OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY
Route 26, Oxford, ME 
Phone: (207) 539-8865 
E-mail: ops@oxfordplains.com

ACCELERATION SERIES 

The young four-cylinder drivers kicked down the barrier Wednesday night, speeding to 30-lap triumphs in the Oxford Acceleration Series. 

Jamie Leavitt joined Flagg and Cook as a Runnin’ Rebel conqueror. Mark MacDonald, Shannon Judd and Kevin Lawrence topped the three Chimney Tech Outlaw races, while John Childs edged Jamie Heath in the Crazy Horse Racing Engines Renegade run. 

Flagg fended off a late challenge from one of the toughest and winningest competitors in the history of the class, Gregg Norton, to claim victory in the third and final Rebel skirmish. 

Norton needs only one win to match Gary Chiasson for No. 1 on the all-time Rebel victory list with 15, and he made a rapid charge from his 14th starting position in pursuit of his second straight win. While Flagg was equally fast and up to the task, Norton also needed to ward off Derek Cairns and Mark Childs Jr. in the scrap for second. That played into the eventual winner’s hand.

Defending division champion Cairns was actually the first driver to catch Flagg. He stayed on Flagg’s outside for several consecutive laps near the midway point before fading back, permitting Norton to sneak along the rail to second. 

Over the final five laps, it was Norton nosing high and low but unable to find the line around the determined Flagg in the Wolf Enterprises/Powers Insurance #63. 

“It was a long, extra 10 laps,” said Flagg, “but it was a lot of fun.” 

Tempers boiled over on the cool down lap when fourth-place Cairns got together with third-place Childs. Both drivers were disqualified in the aftermath, vaulting Tyson Jordan to the final trophy position. Matt Dufault landed fourth and took over the division point lead, with Nic Stanley rounding out the shuffled top five. 

Cook reeled in Bill Dunphy, took the lead on lap 13 and pulled away from the Allen's Strictly Stock veteran for a convincing win in the Morris Auto Parts/Bill Childs #15. 

“Not bad for $500. You can’t beat that. It was built in a junkyard,” said Cook. “I have a lot of people to thank, but I also have to thank myself because I built the car.”

Dunphy snagged second in a wild race that saw only the top five cars finish on the lead lap. Teenage rookie Monica Martin was third, posting her best finish in four races since making the jump from the JARRacing Photography Go Kart Series. Jeff Trafford lost fourth spot to Martin Krauter before taking it back with under two laps remaining. 

After two runner-up finishes to open the season, Leavitt went one better and prevailed in the other Runnin' Rebel sprint. 

His win looked a lot like Flagg’s, with Kyle Hewins zeroing in from deep in the field and appearing to have the fastest car in the joint over the first half of the race. Passing proved more difficult than catching, however, as Leavitt denied every approach from Hewins and maintained his one car length advantage in the Able Power Rooter #93 to the stripe. 

“Kyle is a good runner, and I knew he was back there the whole time,” Leavitt said. “I told him before the race I was going to do all I could to protect the bottom and hold him off.” 

Jeff Hebert outlasted Mike Ward for third, while Charlie Webster also made a late pass of teammate Randy Nutter to notch fifth. 

MacDonald scored his second straight Chimney Tech Outlaw win in the 30-lap opener for the full-bodied sedans. 

Lined up eighth at the drop of the green, the New Hampshire driver reeled in Tom Averill and took the lead just before the lone caution flag on lap 16. He dominated the restart in the Center Conway Auto Repair #61 and eased to a two-second triumph over Averill. 

“It was tough. There was a little oil or something in turns three and four that made it trickier,” said MacDonald, “but we got it done.” 

Steve Brill ran away with third. Bob Ferguson enjoyed a similarly wide margin in fourth, while rookie Randy Allen staved off fellow freshmen drivers Maurice Martel Jr. (up from the Rebels) and Jerry Goss (graduate of Call of the Wild RV Sport Trucks) for fifth. 

Judd ended a three-year winless drought with an impressive triumph in the second Outlaw chapter. 

He moved from sixth starting position and was within a whisker of the lead on lap 7 when leader Josh Paradis’ car shut down at the start-finish line. Judd inherited the point in the Douglass Towing #97 and stretched out the disparity to 10 car lengths over Ron Abbott Jr. 

“It’s been a while since I got the V6 here,” said Judd. “I wasn’t sure it would hold up.”

Abbott inched closer in traffic but ran out of time to run down the winner. Gerry Richard took advantage of a lapped car’s wobble to overtake rookie Mike Rainville for his second straight third-place payday. Tyler Belanger fought off intense challenges from Zach Bowie early and Jim Archer late to hit the line fifth. 

Lawrence led wire-to-wire in the Outlaw finale, but not without a spirited challenge from Mike Ballard. 

