OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY
Route 26, Oxford, ME 
Phone: (207) 539-8865 

OXFORD ACCELERATION SERIES 

Two drivers who gut their start in Oxford's Charger class more than 20 years ago celebrated Chimney Tech Outlaw victories Wednesday night in Oxford's Acceleration Series.

For Gerry Richard, his triumph in the 'C' feature was a career first. In the case of Jerry Freve, the 'A' win was his second checkered flag of the campaign on the heels of many he captured in the Allen's Strictly Stock division.

Jerry "The Shoe" Goss exhibited his heavy foot, driving from the back row to the top spot in the Outlaw 'B' main.

Lewiston drivers Jeff Beaule and Gregg Norton swept two action-packed Macdonald Motors Runnin' Rebel features. Jake Burns now leads all OPS drivers this season after his fifth Call of the Wild RV Center Sport Truck victory.

Defending champion Vanna Brackett stopped Dottie Patria's winning streak and logged her second victory of the year in the Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy ranks. And another reigning division king, Jamie Heath, became the first repeat winner in Renegade competition.

Richard made a timely pass of Scott Veinott for the second spot in his race with two laps to go. That poised him to inherit the lead when early dominator David Smith veered over the top of the third turn in a thick cloud of smoke.

Rematched on the ensuing restart, Richard and Veinott raced door-to-door through the first and second turns before Richard forged ahead to stay. 

"It's been a long time coming," said Richard. "I raced here about 20 years ago, and I decided to come back and try the Outlaws."

Veinott yielded runner-up honors to Jim Archer on the final lap but stayed in the top three for the second straight week. His dad, Don Veinott, led the first four laps before settling for a strong fourth. Michael Haynes completed the top five.

Goss' charge from the rear of the field in round two was the highlight of the evening. The Truck and Rebel graduate out-dueled Bob Ferguson, Steve Brill and Ron Abbott Jr. over the closing circuits, punctuating his push with a drive around Randy Robitaille as the white flag appeared.

"She's running a little hot tonight. We were just out there having fun and trying not to crash," said Goss. "I crashed the last two weeks. Doug Degroat taught me a lot the last week."

Abbott stalked Robitaille at close range throughout the event. By the time he finally made the pass on the last lap, Goss was already gone. The second-place finish matched a season's best for Abbott, and Robitaille's third-place run was his third top-five in the last four starts.

Brill and Ferguson rounded out the paying positions.

Freve, like Goss, was simply happy to finish a race after a flurry of recent wrecks. His journey to victory lane was a little simpler after starting from the pole.

The five-car duel for second between Addison Bowie, Thom Bell, Steve Moon, David Childs and Carey Robertson helped Freve's cause, too, as "Jave Jerry" was able to maintain his three-car length advantage throughout.

"It's been a hard couple of weeks," said Freve. "I've wrecked three or four times."

Bowie moved into second when mechanical problems sidelined Tyler Belanger just past the midway point. The next three in line swapped positions a half-dozen times down the home stretch, with Bell edging Childs for third at the stripe. "Mr. Consistency" Moon chalked up fifth.

Beaule's third four-cylinder start of the season was a relative breeze, good for his first win in nearly two years.

Bob Danforth led the first two laps before giving way to Beaule. Dan Brown shadowed Beaule briefly in Nathan Guptill's #106 before nursing some smoking issues over the second half. His drop-off left Beaule nearly half a lap in front at the finish.

"It was easy for a while, but when the lapped cars come into play that's what makes it really interesting," Beuale said. "We got through it and got another win, finally."

Another replacement racer, Ben Audet, made a determined drive in Derek Cook's #88. Audet capped the run with a last-lap pass of Brown for second. John Childs showed signs of reversing his season of rotten luck by finishing fourth in front of Randy Nutter.

Norton would not be denied in padding his all-time lead in the Rebel feature wins category. He screamed from 20th to the lead in only nine laps.

"This feels absolutely great," Norton said. "What a job it is coming from the back to the front. You need a lot of lucky breaks. I found out this week that my rear axle was bent about three-quarters of an inch, so we fixed that and got it going the way it was before. I don't care about the wins at all this year. I want that championship."

Josh Childs didn't make it easy for Norton after his assumption of the lead. The high school athlete made several overtures to the outside and took his runner-up trophy in style. 

Troy Jordan gained 11 spots from his starting position to take third, followed by Brandon Munroe. From last in the 22-car starting grid, Kyle Hewins nailed down fifth.

Burns wasted no time asserting himself, taking command of the Truck race from John Lizotte on lap 4.

A four-lap showdown at the finish gave Burns a brief anxious moment when Lizotte got a fender in front on the restart. Burns reclaimed the point by the time the leaders hit turn one, however.

"My dad does a great job setting up this truck," Burns said. "And my mom drives an hour-and-a-half up here every week just to watch me race, so I'm glad she can be here."

Lizotte's gutsy attempt to grab his first career win ultimately cost him a trophy when Opie Allard and Marvin Hamilton ducked underneath him in the latter stages. Rookie Ross Spurling was strong again, keeping pace with the leaders and pedaling home fifth.

