HERMON – Drivers steamed from hot tempers after accidents at Speedway 95 Saturday night.
Hampden’s David Green and Lewis Batchelder of Dixmont kicked off the featured events in the 20-lap Sport Four race with a shoving match. Both drivers thought the other was at fault.
“He was trying to take me out,” said Batchelder. The two were racing for second on lap 16 when the crash occurred. “I was three-quarters of the way by him when he cut hard into me. I locked the brakes up and he slid sideways in front of me.”
Both drivers slid to the infield on the front stretch, bringing out the race’s second caution.
“He bumped me three more times under caution,” added Batchelder. “That wasn’t right.”
Green saw it a different way.
“He just drove right into me,” said Green. “I wasn’t backing out. If I’m going, [he’s] going with me.”
Green turned Batchelder’s car around on the front stretch under caution and Green was immediately disqualified.
“My adrenaline got flying and I retaliated,” said Green. “It probably wasn’t right. Your temper sometimes gets the best of you.”
Batchelder agreed and thinks that more should be dolled out for punishment.
“He should’ve been thrown out for the rest of the year,” said Batchelder. “Three years ago I got in a similar situation and I got thrown out for the rest of the year. He should at least have a two-week vacation.”
This is the second week in a row that the two had gotten together on the track.
“One of his buddies hit him and I ended up getting into Lewis,” said Green. “It was the first incident we’ve ever had together.”
Batchelder said that he’s already over it and doesn’t plan on retaliating.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” he said.
After that was settled, Mike Hopkins of Hermon took the win. His eighth win in 10 starts at Speedway 95.
“This is one of the best cars I’ve had all year,” said Hopkins. “Ten weeks and we’ve won eight of them. The other two weeks, I’ve rolled over.”
Steve Heath of Brownville finished second, Belfast’s Spencer Gavin was third, David Shorey of Old Town was fourth and Hermon’s Phil Richardson rounded out the top five.
The other temper-flaring moment happened in the 35-lap Sportsman feature. Dale Swoboda of Hermon was racing on the outside of Town Hill’s John Phippen Jr. for third when Swoboda spun into the outside tire wall in turn four.
“Johnny took me out,” said Swoboda. “And it ain’t the first time he’s done it.”
Swoboda showed his displeasure after the incident by swerving near Phippen under the caution, but didn’t touch him as he went to the pits.
The garage is where the situation could’ve escalated if Speedway 95 security didn’t step in to prevent it from happening.
“I think there was a fight [in the garage] on Wednesday night and one of the security guys got hurt,” Phippen said. “They stopped me and made me go in the back way. They wanted to avoid any problems.
“They said there was a pile of people standing in the roadway waiting for me to come through,” added Phippen.
Paul White of Corinna led every lap en route to victory. He was followed by Winterport’s Ryan Deane and Phippen. Glenburn’s Doug Day was fourth and Duane Seekins of Stockton Springs finished fifth.
The Super Mini-Cup Racing Series crowned a new champion.
Howland’s Francis Bernard Jr. finished fourth in 20-lap feature and won the National American Mini-Cup Series championship.
Howland’s Josh Ireland and his father Fred Ireland finished first and second, respectively. Josh Ireland led all but two laps to claim the win.
Rich Hill of Mechanic Falls was third, followed by Bernard and North Anson’s R.J. Pinkham.
Deane Smart of Bradley held off a hard-charging Brenton Parritt of Steuben to win the 25-lap Limited Sportsman feature. Smart led just the final four laps to win it.
Winterport natives Fred Brown and Shane Clark finished third and fourth, respectively, and Hudson’s Glen Curtis Sr. was fifth.
Keith Pierce of Hudson led all 25 laps to win the Super Street feature. Orrington’s John Kalel II was second followed by Franklin’s Greg Pung, Frankfort’s Kevin Colson and Steve Moulton of Glenburn.
The final race of the night was the last of three series races for the Strictly Streets.
Rowland Robinson Jr. of Steuben led all 35 laps for the relatively uncontested victory. Only three of the eight cars that started the race finished on the lead lap.
Robinson borrowed Shawn Hamel’s car for the second time. He won both times while in his car.
“That’s the only way to do it if you’re going to win,” said Robinson about his dominating run.
Brad Norris of Ellsworth finished second, Jim Carr Jr. of Clifton was third, Bangor’s Melanie Hamel was fourth and Keith Daggett of Alton finished fifth.
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