OXFORD, Maine – Any spectators heading for the exits early in hopes of beating the traffic Saturday night should learn a valuable lesson: Never walk out on an Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Mini Stock feature at Oxford Plains Speedway while Justin Karkos is still involved.
Karkos rallied from the rear of the field three times, regaining a lost lap on one occasion, to pocket an improbable victory in the Time Warner Cable/99.9 The Wolf 100.
Four different drivers led the race before Karkos scooted underneath Steve Barker to take the top spot on lap 83.
It was the second time he passed Barker. Karkos also moved back onto the tail of the lead lap by driving to Barker's low side just before the fifth and final caution flag of the event on the 65th circuit.
Karkos initially charged from his 11th starting position to second before a tangle with Shane Kaherl brought out the yellow flag and sent the two leaders to the back on lap 31.
On the ensuing restart, Karkos was black-flagged for passing two cars prior to the change from yellow to green conditions. That prompted a stop-and-go penalty, which Karkos completed just as Barker breezed past to assign him a one-lap deficit.
Once Kaherl's second spin of the night gave Karkos renewed life and allowed him to catch the tail of the restart grid, it was a matter of time before Barker fell into his clutch. Karkos drove around Ashley Marshall, Kevin Bishop and Bill Childs Sr. all in the space of lap 70 to charge from fifth to second.
"That was heck of a run by Steve. I was pushing for the win as hard as I could," Karkos said. "The temperature was up around 250 degrees. (The engine) probably needs a complete rebuild now, but oh, well. It's almost the end of the season."
Karkos now leads the Crazy Horse Racing Engines Winner's Circle Challenge with a division-best six victories. His only previous OPS win prior to this season came in a 100-lap Mini Stock main event in May 2007.
Barker, who ended a six-year winless drought in his last start, stayed within five car lengths to finish and wound up second. Bishop took third to stay in the championship hunt, with point leader Marshall fourth and Childs fifth.
Eight features highlighted a busy program before a hefty Fan Appreciation Night crowd.
Jeff White shared the spotlight with Karkos, capturing his first win in the Oxford Networks Late Model division. White won 12 Limited Sportsman features at OPS between 1994 and 1998, but he had come up empty in nearly a decade of competing in the speedway's headline divisions.
"This is my first win since we lost my dad," said an emotional White. "This is for him. I have the best damn pit crew anyone could ask for."
Tommy Ricker also matched a Late Model career best in second, followed by Dennis Spencer Jr., Don Wentworth and champion/current point leader Travis Adams.
Tommy Tompkins (Allen's Strictly Stock), Keith Landry (Chimney Tech Outlaw), Brady Romano and Zach Audet (Macdonald Motors Runnin' Rebel), Vanna Brackett (Allen's Ladies) and Jake Burns (Call of the Wild RV Sport Truck) also went to victory lane.
Tompkins' win was his second straight and fifth overall, tops in the class. Just as he did in the 100-lap event on August 9, Tompkins took the lead from B.J. Chapman to deny the fellow second-generation OPS competitor his breakthrough win.
Chapman held on for second in front of Skip Tripp, who is on the cusp of his first speedway championship.
Romano, a crew member for Karkos, celebrated his first four-cylinder Rebel victory in three years of trying.
The large Rebel field was split in half, setting the stage for Audet's second triumph of the season in the high-point portion.
Landry outlasted a 29-car Outlaw field. Though Zach Bowie was six car lengths back in second, it was more than enough to secure the Agren Appliance Summer Showdown short-season title for the Acceleration Series class.
Second was also sufficient for Dottie Patria to complete her sweep of the Wednesday and Saturday Ladies titles. Brackett broke a tie with Patria by scoring her seventh victory of the campaign.
Two-time champion Burns also snapped a tie with his teammate "Wild" Bill Irving to stand alone in the Truck record book with his 11th checkered flag of the season. Irving picked up 10 wins in his 2006 title run.
Championship Night for the Acceleration Series is this Wednesday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m. Seven drivers remain alive for the Outlaw title, with three contending for Rebel top honors.
Polly's Variety Championship Night for the Championship Series is Saturday, August 30 at 6:30 p.m.
