Adams out-duels Rolfe on late restart; second-time fatherhood next on schedule
OXFORD, Maine – Any other time, against any other driver, Ricky Rolfe would have been the favorite to dominate the final restart and cruise to victory in Saturday night’s Oxford Networks Late Model season opener at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Not when the rival visible through that right-side window is Travis Adams, though. Not at night, when the #03E is historically so stout. Not with that car-driver combination in the outside lane.
Adams has ruled that area where most drivers are reluctant to wander on his way to three championships in the last five years, and he out-pedaled Rolfe on the resumption with 14 laps remaining and cruised to his 25th career feature victory at OPS.
Bill Thibeault (Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy Mini Stock) also hit that quarter-century milestone with his victory, while Skip Tripp added another resounding Allen’s Strictly Stock checkered flag to his impressive collection over the last two seasons.
“Java” Jerry Freve and Rick Spaulding captured twin 20-lap Chimney Tech Outlaw wins on the seven-feature card. Dottie Patria led the Allen’s Ladies division, while Bob Weymouth dominated an event for the visiting New England Legends Cars (NELCAR) circuit.
Adams, again
A seven-time feature winner last season, Adams recovered from a broken timing chain that took him out of the New England Dodge Dealers ACT 150 just five laps into the touring event on his home track two weeks ago.
“My dad worked his butt off to get this car ready again,” Adams said of his chief mechanic, Don Adams. “He had it fixed a week ago Thursday night. Then we had the rainout, and we sat around for a week wondering if the motor would stay together. It looks like it’s fine.”
With no season points available for handicapping the field, Adams’ second-place finish in his heat race gave him the third starting spot behind Shawn Martin and Rolfe in a front-loaded field.
Martin led the opening lap by less than a car length, but Rolfe used the outside lane to take command on the next pass. After a quick caution on lap 2, Adams swiped second from Martin and settled in for a lengthy stretch in which the top three cars ran virtually identical lap times.
That seemed to bode well for Rolfe, but the New England Dodge Dealers ACT 150 winner of April 26 knew he was in trouble when rookie Nick Brown’s hard impact with the front stretch wall necessitated a much longer stoppage late in the race.
“I was getting kind of loose, and I was kind of worried during that long caution about the tires cooling off too much,” Rolfe said. “The better car won tonight.”
Martin faced no challenges for the third spot over the final one-third of the event.
“We got a lot of things straightened out in the car this year,” said Martin, who has experienced ups-and-downs in Saturday night competition since winning the Late Model title in 2004. “I had a great time out there. We were just a tick away from being really good.”
Adams told the crowd that he hopes he will be back to try for his second straight 40-lap win next Saturday, but that his 2008 racing season will fall no higher than second on his list of priorities. His wife, Becky, is scheduled to give birth to the couple’s second child by Caesarean section on Monday.
“There are bigger things in life than this race car,” he said.
The pass for the lead earned Adams the nightly Time Warner Cable Roadrunner Turbo-Charged Move of the Race award.
Adams, Rolfe and Martin represented six OPS track titles on the podium.
Billy Childs Jr. enjoyed a solid fourth-place run. Zach Emerson charged from 18th starting position to fifth.
Eight rookies added spice to a field of 26 starters in the first points-paying event of the season. Shawn Knight topped that freshman class in seventh.
Another Tripp to victory lane
Technology helped Skip Tripp continue the incredible Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy Strictly Stock hot streak he started last summer. We don’t mean anything to do with the motor or chassis, either.
A good wireless connection was at least partially responsible for Tripp leaving behind Glen Henderson on a lap 5 restart and cruising to the victory by more than three seconds.
“Ricky Drew couldn’t be here tonight,” said Tripp of his sage crew member, “but he even does awesome work by cell phone.”
No cautions slowed Tripp’s progress down the stretch as he registered the sixth 30-lap win in his last eight starts dating back to July 2007.
Tripp dominated his heat race in similar fashion and grabbed the early-season point lead with authority.
“I wish it was easy as putting a cover on the car and leaving it alone, but we worked hard all winter long,” Tripp said.
Glen Henderson was second ahead in the Strictly scramble, and it was easy for the former Outlaw champion not to lament his inability to keep up with Tripp.
Second felt like a handful of victories after Henderson destroyed the same car in an end-of-the-season open competition race at another track last fall.
“I totaled it, and it took a long time to get it back together,” Henderson said. “My step-dad passed away over the winter. This is pretty much a tribute car to him.”
