OXFORD – Allen’s Strictly Stock champion Tommy Tompkins made a triumphant return to Oxford Plains Speedway on Saturday night, winning the Talking Phone Book 100 when apparent victor Mike Short failed the post-race technical inspection.

Third-place runner Glen Henderson also didn’t make it through the tech line, vaulting Rick Thompson to second and early leader Larry Emerson to third. Zach Emerson finished fourth, officially the final car on the lead lap.

“That was pretty fun,” said Short, before he was disqualified. “I know Larry got hung up by a lapped car there mid way. I was able to sneak by and from there we just checked out. It’s great when the car runs as well as it did tonight. For the most part, the lapped traffic stayed out of the way and I appreciate that. Tommy is always fast, too, and I’m happy to have held him off.”

Tompkins was gracious in his post-race interview, praising Short’s performance and thanking all those who make the defending divisional champion’s program so successful.

“I tried to run Mike down in those closing laps but he was really hooked up,” said Thompkins. “I won’t be here every week, but it sure is good to run so strong when we do come. These guys are all good racers. It was no cakewalk to win the title last year, and it won’t be easy for whoever earns it in 2008. That was a great 100-lap battle for us.”

Ricky Rolfe, Donnie Mooney, Debbie Marston, David Childs and Jerry Goss were also feature winners on The Talking Phone Book Night at the 3/8-mile asphalt oval. Summer conditions finally arrived in Western Maine, making fans in attendance smile as they proudly wore T-shirts and shorts for an evening program.

In earlier feature action, Marston earned her first career victory at Oxford in a 20-lap tilt for the Ladies’ division. The Hartford driver led from the green flag and held off a hard-charging Cathy Manchester at the line for top honors. Current point leader Dottie Patria recovered from an early spin to finish third, while Christina Spaulding and Kim Sessions completed the top five.

Childs held off a strong late-race charge from Dan Brown to capture the first of two 20-lap battles for the Chimney Tech Outlaw division. The Oxford native took the lead from Rodney Englehaupt on lap four and survived one restart en route to victory. Ron Abbott Jr. gave it all he had in the final five laps but settled for third, while Jay Wilkins and Gerry Richard completed the top five. Only two cautions slowed the pace, neither for serious incident.

Goss put in an impressive performance to claim his first-ever Outlaw division victory in the second 20-lapper for this entry-level division. The Mechanic Falls driver passed early leader Bill Coolidge on lap five and drove away to a convincing win. Rick Spaulding ran within sight of the leaders the entire distance and finished third, with Zach Bowie of Lewiston fourth and Keith Landry fifth. With more than a month of racing behind them and better traction with warmer temperatures, the Outlaws have settled into a rhythm and ran without caution.

Rolfe picked up his first Saturday night victory and second of the season in a much-smoother-than-last-week romp for the Oxford Networks Late Models. The former champion from Albany Township passed rookie Shawn Knight on lap 37 and drove away to victory. Shawn Martin came all the way from 13th on the grid to claim second at the finish, while Kurt Hewins gave Conrad Childs’ No. 96 machine its best run of the season in third. Knight faded slightly at the finish but salvaged a fourth-place run, while defending and three-time Late Model champion Travis Adams completed the top five.

“The car is a long way from perfect,” said Rolfe. “It got pretty tight, but I managed to hang onto it. I’m pretty tired, even after just 40 laps. I really wanted to get a top three tonight in honor of all those graduating high school seniors, including my boy. I’m very proud of him, and this win is for all the graduates.” Mooney wrapped up a full night of racing with his second straight victory in the Mini Stock feature. The 2004 champion from New Gloucester passed Shane Kaherl on lap 15 and hung on for top honors. Rookie sensation Darrell Moore stayed glued to Mooney’s back bumper the last 10 laps but settled for second at the line, while Greg Watkins of Bridgton was third. Kaherl faded a bit late in the going but pulled off a fourth-place run, while Jay’s Ashley Marshall completed the top five. Three cautions slowed the pace, none for serious incident.