OXFORD – With just one week to go until the 32nd Banknorth 250, tension is mounting among Pro Stock teams looking for a last-minute advantage.

The “Fandemonium” segment of the Yankee Communications Iron Man Series served as the final tuneup before the big money run, and for Billy Whorff Jr., that chance to fine tune went extremely well.

Whorff came away with the best overall finish in three segments to defeat Gary Drew and Mickey Green and take top honors. To do so, he had to race smart and race consistently, and he did just that in one of the more competitive contests seen thus far in the 2004 season.

“We’ve been struggling the last three or four weeks,” explained an elated Whorff in Victory Lane. “My crew has worked extremely hard getting this car to run as good as it does now, and I’m thankful for that. These guys raced me clean tonight, and I’m just thrilled to come away with a win one week before the 250.”

Ricky Morse, Doug Poland, Chris Coolidge and Larry Melcher were also feature event winners on D.N.K. Select Used Cars night at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Tommy Tompkins captured the first 20-lap segment for the Pro Stock division after a spirited battle with Mike Edgbert. Scott Chubbuck pressured the frontrunners the entire distance and moved into second on Lap 16 when Edgbert was forced wide by lapped traffic. Oxford veteran Al Hammond followed Chubbuck in third while Jimmy Weymouth and Jeff White completed the top five.

After a field inversion, Poncho Darveau sailed to an easy win in the 25-lap second segment with Timmy Bracket and Scott Robbins in second and third, respectively. Robbins has been the hottest man in the division in recent weeks, and will be among the favorites in next Sunday’s 250. Last year’s Pro Stock champion Ricky Rolfe ran away with the third and final segment after early leader Jeff White pitted with a flat right-rear tire.

Melcher, whose 2004 season has been somewhat of a roller-coaster ride, came on strong late to take the lead away from Wayne Parkin on Lap 22 to earn the victory in the 30-lap Mini Stock feature. Ralph Felker controlled much of the early going until overheating problems sent him to the pits. Parkin hung on for second at the line while Chris Varney finished third. Jimmy Childs and points leader Don Mooney rounded out the top five.

Coolidge’s win in the 35-lap Strictly Stock feature was not without its scary moments. On the fourth lap, Todd Bisbee of South Paris got tangled up in traffic coming off Turn 4 and ended up hard into the outside retaining wall. After a few minutes of unplanned “nappy time,” Bisbee crawled from the car under his own power and took the mandatory ambulance ride for observation.

When green-flag racing resumed, Jeff Merrill took over the point with Matt Williams and Rick Thompson in tow. Phil Mitchell III, winner of the recent Kenny Williams Memorial 100, steadily picked his way through the field, moving into the top five at halfway.

As Merrill was running alone up front, Coolidge was quietly slicing his way to the front. He took the lead from Merrill in heavy traffic on Lap 26 and drove to the win. Williams hung on for third while Bob Crocker and Zach Emerson completed the top five.

Poland ran away with the 35-lap Limited Sportsman feature in one of the cleanest races of the evening. Tommy Ricker made a strong run at Poland in the closing laps but had to settle for second. Terry Merrill outraced Archie Watt for third, while Dennis Spencer Jr. rounded out the top five.

Morse’s win in the 40-lap Late Model Stock feature wasn’t as much of a cakewalk. After repeated cautions in the early going, Buddy Leavitt and David Raymond went door-to-door for the lead in a terrific battle. Raymond spun out on the backstretch, handing second to Lewiston’ Corey Morgan.

Morgan drove out around the outside of Leavitt to grab the lead on Lap 2, then tried to distance himself from the field. Ricky Morse was the real story of the race as he worked his way into contention during the mid-stages.

On a Lap-30 restart, he was the benefactor of a major fracas on the frontstretch, moving into the lead as Morgan spun helplessly into the infield. Leavitt hung on for second, while Brackett came home third. Bill Childs Jr. and last week’s winner Shawn Martin filled out the balance of the top five.