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI STOCK (100 laps): 1. Justin Karkos, Jay; 2. Steve Barker, Jay; 3. Kevin Bishop, South Paris; 4. Ashley Marshall, Jay; 5. Bill Childs Sr., Leeds; 6. Don Frechette, Turner; 7. Bill Thibeault, Oxford; 8. Greg Watkins, Bridgton; 9. Brad Dwinal, Freeport; 10. Chuck Higgins, Lewiston; 11. Darrell Moore, Mechanic Falls; 12. Rick Giguere, Auburn; 13. Shane Kaherl, Jay; 14. Bob Martin, Auburn; 15. Nathan Guptill, North Turner; 16. Dave Mooney, Wales; 17. Bill Mooney, New Gloucester; 18. David Giasson, Wales; 19. Wayne Titus, Minot; 20. Curtis Fanjoy, Oxford; 21. Matt Moore, South Paris; 22. Craig Moore, South Woodstock; 23. Butch Keene, Turner; 24. Ken Daigle Jr., Lisbon; 25. Adam Polvinen, Oxford.
OXFORD NETWORKS LATE MODEL (40 laps): 1. Jeff White, Winthrop; 2. Tommy Ricker, Poland; 3. Dennis Spencer Jr., Oxford; 4. Don Wentworth, Otisfield; 5. Travis Adams, Canton; 6. David Vaughn, Naples; 7. Steve Reny, Boothbay; 8. Tim Brackett, Oxford; 9. Shawn Martin, Turner; 10. Shawn Knight, South Paris; 11. Ron Charpentier Jr., Wales; 12. Matt Sanborn, West Baldwin; 13. Billy Childs Jr., Leeds; 14. Jimmy Childs, Leeds; 15. Kurt Hewins, Leeds; 16. Ben Ashline, Pittston; 17. Nick Brown, Bath; 18. Tyson Jordan, Poland; 19. Gerald Parlin, South Paris; 20. Corey Morgan, Lewiston; 21. Cecil Bryant, Wilton; 22. Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township.
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps): 1. Tommy Tompkins, Carthage; 2. B.J. Chapman, Bridgton; 3. Skip Tripp, Poland; 4. Larry Emerson, Durham; 5. Mike Short, Auburn; 6. Chris Burgess, Lewiston; 7. Glen Henderson, Sabattus; 8. Matt Williams, Brownfield; 9. Mike St. Germain, Auburn; 10. Shane Green, South Paris; 11. Sumner Sessions, Norway; 12. Rick Thompson, Naples; 13. Jeff Merrill, Mexico; 14. Michael Roe, West Paris; 15. Craig Coolidge, Auburn; 16. Dean Coolidge, Oxford; 17. Zach Emerson, Sabattus; 18. Mark Bowie, Mechanic Falls; 19. Brian Hughes, Otisfield. DQ: Randy Heath, Casco; Josh May, Harrison.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW (20 laps): 1. Keith Landry, Oxford; 2. Zach Bowie, Mechanic Falls; 3. Tom Averill, Peru; 4. John Patria, Turner; 5. Kevin Leighton, Minot; 6. Randy Robitaille, Norway; 7. John Spencer Jr., Auburn; 8. Addison Bowie, Auburn; 9. Charlie Webster, Auburn; 10. Fred Clavet, Buckfield; 11. Mike Haynes, Livermore Falls; 12. Robert Lowe, Turner; 13. Tina Titus, Lisbon Falls; 14. Phil Knowlton, Poland; 15. Steve Moon, Gray; 16. Bruce Kiley, Oxford; 17. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 18. Rick Spaulding, Lisbon; 19. Ed Burlock, Minot; 20. David Brown, Gray; 21. Guy Childs Sr., Turner; 22. Dennis Morang, South Paris; 23. Shannon Judd, Gray; 24. Dan Brown, Peru; 25. David Childs, Oxford; 26. Scott Veinott, Sabattus; 27. Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn. DQ: Gerry Richard, Leeds.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #1 (20 laps): 1. Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 2. Jeff Hebert, Auburn; 3. Jeff Beaule, Lewiston; 4. Craig Farrington, Hebron; 5. Brandon Munroe, New Gloucester; 6. Bill Sprague, Minot; 7. Gary Chiasson, Peru; 8. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 9. Nate Dubuc, Lewiston; 10. Dwayne White, Livermore; 11. Cody Smith, Oxford; 12. Jonah Farrington, Hebron; 13. Ellery Phillips Jr., Turner; 14. Gene White, Lisbon; 15. Josh Lovell, West Paris; 16. Randy Nutter, Auburn.