Like Hewins, Cairns and Norton before him, Ballard bolted from deep in the field to make a loud, early statement. He raced from 17th to second in about a dozen laps without the benefit of a caution but couldn't chart a course around Lawrence and the Recreate Daycare/Skinner’s Daycare #24 at the finish. 

“I thought he was going to try to get to the inside,” Lawrence said of Ballard, “but he went to the outside and I was able to keep him back there.” 

David Childs captured third with a furious finishing kick, backed by Keith Landry and Bubba Collins. 

The upstart Crazy Horse Racing Renegade division grew from three to five cars and produced the closest finish of the night, with John Childs leading for the duration and ending Jamie Heath's two-race winning streak by half a car length. Childs (inside) and Heath (outside) ran door-to-door for most of the final seven circuits. 

“It’s still pushing, but we’re working the bugs out of it,” Childs said. “I ’m planning to do a little more of this (winning), right here.” 

Ken Marston motored home third for the third consecutive week. In the battle between the newcomers, Gerard Cote kept Charlie Hall at bay for fourth.

Acceleration Series action resumes next Wednesday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m. The Chimney Tech Outlaws will compete in the second segment of their Agren Appliance Grand Slam this Saturday night in conjunction with the Championship Series. That 13-race program begins at 6:30 p.m. and concludes with a gigantic, holiday weekend fireworks display.

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #1 (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (8) #61 Mark MacDonald, Center Conway, N.H., 30
2. (3) #3 Tom Averill, Peru, 30
3. (11) #53 Steve Brill, Bridgton, 30
4. (7) #63 Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester, 30
5. (4) #1 Randy Allen, Casco, 30
6. (16) #17 Maurice Martel Jr., Greene, 30
7. (18) #99 Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls, 30
8. (12) #08 Carey Robertson, Leeds, 30
9. (17) #04x Corey Williams, Sumner, 30
10. (21) #100 Curt Chapman, Lewiston, 28
11. (2) #13 Dana Stevens, Oxford, 27
12. (10) #69 Jay Wilkins, Gray, 27
13. (15) #27 Michael Auger, West Paris, 26
14. (19) #42 Donnie Wright, Kittery, 25
15. (1) #101 Nick Hanson, Leeds, 16
16. (6) #06 Rick Vining, Bridgton, 16
17. (9) #83 Dan Brown, Carthage, 15
18. (14) #54 Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn, 14
19. (5) #28 Don Veinott, Sabattus, 13
20. (13) #168 Mike Girardin, Oxford, 9
21. (20) #7 Carl Conant, Lewiston, 5
Lap leaders: Averill 1-15, MacDonald 16-30.
Cautions: 1 (lap 16)
Time of race: 13 minutes, 53 seconds

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #2 (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (6) #97 Shannon Judd, Jay, 30
2. (12) #39 Ron Abbott Jr., Lewiston, 30
3. (11) #57 Gerry Richard, Leeds, 30
4. (16) #122 Mike Rainville, Littleton, N.H., 30
5. (4) #33 Tyler Belanger, Sumner, 30
6. (19) #6 Jim Archer, Chesterville, 30
7. (14) #75 Gordon Bell, Auburn, 30
8. (13) #43 Rodney Englehaupt, Oxford, 30
9. (20) #52 Kevin Leighton, Minot, 30
10. (3) #112 Dennis Morang, South Paris, 29
11. (17) #60 Kevin Plummer, Oxford, 29
12. (5) #04 Zach Bowie, Lisbon Falls, 29
13. (9) #09 Bruce Robertson, Leeds, 29
14. (2) #777 Mike St. Germain, Auburn, 29
15. (8) #67 Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls, 29
16. (1) #82 Josh Paradis, Sumner, 22
17. (7) #95 Justin Dennison, North Yarmouth, 22
18. (10) #2 Kimberly Sessions, Oxford, 18
19. (18) #37 Jacob Hethcoat, Norway, 10
20. (15) #9 Ralph Felker, Poland, 10
Lap leaders: Paradis 1-6, Judd 7-30.
Cautions: 1 (lap 10)
Time of race: 13 minutes, 40 seconds

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #3 (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #24 Kevin Lawrence, South Paris, 30
2. (17) #666 Mike Ballard, Mechanic Falls, 30
3. (15) #5 David Childs, Oxford, 30
4. (12) #90 Keith Landry, Oxford, 30
5. (5) #68 Bubba Collins, Lewiston, 30
6. (13) #38 Addison Bowie, Auburn, 30
7. (16) #34 John Patria, Turner, 30
8. (8) #19 Steve Moon, Gray, 30
9. (14) #139 Jerry Freve, Buckfield, 30
10. (2) #51 Randy Robitaille, Norway, 30
11. (11) #89 Stan Morgan, Auburn, 30
12. (20) #77 Jeremy Leavitt, Poland, 30
13. (4) #48 Tina Titus, Lisbon Falls, 30
14. (21) #36 Richard Spaulding, Lewiston, 29
15. (18) #169 Jim Drake, Hebron, 29
16. (7) #10 Scott Ellis, Lewiston, 28
17. (10) #8 Gerald Parlin, South Paris, 26
18. (19) #18 Thom Bell, Minot, 23
19. (3) #35 John Spencer Jr., Auburn, 22
20. (9) #71 Fred Clavet, Buckfield, 7
21. (6) #62 Leo Hatch-Auger, Norway, 2
Lap leaders: Lawrence 1-30
Cautions: 1 (lap 22)
Time of race: 14 minutes, 30 seconds

