OXFORD – It didn’t take long for the cream to rise to the top. Defending track champion Travis Adams may have suffered mechanical trouble two weeks ago when the ACT Late Model tour was in town, but he had his ducks in a row for the regular season points opener.

The Canton native powered by Ricky Rolfe on the outside on a lap-26 restart, then drove away for a convincing victory to capture the Oxford Networks Late Model feature Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Adams had an incredible season in 2007, with seven feature wins and a title for the likable young hotshoe. Rolfe, who won the ACT New England Dodge Dealers 150 here on April 26, hung on for second, while polesitter Shawn Martin finished third.

“That restart move came right out of my Dale Shaw handbook,” said Adams, referring to the veteran driver and Center Conway, N.H., native, who was successful at Oxford for so many years. “Ricky got a little bit loose there coming off the corner, and I had just enough momentum to get by him going down into Turn 1. We carried it through to Victory Lane.

“I have to thank my Dad for getting this engine ready. We broke a timing chain in the ACT race here, scrambled to get it fixed then got rained out last week. But we felt confident with it, and it ran smooth all night.”

Skip Tripp, Bill Thibeault, Jerry Freve, Guy Childs Sr., Dottie Patria and Bob Weymouth were also feature winners on Double T Fence night at the 3/8-mile paved oval.

Only two cautions slowed the pace in the Late Model feature, neither for serious incident. Billy Childs Jr. and Zach Emerson rounded out the top five, while Dale Verrill, Shawn Knight, Travis Stearns, Scott Luce and Carey Martin finished sixth through 10th. Fifteen of the 26 starters finished on the lead lap, while all but two cars were running at the finish. With just one points race in the books, it’s already looking like a Travis Adams and Ricky Rolfe kind of year.

In earlier feature action, Patria drove away from the field in a caution-free feature for the Ladies division. The Turner driver took control early and held off Cathy Manchester with ease. Sue Veinott fought off the late-race challenge of Lisa Brooks to secure third, while Kim Sessions completed the top five.

Weymouth led a field of veteran racers in a fine 20-lap feature for the visiting NELCAR Legens division. The Topsham driver built a sizable lead by half way and easily hung on for the win. Ed Getty, who has raced at Oxford in various classes for many years finished second, while Russ Nutting was third. The Legends gang will return to Oxford again on June 28.

Freve had all he could do to hold off Tom Averill in an exciting finish in the first of two Chimney Tech Outlaw division features. The Buckfield native used to compete in the old Charger division at Oxford years ago, and proved he can still get it done in today’s competitive environment. Jerry Goss hung with the leaders the entire distance and claimed third at the stripe, while Auburn drivers Gordon Bell and Ron Abbott Jr. completed the top five.

Childs notched his first win of 2008 in the second feature for the Outlaws. The Turner driver passed early leader Zach Bowie in the mid stages and held off a hard-charging Rick Spaulding of Lewiston at the finish. Bowie hung on for third, while Fred Clavet and Steve Moon filled out the top five.

Tripp was the class of the Strictly Stock division as he record a convincing victory. The Sabattus native took the lead from Glen Henderson on lap six and pulled steadily away to the finish. Henderson hung on for second, while the battle in this one was among three drivers for third. Kim Tripp came out on top, while Matt Williams and Sumner Sessions completed the top five. Only one caution slowed the pace, brought out when BJ Chapman uncorked his radiator and spun in his own fluid heading into turn 3.

“This thing ran like a champ all race long,” said Tripp. “I thought when we got by Glen it should be smooth sailing from there, and it was. I need to thank RPM Racing Engines for the power it took to hold them off tonight.”

Thibeault recorded his 25th career victory in the Mini Stock division with a dominating performance. The veteran from Oxford led every lap and withstood two restarts to take down the win. Rookie sensation Daryl Moore made a big charge in the closing laps to secure second, while “Wild” Bill Irving finished third. Sophomore runner Shane Kaherl put in a solid run to claim fourth, while Ashley Marshall completed the top five.

“We spun a bearing in the engine in our first outing this year,” said Thibeault. “We repaired it as best we could, and I guess it held up all right.”