Burgess wins again in Late Models, McAlpine gets 50-lap victory at Unity Raceway

Unity, ME -- Jeff Burgess of East Madison drove to his second straight victory in the 35-lap Late Model feature event Saturday night, topping the racing card at Unity Raceway.

Burgess swapped the lead a couple of times early in the event with impressive rookie competitor Ben Clark of Clinton, then held off veteran racer Tracy Gordon of Strong to retain his perfect winning percentage this Spring at Maine’s Toughest Racing Oval.

Gordon, a former NASCAR Busch North and ACT Pro Stock Series star, was filling in for rookie Corey Walker, injured in a non-racing incident during the week. Manhadling the unfamiliar ride, Gordon impressed all with his performance, which netted a second-place trophy.

Clark filled the final podium position after the checkered flag waved, with Skowhegan’s David Folson I and Justin Drake of Burnham rounding out the top five. Heat race winner Dylan Turner of Freedom claimed a sixth-place finish, with the top-ten filled out by Tyler Robbins of Montville, Steve Rackliff of Starks, Will Collins of Waldoboro and Oakland’s Willy Pelotte.

Multi-time Keystone Automotive Wildcat division champion Carl McAlpine of Burnham drove to victory in a non-stop 50-lap main event one week after being sidelined by mechanical woes that kept him from competing on opening day. Defending division champion Chris King, also from Burnham, survived a racelong battle with Mo Young of Chelsea to claim runner-up honors. Skowhegan’s Kris Matchett finished fourth, followed by Ed Sleeper of Vassalboro. McAlpine won the heat race.

Durham’s Evan Beaulieu prevailed over Mathew Burgoine of Newport in a competitive and entertaining 25-lap main event for the visiting NELCAR Legends Cars Tour. That duo swapped the lead several times throughout the race, sometimes two or three times per lap, before Beaulieu got to the checkered flag first. Point leader Bobby Weymouth of Topsham raced from dead last on the starting grid to post a third-place finish, in front of Lincoln’s Alan Smith and ‘President’ Terry Kirk of Durham. Ryan Hammar of Pembroke, New Hampshire and Burgoing won the heat races.

Orrington’s Nick Huff roared to his first victory of the season in the Racin’ Paper Super Stree feature. Opening day winner and reigning track champion Nate Weston of Madison was the runner-up, with opening day Wildcat division winner Bryan Robbins of Montville moving up a class and earning the third-place trophy. Weston won the heat race.

Sean Johnson of Stockton Springs drove to victory lane following a highly-competitive 20-lap main event for the Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four class. Johnson and Skowhegan’s Bryan Lancaster swapped the lead several times in the event before a late-race spin forced Lancaster to the rear of a restart lineup. Opening day winner Lance Chapman of Benton then provided a late-race challenge to Johnson before settling for runner-up honors. Richard Jackson of Hudson crossed the finish line in third position. Lancaster rebounded and ended up in fourth, followed by Clinton’s Tim Robinson in the Jimmy Dennis 38. Johnson also won the heat race.

Mike Mason of Madison made his first run of the season a triumphant drive, outrunning opening day winner Zach Audet of New Sharon to the checkered flag in the 20-lap Monsta Mini race. Mason and Audet easily outdistanced the balance of the field, with reigning, multi-time division kingpin Mike Wilson of Chelsea prevailing in a tight, three-way battle for the final trophy. Pete McCollett of Readfield finished in fourth position, followed by Augusta’s Greg Cummings. Audet won the heat race.

Donny Silva of Hudson was declared the winner of the Flyin’ 4 division’s 20-lap main event after apparent top finisher Ryan Ripley of Waldoboro was penalized for over-aggressive driving and jumping the restart on a green-white-checkered restart. Ripley forced Silva off the racing surface as the green flag waved on the final restart, with Silva doing a remarkable job of getting the car back on track to remain in front of all other rivals. Kyle Robinson of Clinton picked up his best finish since moving up from the Teen Thunder class in second position. Burnham’s Matt Shaw lost an apparent third-place finish in post-race inspection, giving the final trophy to Cole Robinson of Clinton. Tyler Gerow of Fairfield and Ripley completed the top-five rundown. Ripley and Silva won heat races.

Amanda Batchelder of Fairfield scored her second straight victory in the Waterville Oaks Ladies division after apparent victor Alica Goodwin of Clinton was disqualified in post-race inspection for a couple of rules infractions. Carol Wilson of Chelsea and Christie Foster of Skowhegan claimed the other podium finishing positions.

