Tim Brackett earns second career title  

OXFORD — He may have been away from the place for quite a while, but he’s back to the form that made him a multi-time champion.

Veteran short track star and respected car builder Jeff Taylor powered his way around the outside of early leader T.J. Brackett coming off turn 4 on lap 31, and hung on to claim the Talking Phone Book Late Model Trophy Dash Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Brackett hung on for second, while title contender Shawn Martin fought his way up to third. Tim Brackett and early leader Dave Farrington Jr. completed the top five.   

Dottie Patria, Chris Coolidge, Guy Childs, Jeff Moon and Jim Davis Jr. were also feature winners on Oxford’s final night of action in 2010.

For Taylor, it was his third victory of the season and third in a Late Model type chassis. The nine-time Pro Stock champion took a while to get these cars figured out, but it’s clear to see he’s got them dialed in.

“That was a heck of race tonight,” Taylor said. “T.J. ran me pretty hard, but he also ran me clean. He was running as hard as he could go, and I was doing the same. He got into me once there going into turn 3, but he lifted and didn’t get me sideways. One of us was going to win it, and I’m glad I had enough car to pull it off. That kind of side-by-side battle gives the fans a great show, and is fun to be part of as a driver.”

With his strong fourth-place run, Brackett locked up the 2010 championship over Martin. The veteran from Buckfield claimed his second career crown (the first was in 2005) without winning a race, but like any form of racing, it’s consistency that wins championships.

“It’s been a long season, and I’m glad it’s over,” Brackett said with a big sigh of relief in Victory Lane. “Shawn and I were point racing the last few weeks. I didn’t get many trophies but he sure did. I was looking for the big one at the end, and we actually got it. I have to thank my crew. This championship didn’t come easy, and they worked hard all summer long. It feels great to seal the deal. Now we can celebrate.”

Finishing sixth through 10th in the final Late Model feature of 2010 was Ben Ashline, Tommy Ricker, Jeff White, Corey Morgan and Scott Luce. Only one caution slowed the pace, brought out when Calvin Rose Jr. spun the No. 8 machine in turn 4. Except for that brief delay, the season finale was about as clean and green as they come.

In earlier feature action, 2008 champion Patria ran away with the final Ladies division tilt of 2010. Patria, of Turner, had to fend off the challenge of newly crowned champion Vannah Brackett in the closing laps. Brackett settled for second, then celebrated her title with a nice little smoke show on the frontstretch. Missy Morgan capped her strong season with a solid run to third, while Deanna Robertson and Christina Spaulding completed the top five.

“It sure feels good to be back up here,” Patria said. “The guys have worked so hard on this car for me. I’m happy to have it back. Vannah has been strong all year. I congratulate her on winning the championship. If my team and sponsors will support it, I’ll try to recapture the crown in 2011.”

Coolidge stole a win away from Zach Bowie in the closing laps of the first Outlaw feature. The veteran from Norway drove around the outside of Bowie when he slid wide coming off turn 4 on lap 15. Bowie settled for second, while Mike Haynes came from 10th on the grid to finish third. Gerry Richard and Carey Robertson rounded out the top five. Only one caution slowed the pace, that for a minor spin.

Childs claimed the second Outlaw battle by a car length in one of the most competitive features of the evening. Josh Childs dogged the winner right up to the end, but settled for second. Dan Brown drove up from deep in the field to claim third, while Addison Bowie was fourth. Pat Malloy completed the top five with another solid run.

“I really thought Josh was going to catch me,” Guy Childs said in Victory Lane. “He’s a talented driver and doesn’t need much of a chance to pass from somebody. I’m lucky to be bale to hold him off, and it feels pretty good to win one of these things before it’s all over.”

Moon capped a strong season with a wire-to-wire victory in the final Mini Stock battle of the year. The veteran from Gray checked out early and built a huge lead by halfway. Calvin Rose Jr. finished a distant second, while newly crowned champion Ashley Marshall was third.

All Marshall had to do was start the feature to claim his title, but he drove all-out for a podium finish. Former champion Danny Morris came home fourth, while Jeff Beaule rounded out the top five. The event went caution-free, and Moon used that fast pace to his advantage.

Davis managed to hold off a hard-charging Kurt Hewins to claim an exciting, caution-free Strictly Stock feature. The hotshoe from Sabattus, along with Skip Tripp and Mike Short, were the only drivers other than Hewins to win a feature in 2010.

This was Davis’ third victory of the season, with wins on July 3 and Aug. 7 to fill out the trifecta. Zach Emerson wheeled his way up from ninth on the grid to claim third, while father Larry Emerson and Jerry Freve completed the top 10. This was one of the most hotly-contested features the Strictly Stock warriors have run all season.