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NEWS
May 17, 2009
Joey Pole outlasts Rolfe, Brackett
for New England Dodge Dealers 150 win
OXFORD, Maine - Joey Polewarczyk lost the lead to Ricky Rolfe and
Tim Brackett before regaining it on lap 108 Sunday and dominating
the late stages of the New England Dodge Dealers ACT 150 at Oxford
Plains Speedway.
It was Polewarczyk's first win of the
American-Canadian Tour season, the fourth of his career and his
second at OPS in less than a year. "Joey Pole" also
finished third in the TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford last July.
"That was good, hard, clean
racing with Ricky and Tim," said Polewarczyk, who sported some
of Rolfe's telltale blue paint on the tires of his black-and-gold
ride after numerous bouts of side-by-side racing.
The victory came with an additional
prize. Polewarczyk earned a berth in the inaugural New Hampshire
Motor Speedway ACT Invitational in September.
John Donahue finished second to make
it a one-two sweep for ACT competitors. Brackett, Oxford's 2005
track champion, finished a career-best third after leading nine
laps.
"It wasn't exactly what we
wanted," said Brackett, "but it was pretty close."
Polewarczyk ran in the top three
throughout the race but didn't crack the top spot until lap 85, when
he got the measure of early dominator Rolfe on the first of only two
restarts in the event.
Making use of the inside lane, Rolfe
reclaimed the advantage for four laps before Polewarczyk forged
ahead once again.
The second caution flag appeared on
lap 96 for a spin by Pete Potvin III, giving Brackett the
opportunity to snag the lead three circuits later.
But Pole's perfection of the outside
lane was too much for Brackett to overcome, as his younger pursuer
finally reclaimed the spotlight for keeps with 42 to go.
Polewarczyk needed about 10 laps to
completely clear Brackett before ultimately extending his lead to
more than two seconds at the finish.
Donahue's late charge to the
runner-up laurels was his best OPS effort since an open competition
win in June 2007.
"I owe this to Dale Shaw,"
Donahue said. "We were terrible in practice. He thrashed on
that car, and whatever he did is the reason we got this
trophy."
OPS sophomore competitor Shawn Knight
finished an impressive fourth, following in the tire tracks of his
mentor Brackett at the finish. Eric Williams, already an ACT race
winner this season, was fifth.
Four-time Oxford champion Travis
Adams charged from 19th starting position to sixth, followed by
Scott Dragon, Randy Potter, Quinny Welch and Shawn Martin.
Rolfe finished 17th, the next-to-last
car on the lead lap, after a balky carburetor sent him sliding back
in the field on the final restart. He led for 59 laps, all but four
of those consecutively after Martin paced the first 29.
Jean-Paul Cyr, Pete Potvin, Polewarczyk and Brian Hoar were heat
winners.
Forty cars attempted to qualify for
the season-opening event, with 30 taking the green flag in the
feature.
In other season-opening feature
action, Zach Emerson posted his first Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy
Strictly Stock win since 2004.
Emerson's day was promising from the
start when he drew the pole position upon signing in at the pit
gate. That poised him for a heat win, which earned the pole for the
main event.
He led the entire 30-lap distance,
although Kenny Harrison lurked within a car length for most of it.
"Having Kenny there probably
made me go faster," said Emerson. "It's been a long time
since we've been up here as a feature winner."
Harrison, who will be competing in
both Strictly Stock and Late Model this season, drove Tim Chambers'
car to an impressive runner-up finish.
Defending champion Skip Tripp ran as
high as second before fading on a late restart. His troubles vaulted
Kim Tripp to third, Zach's dad Larry Emerson to fourth and Mike
Short to fifth.
Another lengthy victory drought ended
when Larry Melcher captured the 30-lap Allen's Mini Stock checkers.
The record book shows that Melcher's
most recent victory occurred in September 2006, but that's
deceiving. It was his last race as a full-time driver before Melcher
took most of 2007 and '08 off, focused mainly on getting his son
Logan introduced to the sport.
