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NEWS
June 16, 2007
Henderson hangs on for
breakthrough win
OXFORD, Maine - Maybe Glen Henderson needs to roll over his Allen's
Strictly Stock car more often.
Less than one week after a violent
wreck damaged his car beyond recognition, Henderson pulled off an
eye-opening upset in the Dunkin' Donuts 100, picking up his first
Oxford Plains Speedway Championship Series feature win.
“You know, from last week to this
week, I would have been amazed with a top 10,” Henderson said.
“I couldn’t even have prayed for this.”
The Strictly finale capped a night
that featured 350 laps of green-flag racing at the historic
oval.
Thanks to a rainout on June 2, the
Oxford Networks Late Model division ran twin 40-lap features.
Defending champion Travis Adams captured the opener, but his attempt
at the sweep fell shy by a half car length, with Don Wentworth
taking the win in the nightcap.
Wentworth was a strong third behind
Adams and rookie Travis Stearns in the opener. Ricky Rolfe took
third in the encore.
Jimmy Childs waltzed to his third
Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Mini Stock feature win of the
season.
Two of the Acceleration Series
divisions joined the Saturday stage, with Jake Burns making a
three-wide pass of Rene Foster and Yogi Hiscock out of the final
corner to take the Call of the Wild RV Sport Truck checkers. Dottie
Patria celebrated her second straight weekend victory in the Allen's
Ladies division.
Beating two of the best
Henderson, the 2005 Chimney Tech Outlaw champion in the OPS
Wednesday night Acceleration Series, led the first 51 laps of the
marathon main event. His hopes appeared to go out the window when
Rick Thompson used the lapped car of Ben Krauter as a pick to snag
the lead on the 52nd circuit.
A problem in the right front of
Thompson's ride cropped up on lap 86, however, bringing out the
first caution flag of the event and restoring Henderson to the lead.
That ended an unthinkable streak of 186 consecutive caution-free
laps in Agren Appliance Grand Slam long-distance events by the
slam-bang Strictly gang.
With division point leaders Tommy
Tompkins and Sumner Sessions lurking on a second restart with five
laps remaining, Henderson held his ground in the American Aerial/R.P.M.
Racing Engines #57 and even extended his lead prior to the
checkers.
“Yeah, I was sweating,” Henderson
admitted. “I saw Tommy and Sumner and I’ m like, ‘Well, I’ll
settle for third.’ “
Sessions’ shot at the win dissolved
when a late-race mechanical malady made it nearly impossible for him
to turn left. Thanks to Henderson’s early blistering pace,
Sessions was able to hang on as the final car on the lead lap in
fourth.
Tompkins was second in front of
three-time division champion Larry Emerson.
“We worked on the car this week and
we probably shouldn’t have, because it was a handful,” Tompkins
said. “I don’t know if I’m leaking something or what.”
It was the second straight
third-place run in a 100-lap event for Emerson, who landed the Agren
Grand Slam point lead in the process.
“We just got lucky, made our way
through traffic. The beginning there was a little rough for some of
them. It’s experience and luck,” Emerson said.
Emerson’s son, Zach, completed the
top five.
Split decision
Adams passed Don Wentworth on the inside and eight other cars the
hard way, including the impressive Wal-Mart Rookie of the Year point
leader Stearns, to become the first repeat winner of the season in
the Oxford Networks Late Model opener.
“I think that was all second-groove
passing there,” said Adams, who drove around Stearns with five
laps remaining.
Pole-sitter Stearns lost the
advantage to outside front row starter Dave MacDonald, but Stearns
tracked him down on lap 15 to regain the top spot and set the tone
for his best career finish in any division.
Stearns entered the season with two
years experience in the Chimney Tech Outlaw division in the mid-week
Acceleration Series.
“Crazy friends talked me into it, I
guess,” Stearns said of his giant leap through the ranks into the
MainePrivateMoney.com #85.
Wentworth hinted at the win to come
with his second podium performance of the campaign. Shawn Martin and
MacDonald notched their best finishes of the season in fourth and
fifth.
“Travis had a good car. We didn’t
have the bite off the corners we needed, but luckily we get a second
chance to get it right tonight,” Wentworth said.
Right, he was. Wentworth needed only
six laps to wheel around Corey Morgan for the lead in the
nightcap.
Adams was in the midst of another
clinic in the outer lane, storming past Scott King and Corey Morgan
to second before an eight-car pileup brought out the only caution on
lap 19.
Wentworth wasn’t in the mood to
concede round two. Adams eventually tucked his car in behind the
leader after his first five-lap run on the outside. His second and
final bid for the win on the last lap fell 0.033 seconds shy at the
checkers.
