How many divisions can you fit into a single race program?

Wiscasset Raceway could start a 24-hour race hotline, and chances are, whenever you chose to call, there would be cars racing on the track there.

Saturday afternoon's (and evening's) race program at Wiscasset called for a whopping 9 divisions of racing, heats included for all -- capped off by the NAPA Auto Parts 100 for the Pro Stock division. What's the over/under on the number of hours it's going to take to get this thing done? Six? Seven? Twelve?

Track announcer Ken Minott likes to joke that whenever I show up at Wiscasset, he knows he's not getting out of here before midnight. Might be true tonight, despite the afternoon start time...

*****

Just 19 cars showed up for the $3,000 to win NAPA Auto Parts 100 for the Pro Stocks. Cassius Clark and Bill Penfold will led the field to the green flag later tonight.

With the heat win, Penfold picked up 10 points toward the track's Pro Stock championship and is 4th behind Charlie Colby, Jeff Burgess and Scott Moore. The 3 leaders finished out of the points in the heats.

Clark, Johnny Clark, Travis Benjamin, Curtis Gerry, Derek Ramstrom and Gary Smith are among the PASS North Series regulars who are here.

*****

The $30 pit fee at the back gate met with some criticism.

"If they want to have Pro Stocks," said one support division member, "then they shouldn't make us pay for it."

It's a valid point. It may be a 100-lap event on the card, but it's still a regular, weekly race program. That ought to count for something.

*****

I'm sure he's glad to have the ice cream cake.

On a day with temps soaring off into the 90s, Wiscasset track photographer Peter Taylor was honored with the birthday cake and a card. Only problem? Taylor's driver's license says his birthday isn't until Sept. 29.

"Hey I just read what they tell me to read and say what they want me to say," Minott joked after making the presentation.

Hey, my birthday's in January. Can I get a case of cold beer over here?