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2008
MINI STOCK PREVIEW
April 16, 2008
Jimmy's jump leaves it up for grabs
OXFORD, Maine - Whether you chose to cheer Jimmy Childs' exploits at Oxford Plains
Speedway or boo them, you couldn't deny that Childs was a constant source of excitement
during his decade-plus in the Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Mini Stock division.
Childs' skill and style provided excitement every time he was on the track. And yes,
his oft-defeated competitors now are experiencing a different type of excitement --
or maybe it's relief -- about seeing him graduate to the Late Model ranks.
Thirty wins and the last two division championships made Childs the most successful
four-cylinder driver of his generation at OPS. His departure can't help but leave a
void, but it also presents an open door to the field and promises a wide-open
championship race to the fans.
Mini Stock already flaunted a distinctly new look in 2007, with four rookies filling
the top eight positions in the point standings. After watching Childs charge to a
staggering 126-point margin of victory, those sophomore standouts and a rabid roster
of vastly improved veterans are licking their chops to be next in line.
"Wild" Bill Irving could be poised to take over after winning one feature event and
Rookie of the Year credits en route to a second-place overall finish last season.
Irving, a 10-time winner and champion in Sport Truck two years ago, didn't set the
speed charts on fire during his rookie campaign, but his consistency and
slow-but-sure building of momentum were impossible to miss.
Likewise, Ashley Marshall and Kevin Bishop used their second season in the division
to take their programs to the upper echelon. Marshall walked away with a handful of
second- and third-place hardware in his push to third in the points, while the
veteran Bishop made top-fives an art form during the second half of the season in
claiming the No. 5 spot. Multiple wins are the next logical step for those two.
Bob Guptill and Shane Kaherl coupled moments of brilliance and laps led with a few
untimely wrecks that dismissed each from championship contention. Kaherl, in
particular, kept pace with Childs on many occasions and started showing the form
that made him an early champion in the Runnin' Rebel division.
Greg Watkins found a groove and steered clear of the mayhem for much of his
inaugural season, snagging seventh in the points and showing the promise that
previously made him one of the top Rebel drivers.
Two-time champion Don Mooney missed a few races to start the '07 season, but he met
Childs' challenge with three wins of his own in the final five points-paying events.
Don's brother Bob also came out of retirement in midseason, and his championship
pedigree is well documented.
Don't expect a Childs-less season in the Mini ranks. It looks like Jimmy's dad and
fellow champion Bill Sr. will return to full-time competition. He becomes an instant
championship contender. Butch Keene could add a fourth former champ to the mix if he
rebounds from last season's motor woes.
Bill Thibeault has been the feast-or-famine driver among the Minis in recent years,
but he added two more feature wins to his career total of 20-plus last summer and
remains a perennial frontrunner when all the parts sing in harmony.
Darick Barker overcame a miserable first half of the season with two feature wins in
a new ride down the home stretch. Barker might be joined by father Steve on the
track in '08.
Rich Sirois and Don Frechette were feature winners last season, Frechette for the
first time ever. Dale Brackett and Dale Durgin would like to follow Frechette's lead
and break into four-cylinder victory lane. Dave Mooney, Jeff Prindall and Chris
Varney give the deep division even more veteran presence, and there are rumors of a
Warren family revival in the person of Wayne and Mike.
Top off that crowd what looks like the largest rookie crop in recent memory. Chuck
Higgins, Ken Daigle Jr., Greg Aptt, Jake Dawicki, Zach White, Randy Kimball, Bob
Martin, Tim Gallagher and Dale Durgin Jr. all are in the mix.
It could be case of "addition by subtraction" this summer, as the Mini Stocks
regroup without their recent tormentor and find a pack full of drivers with renewed
and realistic title aspirations.
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