OXFORD – T.J. Brackett used a good chassis setup and a level head to capture the Yankee Communications Iron Man event for the Late Model Stock division Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway. Brackett edged out Dave Raymond and Dale Verrill to take top honors in the “Fandemonium” portion of the new series.

“I’ve been trying for one of these all year,” Brackett said in Victory Lane. “I didn’t have a car capable of winning, but it was fast enough to get solid finishes in each segment. I’ve got to thank my dad (Timmy) for all the help he provides, he has done so much to help my career along. I knew the final tally would be close, but am glad we pulled it off.”

Shawn Martin and Dale Verrill battled side-by-side for most of the final 25-lap segment as the crowd roared.. Their duel was one of the best seen all season, and proved why the LMS division is called the most competitive at the speedway. Verrill eventually won out and claimed the segment win, which placed him third in the overall rundown. Dave Raymond of Scarborough finished second to Brackett overall, while Martin and Buddy Leavitt completed the top five.

Ricky Rolfe, Steve Bennett Sr., Larry Emerson and Larry Melcher were also feature winners Saturday on Bancroft Contracting night at the track.

It was a busy night at the famed 3/8 mile oval, as the Strictly Stock division also ran their Fandemonium Iron Man event after rain forced a makeup.

Melcher received a late-summer gift in the 30-lap Mini Stock feature, inheriting the lead on lap 15 when polesitter and leader Greg Durgin tangled with a hard-charging Ralph Felker. Bill Childs Sr. was closing rapidly in the closing laps but had to settle for second, while son Jim finished third. Bill Thibeault of Oxford and Wilton’s Ben Audet rounded out the top five.

Verrill earned the win in the first segment for the ultra-competitive Late Model Stock division. Lewiston’s Corey Morgan drove to a solid second while point leader Martin finished third. With a field inversion before segment number two, big guns Verrill and Martin would have a challenge getting through traffic.

The inversion put Chris Hatstat on the pole, and he jumped out to the early lead with Billy Childs Jr. and Travis Adams in tow.

Hatstat got a little overanxious on a lap five restart and was sent to the rear of the field. Adams was happy to take command, but faced a strong challenge from Bill Childs Jr. who drove around on the outside to grab the lead. Ricky Morse pulled up on the back bumper of Adams to contest for second but knocked himself out of contention when he made contact in turn three and spun out. Childs held off Adams to win while David Bath finished third.

Bennett drove to a dominating win in the 35-lap Limited Sportsman feature. Neil Martin and Matt Williams led the field to green under a gorgeous nearly-full moon.

Doug Poland came up to challenge in the early going, putting on a terrific side-by-side battle with Bennett for second place. Terry Merrill was the next to make his presence known, working the high groove to his advantage and getting the lead in lap 15. On lap 20, Bennett dove down to the bottom and pulled alongside Merrill, and executed the pass on the next circuit. Merrill came home second while point leader Dennis Spencer Jr. finished third to extend his margin slightly over Carey Martin. Williams and Poland completed the top five.

Emerson earned the overall Iron Man title for the Strictly Stocks with consistent drives in the first two segments and a win in the third. Local favorite Sumner Sessions won the third segment and settled for second in the overall standings, while Auburn’s Mike Short finished third.

Roy Weymouth and Ben Tinker of Gray completed the top five in a hotly-contested support event. Unofficially, Emerson wrapped up the 2004 points championship with the victory. He and Carey Marin, who finished tenth last night, battle all season long for top honors.

Rolfe captured an exciting Pro Stock feature that saw 21 well-prepared cars take the green flag. Polesitter Charlie Colby of Newcastle, a regular at Wiscasset Raceway, stepped out to the early lead with Shane Lane and Tommy Tompkins in tow. Tompkins was the unlucky recipient of Al Hammond’s hood after Hammond spun around on the backstretch. Rolfe inherited the lead on lap 35 when Winthrop’s Jeff White began experiencing mechanical problems. Bill Whorff Jr. drove to a solid second while point contender Timmy Brackett finished third. Hebron’s Alan Wilson and Mike Maietta Jr. completed the top five.