OXFORD – It’s not often when a driver goes a lap down and fights back to win the race. And when they race their way from the back to the front, not once, not twice, but three times, most folks would agree that driver deserves to win.

Justin Karkos had one of those rare performances, as he fought back to claim the 100-lap Mini Stock race Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Karkos took the lead from Steve Barker on lap 83 and went unchallenged from there.

Barker, who led several laps, hung on for second, while Kevin Bishop rallied for third. Ashley Marshall and Jimmy Childs Sr. completed the top five.

“That’s what I call a wild race,” Karkos said. “I thought we were done on a couple of occasions, but the holes opened up, and I found a way through. Steve was strong all night, but I kept up the pressure and eventually got by. It feels good to have things go our way in one of these extra-distance events.”

Finishing sixth through 10th were Don Frechette, Bill Thibeault, Greg Watkins, Brad Dwinal and Spanky Higgins. Five cautions slowed the pace, while only nine of the 25 starters finished on the lead lap. Karkos’ margin of victory was 1.3 seconds.

In earlier feature action, Jeff White, of Winthrop, took the lead from David Vaughn on lap five and pulled away to a convincing win in the Late Model division. Oxford veteran Tommy Ricker put in a strong run to finish second, while former champion Dennis Spencer Jr. came from 10th on the grid to claim third. Donnie Wentworth and Travis Adams completed the top five.

“This is my first win since my Dad passed away, so this one is special,” White said. “My team has worked hard all season to make this happen. I couldn’t have pulled this off without their dedication. It feels great to finally close the deal.”

Adams, of Canton, padded his point lead over Turner’s Shawn Martin and is rapidly closing in on his third straight and fourth overall title in six years. Martin finished ninth and will make one last attempt to catch Adams next Saturday.

Two cautions slowed the paced, neither for serious incidents. White’s margin of victory was just over a half second, while 18 of the 22 starters finished on the lead lap.

Tommy Tompkins recorded his second straight and fifth Strictly Stock feature of 2008 in convincing fashion. The defending champion from Dixfield took the lead from B.J. Chapman in heavy traffic on lap 23 and hung on for top honors.

Chapman settled for second, while point-leader Skip Tripp finished third. Multi-time Oxford champion Larry Emerson was fourth, while Auburn’s Mike Short completed the top five. Only one caution slowed the pace, while Tompkins’ margin of victory was over 1.3 seconds.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when B.J. slipped high and that hole opened up,” said Tompkins. “It seems like we’ve got all the right breaks this year, and that suits me just fine. These guys have raced clean all season, it’s fun to race beside them and come out on top this often.”

All four of Oxford’s Wednesday Night Acceleration Series divisions were also in action Saturday evening. Vanna Brackett (Ladies); Jake Burns (Trucks); Brady Romano (Rebel No. 1); Zach Audet (Rebel 2); and Keith Landry (Outlaw) all recorded feature wins in front of the large crowd assembled for Fan Appreciation Night. The Acceleration Series teams will conclude their 2008 season Wednesday night.