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

OXFORD ACCELERATION SERIES 

He'll gladly trade that one for the bonus that fell his way Wednesday night. David Smith's failure to get through the post-race check due to a carburetor infraction made apparent runner-up Leighton a winner for the first time in his three-year Acceleration Series career.

David Childs and Zach Bowie joined Leighton as Outlaw winners. 

Zach Audet ended a four-year winless streak with a convincing Macdonald Motors Runnin' Rebel victory. Josh Childs was equally impressive in capturing the second half of the four-cylinder twin bill, completing a father-son combination in victory lane.

Jake Burns (Call of the Wild RV Center Sport Truck) and Dottie Patria (Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Ladies) continued their dominant seasons with 20-lap triumphs. Jamie Heath also maintained his mastery of the Renegade class with his second straight win and third of the season.

Leighton was a worthy winner in his Outlaw round, leading early and holding off eventual runner-up Tina Titus and Nik Coates throughout.

Original fifth-place finisher Richard Kyllonen also failed tech, vaulting Randy Nutter to fourth in his first start of the year. Don Veinott continued his strong season in fifth.

Childs worked feverishly for his third win of the season, battling Tyler Belanger at close range throughout the second half of the event before the leaders encountered lapped traffic on the next-to-last circuit.

Belanger chose the middle lane before the rear end of his car wobbled slightly in the fourth turn. Childs took advantage of the open door to the inside, grabbed the lead by a fender at the line and ruled the final 3/8 of a mile.

"That's the most fun I've ever had winning a race," said Childs, who prevailed for the 19th time in his OPS career.

Belanger's second-place consolation prize was his best of the season. Guy Childs Sr. won a tough scrap with Randy Robitaille for the third position in the 'B' main, with Steve Brill rounding out the top five.

Bowie is demonstrating the theory that a tough, long road to an elusive first career win usually means that a bunch more are around the next corner. Already a winner in Renegade and Outlaw late last month, Bowie cruised to the Outlaw 'A' win once again after driving around Ron Abbott Jr. on lap 4.

"I have to thank (my crew) for giving me the final say on tire pressure," said Bowie, whose closest pursuer, Rick Spaulding, was more than a half-straightaway behind after a hard-nosed charge from fifth to second.

Abbott won the battle for third over Thom Bell and Keith Landry. Point leader Steve Moon finished one lap behind Bowie after a stop-and-go penalty early in the race, making Bell the unofficial new series leader.

Nobody in the Rebel 'B' tangle was a match for Audet in his first triumph since August 2004.

"My grandma has been here for the first five or six races, and she told me she thought it was her bad luck," Audet said. "I just proved her wrong."

Audet led every lap in a wild race that was red flagged on lap 3 when Mike Anderson smacked the wall and Dustin Couture rolled his car in separate incidents. Both drivers walked away from the scene.

Jay Dufour claimed the distant runner-up laurels in his second start of the season, getting the best of a superb three-car battle with Mike Ward (third) and Cole Flagg (fourth). John Childs followed with his second straight top-five effort.

Childs raced from 16th starting position and set sail after taking the lead from Charlie Webster on lap 13. It was the second win of the season for last year's top rookie.

"I just missed a couple of the wrecks," said Childs. "It was pretty close."

Webster warded off point leader Gregg Norton to protect second. Troy Jordan edged teammate Matt Dufault for fourth.

Opie Allard set the pace for the first half of the Truck feature, but he lost control and spun just after Burns took the lead with an outside pass on lap 11.

Burns had no competition thereafter, with three lapped trucks giving a cushion on a green-white-checkered restart at the finish. 

"I had a hard time getting up there at first," said Burns, who leads all Acceleration drivers with six wins this season.

Allard used the late caution to take second when Ross Spurling and John Lizotte tangled on the restart. Spurling weathered the storm to keep third. Doug Stevens surged to fourth in his first appearance of the season, and Tom Libby was fifth for the second time in less than a week.

Patria was peerless in pursuit of her fifth win, taking command from Missy Blash on lap 7.

A crash on that circuit involved almost every other car in the field, and nobody was able to stay in touch with Patria after the ensuing resumption.

"I'm glad my sister was here tonight, because she's never seen me win one of these," Patria said.

Lisa Vining and Lisa Brooks completed the trophy positions, with Brooks moving up to third after defending champion Vanna Brackett failed the stroll through tech. Rookie Kristen Brown was a career-best fourth ahead of Debbie Marston.

Heath had plenty of company throughout his Renegade win. Jason Hannigan (second) and Bowie (third) exchanged the runner-up spot and both took turns at his rear bumper.

