Short, Adams big winners on wild night at Oxford Plains Speedway

OXFORD, Maine - Mike Short dominated the first 100-lap race of 2009 as convincingly as he aced the final long-distance test of 2008, cruising to victory in the Sunoco Race Fuels 100 for Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Strictly Stocks at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Short led the final 71 laps of the event, winning an eight-lap sprint to the finish after the lone caution flag tightened the field. Short won six races in '08, including the September New England Dodge Dealers Little Guy 100. He is the fourth different Strictly feature winner to launch the current campaign.

Former division champion Jim Duguay was unofficially second in his first start of the season, with division point leader Zach Emerson third and the final car on the lead lap. Jeff Merrill and Larry Emerson rounded out the top five.

The post-race technical inspection was still in progress at press time.

In the co-main event, Travis Adams made a dramatic, three-wide charge from fifth to first in the final 10 laps to capture his second Oxford Networks Late Model win in the first three weeks.

Ben Ashline, who skipped his graduation ceremony at Gardiner Area High School to race Saturday, held on for a career-best second after yielding the lead to Adams with five laps remaining in the 40-lap contest.
Don Wentworth, Shawn Martin and Travis Stearns completed the top five. Adams plotted his winning move after following the side-by-side battle for second between Wentworth and Stearns for more than 20 laps.

Justin Karkos survived a wild Allen's Mini encounter for his second straight 30-lap victory. Darrell Moore led until surrendering the top spot to Karkos on a restart with nine circuits left.

Moore sped to second, with Jake Burns inheriting third after a multi-car crash and subsequent penalties shook up the order on the final lap. Reigning division champion Ashley Marshall recovered from two early spins to finish fourth ahead of Kevin Bishop.

David Childs held off his uncle Guy Childs to top a 26-car field in the Chimney Tech Outlaw feature. Childs has finished no worse than second in four starts this season.

Steve Brill took home the third-place trophy in front of Kevin Lawrence and John Patria.

Dottie Patria prevailed in the closest finish of the night, pulling even with Vanna Brackett in the final corner and winning the drag race to the finish line to swipe the 20-lap Allen's Ladies scramble. Cathy Manchester was in close proximity to finish third, with Deanna Robertson fourth and rookie Tori Burgess fifth.

The Wicked Good Vintage Race Cars also made their annual appearance at OPS, with Kenny Robinson of East Machias claiming the checkers.
Oxford's Acceleration Series next takes center stage Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (100 laps): 1. Mike Short, Auburn; 2. Jim Duguay, Greene; 3. Zach Emerson, Sabattus; 4. Jeff Merrill, Turner; 5. Larry Emerson, Durham; 6. Ben Krauter, Raymond; 7. Skip Tripp, Poland; 8. Matt Williams, Brownfield; 9. Derek Farrington, Freeport; 10. Rick Spaulding, Lisbon; 11. Jon Brill, Bridgton; 12. B.J. Chapman, Bridgton. DNS: Mike St. Germain, Auburn; Kim Tripp, Oxford; Perry Tucker, Sumner.

OXFORD NETWORKS LATE MODEL (40 laps): 1. Travis Adams, Canton; 2. Ben Ashline, Pittston; 3. Don Wentworth, Otisfield; 4. Shawn Martin, Turner; 5. Travis Stearns, Auburn; 6. Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township; 7. Tim Brackett, Oxford; 8. Scott Robbins, Dixfield; 9. Billy Childs Jr., Leeds; 10. Tommy Ricker, Poland; 11. Gary Chiasson, Peru; 12. Gerald Parlin, South Paris; 13. Randy Sanborn, West Baldwin; 14. Matt Sanborn, West Baldwin; 15. Corey Morgan, Lewiston; 16. Ron Charpentier Jr., Wales; 17. Jason Larrabee, Raymond; 18. Jeff White, Winthrop; 19. Shawn Knight, South Paris; 20. Nick Brown, Bath.

ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI STOCK (30 laps): 1. Justin Karkos, Jay; 2. Darrell Moore, Mechanic Falls; 3. Jake Burns, Gray; 4. Ashley Marshall, Jay; 5. Kevin Bishop, South Paris; 6. Greg Aptt, Oxford; 7. Nathan Guptill, North Turner; 8. Shane Kaherl, Jay; 9. Matt Moore, South Paris; 10. Jeff Beaule, Lewiston; 11. Calvin Rose Jr., Turner; 12. Bill Irving, New Gloucester; 13. Greg Watkins, Bridgton; 14. Nik Coates, Lisbon; 15. Don Frechette, Turner; 16. Ken Daigle Jr. Lisbon; 17. Jimmy Childs, Leeds; 18. Jeff Moon, Gray; 19. Dale Brackett, Oxford; 20. Dan Morris, Lisbon.

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW (20 laps): 1. David Childs, Oxford; 2. Guy Childs, Turner; 3. Steve Brill, Bridgton; 4. Kevin Lawrence, South Paris; 5. John Patria, Turner; 6. Steve Moon, Gray; 7. Ryan Robbins, Dixfield; 8. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 9. Ron Abbott Jr., Sabattus; 10. Zach Bowie, Lisbon; 11. Scott Ellis, Lewiston; 12. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 13. Charlie Webster, Auburn; 14. Todd Bisbee, South Paris; 15. Josh Childs, Oxford; 16. Jim Davis Jr., Sabattus; 17. Jay Wilkins, Gray; 18. Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls; 19. Randy Desmarais, Auburn; 20. John Spencer Jr., Farmington; 21. Zach Robitaille, Norway; 22. Chris Burgess, Sabattus; 23. Chris Coolidge, Norway; 24. Scott Hethcoat, Danville Junction; 25. Bob Morey, Lisbon. DQ: Addison Bowie, Auburn.

ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Dottie Patria, Turner; 2. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 3. Cathy Manchester, Gray; 4. Deanna Robertson, South Paris; 5. Tori Burgess, Sabattus; 6. Missy Morgan, Lewiston; 7. Annie Chartier, Mexico; 8. Kimberly Sessions, Auburn. DQ: Debbie Marston, Hartford.