There won’t be a repeat winner in the Budweiser Pro Late Model division at Oxford Plains Speedway heading into Sunday’s Oxford 250.
Gary Chiasson of Peru assured that unprecedented oddity Friday night, becoming the eighth different driver to win a 50-lap main event in the top class at the track this season.
Chiasson stormed past Gunnar Rowe — third-generation competitor from Turner’s famous racing family — on lap 14 of the event. Rowe held off veteran Kurt Hewins in the early going before Hewins’ car coasted to a stop with mechanical woes.
A torrid battle between Shane Green and Jeremy Davis for second, combined with a lengthy stretch of green-flag racing at the finish, eased Chiasson’s workload as he pulled away.
Green captured his best finish of the season in second, followed by Davis, Alan Wilson and Justin Drake.
Rowe, Drake and Green were heat race winners.
In the race to the all-important point lead and presumably a provisional starting spot in the 250, Shawn Martin of Turner is 12 ahead of Davis and 13 in front of defending division champion T.J. Brackett.
There wasn’t as much variety in supporting feature action, with familiar faces showing the way.
Corey Morgan of Lewiston won his second consecutive Street Stock feature. Troy Jordan of Turner topped Outlaw Sportsman for the fourth time this season. And Derek Cairns made it back-to-back Bandito wins.
Josh Childs and Spencer Morse chased Morgan across the finish line, with B.J. Chapman fourth and Ryan Hewins fifth.
Guy Childs Sr., Bryce Mains, Steve Moon and Joe Morey completed the Outlaw Sportsman top five.
Cairns inherited the Bandito lead when Shawn Hinkley and Cam Childs collided with two laps to go. Dan Wade edged Hinkley for second. Robert Kahkonen claimed fourth ahead of Childs.
Wednesday night’s Acceleration Series winners were Chris Burgess (Outlaw), Jamie Heath (Runnin’ Rebel), Missy Morgan (Ladies), Kevin Oliver (Sport Truck) and Robbie O’Brien (Cruiser).
Forty-nine official entries have been filed for the Oxford 250, with speedway officials projecting close to 70 cars for the event, which will pay in excess of $25,000 to the winner.
Drivers on the list represent eight states and two Canadian provinces.
OPS will host four events in five days, with special appearances by PASS touring divisions throughout the weekend and the return of the North East Midget Association on Saturday’s card.
Bubar holds off Farrington at Beech Ridge
Corey Bubar of Windham picked up his second consecutive victory and third overall Saturday night in the NASCAR Pro Series feature at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough.
It was a comeback race for Dave Farrington Jr. of Jay. Farrington, who was the point leader before his car’s engine expired in the previous race on Tuesday, July 1, rallied to a runner-up finish. Nick Cusack took home third in the 50-lap main event.
Bridgton’s Jon Brill was the winner in Wildcat competition, while Brandon Ingalls scored the Sport Series victory.
Turner tops at Wiscasset
Dylan Turner swept both his qualifying race and 30-lap feature in the Pro Stock division Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway.
Turner held off two drivers with decades of winning experience at the high-banked coastal oval. Multi-time track champion Scott Chubbuck was second, followed by Oxford’s Bill Penfold. Mike Orr and Adam Chadbourne completed the top five.
Shawn Kimball held off spirited charges by Zach Audet and Jimmy Childs of Leeds to capture the checkered flag in the 25-lap Outlaw Mini skirmish. Nate Tribbett took fourth, with most recent feature winner George Fortin of Greene settling for fifth.
In the week’s spotlight race, Matt Bourgoine continued his torrid summer in the touring NELCAR Legends division with a 25-lap triumph. Series veteran Bob Weymouth wound up second over young Wyatt Alexander. Tyler Braunschweig held off Matt Grant for fourth.
Ryan Hayes prevailed in the New England 4-Cylinder Pro Stock feature, holding off Dave Patten at the end of the 25-lap scramble. Strong’s Craig Dunn chased Kamren Knowles to the stripe in the battle for third, with Knowles coming out on top. Bob Patten picked up fifth.
Josh Bailey was the Super Street winner, leading the parade of James Osmond, Shawn Austin, Dan Nessmith and Chuck Gray under the wire.
This week’s schedule
Oxford Plains Speedway
- Wednesday: Acceleration Series, 7 p.m.
- Friday: Championship Series, featuring PASS Modified and PASS Sportsman, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday: PASS Late Model 125, NEMA Midgets, NEMA Lites, Street Stocks, Outlaw Sportsman, 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 41st annual Oxford 250, 2 p.m.
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway
- Thursday: Thursday Thunder, 7 p.m.
- Saturday: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, 7 p.m.
Wiscasset Raceway
- Saturday: Weekly racing, Late Model 45-lap main event, 6 p.m.
American-Canadian Tour
- Sunday: International 300 at Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 1 p.m.
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