OXFORD – Don Mooney knew if he just held his line, protected the bottom and kept his foot on it, victory would be his.

The two-time champion from New Gloucester held off rookie sensation Adam Polvinen to win the Mini Stock 100 Monday night, in Round 2 for the 2006 Cole-Mans Concrete Iron Man Triple Crown Series.

Mooney led from lap five to the finish, surviving three restarts and that late-race charge by Polvinen.

Point leader Larry Melcher of Jay finished third, while defending champion Danny Morris and Ted Audet of Greene completed the top five. Finishing sixth through 10th was Bill Thibeault, Jim Childs, Joe Treadwell, Butch Keene and Kevin Bishop.

Four cautions slowed the pace, while only 10 of the 22 starters were running at the finish.

“I knew Adam was fast tonight,” said Mooney. “He ran me clean all the way, and I did everything I could to keep him behind me. I think this was one of our better races as a division, and I’m thrilled to be standing in Victory Lane after 100 laps.”

Sumner Sessions, David Tripp, Shawn Martin and Gary Drew were also feature winners on Maine State Lottery Fireworks Night. With perfect weather conditions and today’s holiday, grandstands were packed as the Weekly Racing Series teams put on a show.

In earlier feature action, Sessions picked up his first win of 2006 in the 30-lap Strictly Stock feature. The Norway resident passed Rick Thompson on lap 14, then survived three restarts and a big challenge from B.J. Chapman to take top honors. Chapman settled for second while Kurt Hewins came from 14th to finish third. Guy Childs and Ben Tinker completed the top five.

Tripp cruised to a convincing victory in the caution-free Limited Sportsman feature. The Oxford native took over the point from Matt Williams on lap 13 and drove off into the sunset without challenge. Williams did a terrific job of holding off OPS veteran Shane Green for second, while Carey Martin and Kurt Hewins finished fourth and fifth, respectively. This was the third straight caution-free race for the Limited Sportsman gang.

Martin inherited a victory in the Late Model Stock feature after apparent winner Jon Brill was disqualified after failing post-race technical inspection. Martin, an Aroostock County native who lives in Turner moved underneath early leader Gary Chiasson on the fifth lap and proceeded to drive away from the field.

After a couple of tense restarts for cautions, it looked as if the 2004 champion was on his way to victory. Yet mayhem broke out on the final lap, as several cars came together coming off Turn 2. The race ended under a checkers/yellow condition, and Martin backed off coming off Turn 4 just enough for Brill to sneak by. Dennis Spencer Jr. wound up second after the order was reshuffled. Glen Luce and 2003 champion Travis Adams of Canton were third and fourth, respectively, while Ron Charpentier Jr. completed the top five. Once again, the Agren’s Appliance Late Model Stock warriors provided some of the most exciting action of the evening.

Drew finally shook the monkey off his back in the Oxford Networks Pro Stock division after four straight disappointments. The former TD Banknorth 250 winner from Otisfield had been plagued by mechanical trouble and bad timing all season, but on this night it was simply his turn.

“It has been frustrating, to say the least,” said Drew. “Each time we had a good car, but either something broke or we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tonight, the car ran flawlessly, and lapped cars were not a problem. I have to thank Jeff Taylor. He has worked hard on this car to get it right, and it paid off. I’m thrilled to finally be here in Victory Lane.”

Ageless Al Hammond recorded his best finish of 2006 with a solid second-place run, while Scott Robbins, another former 250 winner, was third. Defending Pro Stock champion Timmy Brackett made a late charge up the outside and came home fourth, while Bill Whorff Jr. of Topsham finished fifth.

Three cautions slowed the pace, all for minor incidents.


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