Street Stock winner Dufault takes championship lead, Heath dominates Bandit class again
Oxford, Maine – Reid Lanpher of Manchester wasn’t planning a trip to Oxford Plains Speedway this weekend, but weather postponements and a rescheduled Sunday night Budweiser Championship Series program offered up an opportunity not only to get some seat time in his EJP Racing Super Late Model, but also prepare for the 43rd HP Hood Oxford 250, coming up on Sunday, August 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Lanpher, runner-up in last year’s HP Hood Oxford 250, picked up a confidence-boosting win from the front row in the 50-lap Super Late Model race, topping the card at the historic Route 26 oval track. Lanpher prevailed in an early battle versus polesitter Dave Farrington, Jr., of Jay.
Bobby Timmons of Windham provided stout competition for Lanpher, making several attempts to get alongside the eventual winner before claiming runner-up honors in front of Farrington. Corey Bubar of Windham and South Paris racer Shawn Knight rounded out the top five.
Lanpher becomes the 14th winner in 15 Budweiser Championship Series Super Late Model 50-lappers this season at Oxford Plains Speedway. Only reigning track champion and current championship point leader Timmy Brackett of Buckfield has won twice this season.
Credit Photos: Mary and Peter Taylor petespicks.smugmug.com
By Lisa and Rich Maguire
The weather cleared, and a window of opportunity opened to complete the races at Wiscasset Speedway last Saturday night. The threat of rain led race officials to eliminate heat races, and run the feature events with ten additional laps added to each feature. A thirty lap Thunder Four Mini event was the Spotlighted feature race of the evening. There was double the fun when the Amsoil Nelcar Legends appeared in two separate feature races. Other Group One races included Servpro of Biddeford Saco Prostocks, Super Street, and N.E. 4 Cylinder Prostocks.
A thirty lap Thunder Four Mini feature was the main event of the evening. Starting on the pole was the #007 of Destiny McKenzie. To her right was the #41 of Logan Melcher. Starting in third was David Greenleaf of the #58. When the green flag flew, there was some early race action as cars jockeyed for position. Melcher advanced to first before the conclusion of the first lap. The #26 of Micheal Golding sped to second. Joe Katula of the #4J advanced to third. During lap five, the #48 of Michael Harrison took third from Katula. During lap ten, race leader Melcher slid up the track coming out of turn four. Golding took advantage of the opportunity and passed him for the lead. The race leaders stayed consistent for the for the remainder of the caution free race. Michael Golding took first place for his second victory of the season. Logan Melcher came in second. Michael Harrison rounded out the top three in third while maintaining his hold on the division’s point lead.
Credit Photos: Mary and Peter Taylor petespicks.smugmug.com
St Clair is one of those family names synonymous with Wiscasset Speedway; a name that is engrained in the history of Maine’s fastest track, much like Ripley or Reno. It began with Dave “Boss Hogg” St Clair, who has turned laps since it’s opening in 1969 and still races today. Then came son Puncin St Clair, who was a regular winner in Super Streets& Late Models in the 90’s and 2000’s; winning Driver of the Year honors in 1996. The family legacy remains intact today with Puncin’s sons Josh and Ryan becoming rising stars in the track’s Late Model Sportsman division. The 3 generation racers from Liberty each visited victory lane Saturday night with Group 2 in action; eldest brother Josh taking honors in the regular 35 lap points feature, and younger brother Ryan winning the special Dave’s World Dash For Cash at night’s end. It was a busy night on the track, and also turned out to be a busy night in the tech garage with trophies changing hands in all four classes.
NAPLES, ME (August 9) – Ever since the first HP Hood Oxford 250 was held at Oxford Plains Speedway in 1974, it has attracted not only the best short track racers from New England, but from across North America. In that first event won by Joey Kourafas, the precedent was set that short track racing’s best would assemble at Oxford for the 250. In addition to the talented group of drivers from New England in the field that day, Southern aces Bosco Lowe and 1963 Daytona 500 winner Tiny Lund competed along with a strong group of Canadian drivers led by Jean Paul Cabana. In fact, the early years of the HP Hood Oxford 250 were dominated by Southern drivers such as Butch Lindley, Bob Pressley, and Tommy Ellis. The first Canadian to taste HP Hood Oxford 250 glory was Don Biederman in 1977.
This year, the tradition continues at the HP Hood Oxford 250 with drivers from outside the Northeast coming into challenge New England’s best on their “home” field. With several weeks remaining before the race, the entry list has grown to over 50. Among those who have already entered are Pacific Northwest legend Garrett Evans, who will be attempting the HP Hood Oxford 250 for the first time in his illustrious career. Since first competing with PASS in “The Race” at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2011, the Wenatchee, WA native has made several PASS South starts, but this will be only his second time ever competing at Oxford Plains. Defending PASS Pro Late Model champion and current PASS South Super Late Model championship contender, Kodie Conner, will make the trip from Kannapolis, NC for his first attempt at the 250.
Lets start this article off with the actual definition of a ‘sport’. According to Dictionary.com, a sport is “anathleticactivityrequiringskillorphysicalprowessandoftenofa competitivenature,asracing,baseball,tennis,golf,bowling,wrestling, boxing,hunting,fishing,etc.” Everyone may have their own definition of what a sport really is, but how does saying that racing isn’t a sport make you feel better?
Growing up around racing and having to talk about it to other people, I was constantly hit with the comment that racing isn’t a sport. “All they do is turn left”, “how hard can it really be?”, “they only go around in circles…how is that a sport?”. These comments have followed me around since my brother first started racing cars in New England and I’m done not voicing my opinion about it.
Street Stock winner Dufault takes championship lead, Heath dominates Bandit class again
