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2008 STRICTLY STOCK PREVIEW
April 16, 2008
Sessions, Tripp seek to finish
business
OXFORD, Maine - Is it finally Sumner's turn?
Sumner Sessions overcame most of the rotten luck in 2007 that has sidetracked his
many championship challenges in the Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Strictly Stock
division.
Four feature wins (two of the 100-lap variety) and an Agren Appliance Grand Slam
(formerly Triple Crown) championship made it a career year for Sessions.
The big prize eluded the Big 'O,' however. A 20-race season came down to the
paper-thin margin of 13 points -- the difference between first and seventh in a
feature and first and second in a heat on any given Saturday night.
Instead of Sessions winning his first speedway championship in a career dating back
darn near three decades, it was Tommy "Gun" Tompkins joining his late dad, Joey, as
an OPS champion.
Off-season scuttlebutt says that Tompkins might not be planning to defend his title,
leaving Sessions as one obvious heir apparent.
Despite their amazing, intense-but-friendly chase to the championship last summer,
neither Sessions nor Tompkins was the hottest driver in the division at season's
end; not by a long shot. That distinction went to Skip Tripp, who set the
unprecedented pace of five wins in his final six starts.
Given two or three extra weeks, Tripp easily would have made it a three-man battle
for supremacy. If Tripp picks up anywhere close to the place he left off, the
competition's best hope will be to get a good look at the rear bumper of the #12.
Glen Henderson was the breakthrough driver of 2007 in the Strictly ranks. Two years
separated from his Outlaw championship, Henderson got the hang of his new ride in
the middle of season two and went on a tear, winning three times in just over a
month. Henderson endured his share of rotten luck, too, but an additional year of
experience might provide the consistency necessary to back up his Wednesday title
with a Saturday crown.
Larry and Zach Emerson need no introduction to Strictly Stock fans. Larry is the
lone three-time champion in division history, while Zach fell seven points shy of
the 2006 championship in a memorable chase.
They'll be threats to win every time they hit the track. So will Matt Williams, who
returned to Strictly Stock victory lane in only his fifth start after an up-and-down
experience in Limited Sportsman. Williams was a solid fourth in last year's overall
standings.
Rick Thompson has been the hard-luck driver in the division the last two seasons,
leading laps by the dozens but getting mired in more than his share of wrecks and
mechanical maladies. His victory on the final night of the season, aside from
briefly slowing Tripp's insane momentum, might have indicated that 2008 will be the
year Thompson gets a warm embrace from Lady Luck.
We waited all season for Kim Tripp to break that record for most all-time Strictly
feature wins with longtime teammate Shane Green, to no avail. Don't be surprised to
see Kim-Dog take care of that business early in '08. Along those same lines, don't
be surprised to see a triumphant return for "Dangerous" Dave Tripp, either.
Former champion Mike Short, Jeff Moon, Danny Smart, Phil Mitchell III and Mark Bowie
lead a veteran contingent that knows how to turn left into victory lane in OPS
Strictly competition.
Moon won the Agren Grand Slam only two years ago, while Bowie ended a lengthy
drought with a win on the TD Banknorth 250 card last July. Bowie has gone out of his
way to declare his intentions to turn back the clock and contend for the
championship in '08. Mitchell, long a threat in the 100-lap races, showed up with a
new car and paint scheme for the final two races last summer and wasted no time
getting back up to speed.
Joe Hutter, B.J. Chapman, Bob Crocker and part-timer Dave "The Cannon" Brannon know
how to get it done at OPS. Chapman gave Late Models a try in Frank Snow's ride late
last season. Around that same stretch, Crocker started to run consistently in the
Strictly top 10 after a long layoff, while Brannon showed the way for most of a
100-lap main event late in the season.
Two other drivers made waves in '07 and are poised for bigger things this season.
Chris Burgess rallied from a late start and cruised to Rookie of the Year honors.
Kenny Harrison, coming off a record-smashing Limited Sportsman career, teamed with
long-time car owner Tim Chambers to join Bowie in victory lane on 250 Sunday.
Todd Hall tested the Strictly waters last season and is expected to step up his
commitment. Reggie Houghton could join him in the sophomore class.
Leading this year's rookie corps is Rich Spaulding, whose seventh season in the
Outlaw division was his most prolific yet. Nick Hoyt, Guy Childs Jr., Scott Gaboury
and Ryan Varney also have hinted at rookie challenges.
It's a diverse field full of drivers who have experienced the requisite
ups-and-downs over the years in Oxford's most unpredictable class, and they're sure
to make the 2008 campaign another unforgettable one.
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