OXFORD – Veteran modified driver David Pinkham put in an impressive performance in his home state Saturday night, outgunning the top modified stars in the Northeast to win the Mainely Action Sports 100 at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Pinkham, of Buxton, took advantage of a late-race restart to pass Jean-Paul Cyr on the outside and hung on for top honors.

Cyr, the seven-time ACT Late Model tour champion from Milton, Vt., led on three occasions for a total of 82 laps, but settled for second. Dwight Jarvis, one of the most respected veterans on the tour, ran the outside groove most of the night and claimed third at the finish. Jon McKennedy and Les Hinkley completed the top five in the second annual appearance by the ground-pounding open wheel machines.

Mike Short and Justin Karkos were also feature winners on the night before Oxford’s biggest show of the year, today’s 35th annual TD Banknorth 250.

“I was the last driver to win in that car, I just couldn’t let Jean win tonight,” Pinkham said in Victory Lane. “That 25 team is awesome, and Jean ran me clean the whole time. The engine was out of my car on Wednesday. Warren Johnson put it together in a couple of nights so we could be here.

“This victory is for the Greelys, Thomas and the family. They put a great car under me, and I’m thrilled to win at Oxford for them. They have a lot of history here.”

Four cautions, none for serious incidents, slowed the pace. Fifteen of the 18 starters finished on the lead lap, with Pinkham’s margin of victory just over a half second.

Finishing sixth through 10th were Chris Pasteryak, Mike Holdridge, Kirk Alexander, Dale Evonsion and Tony Ricci. Pinkham and Ricci are the only Maine natives on the True Value Modified tour.

Cyr wasn’t even planning on running the modified race when he got up Saturday morning, but was asked to drive the No. 25 entry following a practice session. He had already driven this car on two previous occasions so the answer came quickly.

“It worked out real well for us today,” said Cyr. “I want to thank Gary Casella (car owner) for the opportunity, because he gave me an excellent car here tonight. I knew the car was fast in practice and I’d be a fool not to drive it. This is a great way to start the big weekend, now we need to go after the big prize tomorrow.”

Cyr will be one of the top Vermont-based contenders in this afternoon’s 250 when he and at least 27 others try to take the big trophy back to the Green Mountain state.

In earlier feature action, Karkos took the lead from Don Frechette on lap seven and hung on to claim the 30-lap exhibition by the Allen’s Mini Stock division. The Jay driver built a big lead in the affair, while several drivers took exception to all the beating and banging. Kevin Bishop avoided all the carnage to finish second while Randy Kimball drove from eighth on the grid to claim third. Rick Giguere and Shane Kaherl completed the top five.

Most of the controversy started when Adam Polvinen began slamming into the back of Don Frechette’s machine. Absolute mayhem followed when Frechette didn’t take kindly to the abuse. Polvinien thought he finished third, but officials sent him packing. It was unclear if officials will let him compete in today’s 250 support races.

Short recorded his third Strictly Stock feature victory of the season with a strong wire-to-wire performance. The Auburn driver passed polesitter Joe Hutter on lap 21 and made the win look easy.

Hutter hung on for second in the caution-free tilt, while Zach Emerson finished right where he started in third. Matt Williams edged Skip Tripp by a fender for fourth at the line in what turned out to be the event’s best battle.