Jimmy Renfrew, Jr. started a doubleheader weekend at Oxford Plains Speedway by punching his ticket to this year's Oxford 250.
Story courtesy of Racing America
Jimmy Renfrew, Jr. started a doubleheader weekend at Oxford Plains Speedway by punching his ticket to this year's Oxford 250.
Fan Appreciation Night at Oxford Plains was headlined by a 125-lap feature for the Mid-Coast Excavation Super Late Models. The contest also served as a qualifier for the 53rd Annual Nitro Trailers Oxford 250 on August 30.
Renfrew charged from 17th to first in the first 26 laps, then maintained the top spot to score the victory in the pivotal Super Late Model showcase. The win also marks the first Super Late Model win at Oxford for Renfrew, a former American-Canadian Tour winner at the Maine facility.
"It feels great," said Renfrew about the win. "This car was really good today. I tried to get it wound up there in the third groove for you guys, coming from 17th. I figured we started too far back. I just can't thank all my guys enough.
"Beating Mike Rowe here is like winning the Daytona 500, the way you guys cheer. Just can't thank everybody at Donnie Wilson Motorsports, Renfrew Motorsports, Dennis Dean, my parents, all my crew guys back there that bust their ass every week I make them go to the racetrack with me, 65 times a year. This is awesome."
With the win, Renfrew is guaranteed, at minimum, a provisional starting spot in the Oxford 250. He hopes to add some more Super Late Model wins at Oxford this year, whether it be in the 250 or the Celebration of America 300 next month.
"I've wanted to win a Super Late Model race here for a long time," said Renfrew. "We've won in the ACT car, and hopefully, we're going to come back and either get a 300 or a 250."
Young Cole Robie started on the pole and led the first 25 laps before turning over the top spot to Renfrew. Robie felt it was an easy decision at the time, believing Renfrew was pushing too hard on his tires to keep his pace for 125 laps.
Instead, Renfrew stayed strong and Robie brought home a runner-up finish.
"We had a great day. We had some brake problems here at the beginning of the day in practice. I have a great team behind me, they worked on this car steady. They were able to get me out here and have a fast car.
"We started on the pole, and Jimmy was coming. We let Jimmy go, I thought he was gonna burn his tires up. He didn't, and we fell short by one position today."
Mike Rowe, coming off a win one week ago, finished third on Saturday night. Rowe also drove from deep in the field, adding to his points lead in the Oxford Championship Series standings as Scott McDaniel struggled after an opening lap incident.
"We knew that Renfrew was real quick," said Rowe. "I want to thank everybody for coming out. I tell you what, you guys all come back next week, because this is a hell of a crowd.
"My crew did a hell of a job. They're doing a good job, they're making me look good."
Should Renfrew, Jr. qualify into the Oxford 250, the provisional goes to the highest finisher in Saturday's race who does not qualify into the marquee race.
Thomas Abele, Jr. finished fourth, with Brandon Varney rounding out the top five.
Super Late Model competitors will be back in action Sunday at Oxford Plains Speedway with the Pro All Stars Series battling for 150 laps. The PASS Modifieds and Mad Bombers will also be on track, with racing starting at 2 p.m. ET.
