Trombley cruises in Speedway 95 debut

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HERMON – Other drivers may consider themselves lucky Justin Trombley doesn’t race at Speedway 95 every week.

Trombley of Winter Harbor led all 35 laps of the Sport Four Feature on Saturday, nearly lapping the field.

It was his first race at the track this season.

“I had a good starting spot, so that helped a lot,” said Trombley who had a new set of tires for the race.

Only five of the 17 cars were on the lead lap by lap 25. Hermon’s Mike Hopkins was the only driver within half a lap of the leader.

“I knew [Hopkins] was right on me,” Trombley said. “I knew if I messed up, he was going to take first, so I had to go.”

After a lap-28 restart, Trombley and Hopkins raced side-by-side for the lead before Hopkins’ steering rack broke and he hit the tires on the backstretch, flipping his car over.

“That was a good ride,” said Hopkins. “I tried to keep it out of the tires, but I couldn’t turn.”

It was the second race in a row that Hopkins had flipped his car.

Last week he flipped his car outside of turn four.

“I was just trying to finish this week after what happened last week,” said Hopkins. “It’s going to take a lot more than that to slow me down.”

David Green of Hampden, who finished second, had little for the winner at the finish, but hopes Trombley comes back.

“I wish he was here every week because he puts on a good show,” said Green.

Medford’s Adam Russell took third.

“It’s not as good as I wanted [to finish],” said Russell. “What hurts is that they put that lap traffic in front of you [on the restart]. That slows you up.”

The race was the second of a three-race series.

Belfast’s Spencer Garvin finished fourth and Lewis Batchelder of Dixmont was fifth.

Hopkins wasn’t the only driver to get an up-close view of the backstretch tires.

Van Kitchin of St. Albans flipped his car on lap 13 of the Super Street feature.

“We were running pretty good,” said Kitchin who was running fourth at the time. “I don’t really know [how it got started].

“I’m fine. No pains or anything; just old age,” Kitchin said with a laugh. It was the first time he had flipped his car.

Joe Legere of Milford led all 25 laps to take the victory. He was followed by points leader Steve Moulton of Glenburn and Orrington’s John Kalel II. Kris Huff of Orrington was fourth and Bucksport’s Artie McGuire rounded out the top five.

Ellsworth’s Bradley Norris was finally able to grab a victory. He did so by leading all 25 laps of the Strictly Street feature.

“I wasn’t expecting to [lead all the laps],” said Norris.

It was Norris’ first career victory at the Strictly Street level. He’s in his second season.

Rowland Robinson Jr. of Steuben was closing on Norris, but didn’t have enough to pass.

“I definitely saw him coming in my rear view mirror,” Norris said. “Then I stepped on it.”

Robinson had to settle for second, Shawn Sperrey of Hermon took third, Bangor’s Shawn Hamel was fourth and Corinna’s Sam Whitmore finished fifth.

St. Albans’ Greg Morse wasn’t as fortunate in pursuit of his first win.

Morse led 31 of the 35 laps of the Sportsman feature, but a late restart spoiled his chances.

“Ryan [Deane of Winterport] had a good jump on the restart and I couldn’t hold him off,” said Morse.

Deane went on to pick up his third win.

“If I didn’t have that restart I don’t think I could’ve touched him,” said Deane.

It was the second week in a row that Morse led the majority of laps and couldn’t capture the win.

He led 26 laps last week before finishing seventh. He blew a left-rear tire after making contact with another car.

But Morse isn’t discouraged about his near misses.

“Our car is getting better every week,” said Morse. “We’re picking away at it. We’re hoping to win one of these soon.”

Corinna’s Paul White finished second and Morse settled for third. Dale Swoboda of Hermon finished fourth and Carmel’s Jesse Smith was fifth.

The half-scale Mini Cup cars made their third appearance at Speedway 95 for a 25-lap race.

Three drivers led in the first three laps before Josh Ireland of Howland pulled away from the pack.

Mechanic Falls’ Rich Hall tracked him down and raced side-by-side before Hall finally prevailed and went on to take the victory.

Josh Ireland was second followed by Fred Ireland of Howland, Milford’s Garrett Hayman and Wes Perry of Millinocket.

Brenton Parritt of Steuben finally avoided mechanical trouble and drove away from the field to win the Limited Sportsman feature.

Parritt led all 25 laps en route to victory. He was followed by Bradley’s Deane Smart and Frank Moulton of Unity. Milo’s Nick Jenkins was fourth and Tim Hamel of Levant was fifth.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY MICHAEL YORK

Van Kitchin of St. Albans waits for wrecker crews to get his car off the track after flipping it on the backstretch Saturday night at Speedway 95 in Hermon.