Flags wave for Dorr, patriotism in Hermon

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HERMON – There was a sense of patriotism at Speedway 95 Sunday as several of the race cars sported American flags to honor the victims of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Frankfort’s Chad Ashey donated his $100 winner’s check in the sport four division to the American Red Cross for the relief efforts in New York and Arlington, Va.

There were also plenty of fireworks on the track as Addison’s Ikey Dorr survived a wild airborne ride and crash into the bank of tires on turn three; three drivers named Jason finished one-two-three in the Little Enduros and four drivers got disqualified in one race, including the top three, for using illegal tires.

Dorr was actually leading the strictly street feature when he reportedly felt dizzy and lost control of his car. The car sailed over the bank into the tires and a pair of ambulances rushed to the scene.

After several minutes, Dorr was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center with face lacerations. He was reportedly conscious and talking with paramedics. As of Sunday evening, he was being evaluated in the emergency room at EMMC. Dorr has a history of heart trouble which may have contributed to his crash, according to a track official.

Hermon’s Alex Shaw, who was running second at the time, inherited the lead when the race resumed and he wound up claiming the 25-lap feature by eight car-lengths over Brent Parritt of Steuben. Pittsfield’s Van Kitchin was third. It was Shaw’s fourth win of the season.

“Ikey had the car to win with. Second would have been good for us. I just hope he’s OK. He’s fun to race with,” said Shaw who drove a 1979 Camaro.

Dorr actually slowed down considerably on the backstretch before hitting the gas and sailing over the embankment. Parritt and Kitchin also slowed down.

“I thought they had thrown a caution,” said Parritt who also expressed the hope Dorr wasn’t seriously hurt.

In the Little Enduros, Jason Decker of Ellsworth slipped past Carmel’s Jason Lancaster with two laps to go when Lancaster got tapped and trapped behind a lapped car.

Hermon’s Jason Phillips rebounded for an impressive third after sliding off the track and running in the grass for a sizeable stretch in front of the grandstand midway through the race.

It was Decker’s first win of the season. He drove a Mazda RX-7.

“A guy got into me with three laps to go and it sliced my tire. My tire was coming off. I couldn’t steer the car,” said Lancaster.

In the super streets, Hermon’s Bernie Thayer, Winterport’s Ryan Deane and Deer Isle’s Matt Eaton crossed the finish line one-two-three.

But drivers are required to buy their tires at Speedway 95 to avoid tampering and prevent drivers from gaining an unfair advantage.

According to track officials, all three were disqualified for buying their tires elsewhere as was Winterport’s Bill Harnish, who was sixth but would have been third after those three were disqualified.

Hermon’s Dale Swoboda was awarded the win followed by Stockton Springs’ Duane Seekins and Bradley’s Deane Smart.

Dover-Foxcroft’s Ross Merrill maneuvered underneath Winterport’s Mike Lynch with four laps remaining to pick up his fourth win of the year.

Lynch was second and Old Town’s David Doore finished third and sewed up the points title.

Merrill appeared to be trying to pass Lynch on the outside before he ducked underneath him but he said that was a ploy.

“You can’t really pass on the outside here. I got him to come up the track [to block me] and then I got under him,” said Merrill.

Lynch said, “I slipped up and he got me.”

Doore said he drove a conservative race to ensure the points title.

“He [Merrill] needed to finish nine places ahead of me [to win the points],” said Doore.

Bucksport’s Heidi Shorey, who just began racing a few months ago, notched her first win in the women’s enduro race.

“The car [Pontiac] was super,” said Shorey who led from start to finish.

Levant’s Wendy Trojano was second and Winterport’s Joanne Tufts finished third.

In the sport four feature, Ashey was followed across the finish line by Bangor’s Wally Gibbons and Hermon’s Steve Moulton.

OTHER SPEEDWAY 95 RESULTS

Double O Big Enduros: 1.Steve Moulton, Hermon; 2. Ken McGraw, Levant; 3. Rick Grant, Hermon; Double O Little Enduros: 1. Russell Blankhorn, Ellsworth; 2. Jason Phillips, Hermon; 3. Ernie Wallace, Winterport; Backwards: 1. Jeff Overlock Jr., Hermon; 2. Ken McGraw, Levant; 3. Alan Moody; Demolition derby: Lewis Reed, Sedgewick; 2. Larry Laney, Sebec; 3. Tyler Goodrich, Vassalboro; Tag race: 1. Cliff Knight-Kevin Colson, Frankfort; 2. Rick Eastman, Atkinson, and Jason Phillips, Hermon; 3. Mike Heath, Brownville, and Joe Mitchell, Milford; Ladies Double O Enduro: 1. Billie Thompson, Stockton Springs; 2. Joanne Tufts, Winterport; 3. Wendy Trojano, Levant.