“I couldn’t let Travis have two
in a row. That green thing wins too many. That was a lot of fun.
That was a pretty clean charge. I’m just glad I was the one he had
to pass and not the other way around,” said Wentworth, who thanked
crew chief Mark Napolitano and Strictly Stock driver Jeff Moon’s
pit crew for their work on the K&K Excavation/E.A. Smith
Plumbing and Heating/Sabre Yachts/Valero Fuels #63 between
races.
The night wasn’t as easy for Adams
and the Dacata Repair/Russ Doucette Builders #03 as it looked to the
fans.
“We came out of four on the last
lap of the heat race and the distributor went south on us, so we had
to scramble to get ready for the feature,“ Adams said. “I threw
just about everything that I had at Donnie in the second groove but
the kitchen sink. I’m more than tickled to come out of it with a
second place, maybe by a foot or two.“
Ricky Rolfe needed to match Adams’
outside run to keep pace with the reigning champion in the series
point standings, and he pulled off a pass of Dennis Spencer Jr. on
the next-to-last lap to take third.
“I wish I was a little more toward
the front and I could have played with these guys. We had a wicked
fast car the second feature. The first feature it was terrible,”
Rolfe said of the J. Jones Construction #51. “We got it halfway
decent in the heat race, and we made another spring change before
this feature and it’s a lot better. Best it’s been all year,
even better than last week.”
Rolfe could take credit for the
entire top three. He built the chassis along with Dave Smith at Race
Basics in Andover.
Spencer held on for fourth, with
Martin directly in tow and picking up his second top-five of the
evening.
He can run, and he can hide
Childs charged from eighth to first
in six laps, driving around Bob Guptill and setting sail to the only
one-sided victory of the night.
Nearly five seconds ahead of point
leader Justin Karkos, Childs picked up his third checkers of the
season and 26th of his career in the Brown’s Construction/Wolf Den
#10.
“The car’s going the best it has
all year. I got a good start out there when I got by those guys. I
wasn’t sure if it was going to handle in the third groove or
not,” Childs said.
Karkos found himself pinned behind
Guptill and Adam Polvinen on the lone restart at lap 9 and
couldn’t fully recover in the Sampson’s Collision Center
#12.
“When I finally got by, Jimmy was
long gone,” Karkos said. “I guess when he’ s hot, he is hot.
He goes good.”
Guptill won his second career heat
race in the early evening and backed it up with the best Mini Stock
finish of his rookie season in third in the Rockin’ Railroad
Buffet/Hypnotic Automotive Specialties/Twin Town Glass #9.
In what might be a sign of bad news
for the competition, Guptill reported that his car was equipped with
“a junkyard motor. We can’t keep the good one together,” he
said.
“Wild” Bill Irving continued his
run at the Wal-Mart Rookie crown with a fourth-place run in front of
championship runner-up Polvinen.
Winner by a tailgate
Burns, Rene Foster, Yogi Hiscock and
Rick Hebert stole the show with a heart-pounding Sport Truck
finish.
Mired in fourth when the white flag
appeared, Burns overtook the pack in three-wide formation out of the
final corner to pick up his fourth win in five starts this
season.
“I didn’t think I was going to
have it. I got a break at the end there,” the driver of the Gray
Stone/Portland Insulation #74 understated.
Foster led every lap but the first
and last, giving himself a birthday present with a runner-up trophy.
Third-place Hiscock was no more than a quarter-panel behind Burns
and a fender shy of Foster.
Hebert and Doug Degroat completed the
top five.
Patria picked up her second straight
Agren Grand Slam Allen’s Ladies win in the Bill’s Towing/R.P.M.
Racing Engines #34 when apparent winner Christina Spaulding’s car
failed the post-race inspection.
Cathy Manchester and Patty Brannon
moved up to repeat the same top three in the same order from the
last Saturday Ladies race. Kimberly Sessions and Lisa Vining
followed.
OPS also hosted the annual appearance
of two nostalgia tours. Tim Huston (Sportsman) and Kenny Robinson
(Modified) were top finishers among the Senior Tour Auto Racers in a
20-lap exhibition. Vermont’s Bruce Carman topped the Atlantic
Coast Old Timers. ACOT runner-up Lou Fray coaxed a roar from the
crowd when he gave away his age: 81 years young.
Oxford’s Championship Series will
return Saturday, June 23 with 99.9 The Wolf Fan Appreciation Night.