Cornville’s Jason Bosworth claimed his second straight victory in the Geo & Sons Teen Thunder feature race. Emily McAlpine of Burnham fended off several challenges by a couple of rivals to claim runner-up honors ahead of Detroit’s Ricky Pease, who survived a couple of off-track excursions to claim the final trophy. Austin Clemons of Norridgewock charged to a fourth-place finish, with Colby Robbins of Montville rounding out the top five. Bosworth also won the heat race.

Racing action continues this Saturday, with post time set for 6:00 p.m. For more information call (207) 453-2021 or visit unityraceway.info

Late Model (35 laps) 1. X Jeff Burgess, East Madison; 2. 20 Tracy Gordon, Strong; 3. 21 Ben Clark, Clinton; 4. 15 David Folsom I, Skowhegan; 5. 09 Justin Drake, Burnham; 6. 9 Dylan Turner, Freedom; 7. 34 Tyler Robbins, Montville; 8. 94 Steve Rackliff, Starks; 9. 25 Will Collins, Waldoboro; 10. 1 Willy Pelotte, Oakland; 11. 7 Brian Gullifer, Farmington; 12. Reid Lanphear, Manchester.

Keystone Automotive Wildcat (50 laps) 1. 18 Carl McAlpine, Burnham; 2. 29 Chris King, Burnham; 3. 03 Maurice Young, Chelsea; 4. 17 Kris Matchett, Skowhegan; 5. 22 Ed Sleeper, Vassalboro; 6. Ed Gilblair, Skowhegan.

NELCAR Legends Cars (25 laps) 1. Evan Beaulieu, Durham; 2. 38 Mathew Burgoine, Newport; 3. 399 Bob Weymouth, Topsham; 4. 33 Alan Smith, Lincoln; 5. 17 Terry Kirk, Durham; 6. 46 Chad Harrington, Richmond; 7. 2 Ryan Hammar, Pembroke, NH; 8. 59 Reid Lanphear, Manchester; 9. 4 Peter Craig, Poland; 10. 8 Matt Chagnot, Derry, NH; 11. 49 Pete Cannell, South Berwick.

Racin’ Paper Super Street (15 laps) 1. 21 Nick Huff, Orrington; 2. 47 Nate Weston, Madison; 3. 51 Bryan Robbins, Montville.

Uncle Henry’s Late Model Pro Four (20 laps) 1. 9 Sean Johnson, Stockton Springs; 2. 64 Lance Chapman, Benton; 3. 56 Paul Jackson, Fairfield; 4. 81 Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 5. 38 Tim Robinson, Clinton; 6. 26 Norm Cummings, Jr., Augusta; 7. 91 Alex Fernald, Benton; 8. 22 Jamie Foster, Benton; 9. 5 Bill Ellis, Jr., Parkman.

Monsta Mini (20 laps) 1. 51 Mike Mason, Madison; 2 19 Zach Audet, New Sharon; 3. 3. 92 Mike Wilson, Chelsea; 4. 20 Pete McCollett, Readfield; 5. 2 Greg Cummings, Augusta; 6. 46 John Fortin, Vassalboro; 7. 15 Brad Bosworth, Cornville; 8. 53 Richard Jackson, Hudson.

Flyin’ 4 (20 laps) 1. 71 Donny Silva, Hudson; 2. 62 Kyle Robinson, Clinton; 4. 61 Cole Robinson, Clinton; 4. 22 Tyler Gerow, Fairfield; 5. 09x Ryan Ripley, Waldoboro; 6. 99 Chad Michaud, Fairfield; 7. 24 Eddie Gilblair, Jr., Skowhegan; 8. 94 Mika Wilson, Chelsea; 9. 00x Paul Lyman, Clinton, DQ 09 Matt Shaw, Burnham.

Waterville Oaks Ladies (20 laps) 1. 23 Amanda Batchelder, Fairfield; 2. 06 CCarol Wilson, Chelsea; 3. 19 Christie Foster, Skowhegan; 4. 00 Alica Goodwin, Clinton.

Geo & Sons Teen Thunder (15 laps) 1. 51 Jason Bosworth, Cornville; 2. 18 Emily McAlpine, Burnham; 3. 20 Ricky Pease, Detroit; 4. 21 Austin Clemons, Norridgewock; 5. 15 Colby Robbins, Montville; 6. 01 Kyle Jackson, Fairfield; 7. 7. 70 Robert Dyer, Canaan; 8. 88 Wes Turner, Montville; 9. 11 April McAlpine, Burnham.