"There was a little contact out there," said Heath, but it was fun."

First-year racers Craig Bartlett and Nate Dubuc completed the paying positions.

There's no break for OPS, which celebrates Maine State Lottery Fireworks Night on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. with 50-lap features for all divisions and double Oxford Networks Late Model features. The Acceleration Series hits the midway point of its 2008 season next Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m.

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #1 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver. hometown, laps completed
1. (6) #52 Kevin Leighton, Minot, 20
2. (8) #48 Tina Titus, Lisbon Falls, 20
3. (9) #12 Nik Coates, Lisbon, 20
4. (17) #124 Randy Nutter, Auburn, 20
5. (4) #28 Don Veinott, Sabattus, 20
6. (13) #20 Ron Parker, New Gloucester, 20
7. (1) #13 Mike Blash, Oxford, 20
8. (11) #55 Justin Vining, Peru, 19
9. (7) #54 Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn, 19
10. (2) #67 Mike Haynes, Livermore Falls, 19
11. (5) #30 Scott Veinott, Sabattus, 19
12. (3) #8 Devon Smith, Norway, 7
13. (16) #77x Walter Connell III, South Paris, 7
14. (15) #116 Robert Lowe, Auburn, 7
15. (18) #15 Zach Robitaille, Norway, 7
16. (10) #4 Travis Bennett, Harrison, 1
DQ (12) #65 David Smith, Norway
DQ (14) #56 Richard Kyllonen, Oxford
Lap leaders: Blash 1-4, Leighton 5-20.
Cautions: 2 (laps 2, 7)
Time of race: 21 minutes, 21 seconds

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #2 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver. hometown, laps completed
1. (12) #5 David Childs, Oxford, 20
2. (4) #33 Tyler Belanger, Buckfield, 20
3. (13) #00 Guy Childs Sr., Turner, 20
4. (5) #51 Randy Robitaille, Norway, 20
5. (6) #53 Steve Brill, Bridgton, 20
6. (7) #6 Jim Archer, Chesterville, 20
7. (2) #16 Gordon Bell, Auburn, 20
8. (11) #63 Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester, 20
9. (8) #137 David Brown, Gray, 20
10. (10) #82 Josh Paradis, Sumner, 20
11. (1) #10 Scott Ellis, Lewiston, 20
12. (9) #06 Rick Vining, Bridgton, 20
13. (16) #72 Bill Coolidge, Bryant Pond, 19
14. (14) #71 Fred Clavet, Buckfield, 12
15. (3) #112 Dennis Morang, South Paris, 10
16. (15) #3 Tom Averill, Peru, 6
Lap leaders: Robitaille 1-4, Belanger 5-18, D. Childs 19-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 58 seconds.

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #3 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver. hometown, laps completed
1. (4) #04 Zach Bowie, Mechanic Falls, 20
2. (7) #36 Rick Spaulding, Lewiston, 20
3. (1) #39 Ron Abbott Jr., Sabattus, 20
4. (11) #18 Thom Bell, Minot, 20
5. (14) #90 Keith Landry, Oxford, 20
6. (12) #83 Dan Brown, Peru, 20
7. (10) #38 Addison Bowie, Auburn, 20
8. (16) #99 Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls, 20
9. (9) #24 Kevin Lawrence, South Paris, 20
10. (8) #08 Carey Robertson, Leeds, 20
11. (3) #169 Jim Drake, Hebron, 20
12. (5) #68 Bubba Collins, New Gloucester, 20
13. (17) #139 Jerry Freve, Buckfield, 20
14. (2) #97 Shannon Judd, Jay, 20
15. (15) #57 Gerry Richard, Leeds, 20
16. (13) #19 Steve Moon, Gray, 19
17. (6) #34 John Patria, Turner, 3
Lap leaders: Abbott 1-3, Z. Bowie 4-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes. 48 seconds

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #1 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver. hometown, laps completed
1. (2) #19 Zach Audet, Chesterville, 20
2. (4) #39 Jay Dufour, Lewiston, 20
3. (15) #16 Mike Ward, Harrison, 20
4. (12) #63 Cole Flagg, Livermore, 20
5. (9) #69 John Childs, Leeds, 20
6. (13) #41M Logan Melcher, Livermore Falls, 20
7. (16) #64x Gary Salamacha, Old Orchard Beach, 20
8. (1) #64 Tyler Smith, Oxford, 20
9. (14) #46 Jason Berry, Turner, 20
10. (11) #71 Cody Smith, Oxford, 19
11. (19) #148 Don Smith, Oxford, 19
12. (3) #14 Gene White, Lisbon, 18
13. (10) #555 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 18
14. (18) #28 James Record, Oxford, 10
15. (20) #05 Josh Brown, Conway, N.H., 5
16. (7) #49 Dustin Couture, Auburn, 3
17. (8) #02 Ben Libby, Buckfield, 3
18. (6) #15 David Cook, Wilton, 3
19. (17) #43 Paul Cook, Mechanic Falls, 3
20. (5) #23 Mike Anderson, Lewiston, 1
DNS #45 Ken Whittemore, Greene
Lap leaders: Audet 1-20.
Cautions: None
Red flags: 1 (lap 3)
Time of race: 17 minutes, 28 seconds