Kim Tripp, who shares the distinction as the all-time feature wins leader in Strictly Stock, contemplated semi-retirement in the off-season. But there he was Saturday night, emerging from a torrid, five-car battle for third.
Matt Williams and Mike Short both made several overtures in the outside lane. Short briefly took the spot before fading backward, and opening-day winner Williams nearly pulled even with two laps to go.
The driver known as “KimDog” had the final bark, however.
“I’ve got Phil Mitchell back there giving me a hand now,” Tripp said. “Hopefully we’ll get it a little better.”
Williams was fourth, with Sumner Sessions edging Short on the final lap for a steady fifth.
Bill was due
Thibeault led from wire-to-wire in a wild Allen’s Mini Stock scramble, but his lead was never excessively comfortable.
“We started up front, so that helped,” Thibeault said.
The real action unfolded behind him, with rookie Darrell Moore driving around Dave Mooney and Bob Guptill to score second on the next-to-last lap.
That left Mooney and Guptill to dice it out for third, but that confrontation ended in turn four with Mooney spinning and Guptill receiving the black flag. Guptill was scored as the final car on the lead lap, catapulting “Wild” Bill Irving to third.
Moore, who moved into the successful ride formerly owned by Larry Melcher, Justin Karkos and Bill Childs Sr., has wasted ho time showing that he will be an immediate title contender.
“This car is really good,” Moore said. “My dad (former Street Stock driver Andy Moore) does a great job with it.”
Irving missed opening day due to illness. The past Sport Truck champion and 2007 Mini Stock rookie of the year didn’t take long to regain his usual form, avoiding the mayhem in front of him and picking up a trophy for good measure.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Irving said. “I just drove through the mess.”
Shane Kaherl and Ashley Marshall moved up to fourth and fifth, respectively, as a result of the shuffle in the final turn.
For Thibeault, the win is a rare early treat. Mechanical maladies sidelined him each of the first two weeks last spring, and this season didn’t start with much more promise.
“We spun a bearing in the motor on opening day.” Thibeault said. “We put an old one in, and I guess the old one went alright.”
Java break: Freve wins Outlaw thriller
Freve held off Tom Averill by one-quarter of a car length in the closest finish of the night.
Averill led the race in turn 3, but Freve used the preferred inside line to hold the lead that otherwise belonged to him from the beginning.
“That was a pretty good time,” said Freve, who picked up his first Acceleration Series victory after nine previous triumphs in Strictly Stock.
The runner-up finish was a rebound for Averill, whose car smoked heavily in the season opener two weeks ago.
“We tried hard to get him at the end, and I guess it wasn’t quite enough,” said Averill.
Jerry Goss took advantage of Bill Coolidge’s late spin to take third. Like Goss, Gordon Bell and Ron Abbott Jr. rallied from deep in the starting grid and finished fourth and fifth.
Spaulding inherited the win in the second chapter when Guy Childs’ apparent winning car failed the post-race inspection.
“Second is good, but I’d rather be sitting there,” Spaulding said earlier, pointing to Childs’ car in the checkered victory square.
Zach Bowie and Fred Clavet moved up to second and third, respectively. Bowie led the first nine laps to set the stage for his best career finish.
“It’s pretty fast. I’ve got to thank my dad (Mark) for building me the car,” Bowie said.
Dottie delivers; Weymouth’s win worth wait
Patria led the Allen’s Ladies feature in its entirety.
“It was a good race,” said the reigning Agren Appliance Saturday Showdown champion. “Hopefully we can get a few more cars out here to race with us on Saturday nights.”
The Ladies division typically attracts 16 to 18 cars on a Wednesday night. Midweek threats Vanna Brackett, Deanna Bisbee, Christina Spaulding and Patty Brannon have yet to make their season debut. Shannon Wheeler is almost ready to return from the off-season injury list.
Cathy Manchester’s technical infraction vaulted Sue Veinott to second and Lisa Brooks to third.
Weymouth’s breakthrough Legends win at Oxford was a relief to the veteran.
“It only took me 10 years of racing here to get one,” he said.
Ed Getty was second, followed by two drivers who were no stranger to OPS victory lane in decades gone by: Maine Racing Hall of Famer Russ Nutting third, and Terry Kirk fourth.
Racing continues at OPS at 6:30 p.m. next Saturday, May 17 with Sun Journal Night.
