Dave Farrington Jr. of Jay rounded out the podium. Thorne settled for fourth, while MacDonald finished in 18th, four laps down.
Besides the 200-lap marathon race for the track’s Late Model Sportsman division, three other Wiscasset divisions competed Sunday. Ryan Ripley won the 50-lap Modifieds feature, Josh St. Clair captured the 30-lap Strictly Street race, and Chip Farrington made it 3 for 3 in the Roadrunners division to start the season.
WISCASSET HALL OF FAME
The track recently unveiled its 2023 Hall of Fame class, which features seven total inductees.
Six of the newest members were drivers, including Jimmy Burns, Jerry Farrin (also inducted as a builder), Clint Feyler, Chester Rice (driver/builder/owner/sponsor), Puncin St. Clair (also inducted as a crew chief) and Norris Willette. Pit steward Wendy York rounds out the 2023 class.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, July 29, as part of the track’s 54th birthday weekend celebration.
OXFORD PLAINS SATURDAY RESULTS
Max Cookson made it back onto the podium at Oxford Plains Speedway, but it was Kyle DeSouza holding the checkered flag at the end of Saturday’s 50-lap Super Late Model feature.
The Turner native picked up his first win of the season at the track, with Cookson, the defending division champion, coming in second. Cookson had won the first two Oxford Championship Series SLM features of the season, as well as a Pro All Stars Series 150-lapper, before finishing fourth in the previous week’s action.
Garrett Lamb, who made the jump to SLMs from PASS Modifieds this season, completed the podium in third.
Other winners at the track Saturday included: Colby Meserve (Limiteds), Billy Childs Jr. (Street Stocks), Derek McKeen (Mad Bombers), Charlie Hall (Thunder Stocks), Jaxson Moreside (Rookies), Scott Merrill (Figure 8s) and Nick Williams (Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association).
Jordan Russell was the runner-up in both the Limiteds and Street Stocks division features.
TINKER TAKES THIRD IN 350SMAC OPENER
New Gloucester native Ben Tinker had the best seat at the track watching brothers Dave and Bill Helliwell battle for the win in the season opener for the 350SMAC Super Modifieds series Saturday at New London-Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut.
Tinker joined the brothers in victory lane after Dave Helliwell’s win. Brother Bill was the runner-up and Tinker placed third to cement his place on the podium.
It was a fitting place for Tinker to be after battling the two brothers in the first of three qualifying heat races. Tinker finished second in the heat, behind Dave Helliwell and in front of Bill. After a redraw for the feature’s staring lineup. Tinker began the race from the eighth spot, with Dave Helliwell starting on the outside pole next to Cornish’s Nette Humphrey and Bill Helliwell drawing the fifth spot.
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