"I have to thank Don Frechette,
because it's his truck, his trailer, his car," Melcher said.
"He's the one who put my big butt in the driver's seat."
Melcher inherited the win after
Justin Karkos apparently dominated the second half but failed
post-race inspection when his car's body didn't meet specifications.
That traced Melcher's winning move
back to lap 25, when he squeezed past Shane Kaherl.
Last year's top rookie in the class, Darrell Moore, made a
determined drive from eighth to second in the final rundown. Jimmy
Childs, returning to the division where he won two championships
before spending a season in Late Model, ascended to third after the
Karkos' DQ.
Kaherl, who officially led the first 25 laps, settled for fourth in
his continued pursuit of a breakthrough victory. Steve Barker was
fifth.
The Acceleration Series also launched
its Agren Appliance Saturday Showdown in the special Sunday edition.
Last year's Chimney Tech Outlaw
weekend champion wasted no time getting back into the habit. Zach
Bowie pocketed the lead from pole-sitter Steve Moon on lap 4 and
rolled to a caution-free victory.
David Childs, a 10-time winner in
2008, bolted from 10th to second but had no time to gnaw at Bowie's
big advantage. Chris Burgess followed a similar path to the front,
taking his new ride from 12th to third.
Steve Brill and Kevin Lawrence
followed at the front of the 22-car field.
Only one minor caution slowed the
Macdonald Motors Runnin' Rebels, and it wasn't nearly enough to
derail a powerful performance by Kyle Hewins.
Hewins grabbed the lead from Brady
Romano on lap 2 and finished most of a straightaway in front of
Jamie Leavitt.
"I didn't know how close Jamie
was," Hewins said. "When you're out in front like that,
you're just wanting the laps to count down and wanting the race to
end."
Matt Dufault waged one of the best
battles of the day, winning a drag race out of the final corner to
take third away from Charlie Webster. Doug Degroat claimed fifth.
OPS jumps into its traditional
Saturday night schedule with a huge Memorial Day Weekend kickoff
Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Five divisions of racing are on the docket,
including the initial points event for the Oxford Networks Late
Models and appearances by the Outlaws and Ladies.
Oxford Federal Credit Union Night
will conclude with a gigantic fireworks display.
NEW ENGLAND DODGE DEALERS ACT 150
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (3) #97 Joey Polewarczyk Jr.,
Hudson, N.H., 150
2. (5) #26VT John Donahue, Graniteville, Vt., 150
3. (4) #60 Tim Brackett,
Buckfield, 150
4. (6) #25ME Shawn Knight, South Paris, 150
5. (7) #7VT Eric Williams, Hyde
Park, Vt., 150
6. (19) #03E Travis Adams, Canton, 150
7. (21) #71 Scott Dragon, Milton, Vt., 150
8. (8) #02NH Randy Potter, Groveton, N.H., 150
9. (9) #78NH Quinny Welch, Lancaster, N.H., 150
10. (1) #94 Shawn Martin, Turner, 150
11. (16) #37 Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt., 150
12. (20) #7ME Glen Luce, Turner, 150
13. (17) #15 Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, Vt., 150
14. (14) #22 Aaron Ricker, Tamworth,
N.H., 150
15. (24) #55NH Bobby Dragon, Milton, Vt., 150
16. (11) #73ME Joey Doiron, Berwick, 150
17. (2) #51 Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township, 150
18. (12) #77NH Mark Hayward, Unity, N.H., 150
19. (10) #89 Scott Payea, Milton, Vt.. 149
20. (26) #18 Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, Vt., 149
21. (27) #07 Scott Luce, Strong, 148
22. (25) #9VT Chip Grenier, Graniteville, Vt., 148
23. (18) #10 Ben
Rowe, Turner, 148
24. (22) #0 Miles Chipman, Epping, N.H., 148
25. (23) #6 Tommy Ricker, Poland, 148
26. (15) #41 Pete Potvin III, Graniteville, Vt., 148
27. (13) #40 Eric Chase,
Milton, Vt., 148
28. (29) #26ME Corey Morgan, Lewiston, 147
29. (30) #38VT Tyler Cahoon, St.
