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Polewarczyk 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 20th starting position to sixth, followed by Scott Dragon, Randy Potter, Quinny Welch and Shawn Martin. Rolfe finished 17th, the 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: 1. Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, N.H.; 2. John Donahue, Graniteville, Vt.; 3. Tim Brackett, Buckfield; 4. Shawn Knight, South Paris; 5. Eric Williams, Hyde Park, Vt.; 6. Travis Adams, Canton; 7. Scott Dragon, Milton, Vt.; 8. Randy Potter, Groveton, N.H.; 9. Quinny Welch, Lancaster, N.H.; 10. Shawn Martin, Turner; 11. Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.; 12. Glen Luce, Turner; 13. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton,. Vt.; 14. Aaron Ricker, Tamworth, N.H.; 15. Bobby Dragon, Milton, Vt.; 16. Joey Doiron, Berwick; 17. Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township; 18. Mark Hayward, Unity, N.H.; 19. Scott Payea, Milton, Vt.; 20. Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, Vt.; 21. Scott Luce, Strong; 22. Chip Grenier, Graniteville, Vt.; 23. Ben Rowe, Turner; 24. Miles Chipman, Epping, N.H.; 25. Tommy Ricker, Poland; 26. Pete Potvin III, Graniteville, Vt.; 27. Eric Chase, Milton, Vt.; 28. Corey Morgan, Lewiston; 29. Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury, Vt.; 30. Brent Dragon, Milton, Vt. 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 ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps): 1. Zach Emerson, Sabattus; 2. Kenny Harrison, Pownal; 3. Kim Tripp, Oxford; 4. Larry Emerson, Durham; 5. Mike Short, Auburn; 6. Matt Williams, Brownfield; 7. Keith Stuart, Naples; 8. Jeff Merrill, Mexico; 9. Perry Tucker, Sumner; 10. Skip Tripp, Poland; 11. Ben Krauter, Raymond; 12. Rick Spaulding, Lisbon; 13. Derek Farrington, Freeport; 14. Mike St. Germain, Auburn; 15. B.J. Chapman, Bridgton; 16. Kurt Hewins, Leeds. DNS: Richard Kimball, Standish. ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI STOCK (30 laps): 1. Larry Melcher, Livermore Falls; 2. Darrell Moore, Mechanic Falls; 3. Jimmy Childs, Leeds; 4. Shane Kaherl, Jay; 5. Steve Barker, Jay; 6. Calvin Rose Jr., Turner; 7. Greg Watkins, Bridgton; 8. Jeff Beaule, Lewiston; 9. Jake Burns, Gray; 10. Kevin Bishop, South Paris; 11. Jeff Moon, Gray; 12. Ashley Marshall, Jay; 13. Cameron Creamer, Newcastle; 14. Dale Brackett, Oxford; 15. Nathan Guptill, North Turner; 16. Nik Coates, Lisbon. DQ: Justin Karkos, Jay. DNS: Matt Moore, Mechanic Falls; Wayne Titus, Minot; Robert Hoover, Poland. CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW (20 laps): 1. Zach Bowie, Lisbon; 2. David Childs, Oxford; 3. Chris Burgess, Sabattus; 4. Steve Brill, Bridgton; 5. Kevin Lawrence, South Paris; 6. Steve Moon, Gray; 7. Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls; 8. Dottie Patria, Turner; 9. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 10. Tyler Belanger, Sumner; 11. Jerry Freve, Buckfield; 12. Josh Childs, Oxford; 13. John Spencer, Auburn; 14. Tom Averill, Peru; 15. Randy Robitaille, Norway; 16. Phil Knowlton, Poland; 17. Dennis Morang, South Paris; 18. Charlie Webster, Auburn; 19. Robert Lowe, Auburn; 20. Randy Desmarais, Auburn; 21. Chris Coolidge, Norway; 22. Carl Conant, Lewiston. DNS: John Patria, Turner. MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL (20 laps): 1. Kyle Hewins, Leeds; 2. Jamie Leavitt, Minot; 3. Matt Dufault, Turner; 4. Charlie Webster, Auburn; 5. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 6. Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 7. Ryan Philbrick, Greenwood; 8. Troy Jordan, Turner; 9. Corey Beaulieu, Oxford; 10. John Childs, Leeds; 11. Nate Dubuc, Auburn; 12. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 13. Jamie Heath, Waterford; 14. Roger Bourgoin, Mechanic Falls; 15. Josh Lovell, Norway; 16. Cody Smith, Oxford; 17. Ryan Hewins, Leeds; 18. Dustin Couture, Auburn; 19. Zach Audet, Wilton. DNS: Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester; Derek Cook, Livermore Falls; Carl Conant, Lewiston; Joe Turner, Norway. |
Last Updated on 05/18/09
By George Campbell or Greg Fish
Email: neracing@neracing.com