By Phil Whipple,Staff Writer

OXFORD – It’s no secret that stock car racing has become a sport for young men in recent years.

Yet experience and decades of learning still stand for something. Just ask 63-year old Al Hammond, who notched his 79th career victory in the Pro Stock feature at Oxford Plains Speedway Saturday night.

The ageless veteran from South Paris took the lead from Kevin Colby on lap 15, then held off some hungry young lions to take top honors.

“This was the best car I’ve had here in years,” Hammond said. “It handled perfectly the whole event, and I’m thrilled to be back in Victory Lane. I knew Jeff (Taylor) was coming, but felt confident we could hold him off.”

Taylor, the eight-time track champion, has returned to top form and looked rocket-fast on his way to second place. Kimball held on to claim third, while Bill Whorff and Scott King completed the top five.

After some difficulty getting things started, the race was slowed by just one caution and provided some terrific side-by-side racing.

A huge fireworks display followed, delighting the thousands of fans in attendance.

Doug Coombs, Shawn Knight, Mike Short, Guy Childs and Darick Barker were also feature-event winners on a near-perfect night for racing at the track.

In early action, Barker held off Bill Childs Sr. to win his second 30-lap Mini Stock feature of 2005. The Jay driver powered his way around Wayne Parkin on lap 11 and survived a pair of restarts to post the victory.

The race was slowed by three cautions, all for minor incidents. Parkin, who started on the pole, led the first 10 circuits and finished third, while Ted Audet and points leader Danny Morris completed the top five.

Childs captured the first of two 20-lap Strictly Stock features in the first caution-free event of the night. Bill Dunphy of New Gloucester led the first eight laps, then Childs took over and held on to the finish. Keith Stuart came from sixth on the grid to finish second, while Josh May of Norway claimed third. Roy Weymouth of Winthrop and B.J. Chapman rounded out the top five.

Short dominated the second Strictly Stock feature with a wire-to-wire victory. The Auburn native simply drove away from the competition, building as much as a 20-car length lead by the halfway mark.

Sabattus driver Jim Davis Jr. came from sixth to claim second, yet never threatened Short in any way. Fan favorite Chris Coolidge drove a steady race to finish third, while Joe Hutter and Larry Emerson posted top-five finishes.

Knight earned his first career Oxford victory in the 35-lap Limited Sportsman feature. The Oxford driver led every lap en route to the win, yet needed patience to seal the deal. Four cautions slowed the race, none for major pileups. Defending points champion Dennis Spencer had the crowd on its feet as he battled side-by-side with Tommy Ricker during the mid-stages. Spencer finished second with Ricker third, while Troy Morse of Bridgton and Shane Greene completed the top five.

Coombs put in a stellar performance to win the 40-lap Lee Auto Mall Late Model Stock feature.

The Livermore driver drove away from a handful of OPS veterans, building a huge lead by the halfway stages.

The best battle in this one was for second place between Donnie Wentworth and Jon Brill. Brill, of Sebago, fought tooth-and-nail to secure second place, while Wentworth settled for third. Points leader Chuck Colby worked his way up from deep in the field to claim fourth, while Ron Charpentier rounded out the top five.

Four cautions slowed the pace, one for a major pileup in Turn Three on lap 13.