Trevor Sanborn topped one of the largest headline-division fields in many years at Oxford Plains Speedway to win the Budweiser Pro Late Model feature Monday afternoon.
Sanborn, of Limerick, took the lead from early dominator and two-time OPS champion Tim Brackett of Buckfield on a lap 33 restart.
The fourth and final caution flag of the race gave Brackett’s son, reigning speedway champion T.J., a chance to zero in and try for his second win in as many 2014 starts.
Sanborn held on for the victory, however, with T.J. Brackett second and Tim Brackett third. Jeremy Davis of Tamworth, N.H., finished fourth, with Brad Babb of Windham fifth.
Thirty-two cars attempted to qualify for the 50-lap holiday matinee, with all but one making the call for the main event. Sanborn, Billy Childs Jr. and Gary Chiasson were heat winners.
OPS dodged threatening skies and finally got in a weekly show after three consecutive Friday night rainouts.
In other feature action, Matt Williams of Brownfield held off Zach Emerson of Sabattus to earn the Street Stock checkered flag. Kyle Hewins was third, followed by Spencer Morse.
Mike Haynes of Livermore Falls led the way in Outlaw Sportsman, outrunning Troy Jordan to the stripe. And Matt Bourgoine continued his dominance of the visiting Amsoil NELCAR Legends division, topping Manchester teenager Reid Lanpher and Topsham’s Bob Weymouth for his fourth consecutive victory on the circuit.
St. Clair survives Coastal 200
When Josh St. Clair was growing up, his grandfather Dave was owner of Wiscasset Speedway, and the track’s marquee event was the Coastal 200.
One year after salvaging the facility at auction, Wiscasset’s new owners, Richard and Vanessa Jordan, revived the crown jewel before a near-capacity crowd Sunday afternoon.
And in a twist that exhibited racing’s circle of life, the young St. Clair went home with more than $3,000 and the biggest win of his career.
St. Clair didn’t lead the 25-car field until arguably the top two cars, driven by Travis Stearns of Auburn and Wayne Helliwell of Dover, N.H., tangled while racing for the win with three laps remaining.
Nick Jenkins of Brownville Junction inherited the lead, but St. Clair used the outside lane to take command on the restart and held off Jenkins for the win.
“We didn’t have the best car today, but we were there at the end,” St. Clair said in a press release.
Andrew McLaughlin of Harrington was third, followed by Wiscasset weekly racer Will Collins in fourth and the venerable “Boss Hogg,” Dave St. Clair, in fifth.
Helliwell and Stearns were sent to the rear of the field after their encounter and finished 11th and 12th respectively.
Dave Farrington Jr. of Jay was a heat winner along with Stearns and Helliwell. He led early before settling for sixth.
Seventeen caution flags slowed the event, in which yellow flag laps were not scored.
Zach Emerson won the Strictly Street feature over Corey Morgan, Tasha Dyer, Gerry Freve and Guy Childs.
Milton’s Jerry McKenna took top honors in the Mini Truck division. Cody Tribbett topped the Thunder 4 class, and Matt Bourgoine led the Legends.
Bubar best at Beech Ridge
Corey Bubar of Windham emerged from a tense battle with Dave Farrington Jr., Bobby Timmons and Reid Lanpher to the win the 50-lap season opener Saturday for the NASCAR Pro Series at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough.
Jay’s Farrington won a heat race and led the early stages before finishing second. Timmons took third. Lanpher ran as high as second before fading to fifth behind Bill Rodgers.
Twenty-eight cars started the main event in Beech Ridge’s top division.
Bobby Nadeau prevailed over Sally Gherardi and Brandon Barker to win in Sport Series. Brian Caswell ruled the Wildcat feature over David Vaughn of Naples and Brian Picard. Justin Karkos of Livermore Falls was fourth.
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