Johnsbury, Vt., 132
30. (28) #55VT Brent Dragon, Milton, Vt., 98
Lap leaders: Martin 1-29, Rolfe 30-84, Polewarczyk 85, Rolfe 86-89,
Polewarczyk 90-98, Brackett 99-107, Polewarczyk 108-150.
Cautions: 2
Time of race: 53 minutes, 13 seconds
FAILED TO QUALIFY
#28 J.R. Robinson, Steuben
#73NH Joe Tetreault, Enfield, N.H.
#25 Dave Whitcomb, Essex Junction Vt.
#85 Travis Stearns, Auburn
#82 Mark Hudson, Norton, Mass.
#72 Dave Payea, Milton, Vt.
#77MA James Linardy, Malden, Mass.
#84 Matt Sanborn, West Baldwin
#7NH Ben Lynch, Derry, N.H.
#12 Nick Brown, Bath
HEAT RESULTS (qual 4)
1) 15VT-7VT-03E-89-26VT-55-38-0-77MA
2) 41VT-22-02NH-73ME-7ME-40-26ME-28-72-82
3) 97-10-78-77NH-7NH-73NH-55VT-18-25VT-12
4) 37-60-51-94-25ME-71-85-07-9-6
CONSI RESULTS (qual 4)
1) 26VT-7ME-71-6-73NH-18-28-38-82-25VT-77MA-85
2) 25ME-40-0-55NH-9-55VT-07-26ME-72-84-7NH
'B' FEATURE (qual 3)
9VT-18-07-55VT-28-26ME-25VT-38-85-82-72-73-77MA
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #23 Zach Emerson, Sabattus, 30
2. (4) #84 Kenny Harrison, Pownal, 30
3. (6) #42 Kim Tripp, Oxford, 30
4. (2) #24 Larry Emerson, Durham, 30
5. (5) #56 Mike Short, Auburn, 30
6. (8) #63 Matt
Williams, Brownfield, 30
7. (15) #7 Keith Stuart, Naples, 30
8. (7) #00 Jeff Merrill, Mexico, 30
9. (11) #77 Perry Tucker, Sumner, 30
10. (3) #12 Skip Tripp, Poland, 30
11. (13) #82 Ben
Krauter, Raymond, 30
12. (12) #36 Rick Spaulding, Lisbon, 29
13. (14) #88 Derek Farrington, Freeport, 26
14. (9) #777 Mike St. Germain, Auburn, 15
15. (10) #81 B.J. Chapman, Bridgton, 9
16. (16) #55 Kurt Hewins, Leeds, 0
DNS #26 Richard Kimball, Standish
Lap leaders: Z. Emerson 1-30.
Cautions: 2 (laps 0, 15)
Time of race: 18 minutes, 24.896 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.167 seconds
Fast lap: Zach Emerson, 18.573 seconds.
