Ballard beats Moon in Outlaw tiebreaker for championship;
Jordan rules Rebels after Hewins crash in title tilt
OXFORD, Maine – When Oxford Plains Speedway introduced its Acceleration Series nine seasons ago with a fraction of the cars that make it a speedway staple these days, Mike Ballard was one of the few, hearty souls lined up for the Chimney Tech Outlaw race.
Ballard has won more features than all but one other driver in the division since 1999, rarely missing a race and almost always finishing in the top five or top 10 in the series standings. But he'd never won a championship until Wednesday night.
He took care of that missing piece of hardware in dramatic fashion, running second to David Childs in the third and final Outlaw main event of the evening and winning the title by virtue of a tie-breaker over Steve Moon.
Moon entered the event leading Ballard by eight points, or the equivalent of four positions on the racetrack. Ballard owned the tiebreaker thanks to his two feature wins, compared to none for the smooth and consistent Moon.
When Richard Spaulding snuck underneath Moon for fifth place two laps from the finish, it sealed Ballard's elusive championship.
"I've been here since the beginning, and I've finally done it," exulted Ballard.
The Macdonald Motors Runnin' Rebel title was settled in equally thrilling fashion, with Tyson Jordan using a third-place finish and a crash by his friend and rival Kyle Hewins to claim his first career OPS crown.
Jordan, who celebrates his 21st birthday this week, entered the night tied with Hewins for the lead, making it a virtual match race. Jordan spent most of the race two to three spots in front of Hewins.
Hewins' hot pursuit hit an abrupt end when he veered high to try to avoid the spinning car of Doug Degroat, only to see Degroat's ride slide into his path and take out both cars with six laps remaining.
"I really didn't want to win it that way," Jordan said. "I wanted to race Kyle for it on the racetrack. We were so close all year, and whoever won it earned it. We both deserved it for the season we had."
Jake Burns (Call of the Wild RV Sport Truck) and Jamie Heath (Crazy Horse Racing Engines Renegade) clinched their track championships last week, but they finished with a flourish in the form of feature victories.
Burns' win was his seventh of the season and first since July 4. He swapped the lead with Yogi Hiscock on each of the final three laps before emerging on top.
"My truck had a bad push, and Yogi was going really good, so I didn't know if I was going to get it," Burns said. "It's been an awesome year."
Heath bounced back from seeing his 10-race winning streak snapped by John Childs a week ago to claim his 13th victory, with Childs second.
"We just wanted to come out tonight and prove that this car is still fast," said Heath, who promptly sold the machine after the season-ending race.
Vanna Brackett needed only to start her Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Ladies race to become a first-time champion, joining her father Tim (Pro Stock) and brother T.J. (Mini Cup) as OPS champions.
"I couldn't do it without my dad and my brother and the support of my family," Brackett said.
Rookie Maurice Martel Jr., Scott Ellis and David Childs were the Outlaw feature winners.
Ellis is a first-time conqueror after seven full seasons of trying. For the rookie Martel, it was his first Outlaw triumph after four Rebel wins from 2002 to 2005.
Jason Short captured his first Rebel checkered flag. He's a former winner in the Truck division. Craig Farrington notched an exciting victory in round two, with Derek Cook leading a tight pack in the championship sprint.
Deanna Bisbee also delivered her third Ladies victory of the summer.
Wal-Mart Rookie of the Year honors went to Mike Rainville (Outlaw), Josh Childs (Rebel), Roger "Opie" Allard (Truck) and Missy Roussel (Ladies).
Previously crowned Agren Appliance Grand Slam champions were David Childs (Outlaw), Kyle Hewins (Rebel), Rick Hebert (Truck) and Dottie Patria (Ladies).
The Acceleration Series drivers will receive their season awards next Wednesday, August 29 at the speedway. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. at the start-finish line. The public is invited, and admission is free.
Two more events await the mid-week cars: The annual Showdown in Saturday, Sept. 8; and supporting events on the New England Dodge Dealers ACT 150 card on Saturday, October 6.
