WISCASSET – They waited and waited in the rain and then sent a fleet of vehicles around Wiscasset Raceway during a brief let-up to try to dry it out.

But then the rain started up again.

So the first Big Dawg Challenge 400-lap auto race at Wiscasset Raceway was postponed Sunday and rescheduled for Monday at 12:30.

“There’s not much we can do about the weather,” said Pro All-Star Series President Tom Mayberry, who leases the track and is the driving force behind the lucrative Big Dawg Challenge.

The winner is guaranteed $75,000 and he could also pocket a $25,000 bonus if he attempted to qualify for at least seven PASS or Wiscasset Raceway events.

Wiscasset’s Scott Chubbuck will start on the pole thanks to his triumph in the first 50-lap heat race.

Hallowell’s Johnny Clark will start alongside him. Rounding out the top 10 are, in order, Farmington’s Cassius Clark, Norway’s Sam Sessions, Turner’s Ben Rowe, Strong’s Tracy Gordon, Topsham’s Bill Whorff Jr., Scarborough’s Larry Gelinas, Turner’s Mike Rowe and Scott Fraser of Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia.

Two-time PASS points champ Ben Rowe clocked the fastest time in time trials, a course-record 14.854.

Among the 48 drivers vying for 39 spots was 62-year-old Stan Meserve, the former owner of Distance Racing Products in Unity (now in Fairfield) who now does the car set-ups for Winston Cup driver Michael Waltrip.

“It feels real good to be back. It’s a heckuva’ vacation. If a racer takes a vacation, this is what he wants to do,” said the North Carolina-based Meserve, a former top racer in the northeast who has been in Maine for 10 days.

The Damariscotta-born Meserve, who will start 14th, said he has a “real nice car” but a Monday morning practice will be important.

“There are some new car blues and issues with it. I’m hoping to narrow them down during the practice,” said Meserve.

Mike Rowe said the postponement could be beneficial.

“Maybe this is what we need to get dialed in. We had good luck after it rained at Thompson (International Speedway, Conn.). Maybe this will bring us luck [Monday],” said Rowe.

His son, Ben, said “we set the track record during the day so we’d just as soon race during the day.”

Gordon likes his Chevy Monte Carlo and feels “I stand as good a chance as anybody.

“Patience will definitely be a key. Getting myself to be patient is another thing,” added Gordon. “You definitely want to stay on the lead lap, keep your fenders on and race the last 100 laps.”