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


NEWS


August 12, 2009

Oliver's streak hits five; Coolidge, Ryan Hewins stop David Childs, Kyle Hewins 

OXFORD, Maine - Kevin Oliver needed more than five seasons of Acceleration Series competition to pick up his first Oxford Plains Speedway victory.

Now it seems he can't lose.

Oliver extended his Call of the Wild RV Center Sport Truck winning streak to five races Wednesday night, holding off Ross "The Boss" Spurling and a fast-closing John Lizotte to claim another wild 20-lap feature victory.

Point leaders David Childs and Kyle Hewins each fell one spot shy of extending their impressive winning streaks.

One week after engine failure sent him behind the wall and put the remainder of his season in doubt, Chris Coolidge returned with a vengeance and ran away from Childs to capture the Chimney Tech Outlaw 'A' feature.

Kyle Hewins' bid for an astonishing eighth MacDonald Motors Runnin' Rebel triumph concluded in a close runner-up finish to his 17-year-old nephew, rookie Ryan Hewins, in the four-cylinder 'A' main.

Josh Childs kept an incredible rookie campaign rolling with his fourth Outlaw victory. Doug Degroat, many times a winner in Rebel and Truck competition, added his first-ever Outlaw checkers to the career take.

Bill Sprague held off Mark Childs Jr. for an impressive win in his half of the Rebel showcase. 

Cathy Manchester kept Dottie Patria at bay and matched Patria with her fifth Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Ladies conquest. Bill Grover pushed his Goulet Home Inspections Renegade batting average to 4-for-7 with another win.

Oliver avoided the early carnage on laps 2 and 9 of the pickup scramble, working his way from 11th starting position in the process. He out-powered Spurling on the latter restart and tried to set sail.

Spurling was equally quick along the inside lane, however, and he applied pressure throughout the second half. And despite missing most of his front fender after a series of recent misadventures, Lizotte turned even quicker laps while scooting underneath Opie Allard and Ryan Farrar to join the fray.

"That was the most fun I've had racing all year," Oliver said. "Ross is a kid I went to high school with, and it's good to see that he's got it turned around and running up front again."

Oliver padded his point lead over Farrar, who ran as high as second before fading to fifth behind Lizotte and Allard at the finish.

Coolidge needed only six laps to work around Zach Bowie, Jerry Goss, John Patria and Shannon Judd and land the Outlaw 'A' lead.

Chasing his sixth win of the summer, Childs moved into second at the halfway lap. He couldn't take a bite out of Coolidge's lead, though, and the veteran breezed to his second victory of the campaign.

"I have so many people to thank. We got spun out and then it went from bad to worse when I blew up the motor," Coolidge said of the previous week's troubles. "My dad was in Pennsylvania all week. I honestly didn't think we would be racing at all tonight."

Judd denied Steve Moon's late challenge for third. Chris Burgess nosed out Goss to take fifth.

Degroat dominated his Outlaw race one week ago until a broken wheel short-circuited his charge to victory with three laps remaining.

He needed only three laps to speed past Scott Hethcoat and go about the unfinished business in Wednesday's 'B' feature, staying a half-straightaway in front of rookie Ryan Robbins throughout the second half of the caution-free event.

"I wasn't sure we'd ever get back up here," said Degroat. 

Bubba Collins had his best run of the season, prevailing in a seven-car clash for third. John Spencer Jr. knocked at Collins' door throughout before accepting fourth. Jim Drake used primarily the outside lane in rallying from 14th to fifth.

Josh Childs kept past champion and fellow multi-time 2009 feature winner Jim Davis Jr. in his rear-view mirror to lead an unusually deep 'C' main.

Rookie Pat Maloy carried on his streak of top-five results, protecting the inside and middle lanes to deny Fred Clavet's last-lap overture for third. Carey Robertson bolted from the back row of the 17-car field to snag fifth in his first start of the season.

Ryan Hewins jumped from go karts to the mid-week series almost exactly one year ago. There was a brief learning curve for the youngster, but now that he's in a new Honda that looks and runs as sweetly as his uncle's, you can consider him a championship contender.

The relatives conducted their own clinic in the outside lane, with Ryan overtaking fellow rookie Roger Bourgoin on lap 13 and dealing with a mirror full of Kyle for the balance.

Two more teammates -- Troy Jordan and Matt Dufault -- surged to third and fourth, with Bourgoin an impressive fifth. All 18 finishers concluded the tight race on the lead lap.

The first Rebel encounter arguably contained the most action and paint-swapping of the night. Sprague watched Bob Danforth, Jeff Hebert, Derek Cook and Ryan Philbrick each spend time at the front before using the inside lane to top Philbrick with six laps to go.