Heat #1: 23-24-12-84-56-42-00-63-777-81
Heat #2: 77-55-82-36-26-88-7
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI STOCK (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (4) #16 Larry
Melcher, Livermore Falls, 30
2. (8) #12 Darrell Moore, Mechanic Falls, 30
3. (2) #10 Jimmy
Childs, Leeds, 30
4. (1) #19 Shane Kaherl, Jay, 30
5. (3) #55 Steve Barker, Jay, 30
6. (10) #8 Calvin
Rose Jr., Turner, 30
7. (7) #29 Greg Watkins, Bridgton, 30
8. (11) #31 Jeff Beaule, Lewiston, 30
9. (12) #47 Jake Burns, Gray, 30
10. (9) #08 Kevin Bishop, South Paris, 30
11. (13) #97 Jeff Moon, Gray, 29
12. (5) #77 Ashley Marshall, Jay, 26
13. (15) #62 Cameron Creamer, Newcastle, 15
14. (17) #35 Dale Brackett, Oxford, 6
15. (14) #6 Nathan Guptill, North Turner, 3
16. (16) #48 Nik Coates, Lisbon, 2
DQ (6) #51 Justin Karkos, Jay
DNS #14 Matt
Moore, Mechanic Falls
DNS #18 Wayne Titus, Minot
DNS #81 Robert Hoover, Poland
Lap leaders: Kaherl 1-25, Melcher 26-30.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 9 minutes, 8.437 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.176 seconds
Heat #1: 19-8-55-77-47-29-08-35-48
Heat #2: 10-16-31-12-97-14-62-81-6-51(DQ)
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (3) #04 Zach Bowie, Lisbon, 20
2. (10) #5 David Childs, Oxford, 20
3. (12) #17 Chris Burgess, Sabattus, 20
4. (8) #53 Steve Brill, Bridgton, 20
5. (2) #24 Kevin Lawrence, South Paris, 20
6. (1) #19 Steve Moon, Gray, 20
7. (5) #67 Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls, 20
8. (7) #34x Dottie Patria, Turner, 20
9. (11) #99 Jerry
Goss, Mechanic Falls, 20
10. (19) #33 Tyler Belanger, Sumner, 20
11. (16) #139 Jerry Freve,
Buckfield, 20
12. (17) #3C Josh Childs, Oxford, 20
13. (15) #35 John Spencer, Auburn, 20
14. (14) #3 Tom Averill, Peru, 20
15. (6) #51 Randy Robitaille, Norway, 20
16. (20) #K21 Phil Knowlton, Poland, 19
17. (21) #112 Dennis Morang, South Paris, 19
18. (9) #29 Charlie Webster, Auburn, 19
19. (13) #49 Robert Lowe, Auburn, 19
20. (18) #124 Randy Desmarais, Auburn, 19
21. (4) #25 Chris
Coolidge, Norway, 9
22. (22) #7 Carl Conant, Lewiston, 6
DNS #34 John Patria, Turner
Lap leaders: Moon 1-3, Bowie 4-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 40 seconds
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (7) #54 Kyle Hewins, Leeds, 20
2. (5) #93 Jamie Leavitt, Minot, 20
3. (9) #96 Matt Dufault, Turner, 20
4. (3) #7x Charlie
Webster, Auburn, 20
5. (11) #84 Doug Degroat, Oxford, 20
6. (1) #83 Brady Romano, Livermore Falls, 20
7. (2) #06 Ryan Philbrick, Greenwood, 20
8. (12) #6 Troy Jordan, Turner, 20
9. (19) #59 Corey Beaulieu, Oxford, 20
10. (13) #69 John Childs, Leeds, 20
11. (15) #15 Nate Dubuc, Auburn, 20
12. (17) #52 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 20
13. (14) #91 Jamie Heath, Waterford, 19
14. (16) #25 Roger Bourgoin, Mechanic Falls, 19
15. (8) #2 Josh Lovell, Norway, 19
16. (18) #71 Cody
Smith, Oxford, 18
17. (7) #55 Ryan Hewins, Leeds, 18
18. (6) #8 Dustin Couture, Auburn, 9
19. (4) #19 Zach Audet, Wilton, 2
DNS #4 Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester
DNS #88 Derek
Cook, Livermore Falls
DNS #7 Carl Conant, Lewiston
DNS #9 Joe Turner, Norway
Lap leaders: Romano 1, Ky. Hewins 2-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 2)
Time of race: 12 minutes, 6 seconds
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Oxford Networks
Late Model
Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy
Strictly and Mini Stock
Go to the
JARRacing
Photography
web site for today's complete photo gallery.
JARRacing
(207) 645-4571
Photos from
all OPS divisions!
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