MINOT — Prior to the headline Pro Late Model feature on June 27, Scott Farrington was just another example of your average weekly warrior soldiering along in Oxford’s pit area.

Doing his best on a limited budget while learning all he could from others, the easy-going driver from Minot knew some fine evening when the stars lined up just right, he might be first across the stripe.

With Fairfield veteran Jeff Burgess and two-time Oxford champion Shawn Martin in chase, Farrington fulfilled a dream as he notched his first Pro Late Model victory that night after 50 hotly-contested laps.

His joy and emotion in Victory Lane changed his overall outlook and goals for the remaining races on Oxford’s 2014 schedule.

“That win was incredibly satisfying, especially with the depth of talent in this class,” Farrington said. “I’ve looked up to some of these guys who’ve raced this type of car for many years. To know that I can run competitively with them, and even beat them on occasion is just amazing. I was so thrilled.

“It just shows that if you work hard on your program and try to learn as much as possible from a veteran willling to share his knowledge, you can succeed at this level with older equipment. I have a lot less invested in my Pro Late Model than many of my rivals, yet we’ve managed to bring it up to speed.”

When he went looking for one of those skilled veterans to assist with his Pro Late Model program, Farrington cultivated a relationship with Martin. The native of Aroostook County brought his friend aboard the well-organized and respected Team 94 squad, offering help with chassis setups and general guidance.

“Scott is a very smart guy,” Martin said. “He’s a walking sponge, absorbing knowledge all the time. He’s come a long way in wheeling one of these Pro Late Models around. We’re great friends, and I really enjoy having him as a part of our team.”

Farrington started racing at Oxford in 2000, competing in the old Enduro events. His success there led to a decade in the popular Runnin’ Rebel class on Wednesday nights, highlighted by a championship in 2011 and multiple feature wins.

“When I started racing in the Rebel division, the numbers were big in that class,” Farrington said. “You had three or four features with 18-20 cars in each one, and not a lot of laps to get it done. You had to be aggressive to get up front; so that’s where a lot of us doing well on Friday nights cut our teeth.”

For his first premier division victory to come less than a month before the famed Oxford 250 is a major boost. Not only did it give him the confidence needed to attack such a daunting race, it made it possible just to make an attempt at qualifying.

“Winning that feature gave me the funds I needed to make a qualifying attempt at the 250,” he said while en route to submit his entry form. “Before we all left Shawn’s shop on June 27, we were talking about the 250. I told him I wasn’t sure if I would enter, and if I did I couldn’t buy all the tires required to do it right. So yeah, the timing of that win was perfect, because now, I can take a decent shot at it.”

Once the 41st annual Oxford 250 is in the books, Farrington and his colleagues will settle in for the balance of weekly features. For some, it means a title run, while for others, a chance to salvage a less than spectacular season. For Farrington, the final weeks may generate success in the big picture.

“Sure, another win would be great,” he said. “But to be honest, if we just stay consistent up near the front and can pull off a top-10 finish in the points, I’d be satisfied. Getting a car up to speed and earning a win is great, but keeping it fast week in and week out is an even greater challenge.”

pwhipple@sunjournal.com

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