OXFORD – While a crowd of upwards of 10,000 watched the preparation, performance, strategy and just plain luck that either makes or breaks their favorite driver, much of the foundation for the day is set an hour before the heat races when drivers and crews gather under the backstretch tower for the pre-race meeting.

The meeting ends with the draw as each car pulls a chip from a bucket to determine the starting order for the heats.

Depending on that number, a driver with a starting spot toward the front of a heat increases his chances for finishing in the top four and getting a slot in the 250. Or it can mean a long afternoon before the first green flag has even dropped.

Race teams get superstitious when it comes time to pick. If that isn’t enough to frustrate the most detail-orientated crew chief or driver, the order in how the chips are drawn was determined by the order that the participants arrived for the weekend.

Taking all precautions

Jeremie Whorff of Topsham was attempting to qualify for his first True Value 250 and join his father, Bill Jr., in the starting field when he got mixed up with the No. 52 car of Paul Bosse on the front stretch on Lap 2 of the first consolation race.

The teenager was extracated from his car by Oxford Rescue and transported to Stevens Memorial Hospital in Norway complaining of pain in his leg.

By the end of the third consolation race, Whorff had returned to the track and was itching to give it one more try in the final hooligan race.

It didn’t look as though his car was as enthusiastic to give it another shot however.

Lots of rubber

Tires are one of the most crucial ingredients and OPS has a strict tire policy to ensure fair competition in the 250. While there are no rules as to how many tires a team can use, they must purchase them through the track and the OPS staff keeps them under lock and key.

This is done to eliminate the opportunity for crews to tamper with the rubber.

The tire tent reported that approximately 1,000 tires were distributed to the teams attempting to get into the True Value 250.

Tire cost? About $130 each.

Fueling the engine

Who hasn’t registered their opposition to rising gas prices in the past year? If you fall into that category, you might not want the pit area of Oxford Plains Speedway to be on your short list of places to pull in and fill the tank.

While the 250 cars don’t have to use the fuel supplied by the track, many do. More than 600 gallons of Sunoco were pumped on Saturday, and that was a practice day.

Of course, this petrol might give your street machine a little more muscle than it needs coming in at 110 octane.

In case you’re still interested, it sells for $5.25 per gallon.

Delayed gratification

Scarborough’s Larry Gelinas had a long day get a little easier by way of getting into the True Value 250 through a provisional start. Only two provisionals were allowed this year with one going to the most recent past 250 champion that didn’t qualify anyway.

They had to go back a few years. It was Gelinas’ 1996 win that got him a slot in the show.

Mini Stock Feature

Between the six heat races and the three consolation races for the 250, the Mini Stock regulars took to the track for a 20-lap feature.

Ralph Felker of Poland took the checkered flag with Butch Keene of Turner second and Bill Childs Sr. of Leeds third.

Strictly Stocks

Between the consolation and hooligan races for the 250, there were a pair of Strictly Stock features.

In the “B” 20-lap event, Steve Page of Leeds finished first after surviving three cautions. Rumford’s Mark Theriault was second and Brian Dennison of Norway was third.

In the “A” featiure Phil Mitchell III of Poland held off Freeport’s Bob Crocker to claim the win. Jerry Freve of Buckfield took third.

Limited Sportsman

Buckfield’s Steve Bennet, Jr. claimed the top trophy in the 25-lap Limited Sportsman Feature that preceeded the main event.

Denmark’s Carey Martin was second with Kenny Harrison of Pownal third.

pmullen@sunjournal.com

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