Stearns leads from wire-to-wire,is 8th different LM winner in 10 races

OXFORD, Maine - Travis Stearns became the eighth different winner in 10 Oxford Networks Late Model features this season, leading from wire-to-wire to post his third career victory in the 40-lap main event of the annual Summer Celebration at Oxford Plains Speedway.

"I was lucky to start where I did, because the car wasn't that good," said Stearns, who could have fooled everyone else in that regard, considering his two-second margin of victory. "I wasn't even going to race tonight, but the crew put this thing back together (after a crash) Thursday night, and here we are."

Ben Ashline took over second position from Gerald Parlin just shy of the halfway point. Without a caution period to wipe out Stearns lead, however, the 18-year-old was forced to settle for second.

That matched a career best.

"Again, that's like a win for us to be up here on the podium with these guys," Ashline said.

The lead trifecta in Thursday night's special charged to third, fourth and fifth. Tommy Ricker backed up his win by racing to the final trophy position, with Don Wentworth fourth and Jeff White fifth.

Division point leader Travis Adams was relegated to ninth, his first finish outside the top five all season.

Skip Tripp extended his Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Strictly Stock point lead, posting his fifth victory of the season after another terrific tussle with rival and division runner-up Mike Short.

It was Tripp's second win of the week after an easier triumph in the Thursday 60-lap special. Matt Williams matched his best run of the season in third, followed by Zach Emerson and his father Larry Emerson.

Steve Barker continued his mid-season surge, snagging his second Allen's Mini Stock victory of the campaign in convincing fashion.

Barker bolted from fourth to first in less than 3/8 of a mile after a lap 5 restart, taking away the top spot from Ken Daigle Jr.

Jimmy Childs was second, followed by division point leader Justin Karkos, defending champion Ashley Marshall and rookie Calvin Rose Jr.

Jim Davis Jr. and Chris Coolidge were conquerors in twin 20-lap Chimney Tech Outlaw events. Davis' win was the fourth of the season for the past champion, while Coolidge paid his first visit to victory lane this summer.

Guy Childs emerged from a tremendous scrap for second behind Davis, with great-nephew Josh Childs making an outside rally from sixth to third over the final three laps. John Patria and Addison Bowie rounded out the top five.

Coolidge eased to a caution-free win over Doug Degroat and Jerry Freve. Todd Hall and Phil Knowlton followed.

Reigning Agren Appliance Saturday Showdown champion Dottie Patria posted her fourth Allen's Ladies win in five weekend starts. Both Patria and Vanna Brackett rallied from a tangle on the first lap to run first and second.

Christina Spaulding led early before slipping back to third, with Missy Morgan and Shannon Wheeler next in line.

OPS returns to action three times in the coming week, with the Acceleration Series on Wednesday, Motor Mayhem Friday and the Championship Series Saturday. The green flag flies each night at 6:30 p.m.

OXFORD NETWORKS LATE MODEL (40 laps): 1. Travis Stearns, Auburn; 2. Ben Ashline, Pittston; 3. Tommy Ricker, Poland; 4. Don Wentworth, Otisfield; 5. Jeff White, Winthrop; 6. Shawn Martin, Turner; 7. Tim Brackett, Buckfield; 8. Shawn Knight, South Paris; 9. Travis Adams, Canton; 10. Gerald Parlin, South Paris; 11. Corey Morgan, Lewiston; 12. Al Hammond, Paris; 13. Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township; 14. Ricky Morse, St. Albans; 15. Billy Childs Jr., Leeds; 16. Tyler Knightly, Paris; 17. Kurt Hewins, Leeds; 18. Jason Larrabee, Raymond; 19. Gary Chiasson, Peru.

ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps): 1. Skip Tripp, Poland; 2. Mike Short, Auburn; 3. Matt Williams, Brownfield; 4. Zach Emerson, Sabattus; 5. Larry Emerson, Durham; 6. Mike St. Germain, Auburn; 7. B,J. Chapman, Bridgton; 8. Sumner Sessions, Norway; 9. Jon Brill, Bridgton; 10. Gerry Burgess, Sabattus; 11. Nick Hoyt, Mechanic Falls; 12. Mac Hannan Jr., Union; 13. Bob DiPompo, Jay; 14. Derek Farrington, Freeport; 15. Mark Theriault, Rumford; 16. Kim Tripp, Oxford.

ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI STOCK (30 laps): 1. Steve Barker, Jay; 2. Jimmy Childs, Leeds; 3. Justin Karkos, Jay; 4. Ashley Marshall, Jay; 5. Calvin Rose Jr., Turner; 6. Larry Melcher, Livermore Falls; 7. Darrell Moore, Mechanic Falls; 8. Jeff Beaule, Lewiston; 9. Shane Kaherl, Jay; 10. Kevin Bishop, South Paris; 11. Dan Morris, Auburn; 12. Nathan Guptill, North Turner; 13. Ken Daigle Jr., Lisbon; 14. Matt Moore, South Paris; 15. Greg Watkins, Bridgton; 16. Jake Burns, Gray; 17. Butch Keene, Turner; 18. Dale Brackett, Oxford.

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW 'A' (20 laps): 1. Jim Davis Jr., Sabattus; 2. Guy Childs, Turner; 3. Josh Childs, Oxford; 4. John Patria, Turner; 5. Addison Bowie, Auburn; 6. Chris Burgess, Sabattus; 7. David Childs, Oxford; 8. Steve Brill, Bridgton; 9. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 10. Zach Bowie, Lisbon; 11. Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls; 12. Steve Moon, Gray; 13. Kevin Lawrence, South Paris; 14. Gerry Richard, Leeds.

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW 'B' (20 laps): 1. Chris Coolidge, Norway; 2. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 3. Jerry Freve, Buckfield; 4. Todd Hall, Auburn; 5. Phil Knowlton, Poland; 6. Pat Maloy, Lisbon; 7. Dan Brown, Peru; 8. Todd Bisbee, South Paris; 9. Dennis Morang, South Paris; 10. Kevin Leighton, Minot; 11. Jacob Hethcoat, Norway.

ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Dottie Patria, Turner; 2. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 3. Christina Spaulding, Lewiston; 4. Missy Morgan, Lewiston; 5. Shannon Wheeler, Auburn; 6. Tori Burgess, Sabattus; 7. Debbie Marston, Hartford; 8. Deanna Robertson, South Paris; 9. Annie Chartier, Mexico.