OXFORD NETWORKS LATE MODEL (40 laps
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (3) #03E Travis Adams, Canton, 40
2. (2) #51 Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township, 40
3. (1) #94 Shawn Martin, Turner, 40
4. (7) #1 Billy Childs Jr., Leeds, 40
5. (18) #2 Zach Emerson, Durham, 40
6. (6) #56 Dale Verrill, Paris, 40
7. (20) #25 Shawn Knight, South Pari, 40
8. (9) #85 Travis Stearns, Auburn, 40
9. (10) #07 Scott Luce, Strong, 40
10. (17) #18 Carey Martin, Denmark, 40
11. (23) #95 Conrad Childs, Auburn, 40
12. (12) #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston, 40
13. (11) #10 Jimmy Childs, Leeds, 40
14. (5) #15 Ben Ashline, Pittston, 40
15. (16) #63 Don Wentworth, Otisfield, 40
16. (14) #6 Tommy Ricker, Poland, 39
17. (26) #59 Tyson Jordan, Poland, 39
18. (4) #96 Mark Childs Sr., Mechanic Falls, 39
19. (15) #08 Gerald Parlin, South Paris, 39
20. (25) #44 Neil Martin, Freeport, 39
21. (22) #22 Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls, 39
22. (13) #31K Tim Pendergast, Hermon, 38
23. (8) #55 Kurt Hewins, Leeds, 32
24. (21) #12 Nick Brown, Bath, 26
25. (24) #84 Matt Sanborn, West Baldwin, 2
DNS Paul Bosse, Gray
Lap leaders: S. Martin 1, Rolfe 2-26, Adams 27-40.
Cautions: 2 (laps 2, 26)
Time of race: 24 minutes, 27.858 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.450 seconds
Fast lap: Ricky Rolfe, 15.903 seconds
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (7) #12 Skip Tripp, South Paris, 30
2. (1) #57 Glen Henderson, Sabattus, 30
3. (5) #42 Kim Tripp, Oxford, 30
4. (10) #63 Matt Williams, Brownfield, 30
5. (8) #0 Sumner Sessions, Norway, 30
6. (12) #56 Mike Short, Auburn, 30
7. (6) #07 Rick Thompson, Naples, 30
8. (3) #77 Perry Tucker, Sumner, 30
9. (4) #24 Larry Emerson, Durham, 30
10. (11) #11 Todd Hall, Auburn, 29
11. (2) #4 Michael Roe, West Paris, 29
12. (9) #81 B.J. Chapman, Bridgton, 5
DNS #97 Jeff Moon, Gray
DNS #2 Joe Hutter, Oxford
Lap leaders: Henderson 1-5, S. Tripp 6-30.
Cautions: 1 (lap 5)
Time of race: 13 minutes, 51.245 seconds
Margin of victory: 3.500 seconds
Fast lap: Skip Tripp, 18.348 seconds
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI STOCK (30 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #8 Bill Thibeault, Oxford, 30
2. (14) #12 Darrell Moore, Mechanic Falls, 30
3. (16) #74 Bill Irving, New Gloucester, 30
4. (8) #19 Shane Kaherl, Jay, 30
5. (7) #77 Ashley Marshall, Jay, 30
6. (17) #10 Bill Childs Sr., Leeds, 30
7. (4) #08 Kevin Bishop, South Paris, 30
8. (10) #65 Dave Mooney, Wales, 30
9. (6) #29 Greg Watkins, Bridgton, 30
10. (3) #9 Bob Guptill, Mechanic Falls, 30
11. (19) #07 Al Roberti, South Paris, 29
12. (12) #91 Brad Dwinal, Freeport, 29
13. (2) #35 Dale Brackett, Oxford, 29
14. (9) #80 Don Mooney, New Gloucester, 29
15. (15) #40 Curtis Fanjoy, Oxford, 27
16. (18) #28 Craig Moore, Woodstock, 17
17. (11) #25 Ken Daigle Jr., Wales, 7
18. (13) #14 Matt Moore, South Paris, 7
19. (5) #7 Randy Kimball, Mechanic Falls, 2
DNS #48 Wayne Titus, Minot
Lap leaders: Thibeault 1-30..
