Tour-Type Modifieds & ACT Late Models On Tap For “The Night Before The 250”
NAPLES, ME (August 14) – In less than two weeks, the eyes of the short track racing world will be firmly focused on Maine’s Oxford Plains Speedway. On Sunday, August 25th, the biggest single day racing event of the year will take place when the green flag falls for the 46th Annual Oxford 250 and the chance for one driver to take home $50,000. But, as big as the 250 is, it is just a part of a huge weekend of racing planned at Oxford Plains Speedway.
PINKHAM ENDS WINLESS DROUGHT AT WISCASSET SPEEDWAYby Ken Minott
Just a few years ago Wiscasset Speedway’s Super Street division was a class on life support, on the verge of being eliminated. Fast forward to 2019 and the Maxwell’s Market Super Streets have not only rebounded and flourished but has become one of the track’s most competitive divisions. This continued on Saturday evening as Group 1 classes took to Wiscasset’s high banks for a regular race program. Wiscasset’s Bill Pinkham has been turning laps at his hometown track for over twenty years but victory lane is a place where he hadn’t visited but once in the past twelve. But the 2001 Driver of the Year returned to the top of the chart with a dominating win in the 35 lap spotlight feature. Driving a team car for point leader Mike Hodgkins, Pinkham started outside the front row and took the lead by the time they reached the backstretch. From there he built a half straightaway advantage and held the lead for the remainder of the race. He would pick up his first feature win since 2014 and his first Super Street checkered flag since 2000. There was plenty of action behind the leader in the caution-free race. Former champ Mark Lucas of Harpswell started back in the pack in 9th and raced his way up to a runner-up finish. Previous race winner Dan Trask of Chelsea took home the third-place trophy after starting 11th.
Final PASS Tune-Up For 250 This Weekend At Oxford Plains
NAPLES, ME (August 9) – With just two weeks remaining before the green flag drops on the 46th Annual Oxford 250, Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Super Late Model drivers will get one last chance this weekend to prep at Oxford Plains Speedway. The Honey Badger Bar & Grill 150 on Sunday afternoon will give racers their best opportunity to hit the track in similar conditions to those they will experience in the 250. And, as the last race in “The Road To The Oxford 250” program, a final group of drivers will get the honor of being locked in to North America’s most prestigious Super Late Model event. Competitors will have the opportunity to race for one of the richest winner’s purses in asphalt short track racing, with $25,000 to win, plus an additional $25,000 in lap leader money. Last year’s winner, Bubba Pollard of Senoia, GA, took home over $28,000 last year for his efforts in becoming the first southern driver to win the Oxford 250 since 1983. While no one in the last two decades has led more than Joey Polewarcyzk’s 205 laps in 2012, if a driver could somehow manage to lead all 250 laps, they would take home $50,000 for the win.
ST CLAIR TOPS LARGE LATE MODEL FIELD AT WISCASSET SPEEDWAYby Ken Minott
Group 2 was in action Saturday night at Wiscasset Speedway. While some divisions have struggled to maintain respectable car counts, Wiscasset’s Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Model Sportsman division remains one of the largest an most competitive in the state. Twenty-seven cars pitted for the evening’s 50-lap main event, Liberty’s Josh St Clair charged up from his 10th starting position and took the lead from Frank Moulton early in the race and then held off several contenders to claim the victory. It was his first win since 2017. Point leader and 4-time champ Chris Thorne of Sidney made a nice charge up from his 17th starting position but would settle for 2nd. Mark Lucas of Harpswell was the only driver to stay in the top five for the entire race. He stayed in the thick of the fight for the entire 50 laps and took home the final spot in victory lane and the 3rd place trophy. Former champion Will Collins of Waldoboro started 13th and finished 4th. Fayette’s Logan Melcher, a 2-time winner himself this season, rounded out the top 5 after starting 18th. The race was slowed by 4 cautions. Seventeen of the twenty-six cars that started the feature finished on the lead lap.