Mark Childs Jr. soon overtook Philbrick and zeroed in on Sprague. He ultimately settled for his third runner-up finish in the last month. Philbrick's post-race technical disqualification vaulted Brian Nason to third, Cook to fourth and Craig Bartlett to fifth.

Manchester and Patria were at the proper distance to avoid an early tangle between Ladies leaders Missy Morgan and Lisa Brooks. Third-place Vanna Brackett also lost precious track position when she drifted over the top of the fourth turn to avoid the fracas.

Moving from fourth to second in that exchange, Manchester passed Sue Veinott for the lead on lap 5 and then kept Patria two car lengths back for the duration. 

Brackett blazed from ninth to third after her off-track excursion, but without a caution flag to tighten the field there was no chance for the all-time wins leader to reel in the current point leader Manchester or defending champ Patria. Veinott drove to her best result of the year in fourth, followed by rookie Tori Burgess.

Grover broke out of the Renegade pack in front of reigning champion Jason Hannigan, and that again was the deciding factor in the stock six-cylinder race.

Hannigan couldn't creep closer than a couple of car lengths. Former champion Jamie Heath, shaking down a ride for Spencer Morse on the eve of the prospective driver's 16th birthday, picked up third. Bob Morey gained additional ground on Gerard Cote in the championship battle by edging Cote for fourth.

The Acceleration Series continues its drive toward the home stretch next Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m. The Outlaws and Ladies are part of Saturday's WOXO Mega Prize Night program with the Championship Series, also starting at 6:30.

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW 'A' (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (5) #25 Chris Coolidge, Norway, 20
2. (14) #5 David Childs, Oxford, 20
3. (1) #97 Shannon Judd, Jay, 20
4. (7) #19 Steve Moon, Gray, 20
5. (11) #7 Chris Burgess, Sabattus, 20
6. (3) #99 Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls, 20
7. (6) #83 Dan Brown, Peru, 20
8. (10) #38 Addison Bowie, Auburn, 20
9. (4) #04 Zach Bowie, Lisbon, 20
10. (12) #39 Ron Abbott Jr., Auburn, 20
11. (2) #34 John Patria, Turner, 20
12. (15) #33 Tyler Belanger, Sumner, 20
13. (9) #53 Steve Brill, Bridgton, 20
14. (13) #69 Jay Wilkins, Gray, 20
15. (8) #139 Jerry Freve, Buckfield, 20
Lap leaders: Judd 1-5, Coolidge 6-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 48 seconds

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW 'B' (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (5) #84 Doug Degroat, Oxford, 20
2. (13) #36R Ryan Robbins, Dixfield, 20
3. (7) #68 Bubba Collins, New Gloucester, 20
4. (6) #35 John Spencer Jr., Farmington, 20
5. (14) #169 Jim Drake, Hebron, 20
6. (15) #64 Nic Stanley, Buckfield, 20
7. (2) #137 David Brown, Poland, 20
8. (10) #239 Clint Sherwood, Poland, 20
9. (8) #63 Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester, 20
10. (1) #14 Scott Hethcoat, Danville Junction, 20
11. (11) #67 Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls, 20
12. (4) #89 Kyle Curtis, Oxford, 20
13. (3) #54 Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn, 18
14. (12) #00 Guy Childs, Leeds, 12
15. (9) #82 Josh Paradis, Sumner, 8
DNS #57 Gerry Richard, Leeds
Lap leaders: S. Hethcoat 1-2, Degroat 3-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 42 seconds

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW 'C' (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (13) #3 Josh Childs, Oxford, 20
2. (12) #17 Jim Davis Jr., Sabattus, 20
3. (5) #26 Pat Maloy, Lisbon, 20
4. (11) #71 Fred Clavet, Buckfield, 20
5. (16) #08 Carey Robertson, Leeds, 20
6. (8) #52 Kevin Leighton, Minot, 20
7. (1) #K21 Phil Knowlton, Poland, 20
8. (4) #112 Dennis Morang, South Paris, 20
9. (14) #21 Todd Bisbee, South Paris, 20
10. (2) #55 Justin Vining, Peru, 19
11. (6) #555 Chad Truman, South Paris, 19
12. (17) #88 Paul Harmon II, Bridgton, 19
13. (7) #06 Matt Weeks, Greene, 19
14. (3) #36 Todd Hall, Auburn, 15
15. (15) #34D Dottie Patria, Turner, 10
16. (10) #28 Don Veinott, Sabattus, 7
17. (9) #128 Scott Veinott, Greene, 7
Lap leaders: Maloy 1-6, J. Childs 7-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 5)
Time of race: 10 minutes, 50 seconds

