OXFORD – It couldn’t have worked out any better if it had been planned.

Travis Adams, the defending and four-time Late Model champion, is racing with a heavy heart in 2009. The veteran from Canton lost his father just a couple of months ago, a man who was an integral part of the Adams family racing operation.

Adams took the lead from Timmy Brackett on lap 29, then drove away to an emotional victory Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Dottie Patria, John Patria, Josh Childs, Ashley Marshall and BJ Chapman were also feature winners on Oxford Federal Credit Union night at the historic 3/8-mile oval.

“This is my 11th season of racing here at Oxford, and the first without my father,” said Adams after the race. “He was here with me every single week over the years. I’d believe he was riding with me tonight, too. We’ve got a few decals on the car and trailer that are upside down. That was my Dad’s way, so we do it for him. This means a lot tonight to win one for my father. He was the absolute greatest and we miss him dearly.”

Shawn Knight, one of the top Oxford regulars in last Sunday’s ACT 150, finished second, while 2004 Late Model champion Shawn Martin was third. Nick Brown drove from seventh on the grid to claim fourth, while Tommy Ricker made a strong late-race charge to fifth.

Three cautions slowed the pace, none for serious incident. Rounding out the top 10 in the Late Model feature was Corey Morgan, Travis Stearns, Scott Robbins, Doug Coombs and Ricky Rolfe. Seventeen of the 20 starters finished on the lead lap. Brackett was involved in a Turn 1 melee on lap 26, and fought his way back up to 14th at the finish.

In earlier feature action, defending champion Dottie Patria made easy work of the first Ladies division contest of the season. The Turner driver led wire-to-wire after starting on the pole. Deanna Robertson finished right where she started in second, while Vannah Brackett was third. Debbie Marston came home fourth in a race slowed only by one brief caution.

John Patria was awarded the first of two 20-lap feature wins for the Chimney Tech Outlaw division after apparent winner Chris Coolidge failed post-race inspection. Guy Childs drove from 15th on the grid to claim second, while Gerry Richard came home third. Addison Bowie and Shannon Judd completed the top five in the first outing for this entry-level division.

Childs grabbed the lead Jerry Freeve on lap three and hung on for victory in the second Outlaw feature. His father David gave it the old college try to overtake his son in the closing laps but settled for second, while Chris Burgess was a distant third. Jerry Goss came from eighth on the grid to take third, while Steve Moon completed the top five. In rare fashion, the second Outlaw feature went flag-to-flag without a caution just as the first one had.

Marshall earned his first career victory at Oxford in a thrilling feature for the Mini Stock warriors. The defending champion from Jay led 18 laps early before Justin Karkos drove by on lap 22. Karkos cost himself a shot at the win when he made contact with a lapped car in heavy traffic. The contact brought tire trouble for Karkos, and he fell off the pace. A surprised Marshall drove by to re-take the lead and easily drove home to Victory Lane. Calvin Rose Jr. piloted his Volkswagon to a solid second place finish, while rookie sensation Jake Burns claimed third. Burns had an outstanding 2008 season in the Wednesday night Truck division. Jimmy Childs and Shane Kaherl completed the top five in a race slowed by one caution for a minor spin.

“I was pretty surprised to see Justin slow down when he did,” Marshall said. “I thought he was gone for good but we’ll take this without argument. After trying so long to win one of these things, it feels great. My family has worked hard to keep me on track and competitive, so this win is for them.”

Chapman gave the fans reason top cheer as he held off a hard-charging Mike Short to claim the 30-lap Strictly Stock feature. After years of trying in several divisions, it was his first career victory at Oxford. The driver from Bridgton led every lap despite Short’s efforts to knock him loose. Matt Williams battled up front the entire race and finished third, while Zach Emerson and Skip Tripp rounded out the top five.

“I’ve been so close on so many occasions over the years,” Chapman said. “Mike ran me super-clean and I really appreciate that. It feels great to finally pull one off. I hope we can run like this for the whole season.”