Bill Whorff Jr. rolls with a convincing win in the New England Dodge Dealers 100.

OXFORD – The season opener at Oxford Plains Speedway went off without a hitch Saturday night, and for Bill Whorff Jr., the unseasonably warm evening made for a successful outing.

Whorff grabbed the early lead and held off repeated challenges from defending Pro Stock champion Ricky Rolfe to start the new season with a convincing win in the New England Dodge Dealers 100.

Mike Maietta Jr. won the drag race into Turn 1, but Rolfe asserted himself quickly and led the first circuit. Whorff was glued to his rear bumper while Sam Gooden and Nick Nichols battled for third. Nichols returned to OPS this season after completing a tour of duty with the military.

Whorff took advantage of lapped traffic on Lap 54 and got by Rolfe as the leaders worked through Turn 3. Following the restart for a Lap-74 caution that saw Chris Kennison spin on the frontstretch, Whorff just drove away from the field. Due to a late-race caution, there was a five-lap dash to the finish, with Whorff claiming the win, Nichols taking second, and Oxford’s Timmy Brackett in third. Tommy Tomkins and Rolfe completed the top five.

“This car has been just great since we ran it last Saturday in practice,” said Whorff. “My crew worked hard all winter to get it ready, and they did a fabulous job. I have to thank Ricky and these guys for racing so clean; this was a good battle. It’s great to get the new season started off with a win like this. I hope it’s an omen for the entire 2004 season.”

Rolfe started his evening off with a win in the first of two qualifying heats, while Maietta Jr. captured the second 12-lap session.

Jim Childs, Bob Crocker, Kenny Harrison and Kurt Hewins also claimed feature event wins on New England Dodge Dealers opening night.

The Mini Stock division was the first to take to the speedway for a 30-lap battle. At the drop of the green, Wayne Warren and Chris Varney led the field into Turn 1. Jim Childs came flying up from his third starting position to take over the point on lap five, then set sail with Ralph Felker in tow. Livermore’s Larry Melcher showed strength early, running with the leaders through much of the event. Sadly, a broken distributor cap put him on the sidelines shortly after the 20-lap mark.

The race was slowed by just one caution, and Childs drove away for the victory. Don Mooney followed him across the stripe for second, with Ralph Felker, Dennis Scribner and Butch Keene rounding out the top five.

Chris Coolidge jumped out to the early lead in the 30-lap Strictly Stock feature, with polesitter Todd Bisbee and Bob Crocker in tow. Crocker, who contended for the title in 2003, battled side-by-side with Skip Tripp for several laps, bringing the crowd to their feet. The two were dead-even at the halfway mark, with Crocker eventually prevailing on the high side and holding on for the victory. Tripp settled for second, while Mike Short, Gerry Burgess and Coolidge rounded out the top five.

In the 35-lap Limited Sportsman feature, Tommy Ricker and Archie Watt led the full field down into Turn 1. Kenny Harrison was quick to make his move, coming from fifth on the grid to apply pressure to Ricker in the early going. Watt faded slightly and battle with Steve Bennett Jr. for much of the mid-stages of the race.

Harrison made the high groove work to his advantage, taking over the point on Lap 13. Always one of the more entertaining divisions at Oxford, the Limiteds went the new extended distance without much difficulty. Harrison held on to win, with Ricker second and Dave Raymond third. Terry Merrill and Carey Martin completed the top five.

The Lee Auto Mall Late Model Stock division ran its first 40-lap feature next, with two-by-two racing throughout the talent-laden field. Shawn Martin set the early pace, with Buddy Leavitt and Ron Charpentier in tow. TJ Brackett’s machine came to a halt in Turn 2, bringing out the first caution on Lap 6

On the ensuing restart, Martin checked out on the field yet Chris Hatstat was on the move. Hatstat came from 11th on the grid to put pressure on Martin by lap 15. Corey Morgan sat patiently in third, waiting for a chance to pounce. Just after halfway, rookie Kurt Hewins came from deep in the field to join the fray, easily making this the most exciting race of the night.

Hewins took over the lead from Martin with a power move on the outside with just five laps to go. In a wild finish, Hewins held on to with with Martin settling for second and Ricky Morse taking third. David Bath and Ron Charpentier rounded out the top five.