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #1 (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (11) #15 David Cook, Lewiston, 30
2. (3) #4 Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester, 30
3. (9) #00 Monica Martin, South Paris, 30
4. (2) #52 Jeff Trafford, Leeds, 30
5. (14) #92 Martin Krauter, Raymond, 30
6. (5) #91 Bill Grover, Topsham, 29
7. (15) #44 George Tripp, Norway, 26
8. (6) #45 Ken Whittemore, Greene, 25
9. (13) #33 Jake Gilbert, Turner, 20
10. (16) #555 Paul Cook, Mechanic Falls, 17
11. (10) #12x Marc Sylvain, Portland, 17
12. (7) #13 Tim Hatstat, Norway, 16
13. (12) #12 Don White, Leeds, 14
14. (1) #03 Ryan Varney, Oxford, 12
15. (8) #65 Ray Files, South Paris, 12
16. (18) #04 Guy Childs Jr., Turner, 12
17. (4) #50 Todd Foss, Raymond, 10
18. (17) #14 Gene White, Lisbon, 3
Lap leaders: Dunphy 1-12, Cook 13-30.
Cautions: 1 (lap 10)
Time of race: 13 minutes, 45 seconds

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #2 (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (3) #93 Jamie Leavitt, Minot, 30
2. (10) #54 Kyle Hewins, Leeds, 30
3. (2) #85 Jeff Hebert, Auburn, 30
4. (1) #16 Mike Ward, Harrison, 30
5. (15) #7x Charlie Webster, Auburn, 30
6. (5) #76 Randy Nutter, Auburn, 30
7. (14) #83 Brady Romano, Livermore Falls, 30
8. (17) #79 Jason Cummings, Waterford, 30
9. (9) #106 Nathan Guptill, North Turner, 30
10. (11) #8 Kevin Noyes, Raymond, 30
11. (13) #66 Justin Hynes, Windham, 30
12. (12) #94 Jason Hannigan, Greene, 29
13. (8) #175 Patrick Elsman, Hebron, 29
14. (4) #53 Brad Dwinal, Freeport, 29
15. (7) #30 Rick Giguere, Auburn, 29
16. (18) #10 Chuck Higgins, Wales, 25
17. (6) #19 Zach Audet, Wilton, 16
18. (16) #41 James Wood, New Gloucester, 9
Lap leaders: Ward 1, Hebert 2, Leavitt 3-30.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 9 minutes, 49 seconds

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #3 (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #63 Cole Flagg, Livermore, 30
2. (14) #119 Gregg Norton, Lewiston, 30
3. (16) #59 Tyson Jordan, Poland, 30
4. (13) #96 Matt Dufault, Turner, 30
5. (11) #86 Nic Stanley, Buckfield, 30
6. (6) #97 Jim Hart, Buckfield, 30
7. (15) #88 Derek Cook, Livermore Falls, 30
8. (4) #31 Jeff Beaule, Lewiston, 30
9. (5) #521 Scott Farrington, Oxford, 30
10. (10) #115 Craig Pyy, Gorham, 30
11. (12) #6 Troy Jordan, Turner, 30
12. (2) #05 Errol Smith, Stow, 30
13. (8) #32 Brandon Munroe, New Gloucester, 30
14. (3) #32x Brian Hawthorne, New Gloucester, 30
15. (9) #3 Josh Childs, Oxford, 7
16. (18) #84 Doug DeGroat, Oxford, 6
DQ (7) #87 Derek Cairns, Waterford
DQ (17) #95 Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls
Lap leaders: Flagg 1-30.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 9 minutes, 51 seconds

CRAZY HORSE RACING ENGINES RENEGADE (10 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (2) #3 John Childs, Leeds, 10
2. (3) #91 Jamie Heath, Waterford, 10
3. (1) #92 Ken Marston, Hartford, 10
4. (5) #05 Gerard Cote, Oxford, 9
5. (4) #2 Charlie Hall, Oxford, 8
Lap leaders: Childs 1-10.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 4 minutes, 5 seconds

(207) 645-4571
Photos by Trudy Marshall from 
all OPS divisions!