Adult admission is only $5, with all fans 12 and under admitted
free. A pre-race autograph session and numerous giveaways highlight
another night of wild on-track action, with double features for the
Allen’ s Minis (including the Sun Journal 100) and an appearance
by the New England Legends Cars on tap. The autograph session starts
at 5:45 p.m., with racing at 6:30.
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK
DUNKIN' DONUTS 100
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #57 Glen Henderson, Sabattus, 100
2. (16) #113 Tommy Tompkins, Dixfield, 100
3. (14) #24 Larry Emerson, Durham, 100
4. (19) #0 Sumner Sessions, Norway, 100
5. (13) #23 Zach Emerson, Sabattus, 99
6. (15) #56 Mike Short, Auburn, 99
7. (20) #71 Scott Belskis, Dixfield, 99
8. (17) #63 Matt Williams, Brownfield, 98
9. (10) #11 Todd Hall, Auburn, 97
10. (24) #777 Mike St. Germain, Auburn, 97
11. (6) #82 Ben Krauter, Raymond, 97
12. (2) #81 B.J. Chapman, Bridgton, 96
13. (7) #13 Chris Burgess, Lewiston, 96
14. (22) #29 Chris Mosher, Litchfield, 96
15. (18) #12 Skip Tripp, Sabattus, 95
16. (4) #91 Danny
Smart, Buxton, 95
17. (3) #43 Bob DiPompo, Jay, 94
18. (23) #18 Reggie Houghton, Carthage, 90
19. (11) #07 Rick Thompson, Naples, 85
20. (8) #8 Shawn Thompson, Wilton, 85
21. (21) #P38 Mark
Bowie, Poland, 69
22. (12) #42 Kim Tripp, Oxford, 65
23. (5) #21 Nick Coates, Turner, 48
24. (9) #49 Greg Sessions, Oxford, 34
25. (25) #97 Jeff Moon, Gray, 1
Lap leaders: Henderson 1-51, Thompson 52-85, Henderson
86-100.
Cautions: 2 (laps 86, 95)
Time of race: 40 minutes, 8.588 seconds
Margin of victory: 1.867 seconds
Fast lap: Rick Thompson, 18.524 seconds.
OXFORD NETWORKS LATE MODEL #1 (40
laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (10) #03 Travis Adams, Canton, 40
2. (1) #85 Travis Stearns, Gray, 40
3. (4) #63 Don
Wentworth, Otisfield, 40
4. (8) #94 Shawn Martin, Turner, 40
5. (2) #69 Dave MacDonald,
New Gloucester, 40
6. (11) #51 Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township, 40
7. (7) #77 Jon Brill, Bridgton, 40
8. (3) #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston, 40
9. (12) #7 Glen Luce, Turner, 40
10. (5) #11 Scott
King, Livermore Falls, 40
11. (20) #04 T.J. Watson, Harpswell, 40
12. (9) #36 Brad Hammond,
Sabattus, 40
13. (21) #40 Rick Valentine, Greene, 40
14. (19) #15 Ben Ashline, Pittston, 40
15. (15) #18 Carey Martin, Denmark, 40
16. (16) #44 Neil Martin, Freeport, 39
17. (14) #07 Scott Luce, Strong, 38
18. (18) #72 Scott Robbins, Dixfield, 34
19. (6) #2 Zach Emerson, Sabattus, 31
20. (13) #8 Dennis Spencer Jr., Oxford, 27
21. (17) #31 Tim Pendergast, Swanville, 17
DNS #6 Tommy Ricker, Poland
DNS #70 Gary Chiasson, Peru
DNS #01 Billy Childs Jr., Leeds
Lap leaders: D. MacDonald 1-14, Stearns 15-33, Adams 34-40.
