Hebert, Manchester, Oliver, Hannigan beat the rain as ‘250’ weekend opens

by | Jul 24, 2009 | Maine, Oxford Plains Speedway


OXFORD, Maine – Kevin Oliver and Cathy Manchester each repeated their victories from two nights earlier in Friday’s Acceleration Series card at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Then came a repeat of something that’s become all too familiar in recent years: Rain on TD Banknorth 250 Weekend Presented by New England Dodge Dealers. Showers intervened and wiped away the final six features of the night.
Strictly and Mini Stock drivers will run double features Saturday night in conjunction with the Maine-Ly Action Sports 100 for the true Value Modified Racing Series. Racing will begin at the scheduled time of 6:30 p.m.
Three Chimney Tech Outlaw features will be contested Wednesday, July 29, with the Macdonald Motors Runnin’ Rebel ‘A’ feature now to be run Wednesday, August 5.
Jeff Hebert collected his first victory since 2007 in the Runnin’ Rebel ‘B’ main. Jason Hannigan scored his second Goulet Home Inspections Renegade checkered flag of the season.
Manchester sped from 12th to first in only six laps, taking the lead away from rookie Missy Morgan before cruising to a career-best fourth win of the season. Manchester has won four of the five weekly events in the Acceleration Series.
Vanna Brackett and Dottie Patria, the last two Ladies champions, waged a terrific battle for second. Brackett prevailed by less than a car length at the line. Morgan edged Christina Spaulding for fourth.
Oliver started last in the 11-truck field, but he needed only five circuits to overtake early leaders Corey Williams and Jerry Steven en route to his second straight win and third overall.
Point leader Ryan Farrar rallied to second, with Opie Allard, Schmidt and rookie Stevens in only his second OPS start.
Hebert landed the Rebel ‘B’ lead from Brian Nason on lap 2 and breezed in his caution-free event.
Mark Childs Jr. and Bill Sprague posted their best finishes of the season in second and third, followed by Bill Dunphy. Jim Hart made his 2009 debut a successful one, overtaking John Mason in the final turn to swipe fifth.
Hannigan, the defending division champion, led all 10 laps of the Renegade encounter to snag his second win and first since opening night.
Bill Grover lurked at Hannigan’s back bumper throughout but couldn’t quite make the pass. Point leader Gerard Cote collected third, backed by Bob Morey.

Mike St. Germain and Tommy Tompkins won the 10-lap Strictly heats. Butch Keene and Greg Watkins captured Mini preliminaries.

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘B’ (20 laps): 1. Jeff Hebert, Auburn; 2. Mark Childs Jr., Mechanic Falls; 3. Bill Sprague, Minot; 4. Bill Dunphy, New Gloucester; 5. Jim Hart, Buckfield; 6. John Mason, Bethel; 7. Jamie Heath, Waterford; 8. John Childs, Leeds; 9. Roger Bourgoin, Sabattus; 10. Brian Nason, Lewiston; 11. Martin Krauter, Raymond; 12. Carl Conant, Lewiston; 13. Charlie Hall, Oxford; 14. Don Smith, Oxford; 15. Josh Childs, Oxford; 16. Bert Allen, Auburn; 17. Craig Bartlett, Denmark; 18. Gene White, Lisbon.

CALL OF THE WILD RV CENTER SPORT TRUCK (20 laps): 1. Kevin Oliver, Gray; 2. Ryan Farrar, Oxford; 3. Opie Allard, Harpswell; 4. Jeff Schmidt, Mechanic Falls; 5. Jerry Stevens, Searsport; 6. Corey Williams, Sumner; 7. Laurette Theriault, South Casco; 8. Jeremy Wagner, Bryant Pond; 9. Ryan Varney, South Paris; 10. Ross Spurling, New Gloucester; 11. John Lizotte, Mechanic Falls.

ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY LADIES (20 laps): 1. Cathy Manchester, Gray; 2. Vanna Brackett, Buckfield; 3. Dottie Patria, Turner; 4. Missy Morgan, Lewiston; 5. Christina Spaulding, Lewiston; 6. Deanna Robertson, South Paris; 7. Lisa Brooks, Auburn; 8. Sue Veinott, Sabattus; 9. Shannon Wheeler, Auburn; 10. Kristen Brown, Gray; 11. Missy Blash, Oxford; 12. Tori Burgess, Sabattus; 13. Tricia Thomas, Farmington; 14. Annie Chartier, Mexico; 15. Kimberly Sessions, Auburn.

GOULET HOME INSPECTIONS RENEGADE (10 laps): 1. Jason Hannigan, Greene; 2. Bill Grover, Topsham; 3. Gerard Cote, Oxford; 4. Bob Morey, Lisbon.

MACDONALD MOTORS RUNNIN’ REBEL ‘A’ (20 laps): Postponed to Wednesday, August 5.

CHIMNEY TECH OUTLAW A, B and C (20 laps each): Postponed to Wednesday, July 29.

ALLEN’S COFFEE FLAVORED BRANDY MINI and STRICTLY STOCK (30 laps each): Postponed to Saturday, July 18.