The question in Oxford Plains Speedway’s Budweiser Pro Late Model division has changed.
Through the first three months of the season, the mystery was when the class would see its first repeat winner. Now everyone wonders when, and if, T.J. Brackett will be stopped.
Brackett, the defending division champion, won his second consecutive 50-lap feature and third of the season Friday night.
He went back-to-back in less than a week after his opening-night win started a streak of nine consecutive different winners.
“This is awesome,” Brackett said in a speedway press release. “I’ve never won two in a row, let alone three in a season.”
An early wreck involved more than half the 24-car field. Brackett, of Buckfield, missed the carnage and gained a fistful of positions after starting near the back of the pack.
Brackett chased down early leader Mark Lundblad and passed him with about 15 laps remaining. Shortly thereafter, Alan Wilson of Hebron, now in his fifth decade of competition at OPS, took over second and set out in hot pursuit of Brackett.
He couldn’t get close enough to make a bid for the win, however. In his victory lane interview, Wilson, who has run only a part-time schedule the past eight years, announced his intentions to run for the track championship in 2015.
Lundblad held on for third, his best finish at OPS. Past champion Scott Robbins was an impressive fourth in one of his occasional appearances, with Jeremy Davis fifth.
Brackett made a substantial gain on Shawn Martin, who crossed the line sixth, in the series point standings. Martin led by 21 markers entering the night.
Ryan Hewins picked up his third Street Stock victory of the summer, overtaking Spencer Morse, who was second less than a week after nearly destroying his car in a rollover.
“We’re not done, and we’re not giving up,” Hewins said. “We’re in this championship battle.”
Corey Morgan edged Zach Bowie for third, with Keith Stuart fifth.
Bryce Mains took advantage of point leader Troy Jordan’s early off-course excursion and collected a caution-free Outlaw Sportsman win. Guy Childs applied late pressure before settling for second, while Michael Haynes made a stout charge in the outside lane to take third. Steve Moon and Deanna Bisbee followed.
Shawn Hinkley held off veterans Dustin Salley and Derek Cairns to claim the Bandito feature. Cam Childs and Troy Smith took home fourth and fifth.
The speedway moved back to Fridays for one week due to a previously scheduled Monster Truck show. Oxford returns to its regular schedule next Saturday, August 23.
Karkos, Cusack collect Ridge honors
A third-time winner and a third-generation winner highlighted Saturday night’s action at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough.
Justin Karkos of Livermore Falls prevailed in a Wildcat feature that lived up to its name with contact and carnage throughout. Karkos has finished first, second and first the past three weeks to pad his division point lead.
David Vaughn and Ryan Villacci were second and third, respectively.
In the 50-lap NASCAR Pro Series main event, Nick Cusack of Scarborough led from wire-to-wire to capture his first career win in the top division.
Cusack’s name is synonymous with the storied track. Members of his family have owned Beech Ridge since 1981, and both his grandfather, Ralph, and father, Glenn, are past champions. Nick won the Wildcat division title in 2012 before advancing to the top class.
Jacob Dore and Ryan Green also finished on the podium, followed by series leader Dave Farrington Jr. of Jay and Trevor Sanborn.
Russ Morse got the better of a lengthy side-by-side battle with Brandon Barker to claim the Sport Series win. Frank Wear finished third.
Locals wow ’em at Wiscasset
Three local drivers continued their outstanding seasons at Wiscasset Speedway with Saturday night feature wins. Chris Bowie of New Gloucester (Late Model Sportsman), Corey Morgan of Lewiston (Strictly Street) and Gerry McKenna of Milton (Mini Truck).
Bowie prevailed for the second time in his past three starts, holding off Allan Moeller Sr. and the grandson-grandfather tandem of Josh and Dave St. Clair.
Morgan recovered from a crash in his previous trip to the coast and picked up the 25-lap win ahead of Jairet Harrison and Peru’s Dan Brown.
McKenna topped Matt Weil and Herb Farrar of Mechanic Falls in the pickup scramble.
In other action, Ryan Chadwick captured the Thunder 4 feature, and Kamren Knowles passed a 100-lap Enduro test. Zach Emerson of Sabattus was third in the long-distance event.
This week’s schedule
Oxford Plains Speedway
Wednesday: Acceleration Series, 7 p.m.
Thursday: JARRacing Go Kart Series, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship Series, Triple Crown #1, 7 p.m.
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway
Friday: Car Wars, 7 p.m.
Saturday: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, 7 p.m.
Wiscasset Raceway
Saturday: Weekly racing, featuring North East Mini Stock Tour, 6 p.m.
Pro All Stars Series
Sunday: Hight Chevrolet 150, at Speedway 95, Hermon, 2 p.m.
ACT
Saturday: Riverside Can-Am 200, St. Croix, Quebec, 6:30 p.m.
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