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps): 1. Tommy Tompkins, Carthage; 2. B.J. Chapman, Bridgton; 3. Skip Tripp, Poland; 4. Larry Emerson, Durham; 5. Mike Short, Auburn; 6. Chris Burgess, Lewiston; 7. Glen Henderson, Sabattus; 8. Matt Williams, Brownfield; 9. Mike St. Germain, Auburn; 10. Shane Green, South Paris; 11. Sumner Sessions, Norway; 12. Rick Thompson, Naples; 13. Jeff Merrill, Mexico; 14. Michael Roe, West Paris; 15. Craig Coolidge, Auburn; 16. Dean Coolidge, Oxford; 17. Zach Emerson, Sabattus; 18. Mark Bowie, Mechanic Falls; 19. Brian Hughes, Otisfield. DQ: Randy Heath, Casco; Josh May, Harrison.
CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW (20 laps): 1. Keith Landry, Oxford; 2. Zach Bowie, Mechanic Falls; 3. Tom Averill, Peru; 4. John Patria, Turner; 5. Kevin Leighton, Minot; 6. Randy Robitaille, Norway; 7. John Spencer Jr., Auburn; 8. Addison Bowie, Auburn; 9. Charlie Webster, Auburn; 10. Fred Clavet, Buckfield; 11. Mike Haynes, Livermore Falls; 12. Robert Lowe, Turner; 13. Tina Titus, Lisbon Falls; 14. Phil Knowlton, Poland; 15. Steve Moon, Gray; 16. Bruce Kiley, Oxford; 17. Jerry Goss, Mechanic Falls; 18. Rick Spaulding, Lisbon; 19. Ed Burlock, Minot; 20. David Brown, Gray; 21. Guy Childs Sr., Turner; 22. Dennis Morang, South Paris; 23. Shannon Judd, Gray; 24. Dan Brown, Peru; 25. David Childs, Oxford; 26. Scott Veinott, Sabattus; 27. Jonathan Baldwin, Auburn. DQ: Gerry Richard, Leeds.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #1 (20 laps): 1. Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 2. Jeff Hebert, Auburn; 3. Jeff Beaule, Lewiston; 4. Craig Farrington, Hebron; 5. Brandon Munroe, New Gloucester; 6. Bill Sprague, Minot; 7. Gary Chiasson, Peru; 8. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 9. Nate Dubuc, Lewiston; 10. Dwayne White, Livermore; 11. Cody Smith, Oxford; 12. Jonah Farrington, Hebron; 13. Ellery Phillips Jr., Turner; 14. Gene White, Lisbon; 15. Josh Lovell, West Paris; 16. Randy Nutter, Auburn.
MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN' REBEL #2 (20 laps): 1. Zach Audet, Chesterville; 2. Jason Berry, Turner; 3. Kyle Hewins, Leeds; 4. Doug Degroat, Oxford; 5. Troy Jordan, Turner; 6. Matt Dufault, Turner; 7. Calvin Rose Jr., Turner; 8. Charlie Webster, Auburn; 9. John Childs, Leeds; 10. Scott Farrington, Minot; 11. Tyler Smith, Oxford; 12. Mike Kyllonen, Mechanic Falls; 13. Derek Cook, Wilton; 14. Dustin Couture, Auburn; 15. Josh Childs, Oxford; 16. Ben Krauter, Raymond.
CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Jake Burns, Gray; 2. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 3. John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls; 4. Ross Spurling, New Gloucester; 5. Tom Libby, Gorham; 6. Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls; 7. Geoff Griffiths, Lewiston; 8. Devon Smith, Norway; 9. Steve Anderson, Bethel.
CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Jake Burns, Gray; 2. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 3. John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls; 4. Ross Spurling, New Gloucester; 5. Tom Libby, Gorham; 6. Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls; 7. Geoff Griffiths, Lewiston; 8. Devon Smith, Norway; 9. Steve Anderson, Bethel.
ALLEN'S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 2. Dottie Patria, Turner; 3. Lisa Brooks, Auburn; 4. Kimberly Sessions, Auburn; 5. Debbie Marston, Hartford; 6. Kristen Brown, Gray; 7. Shannon Wheeler, Auburn; 8. Annie Chartier, Mexico.