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL 'A' (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (7) #55 Ryan Hewins, Leeds, 20
2. (17) #54 Kyle Hewins, Leeds, 20
3. (15) #6 Troy Jordan, Turner, 20
4. (14) #96 Matt Dufault, Turner, 20
5. (2) #25 Roger Bourgoin, Sabattus, 20
6. (4) #46 Jason Berry, Turner, 20
7. (8) #93 Jamie Leavitt, Minot, 20
8. (6) #333 Craig Farrington, Hebron, 20
9. (11) #59 Corey Beaulieu, Oxford, 20
10. (10) #52 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 20
11. (16) #97 Jim Hart, Turner, 20
12. (3) #69 John Childs, Leeds, 20
13. (5) #16 Mike Ward, Harrison, 20
14. (18) #91 Jamie Heath, Waterford, 20
15. (12) #19 Zach Audet, Wilton, 20
16. (13) #8 Dustin Salley, Auburn, 20
17. (19) #521 Scott Farrington, Minot, 20
18. (9) #83 Brady Romano, Livermore Falls, 20
19. (1) #1 Eric Rowles, Lewiston, 1
Lap leaders: Bourgoin 1-12, R. Hewins 13-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 46 seconds

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL 'B' (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (7) #85 Bill Sprague, Minot, 20
2. (9) #95 Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls, 20
3. (2) #01 Brian Nason, Lewiston, 20
4. (8) #88 Derek Cook, Livermore Falls, 20
5. (10) #2 Craig Bartlett, Denmark, 20
6. (4) #7 Carl Conant, Lewiston, 20
7. (6) #94 Michael Carver, Durham, 20
8. (5) #3 Charlie Hall, Oxford, 20
9. (11) #7x Randy Desmarais, Auburn, 20
10. (15) #71 Cody Smith, Oxford, 20
11. (17) #18 Todd Sawyer, Pownal, 20
12. (12) #13 Chad Wills, Mechanic Falls, 19
13. (14) #89 Gene White, Lisbon, 19
14. (16) #148 Don Smith, Oxford, 19
15. (3) #86 Jeff Hebert, Auburn, 15
16. (1) #21 Bob Danforth, Stoneham, 8
DQ (13) #06 Ryan Philbrick, Greenwood
DNS #4 Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester
DNS #56 Jason Cyr, Turner
Lap leaders: Danforth 1, Hebert 2, Danforth 3-5, Sprague 6-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 9)
Time of race: 10 minutes, 26 seconds

CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (11) #28 Kevin Oliver, Gray, 20
2. (8) #17 Ross Spurling, New Gloucester, 20
3. (13) #1 John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls, 20
4. (9) #68 Opie Allard, Harpswell, 20
5. (10) #69 Ryan Farrar, Oxford, 20
6. (4) #77 Jerry Stevens, Searsport, 20
7. (7) #22 Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls, 20
8. (3) #30 Ryan Varney, South Paris, 20
9. (2) #12 Brad Corson, Sumner, 20
10. (5) #00 Jeremy Wagner, Bryant Pond, 20
11. (12) #39 Corey Williams, Sumner, 16
12. (6) #7 Laurette Theriault, Casco, 9
13. (1) #99 Eugene Corson, Sumner, 1
Lap leaders: E. Corson 1, Spurling 2-9, Oliver 10-20.
Cautions: 2 (laps 2, 9)
Time of race: 12 minutes, 15 seconds

ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (13) #69 Cathy Manchester, Gray, 20
2. (12) #34 Dottie Patria, Turner, 20
3. (10) #23 Vanna Brackett, Buckfield, 20
4. (4) #28 Sue Veinott, Sabattus, 20
5. (6) #7 Tori Burgess, Sabattus, 20
6. (8) #26 Missy Morgan, Lewiston, 20
7. (3) #137 Kristen Brown, Gray, 20
8. (9) #13 Missy Blash, Oxford, 19
9. (1) #29 Shannon Wheeler, Auburn, 19
10. (5) #35 Tricia Thomas, Farmington, 19
11. (11) #44 Annie Chartier, Mexico, 16
12. (7) #36 Christina Spaulding, Lewiston, 15
13. (2) #128 Lisa Brooks, Auburn, 8
Lap leaders: Brooks 1-2, Veinott 3-4, Manchester 5-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 7 minutes, 0 seconds

GOULET HOME INSPECTIONS RENEGADE (10 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (5) #91 Bill Grover, Topsham, 10
2. (2) #94 Jason Hannigan, Greene, 10
3. (6) #34 Jamie Heath, Waterford, 10
4. (3) #1 Bob Morey, Lisbon, 10
5. (4) #05 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 10
6. (1) #54 Kyle Hewins, Leeds, 8
Lap leaders: Morey 1, Grover 2-10.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 3 minutes, 20 seconds

 


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