Brackett's lucky 13th Ladies win brought her within one of Stephanie Bowie for second on the all-time Acceleration list. 

Starting fifth after two tough early-season finishes, Brackett broke free and took the lead from Sue Veinott on lap 3.

"It helps to start up front," admitted Brackett, who has registered most of her wins from much deeper in the pack.

Patria's bid for her third straight victory and fifth overall wound up one spot shy. Lisa Vining held second for most of the caution-free sprint before Patria drove around with about five laps remaining.

Series point leader Cathy Manchester was fourth, followed by Christina Spaulding.

Heath sighed "Finally!" after his second win of the season, but it's not like his two-week hiatus constitutes much of a losing streak. He now owns 15 of the 19 victories since the stock six-cylinder division was launched in 2007.

Jason Hannigan (second) and Craig Bartlett (third) each held serve in their ongoing battle for the point lead. The post-race disqualification of fourth-place Nate Dubuc (illegal springs) vaulted Joe Morey and Mark Turner to fourth and fifth, respectively.

Morey and Hannigan led early before Heath powered to the point on lap 5.

OPS action resumes Friday at 6:30 p.m. with Unicel Motor Mayhem, featuring twin Enduros, a Smoky Donut contest and Spectator Drags. Saturday at 6:30 p.m. is Sportscaster Night, featuring five divisions of intense short track action.

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #1 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (9) #57 Gerry Richard, Leeds, 20
2. (7) #6 Jim Archer, Chesterville, 20
3. (4) #30 Scott Veinott, Sabattus, 20
4. (2) #28 Don Veinott, Sabattus, 20
5. (8) #67 Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls, 20
6. (6) #54 Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn, 20
7. (16) #29 Nic Stanley, Buckfield, 20
8. (15) #20 Ron Parker, New Gloucester, 19
9. (12) #13 Mike Blash, Oxford, 19
10. (5) #55 Justin Vining, Peru, 19
11. (11) #15 Jacob Hethcoat, Norway, 19
12. (10) #65 David Smith, Norway, 18
13. (3) #8 Devon Smith, Norway, 18
14. (13) #4 Travis Bennett, Harrison, 17
15. (1) #100 Curt Chapman, Lewiston, 14
16. (14) #17 Maurice Martel Jr., Greene, 6
DNS #09 Bruce Robertson, Leeds
Lap leaders: D. Veinott 1-3, Da. Smith 4-18, Richard 19-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 18)
Time of race: 13 minutes, 58 seconds

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #2 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (16) #99 Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls, 20
2. (5) #39 Ron Abbott Jr., Sabattus, 20
3. (1) #51 Randy Robitaille, Norway, 20
4. (2) #53 Steve Brill, Bridgton, 20
5. (6) #63 Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester, 20
6. (14) #169 Jim Drake, Hebron, 20
7. (7) #58 Tim Hatch, Standish, 20
8. (3) #112 Dennis Morang, South Paris, 20
9. (9) #06 Rick Vining, Bridgton, 20
10. (13) #137 David Brown, Gray, 20
11. (15) #69 Jay Wilkins, Gray, 20
12. (17) #52 Kevin Leighton, Minot, 20
13. (4) #48 Tina Titus, Lisbon Falls, 20
14. (8) #16 Gordon Bell, Auburn, 20
15. (12) #72 Bill Coolidge, Bryant Pond, 19
16. (10) #10 Scott Ellis, Lewiston, 18
17. (11) #12 Nik Coates, Lisbon, 18
Lap leaders: Robitaille 1-18, Goss 19-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 59 seconds

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #3 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #139 Jerry Freve, Buckfield, 20
2. (5) #38 Addison Bowie, Auburn, 20
3. (7) #18 Thom Bell, Minot, 20
4. (16) #5 David Childs, Oxford, 20
5. (9) #19 Steve Moon, Gray, 20
6. (2) #08 Carey Robertson, Leeds, 20
7. (15) #90 Keith Landry, Oxford, 20
8. (12) #97 Shannon Judd, Jay, 20
9. (13) #36 Rick Spaulding, Lewiston, 20
10. (6) #68 Bubba Collins, New Gloucester, 20
11. (14) #83 Dan Brown, Peru, 20
12. (17) #24 Kevin Lawrence, South Paris, 20
13. (4) #82 Josh Paradis, Sumner, 20
14. (8) #04 Zach Bowie, Mechanic Falls, 19
15. (10) #34 John Patria, Turner, 18
16. (3) #33 Tyler Belanger, Buckfield, 10
17. (11) #00 Guy Childs Sr., Turner, 3
Lap leaders: Freve 1-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 59 seconds