Cautions: 1 (lap 19)
Time of race: 13 minutes, 4.692 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.837 seconds
Fast lap: Dave MacDonald, 16.260 seconds
OXFORD NETWORKS LATE MODEL #2 (40 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (2) #63 Don Wentworth,
Otisfield, 40
2. (13) #03 Travis Adams, Canton, 40
3. (12) #51 Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township, 40
4. (9) #8 Dennis Spencer Jr., Oxford, 40
5. (11) #94 Shawn Martin, Turner, 40
6. (3) #11 Scott
King, Livermore Falls, 40
7. (19) #72 Scott Robbins, Dixfield, 40
8. (25) #56 Dale Verrill, Paris, 40
9. (14) #7 Glen Luce, Turner, 40
10. (16) #18 Carey Martin, Denmark, 40
11. (6) #85 Travis
Stearns, Gray, 40
12. (15) #36 Brad Hammond, Sabattus, 40
13. (5) #04 T.J. Watson,
Harpswell, 40
14. (22) #44 Neil Martin, Freeport, 40
15. (8) #40 Rick Valentine, Greene, 40
16. (7) #15 Ben Ashline, Pittston, 40
17. (21) #30 Dean Weber, Weare, N.H., 40
18. (1) #26 Corey
Morgan, Lewiston, 34
19. (18) #57 Doug Coombs, Livermore, 19
20. (4) #69 Dave MacDonald,
New Gloucester, 19
21. (10) #77 Jon Brill, Bridgton, 19
22. (17) #2 Zach Emerson, Sabattus, 19
23. (20) #07 Scott Luce, Strong, 19
24. (23) #31 Tim Pendergast, Swanville, 15
DNS #6 Tommy
Ricker, Poland
Lap leaders: Morgan 1-5, Wentworth 6-40
Cautions: 1 (lap 19)
Time of race: 17 minutes, 41.221 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.033 seconds
Fast lap: Travis Adams 16.218 seconds
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI STOCK (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (8) #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds, 30
2. (10) #12 Justin Karkos, Jay, 30
3. (1) #9 Bob Guptill,
Mechanic Falls, 30
4. (11) #74 Bill Irving, New Gloucester, 30
5. (9) #73 Adam Polvinen, Oxford, 30
6. (2) #77 Ashley Marshall, Jay, 30
7. (5) #29 Greg Watkins, Bridgton, 30
8. (12) #14 Jeff
Prindall, Lisbon Falls, 30
9. (13) #8 Bill Thibeault, Oxford, 30
10. (14) #16 Don Frechette, Turner, 30
11. (15) #19 Shane Kaherl, Jay, 29
12. (3) #35 Dale Brackett, Oxford, 29
13. (7) #6 Dale
Durgin, Norway, 29
14. (6) #08 Kevin Bishop, South Paris, 29
15. (19) #21 Rick Giguere, Auburn, 29
16. (18) #1 Rich Sirois, Leeds, 29
17. (16) #7 Joe Treadwell, Auburn, 21
18. (4) #5 Darick Barker, Jay, 17
19. (20) #07 Al Roberti, South Paris, 8
20. (17) #54 Ben Audet,
Chesterville, 3
DNS #22 Wayne Warren, North Waterford
Lap leaders: Guptill 1-6, Childs 7-30
Cautions: 1 (lap 9)
Time of race: 14 minutes, 43.375 seconds
Margin of victory: 4.995 seconds
Fast lap: Jimmy Childs, 18.108 seconds
CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20
laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (14) #74 Jake Burns, Gray, 20
2. (7) #71 Rene Foster, Minot, 20
3. (9) #26 Yogi
Hiscock, Jay, 20
4. (12) #19 Rick Hebert, Peru, 20
5. (15) #84 Doug Degroat, Oxford, 20
6. (11) #17 Lee
Spurling, New Gloucester, 20
7. (8) #28 Kevin Oliver, Gray, 20
8. (6) #69 Ryan Farrar, Oxford, 20
9. (3) #88 Joe Farrar, Oxford, 20
10. (4) #54x Devon Smith, Norway, 20
11. (5) #32 Brian
Farrar, Sumner, 20
12. (16) #44 Mike Blash, Oxford, 20
13. (13) #7 Marvin Hamilton, Gray, 19
14. (10) #39 Corey Williams, Sumner, 19
15. (2) #41 Doug Stevens, West Sumner, 17
16. (1) #54 David
Smith, Norway, 9
Lap leaders: Da. Smith 1, Foster 2-19, Burns 20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 7 minutes, 7 seconds
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (5) #34 Dottie Patria, Turner, 20
2. (4) #69 Cathy Manchester, Gray, 20
3. (3) #18 Patty Brannon, Topsham, 20
4. (7) #2 Kimberly Sessions, Auburn, 20
5. (10) #281 Lisa Vining, Poland, 20
6. (1) #92 Debbie Marston, Hartford, 20
7. (6) #137 Kari Brown, Gray, 20
8. (11) #03 Kelly Lizotte, Jay, 20
9. (9) #13 Missy Roussel, Oxford, 19
10. (8) #3 Deanna Bisbee, South Paris, 19
DQ #00 Christina Spaulding, Lewiston
Lap leaders: Marston 1-2, Patria 3, Manchester 4-8, Patria
9-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 3)
Time of race: 9 minutes, 55 seconds
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Oxford Networks
Late Model
Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy
Strictly and Mini Stock
Photos by
(207) 645-4571
Photos by Trudy Marshall from
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