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #2 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver. hometown, laps completed
1. (16) #3 Josh Childs, Oxford, 20
2. (3) #7x Charlie Webster, Auburn, 20
3. (19) #119 Gregg Norton, Lewiston, 20
4. (14) #6 Troy Jordan, Turner, 20
5. (13) #96 Matt Dufault, Turner, 20
6. (17) #54 Kyle Hewins, Leeds, 20
7. (22) #88 Derek Cook, Livermore Falls, 20
8. (9) #32 Brandon Munroe, New Gloucester, 20
9. (4) #84 Doug Degroat, Oxford, 20
10. (8) #93 Jamie Leavitt, Minot, 20
11. (11) #12 Calvin Rose Jr., Turner, 20
12. (10) #333 Craig Farrington, Minot, 20
13. (20) #106 Nathan Guptill, North Turner, 20
14. (18) #31 Jeff Beaule, Lewiston, 20
15. (7) #83 Brady Romano, Livermore Falls, 20
16. (1) #91 Bill Grover, Topsham, 20
17. (6) #27 Archie Watt Jr., Auburn, 20
18. (5) #4 Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester, 20
19. (15) #521 Scott Farrington, Minot, 19
20. (12) #82 Martin Krauter, Raymond, 12
21. (21) #21 Bob Danforth, Stoneham, 5
22. (2) #76 Randy Nutter, Auburn, 3
Lap leaders: Nutter 1-2, Webster 3-12, Josh Childs 13-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 12)
Time of race: 9 minutes, 57 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. (2) #68 Opie Allard, Harpswell, 20
3. (5) #17 Ross Spurling, New Gloucester, 20
4. (14) #41 Doug Stevens, West Sumner, 20
5. (3) #40 Tom Libby, Gorham, 20
6. (4) #22 Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls, 20
7. (6) #1 John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls, 20
8. (9) #43 Joe Farrar, Oxford, 19
9. (1) #54x Devon Smith, Norway, 19
10. (12) #6 Herb Farrar, Sumner, 19
11. (7) #9 Ryan Farrar, Oxford, 19
12. (11) #30 Ryan Varney, Oxford, 18
13. (10) #39 Corey Williams, Sumner, 17
14. (13) #52 Joey Bedard, Hartford, 16
DNS #02 Steve Anderson, Bethel 
Lap leaders: Allard 1-10, Burns 11-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 18)
Time of race: 11 minutes, 59 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. (5) #88 Zach Bowie, Mechanic Falls, 20
4. (7) #2 Craig Bartlett, Waterford, 20
5. (9) #46 Nate Dubuc, Lewiston, 20
6. (4) #19 Mark Turner, Norway, 19
7. (3) #05 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 19
8. (1) #1 Dan Ellis, Brunswick, 19
9. (2) #3 Joe Morey, Lisbon, 17
Lap leaders: Morey 1-2, Heath 3-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 49 seconds

ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver. hometown, laps completed
1. (10) #34 Dottie Patria, Turner, 20
2. (9) #139 Lisa Vining, Turner, 20
3. (3) #30 Lisa Brooks, Auburn, 20
4. (5) #137 Kristen Brown, Gray, 20
5. (6) #92 Debbie Marston, Hartford, 20
6. (4) #29 Shannon Wheeler, Auburn, 19
7. (1) #13 Missy Blash, Oxford, 19
8. (13) #44 Annie Chartier, Mexico, 19
9. (11) #69 Cathy Manchester, Gray, 17
10. (7) #2 Kimberly Sessions, Auburn, 15
11. (8) #3 Deanna Bisbee, South Paris, 7
12. (2) #28 Sue Veinott, Sabattus, 7
DQ (12) Vanna Brackett, Buckfield
Lap leaders: Blash 1-6, Patria 7-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 7)
Time of race: 13 minutes, 14 seconds

(207) 645-4571
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all OPS divisions!

Photos by
Trudy Marshall

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