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #1 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (5) #31 Jeff Beaule, Lewiston, 20
2. (15) #88 Ben Audet, Chesterville, 20
3. (14) #106 Dan Brown, Peru, 20
4. (4) #69 John Childs, Leeds, 20
5. (11) #76 Randy Nutter, Auburn, 20
6. (16) #39 Jay Dufour, Lewiston, 20
7. (13) #91 Bill Grover, Topsham, 20
8. (8) #02 Ben Libby, Buckfield, 20
9. (7) #97 Jim Hart, Buckfield, 20
10. (18) #41 Steve Rowe, Standish, 20
11. (10) #32x Brian Hawthorne, New Gloucester, 20
12. (9) #49 Dustin Couture, Auburn, 20
13. (6) #45 Ken Whittemore, Greene, 19
14. (19) #64 Tyler Smith, Oxford, 19
15. (12) #71 Cody Smith, Oxford, 19
16. (22) #148 Donnie Smith, Oxford, 19
17. (1) #19 Zach Audet, Chesterville, 18
18. (3) #23 Mike Anderson, Lewiston, 13
19. (20) #00 Mikel Tabor, Auburn, 13
20. (21) #28 James Record, Oxford, 12
21. (17) #05 Josh Brown, Conway, N.H., 7
22. (2) #21 Bob Danforth, Stoneham, 3
DNS #14 Gene White, Lisbon
Lap leaders: Danforth 1-2, Beaule 3-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 3)
Time of race: 11 minutes, 54 seconds

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #2 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (20) #119 Gregg Norton, Lewiston, 20
2. (16) #3 Josh Childs, Oxford, 20
3. (14) #6 Troy Jordan, Turner, 20
4. (5) #32 Brandon Munroe, New Gloucester, 20
5. (22) #54 Kyle Hewins, Leeds, 20
6. (15) #82 Martin Krauter, Raymond, 20
7. (10) #333 Craig Farrington, Hebron, 20
8. (18) #521 Scott Farrington, Minot, 20
9. (17) #12 Calvin Rose Jr., Turner, 20
10. (8) #83 Brady Romano, Livermore Falls, 20
11. (12) #93 Jamie Leavitt, Minot, 20
12. (3) #7x Charlie Webster, Auburn, 20
13. (19) #96 Matt Dufault, Turner, 20
14. (2) #46 Jason Berry, Turner, 20
15. (9) #4 Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester, 20
16. (7) #16 Mike Ward, Harrison, 20
17. (13) #27 Archie Watt Jr., Auburn, 20
18. (1) #555 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 20
19. (11) #84 Doug Degroat, Oxford, 19
20. (6) #41M Logan Melcher, Livermore Falls, 19
21. (4) #63 Cole Flagg, Livermore, 18
22. (21) #15 David Cook, Wilton, 11
Lap leaders: Cote 1-4, Ward 5-9, Norton 10-20
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 40 seconds

CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (8) #74 Jake Burns, Gray, 20
2. (10) #68 Opie Allard, Harpswell, 20
3. (7) #7 Marvin Hamilton, New Gloucester, 20
4. (4) #1 John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls, 20
5. (5) #17 Ross Spurling, New Gloucester, 20
6. (3) #22 Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls, 20
7. (2) #40 Tom Libby, Gorham, 20
8. (11) #13 Justin Roussel, Oxford, 18
9. (1) #9 Brian Farrar, Sumner, 18
10. (12) #52 Joey Bedard, Hartford, 17
11. (6) #69 Ryan Farrar, Oxford, 16
12. (9) #54x Devon Smith, Norway, 9
DNS #02 Steve Anderson, Bethel
Lap leaders: Lizotte 1-3, Burns 4-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 16)
Time of race: 11 minutes, 10 seconds

ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (5) #23 Vanna Brackett, Buckfield, 20
2. (12) #34 Dottie Patria, Turner, 20
3. (9) #139 Lisa Vining, Turner, 20
4. (11) #69 Cathy Manchester, Gray, 20
5. (10) #36 Christina Spaulding, Lewiston, 20
6. (2) #30 Lisa Brooks, Auburn, 20
7. (8) #3 Deanna Bisbee, South Paris, 20
8. (6) #92 Debbie Marston, Hartford, 20
9. (1) #28 Sue Veinott, Sabattus, 20
10. (3) #137 Kristen Brown, Gray, 19
11. (7) #2 Kimberly Sessions, Auburn, 19
12. (4) #29 Shannon Wheeler, Auburn, 19
13. (13) #13 Missy Roussel, Oxford, 18
14. (14) #44 Annie Chartier, Mexico, 18
Lap leaders: Veinott 1-2, Brackett 3-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 7 minutes, 5 seconds

RENEGADE (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (8) #91 Jamie Heath, Waterford, 20
2. (6) #94 Jason Hannigan, Greene, 20
3. (7) #2 Craig Bartlett, Waterford, 20
4. (2) #3 Joe Morey, Lisbon, 20
5. (3) #19 Mark Turner, Norway, 19
6. (1) #1 Dan Ellis, Brunswick, 19
7. (9) #88 Zach Bowie, Mechanic Falls, 10
8. (4) #05 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 8
DQ #46 Nate Dubuc, Lewiston
Lap leaders: Morey 1, Hannigan 2-4, Heath 5-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 54 seconds

(207) 645-4571
Photos from 
all OPS divisions!

Photos by
Trudy Marshall

Photos by
Katie Lenberg