Third year a charm? Kennison tops Taylor, Rowe in surprising Pro Stock practice run
It's the day when gossip gets a life or loses its credibility. It's the day when everyone is tied for the point lead. It's the day when everything is right with the world again.
It's test and tune day, and at Oxford Plains Speedway, it means the first real race of the year is only a week away.
Nearly 100 cars, including more than two dozen teams representing the Oxford Networks Pro Stocks and Pro All Stars Series, filed through the pit gate Saturday for a seven-hour open practice that included all five Weekly Racing Series divisions.
The OPS schedule roars to life for real next Saturday at 5 p.m., with the New England Dodge Dealers PASS 150 and a full slate of accompanying feature action for the Late Model Stock, Limited Sportsman, Strictly Stock and Mini Stock divisions.
For some, such as eight-time Pro Stock champion Jeff Taylor, it's a day to flash new colors. The traditional #88T sat in storage back at Distance Racing Products in Fairfield on Saturday while Taylor turned his first laps at the helm of the PASS Hi-Tech Motorsports ride owned by Tom and Eileen Estes.
Taylor takes over for multi-time PASS champion and two-time TD Banknorth 250 winner Ben Rowe in the Mechanical Services Chevrolet.
"We're going to run 8 to 10 (PASS) races," said Conrad Taylor, Jeff's father and longtime chief mechanic. "And we'll bring our own car out to play whenever we can. We couldn't stay away from this place."
Taylor, whose 63 Pro Stock feature wins rank third all-time in the division behind Mike Rowe and Al Hammond, wasted no time making himself right at home in the gold #00. He was one of several drivers to trip the stopwatch in the low 15-second range.
Other drivers, such as Late Model Stock regular Don Wentworth, used the day to shake out the cobwebs and chase away bad memories from last season. Wentworth's #63 is completely rebuilt after his season-ending crash on July 3, 2005.
"It definitely looks better than the last time you saw it," Wentworth said.
Of course, practice day also is a time for rookies to get accustomed to the changes in speed, horsepower and cost that come with a jump in the ranks. Among those moving upward this season are reigning Summer Racing Series champions Glen Henderson (Outlaw to Strictly Stock) and Adam Polvinen (Runnin' Rebel to Mini Stock) and former mid-week king Gary Chiasson (Rebel to LMS).
Experience eventually pays dividends. Just ask Chris Kennison. He was the surprising name at the top of Saturday's speed chart, cranking out a lap of 15.075 (confirmed by electronic scoring). Kennison, entering his third year in the track's elite division, edged speedway legends Mike Rowe and Taylor to "win" practice.
Jon Brill, Carey Martin and Ben Tinker also enjoyed impressive runs in the supporting classes. As the numbers below and photos to the right attest, it was a busy morning and afternoon … and the excitement is only beginning.
Official times from www.mylaps.com
UNOFFICIAL TIMES
(Time listed is the fast lap for each driver, clocked haphazardly and randomly by Oaksie's trusty stopwatch between 9:30 and 2:30. Your driver probably turned a dozen laps at least six-tenths faster than this. If he did, I apologize. For the real, down-to-the-fraction timing and scoring, you'll have to check in with the transponder numbers. These are for fun, nothing more. End of disclaimer.)
OXFORD NETWORKS PRO STOCK/PASS
1. #10 Chris Kennison, 15.08
2. #24 Mike Rowe, 15.16 seconds
(tie) #51 Ricky Rolfe, 15.16
(tie) #17 Travis Benjamin, 15.16
5. #00 Jeff Taylor, 15.19
6. #72 Scott Robbins, 15.28
(tie) #47 Corey Williams, 15.28
8. #0x Bill Penfold, 15.34
9. #40 Eric Chase, 15.41
(tie) #33 Richie Dearborn, 15.41
11. #17 Jeremie Whorff, 15.47
12. #66 Andy Shaw, 15.52
13. #60 Dale Shaw, 15.53
(tie) #07 Kevin Kimball, 15.53
15. #53 Alan Wilson, 15.56
16. #29 Scott Chubbuck, 15.63
(tie) #8 Alan Tardiff, 15.63
18. #0 Bill Whorff Jr., 15.66
19. #1 Al Hammond, 15.69
(tie) #97 T.J. Brackett, 15.69
LATE MODEL STOCK
1. #77 Jon Brill, 15.82
2. #18 Carey Martin, 15.94
3. #56 Dale Verrill, 16.07
4. #8 Dennis Spencer Jr., 16.10
5. #04 T.J. Watson, 16.17
6. #1 Bill Childs Jr., 16.32
(tie) #28 Glen Luce, 16.32
8. #57 Doug Coombs, 16.39
9. #44 Jim Duguay, 16.42
10. #5 Mark Brackett, 16.45
11. #93 Mike Ferguson, 16.57
12. #63 Don Wentworth, 16.60
13. #05 Ron Henry, 16.79
(tie) #20 Erick Leiter, 16.79
15. #99 Roger Brown, 16.89
LIMITED SPORTSMAN
1. #18 Carey Martin, 17.11
2. #1 Tommy Ricker, 17.24
3. #36 Terry Merrill, 17.27
4. #8 David Tripp, 17.36
5. #85 Kenny Harrison, 17.40
6. #25 Bruce Helmuth, 17.46
7. #77 Troy Morse, 17.55
8. #61 Matt Williams, 17.56
9. #22 Steve Bennett, 17.74
10. #0 Shane Green, 17.83
11. #65 Corey Newendyke, 18.19
STRICTLY STOCK
1. #19 Ben Tinker, 18.40
2. #81 B.J. Chapman (the computer says it was Jon Brill?), 18.66
3. #61 Roy Weymouth, 18.69
(tie) #1 Guy Childs, 18.69
5. #84 Chris Coolidge, 18.75
6. #97 Jeff Moon, 18.88
(tie) #39 Jerry Freve, 18.88
8. #07 Rick Thompson, 18.91
9. #76 Don Harvey, 18.97
(tie) #5 Jason Gaboury, 18.97
11. #35 Phil Mitchell III, 19.00
12. #00 Jeff Merrill, 19.04
13. #12 Skip Tripp, 19.17
14. #64 Randy Heath, 19.29
(tie) #777 Mike St, Germain, 19.29
MINI STOCK
1. #19 Joe Treadwell, 18.13
2. #41 Larry Melcher, 18.22
3. #80 Don Mooney, 18.25
4. #73 Adam Polvinen, 18.41
5. #16 Don Frechette, 18.59
(tie) #57 Bill Thibeault, 18.59
Sources: Oxford Plains Speedway PR