Feeling gassed: Daren Ripley wins Sportsman Nationals at Mike Landry's expense

How much will a gallon of gasoline cost you these days? If you’re Mike Landry, about 10 grand.

Daren Ripley capped a grueling day of racing by winning the 100-lap Sportsman Nationals at Wiscasset Raceway on Sunday, benefitting when Landry ran out of gas while leading under caution with two laps remaining. The race was expected to pay close to $10,000 to the winner.

"I was (smiling). I was just settling for second," Ripley said. "(Landry) had me covered. I don’t know what happened."

Ripley’s fortunes took a dramatic turn in his favor when, under a caution flag with just two laps remaining, leader Landry’s car stopped unexpectedly in turn 4. Ripley inherited the lead after following – sometimes distantly – in Landry’s tire tracks for some 65 laps.

Ripley, one of the track’s all-time winningest Sportsman division drivers, dropped down from the Late Model ranks for the race. Nate Weston of Madison finished second. Dan McKeage was third.

"It was a sad thing Mikey ran out of gas or whatever happened there," McKeage said.

Because the race only drew 46 entries – fewer than the prescribed 60 entries needed to pay the full advertised purse, according to White – Ripley’s winning purse will be prorated some 25 percent.

After starting seventh in the 32-car field, Landry rolled into the second spot by lap 15 and then took the lead from Shane Tatro five laps later. He held that lead for 78 laps until his car expired.

"This car’s (a) new car for next year," Ripley said. "It’s like 22 years old... We just brought it back out for (nephew Ryan Ripley). He may bring it out next week, but we’re having a lot of fun with it right now."

All told, there were almost eight hours of racing from start to finish on Sunday. There were several red-flag delays for cars going off-track in turns three and four and ending up in the woods below the grassy banking there.

Each of the two 100-lap races on the day – including the Strictly Street Nationals won by Maurice Young of Windsor – took nearly two hours to complete.

Comments

[The other Barrett]

Mikey did a great job and we're all very proud of him. Just an unfortunate situation... Either way, great racing Mike!