For the second straight year, Kyle Treadwell crossed the finish line first in a DT100 for Make-A-Wish feature at Maine Indoor Karting. After winning the lightweight division feature one year ago, the Buckfield, Maine driver moved up to the middleweight division on Saturday afternoon and used a late-race pass on Supermodified driver Mike Netishen to win the 25-lap feature.
“I think I’m the first one to do it in two different weight classes,” Treadwell told Speed51.com powered by JEGS. “That was a fun race. I don’t want to say any win is easier than another, but last year I had Alex Lacognata breathing down my neck. It’s all for a good cause. The kids are the winners here.”
On Friday evening, Treadwell made his way to the Scarborough, Maine facility to record practice laps in anticipation for the big event. But while he was there, the 2014 Oxford 250 qualifier felt as if he was coming down with a cold.
So what is a guy to do when he is feeling under the weather one day before a big race?
“I’m a firm believer that if you eat a double cheeseburger you’re going to feel better the next morning,” said Treadwell. “So last night at about 10:30 I went to McDonald’s and got a double cheeseburger and here I am.”
Netishen would end up settling for second, while “Charging” Charlie Baldwin made his way from the seventh starting position to finish third. 2014 Middleweight feature winner Connor McDougal and Kevin Girard, Jr. completed the top-five.
“Thrillin” Dillon Moltz Wins DT100 Heavyweight Feature in First Try
For many drivers in attendance at Maine Indoor Karting on Saturday afternoon, the DT100 for Make-A-Wish is their Daytona 500. Every year, these drivers circle the date on their calendar and prepare for the race in hopes that they can score their first win in the prestigious charity karting event.
Moltz celebrates his DT100 heavyweight division win on Saturday. (Speed51.com Photo)
But for “Thrillin” Dillon Moltz, who was making his first DT100 start, the day was all about having fun and that’s exactly what he did on his way to winning the DT100 heavyweight feature in his first attempt.
“We’re really happy to be here for a good cause and to be able to race,” said Moltz. “I know we were approaching $22,000 coming into the race and it all goes to a good cause. I had a blast and can’t thank Dave Thomas and the entire DT100 staff for having us. To come up here with friends and have a good time while being able to do some racing is awesome.”
Although Moltz is a racer and wants to win every time he’s in a race car, or go-kart in this case, winning was the last thing on his mind. Saturday was all about fun and all about raising money for a good cause. Winning was just an added bonus.
“I didn’t come in being serious,” Moltz said. “Obviously you want a win, but it’s for a good cause. In the back of your mind, that’s all that matters at the end of the day. If you can come out of here with a good finish or a win it makes it that much better.”
Jeff Ramsdell charged from the sixth starting position to finish 2.859 seconds behind Moltz. Mike Beyea, Super Late Model driver Bobby Timmons III and “Fast Freddie” Leclair rounded out the top-five.
Ovitt Becomes a Three-Time DT100 Lightweight Feature Winner
Many of the drivers in the DT100 lightweight feature may consider the Maine Indoor Karting facility to be a second home; however, it was a driver that doesn’t visit the facility regularly that became a three-time DT100 winner on Saturday afternoon.
Alby Olvitt holds up three fingers to signify his third DT100 win. (Speed51.com Photo)
Alby Ovitt, a competitor at Lee USA Speedway (NH), started fourth and used a pass on polesitter Brandon Bernier during the middle portion of the race to claim the victory in the 25-lap event.
“I’m shocked to be honest with you,” Ovitt said after the race. “I’m excited. I didn’t expect to do that today.”
Ovitt visited the facility to record a few practice laps one week ago, but before that his last time at the track was during the 2014 running of the DT100.
“It’s one of biggest events of the year for me at least,” said Ovitt. “It’s one that I’ve had on my checklist and now I’ve been lucky enough to win it three times. It’s been really good to me and I couldn’t be more proud.”
Bernier would hold on to finish second, while track record holder Alex Lacognata rounded out the podium. PJ Murphy and Ryan Green completed the top-five.
To view photos and on-demand coverage from the 7th Annual DT100 for Make-A-Wish, visit Speed51.com’s Trackside Now coverage by clicking here.
-By Brandon Paul, Speed51.com Editor – Twitter: @Brandon_Paul51
-Photo credit: Speed51.com
DT100 Lightweight Feature Results
1 Alby Ovitt
2 Brandon Bernier
3 Alex Lacognata
4 PJ Murphy
5 Ryan Green
6 Randy Cabral
7 Jason Phillips
8 Joey Scanlon
9 Jon Gambutti
10 Frankie Eldredge
11 Dan Murphy, Jr.
12 Chad Call
DT100 Middleweight Feature Results
1 Kyle Treadwell
2 Mike Netishen
3 Charlie Baldwin
4 Connor McDougal
5 Kevin Girard, Jr.
6 Wayne Helliwell, Jr.
7 Eddie MacDonald
8 Jason Myers
9 Brandon Lambert
10 Dave Thomas, Jr.
11 Joe Bell
12 Dan McKeage
DT100 Heavyweight Feature Results
1 Dillon Moltz
2 Jeff Ramsdell
3 Mike Beyea
4 Bobby Timmons III
5 Fred Leclair
6 Mike Horn
7 Geoff Rollins
8 Russ Wood, Sr.
9 Matt Pitkin
10 Alan Williams
11 Jon Booth
12 Travis Canney
