The St. Clair family will be front and center at Sunday afternoon’s Coastal 200 Late Model race at Wiscasset Speedway. Racing begins at 2 p.m.
Ken Minott, the track promoter and sales director at Wiscasset Speedway, said the “whole gang will be there.”
Josh St. Clair is the defending race champ, his grandfather Dave St. Clair finished fifth, and Josh St. Clair’s brother, Ryan St. Clair, wound up eighth.
Dave St. Clair’s son Puncin St. Clair, the father of Josh and Ryan St. Clair, is tied for fourth in the Late Model points at Wiscasset.
Dave St. Clair formerly owned the track.
The race winner will pocket $3,000, second place will pay out $1,600, and third place will yield $1,200.
“There will also be $4,000 in lap money, and the leader at the halfway mark will earn $500,” said Minott.
Even the driver who finishes last (32nd) is guaranteed $300.
Fairfield’s Jeff Burgess was the halfway leader a year ago, but he wound up ninth. He will be one of the favorites again.
“Jeff is three-for-three in Pro Stocks this year. He has won all three Pro Stock races,” said Minott. “He has his own Late Model car. He has been racing someone else’s Pro Stock.
“He was a strong competitor last year until a late-race wreck knocked him out of contention,” he added.
Minott also listed Dave Farrington Jr. of Jay and Chris Thorne of Sidney as being other top contenders.
Twenty-six cars entered last year’s race, and 25 took the green flag.
“We’d be happy with that on Sunday. Getting up to 30 would be even better,” said Minott, who noted that they have had at least 22 Late Model cars in their weekly racing series so far.
Wiscasset’s Nick Hinkley is the Late Model points leader after two races, and he is expected to be among the primary contenders. He also is fourth in the Pro Stock points.
Will Collins of Waldoboro and Ryan St. Clair are tied for second in points with Dave St. Clair and Ben Erskine of Farmington sharing fourth place.
Collins finished fourth in last year’s Coastal 200 behind Josh St. Clair, Nick Jenkins of Brownville and Andrew McLaughlin of Harrington.
Minott said Dave St. Clair’s fifth-place showing in last year’s 200 created a “buzz” because he was “the only driver who ran the entire race on one set of tires.”
Drivers will be allowed to purchase six new tires on Sunday.
Admission is $5.