OXFORD – Three drivers earned the right to be called champions Saturday night, as Oxford Plains Speedway concluded its regular season.

Canton’s Travis Adams locked up the Networks Late Model championship, Mexico resident Tommy Tompkins notched the Strictly Stock crown while Jimmy Childs of Leeds secured his second consecutive Mini Stock title.

It was a full night of racing, with double features to decide the titles.

Ricky Rolfe, Carey Martin, Rick Thompson, Skip Tripp, Jimmy Childs and Don Mooney were all feature winners on Grover Gundrilling Night at the 3/8-mile paved oval. For Childs, it was the 28th victory in a long and successful career.

In the first Late Model feature, Ricky Rolfe notched his third win of the season with a late-race charge. The 2003 Pro Stock champion from Albany Township powered around the outside of rookie Mark Childs Sr. on a lap-35 restart and easily held control for the five-lap sprint to the checkers.

Childs hung on for second, with 2004 Late Model champion Shawn Martin third. Points leader and defending champion Travis Adams kept his nose clean and brought his machine home fourth, while Dave MacDonald filled out the top five. Rolfe gained six points on Adams in the overall standings with only the season finale remaining.

“My crew is responsible for this one,” said Rolfe. “They’ve got a pretty good running car under me right now. I couldn’t have caught him (Childs) without that last caution. I noticed he wasn’t keeping his tires clean under caution, I did with mine and kept them warm. I was able to blow by him on the restart; I just didn’t think it would be that easy. He still did a great job for a rookie His car was pretty fast.”

In the Late Model nightcap, Martin held off Adams and Rolfe to secure his first victory in several weeks. Rolfe edged Adams at the line, but the third-place finish was enough for Adams to take down his second straight title and third in five years.

Shane Green and Brad Hammond completed the top five.

In earlier feature action, Childs wrapped up the 2007 title with one of his typical performances. The Leeds driver started 10th, took command from Bill Thibeault on lap 24 and held on for top honors. Thibeault hung on for second, while 2004 champion Don Mooney of New Gloucester finished third.

Weekly veterans Shane Kaherl and Kevin Bishop completed the top five. Three cautions slowed the pace, none for serious incidents.

“That was a good one,” said Childs. “I ran Billy a little tight there at one point, but as I’ve learned in racing this year, anything goes. I just want to thank everybody for running me clean all year, I’ve had a good time in this division. I want to thank my family and friends for their support, this championship wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Childs will make the move up to Late Models full-time in 2008. Thompson saved the best for last this season, as he claimed his first feature win of 2007 with a wire-to-wire performance in the Strictly Stock division. The Naples driver had to wait a full week after qualifying, but was ready when his time arrived. Point leader Tommy Tompkins drove from 10th on the grid to claim second at the finish, giving him an eight-point advantage over Sumner Sessions with just one race remaining. Matt Williams pressured Tompkins in the closing laps but settled for third, while Skip Tripp and Sessions rounded out the top five.

“It’s kind of a bummer to be doing so good this late in the season,” said Thompson. “I would have liked to run this well a lot earlier. It’s better to be late than never, though, and it feels great to finally win one of these deals. I have to thank my crew, Randy and Jason, without their help I wouldn’t be standing here.”

Mooney used the momentum from his third-place run earlier in the night to claim the evening’s second Mini Stock feature. “Wild” Bill Irving made a strong late-race charge to claim second, while Childs faded to third at the finish after challenging Mooney with 10 laps to go. Thibeault and Bishop capped a successful night with fourth- and fifth-place finishes, respectively.

Tripp capped an incredible 2007 campaign with his fifth victory in the final Strictly Stock feature. The Sabattus driver took the lead from Matt Williams on lap 21 and held off Auburn’s Mike Short for top honors.

Williams hung on for third, while Tompkins’ fourth-place finish wrapped up the divisional championship. His final margin over Sessions was a scant 12 points. Thompson backed up his earlier victory with a solid fifth-place run.

“What a season this has been,” said Thompkins. “If Skip had been running like this all season, we might have had a three-way battle for this title.

Sumner Sessions is the best guy you could ever hope to battle for a championship; he’s a class act. I have to thank everybody that helped me this year. It feels great to be standing here as the 2007 champion.”

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