Cautions: 2 (laps 7, 8)
Time of race: 17 minutes, 3.545 seconds
Margin of victory: 0.420 seconds
Fast lap: Bill Irving, 18.268 seconds
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #1 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (1) #139 Jerry Freve, Buckfield, 20
2. (4) #3 Tom Averill, Peru, 20
3. (16) #99 Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls, 20
4. (14) #75 Gordon Bell, Auburn, 20
5. (12) #39 Ron Abbott Jr., Sabattus, 20
6. (10) #90 Keith Landry, Oxford, 20
7. (5) #34 John Patria, Turner, 20
8. (6) #97 Shannon Judd, Jay, 20
9. (3) #72 Bill Coolidge, Bryant Pond, 20
10. (2) #30 Scott Veinott, Sabattus, 20
11. (9) #12 Nik Coates, Turner, 20
12. (7) #112 Dennis Morang, South Paris, 20
13. (13) #28 Don Veinott, Sabattus, 20
14. (8) #77x Walter Connell III, South Paris, 19
15. (15) #95 Justin Dennison, North Yarmouth, 9
16. (11) #29 Ken Varney, Oxford, 2
Lap leaders: Freve 1-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 40 seconds
Margin of victory: 1/2 car length
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #2 (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (6) #36 Rick Spaulding, Lewiston, 20
2. (1) #04 Zach Bowie, Mechanic Falls, 20
3. (2) #71 Fred Clavet, Buckfield, 20
4. (4) #19 Steve Moon, Gray, 20
5. (15) #169 Jim Drake Jr., Hebron, 20
6. (12) #38 Addison Bowie, Auburn, 20
7. (3) #18 Thom Bell, Minot, 20
8. (10) #66x John Leonard, Oxford, 20
9. (16) #6 Jim Archer, Chesterville, 20
10. (8) #68 Bubba Collins, Lewiston, 20
11. (14) #10 Scott Ellis, Lewiston, 20
12. (9) #63 Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester, 20
13. (17) #69 Tim Grover, Gray, 19
14. (13) #8 Corey Williams, Sumner, 19
15. (11) #87 Dan Bryan, Conway, N.H., 17
DQ (7) David Childs, Oxford
DQ (5) Guy Childs, Turner
Lap leaders: Bowie 1-9, Spaulding 10-20.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 6 minutes, 40 seconds
ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (10 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (2) #34 Dottie Patria, Turner, 10
2. (5) #28 Sue Veinott, Sabattus, 10
3. (6) #30 Lisa Brooks, Auburn, 10
4. (1) #77x Kimberly Sessions, Auburn, 10
5. (4) #44 Annie Chartier, Mexico, 9
DQ (3) #69 Cathy Manchester, Gray
DNS #92 Debbie Marston, Hartford
Lap leaders: Patria 1-10.
Cautions: None
Time of race: 3 minutes, 24 seconds
NELCAR LEGENDS (20 laps)
Fin. (Start) No., Driver, hometown, laps completed
1. (2) #399 Bob Weymouth, Topsham, 20
2. (1) #10 Ed Getty, Windham, 20
3. (5) #9 Russ Nutting, Limerick, 20
4. (3) #17 Terry Kirk, Durham, 20
5. (6) #21 Chris Sargent, Buxton, 20
6. (4) #80 Marc Fuchswanz, Vassalboro, 20
7. (7) #33 Alan Smith, Lincoln, 19
8. (8) #99 Chris Seavey, Windham, 1
Lap leaders: Weymouth 1-20.
Cautions: 1 (lap 13)
Heat winner: Sargent.
HEAT RESULTS
LATE MODEL #1
1. Shawn Martin
2. Travis Adams
3. Ben Ashline
4. Billy Childs Jr.
5. Travis Stearns
6. Jimmy Childs
7. Paul Bosse
8. Neil Martin
9. Nick Brown
10. Tim Pendergast
11. Gerald Parlin
12. Carey Martin
13. Tyson Jordan
LATE MODEL #2
1. Ricky Rolfe
2. Mark Childs Sr.
3. Dale Verrill
4. Kurt Hewins
5. Scott Luce
6. Corey Morgan
7. Shawn Knight
8. Tommy Ricker
9. Conrad Childs
10. Don Wentworth
11. Mark Childs Jr.
12. Zach Emerson
STRICTLY #1
1. Glen Henderson
2. Perry Tucker
3. Kim Tripp
4. Larry Emerson
5. Michael Roe
STRICTLY #2
1. Skip Tripp
2. Rick Thompson
3. Sumner Sessions
4. B.J. Chapman
5. Matt Williams
6. Todd Hall
MINI #1
1. Bill Thibeault
2. Bob Guptill
3. Greg Watkins
4. Kevin Bishop
5. Ashley Marshall
6. Don Mooney
7. Randy Kimball
8. Dale Brackett
9. Shane Kaherl
10. Dave Mooney
MINI #2
1. Billy Childs Sr.
2. Ken Daigle Jr.
3. Darrell Moore
4. Bill Irving
5. Al Roberti
6. Brad Dwinal
7. Matt Moore
8. Curtis Fanjoy
9. Craig Moore
Sources: OxfordPlains.com