Former Oxford 250 winner Scott Robbins (2002) kept an amazing streak of no repeat winners alive as he drove to victory in Saturday night’s 50-lap Super Late Model trophy dash Oxford Plains Speedway. Robbins was the eighth different winner in eight races contested thus far in 2016.
Robbins, of Dixfield, prevailed in a hotly-contested battle that saw Hebron’s Alan Wilson setting a fast pace for several laps. Two-time champion Shawn Martin of Turner made another one of his patented, late-race charges to the front (from sixteenth on the grid) to secure second, while Wilson settled for third. Bangor’s Gary Smith and Oxford’s Dennis Spencer Jr. completed the top five.
Anthony Nocella, of Marlborough, Mass., and Jon McKennedy, of Chelmsford, Mass., earned top honors in a pair of 50-lap features for the visiting Valenti Modified Series. McKennedy was the true star of the ground-pounders, finishing second to Nocella in the first feature ahead of David Schneider, Richard Savary and Woody Pitkat. Following McKennedy across the line in the second tilt was George Sherman, Chris Pasteryak, Russ Hersey and Colby Fournier.
It was a career-best night for Robbins Brothers Racing, as Ryan Robbins powered his way to victory in a 40-lap shootout for the PASS Modifieds. The defending class champion from Dixfield held off multi-time champion Andy Shaw, of Center Conway, N.H., for top honors. New Gloucester veteran Ron Henry led early and wound up third, while Ben Tinker and David Vaughn finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Jarrod Soucy, of Marlborough, Mass., cruised to a convincing win from the pole position in a 50-lap feature for the Northeast Mini Stock Tour. Series point lead Haywood Herriot chased Soucy throughout yet settled for second, while Jake Rheaume was rock-solid in third. Emerson Cayer and Michael Viens rounded out the top five.
Kyle Hewins claimed his first victory of the season in a caution-free feature for Street Stock teams. The Leeds native went wire-to-wire, leading all 30 laps in a stellar performance. Sabattus native Andrew Breton enjoyed his best effort of 2016 to finish second, while division strongman Zach Emerson (the man I said would own this class in 2016 once Josh Childs was gone) hit the podium once again in third. Matt Dufault and Jonathan Emerson completed the top five.
Rising star Austin Teras capped the long list of feature winners at Oxford, earning a victory in the 25-lap feature for Legends cars. The young driver from Windham was challenged by Buckfield’s Chris Burgess before settling for second in his best finish thus far. Hewins made his first start in Legends action and came home third, while Ryan Kuhn, of Bridewater, Mass., powered his way to fourth at the finish, while Tyler Braunschweig of West Newfields came home fifth.
Saunders claims Pro Stock win at Wiscasset
Defending class champion Andy Saunders of Ellsworth notched a victory in Pro Stock action Saturday night at Wiscasset. Saunders held off a hard-charging Charlie Colby for top honors, while Hermon’s Phil Richardson Jr. filled out the podium in third. Ellsworth native Wyatt Alexander continued to his recent streak of hot finishes with a strong fourth-place run, while Wiscasset native Mike Orr finished fifth.
Mark Lucas topped a stellar field of Super Street teams in a competitive 25-lap feature. Barry Poulin of Benton chased Lucas across the line in second, while Oakland’s Sean Johnson finished third. Tasha Dyer (who was recently offered a Super Late Model ride) came home fourth, with Wiscasset’s Josh Bailey rounding out the top five.
Lance Chapman outgunned some stiff competition to win a 35-lap battle for the Outlaw Super Series. Waterville’s Ricky Burgess gave Chapman all he could yet settled for second, while DJ Moody filled out the podium in third. Steve Kimball and Mark Lucas finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Lisbon’s Jeff Prindall came out on top in a hotly-contested 25-lap tilt for the New England 4-Cylinder Pro Stock teams. Brooke Knowles of West Gardiner followed Prindall across the line in second, while Jamie Wright of Woolwich finished third. Canton’s Spencer Vaughn powered his way to fourth, while Conner Wenners earned a solid fifth-place finish.
Travis Poulliot drove to victory in Wiscasset’s Spotlight feature for the Thunder 4 Minis on Saturday. Michael Golding of Pownal was impressive as he earned runner-up honors, while Joe Katula filled out the podium in third. Logan Melcher and Michael Harrison completed the top five in an exciting race.
Hennessey wins Sports Series 125 at Beech Ridge
Clyde Hennessey of Windham earned top honors in an extra-distance affair for Sport Series teams Saturday night at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Frank Wear chased Hennessey for much of the event yet settled for second, while Reggie Leeman finished over three seconds behind the leader in third. Phil Pinkham edged Ryan Villacci for fourth in the division’s longest race each season.
Justin Drake came out on top in a caution-free 40-lap feature for the premier Pro Series division. Drake, of Burnham, held off Beech Ridge veteran Dan Mckeage for top honors, which is never an easy task. Garrett Hall, the runner-up to Reid Lanpher in points last year and the young driver with two wins in PASS North action this season, finished third, while 2014 points champion Dave Farrington Jr. was fourth. Beech Ridge stalwart Curtis Gerry finished fifth in the fast-paced sprint Saturday evening.
Lewis Anderson earned his first win of 2016 in the always-exciting Wildcat division. Cole Watson edged Chaz Briggs for second at the stripe, while Dave Cameron and Ray Letellier completed the top five. Defending class champion Ryan Hewins of Leeds finished eighth on a night when Sport Series teams were rightfully in the spotlight.
pwhipple@sunjournal.com
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