OPS returns to action with a full card of Championship Series action Saturday, August 25 at 6:30 p.m. Motor Mayhem, featuring Twin Enduros, is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #1 (20 laps): 1. Maurice Martel Jr., Greene; 2. Dillon Coburn, Auburn; 3. Rodney Englehaupt, Oxford; 4. Jay Wilkins, Gray; 5. Cathy Manchester, Gray; 6. Scott Veinott, Turner; 7. Michael Haynes, Livermore Falls; 8. Justin Dennison, North Yarmouth; 9. Tim Hatch, Gorham; 10. Josh Morang, Norway; 11. Jacob Hethcoat, Norway; 12. Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn; 13. Dennis Morang, South Paris; 14. Justin Hynes, Windham; 15. Jamie Phillips, Falmouth; 16. Phil Knowlton, Poland; 17. Kimberly Sessions, Auburn.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #2 (20 laps): 1. Scott Ellis, Lewiston; 2. Ron Abbott Jr., Lewiston; 3. Kevin Plummer, Oxford; 4. Zach Bowie, Lisbon Falls; 5. Bruce Robertson, Leeds; 6. Craig Coolidge, Auburn; 7. Kevin Lawrence, South Paris; 8. Jim Drake Jr., Hebron; 9. Mike Rainville, Littleton, N.H.; 10. Tyler Belanger, Sumner; 11. Jim Archer, Chesterville; 12. Rick Vining, Bridgton; 13. Kevin Leighton, Minot; 14. Gerry Richard, Leeds; 15. John Patria, Turner; 16. Carey Robertson, Leeds; 17. John Spencer Jr., Auburn; 18. Keith Landry, Oxford. DQ: Jeremy Leavitt, Poland.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW #3 (20 laps): 1. David Childs, Oxford; 2. Mike Ballard, Mechanic Falls; 3. Shannon Judd, Jay; 4. Bob Ferguson, New Gloucester; 5. Richard Spaulding, Lewiston; 6. Steve Moon, Gray; 7. Thom Bell, Minot; 8. Addison Bowie, Auburn; 9. Bubba Collins, Lewiston; 10. Tom Averill, Peru; 11. Gordon Bell, Auburn; 12. Dan Brown, Peru; 13. Fred Clavet, Buckfield; 14. Mark MacDonald, Center Conway, N.H.; 15. Randy Robitaille, Norway; 16. Josh Paradis, Sumner; 17. Tina Titus, Lisbon Falls; 18. Jerry Freve, Buckfield; 19. Guy Childs, Turner.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #1 (20 laps): 1. Jason Short, Mechanic Falls; 2. Josh Brown, Conway, N.H.; 3. David Childs, Oxford; 4. Mike Winslow, Poland; 5. Nick Seames, Greenwood; 6. David Cook, Lewiston; 7. Gerry Record, Poland; 8. Jason Cummings, Waterford; 9. Ryan Varney, Oxford; 10. Paul Cook, Mechanic Falls; 11. Jeff Trafford, Leeds; 12. Don Smith, Oxford; 13. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 14. Ken Daigle Jr., Lisbon; 15. George Tripp, Oxford; 16. Gene White, Lisbon; 17. Mike Anderson, Lewiston; 18. Brandon Palmer, Bridgton; 19. Logan Melcher, Livermore Falls.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #2 (20 laps): 1. Craig Farrington, Hebron; 2. Nathan Guptill, North Turner; 3. Troy Jordan, Turner; 4. Calvin Rose Jr., Turner; 5. Charlie Webster, Auburn; 6. Bill Grover, Topsham; 7. Randy Nutter, Auburn; 8. Jay Dufour, Lewiston; 9. Corey Beaulieu, Oxford; 10. Darrell Moore, Mechanic Falls; 11. Brad Dwinal, Freeport; 12. James Wood, New Gloucester; 13. Raymond Files, South Paris; 14. Chuck Higgins, Monmouth; 15. Ken Whittemore, Greene; 16. Martin Krauter, Raymond; 17. Larry Hewins, Leeds; 18. Zach Audet, Chesterville; 19. Brian Hawthorne, New Gloucester.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #3 (20 laps): 1. Derek Cook, Livermore Falls; 2. Scott Farrington, Oxford; 3. Josh Childs, Oxford; 4. Tyson Jordan, Poland; 5. Brandon Munroe, New Gloucester; 6. Gregg Norton, Lewiston; 7. Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 8. Mike Ward, Harrison; 9. Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls; 10. Jeff Beaule, Lewiston; 11. Nic Stanley, Buckfield; 12. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 13. Jamie Leavitt, Minot; 14. Jim Hart, Buckfield; 15. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 16. Kyle Hewins, Leeds; 17. Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester.
CALL OF THE WILD RV SPORT TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Jake Burns, Gray; 2. Yogi Hiscock, Jay; 3. Rick Hebert, Peru; 4. Lee Spurling, New Gloucester; 5. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 6. Opie Allard, Harpswell; 7. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 8. Corey Williams, Sumner; 9. Marvin Hamilton, New Gloucester; 10. Joe Farrar, Oxford; 11. Brian Farrar, Sumner; 12. Geoff Griffiths, Lewiston; 13. Mike Blash, Oxford; 14. Devon Smith, Norway; 15. Tim Huggins, Oxford; 16. Kevin Oliver, Gray; 17. Rene Foster, Minot; 18. Mark Welch, Hartford; 19. John Lizotte. Mechanic Falls; 20. Tom Libby, Gorham; 21. Doug Stevens, West Sumner; 22. Herb Farrar, Sumner.
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Deanna Bisbee, South Paris; 2. Kimberly Sessions, Auburn; 3. Cathy Manchester, Gray; 4. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 5. Christina Spaulding, Lewiston; 6. Dottie Patria, Turner; 7. Missy Roussel, Oxford; 8. Patty Brannon, Topsham; 9. Lisa Brooks, Auburn; 10. Sue Veinott, Sabattus; 11. Shannon Wheeler, Auburn; 12. Debbie Marston, Hartford; 13. Annie Chartier, Mexico; 14. Christi Blondeau, South Paris.
CRAZY HORSE RACING ENGINES RENEGADE (10 laps): 1. Jamie Heath, Waterford; 2. John Childs, Leeds; 3. Bob Morey, Lisbon; 4. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 5. Skip Turner, Carthage.
