OXFORD – Under normal circumstances, the ideal passing lane around the 3/8-mile oval at Oxford Plains Speedway is the outside. At most levels of NASCAR, the fastest cars make their most progress on the inside.

With dark, untested, spanking-new pavement transforming Oxford’s second groove into nothing more than a mirage Sunday afternoon, it’s small wonder that a NASCAR touring series veteran returned to his home track and pocketed the winner’s share.

Dale Shaw nudged Mike Maietta Sr. from the lead with 30 laps remaining in the New England Dodge Dealers 100, then cruised to victory in a season-opening Pro Stock open competition race headlined by tire wear and a scoring controversy.

Shaw, of Center Conway, N.H., brushed the front fender of his Dodge against the rear deck of Maietta’s Ford as the leaders weaved through the fourth turn to complete lap 70. Shaw swiped the lead as the two crossed the start-finish line.

Maietta tried to return the favor in the next corner, but Shaw held his ground and quickly amassed a two-second lead.

“I got a run on him there. He wasn’t about to let me have (the spot), and I wasn’t about to let him have it,” said Shaw. “There’s no question that I didn’t have enough room, but that was for the win.”

Six caution flags slowed the race over the first 68 circuits, but the race ran green-to-checkered after Shaw’s pass for the win.

Maietta ran second until an ailing right rear tire took its toll in the closing laps.

Chuck LaChance and Sam Sessions worked their way around Maietta for second and third, respectively. Scott Mulkern, who led the first 37 laps, followed Maietta in fifth.

Brad Hammond’s crew believed that he finished second, as did many spectators. His volunteer scorer failed to chart all 152 total green and yellow flag laps completed, however, and race director Mike Ryan said that the track’s official scorers did not have enough evidence to overturn that decision.

Shaw’s first OPS win in 10 years was never in dispute. His efforts were worth $5,000 and an automatic qualifying spot in July’s True Value 250.

“That means a lot to me,” said Shaw, “because we blew a motor in practice last year and missed the race.”

Maietta, an eight-time Beech Ridge Motor Speedway track champion and now a weekly OPS competitor, acknowledged that the 1994 Busch North Series champion taught him something Sunday.

“I got taken to NASCAR school by Dale,” Maietta said. “He showed me how you move a guy from the inside, out. Dale deserved it. He had a fast car today, and he got what he deserved.”

Sunday’s most painful lesson: a reminder how quickly four pieces of rubber can evaporate on new pavement.

Ben Rowe suffered a flat tire under caution while leading on lap 53. Mulkern, Mike Rowe and Sessions tangled while running first, third and fourth in an effort to avert another ailing car. Mike Rowe later went a lap down when his right front tire lost its air.

David Avery and Joe Bessey ran in the lead pack before late tire woes.

How a driver felt about the asphalt depended largely upon his success or lack thereof at day’s end.

“The track is just beautiful,” said Sessions. “I can’t believe how smooth it is and how fun it is to drive.”

“My right rear tire is junk. It’s gone,” Maietta said.

“I love the surface,” concluded Shaw. “Ben Rowe told me that the guy who hung back was the guy who would win, and I guess he was right.”

Ron Henry, Kenny Harrison, Roy Weymouth, Gerry Burgess and Billy Childs Sr. also logged opening day victories under sunny skies.

In the primary support feature, Henry, who also competed in the Pro Stock main event, made his winning move underneath Mike Stickney with a dozen circuits remaining in a Late Model Stock 30-lapper.

“This is a dream come true,” said Henry. “In all my years racing, I always wanted to win on opening day.”

Jerry Harrison narrowed Henry’s lead to a car length on the final lap but ran out of time and real estate, settling for an LMS career-best second. Ron Charpentier Jr. held off rookie Jeff Moon for third.

Harrison’s brother Kenny led all but the first two laps of the 25-lap Limited Sportsman skirmish, dominating an event slowed by four lengthy caution periods. He was followed by fellow former division champion Carey Martin and Tommy Ricker.

The front was the place to start in twin 20-lap Strictly Stock events, both of which unfolded without a stoppage.

Weymouth drew the pole in the first feature and led from wire to wire with Don Duval closely in tow. Burgess charged from the outside of the front row to match that performance in the second affair, comfortably ahead of David Tripp, Larry Emerson and Jon Brill.

Drivers in each weekly division drew for their starting position on opening day.

Childs and Butch Keene waged a terrific side-by-side tussle in the 20-lap Mini Stock encounter, with Childs’ Ford warding off the Volkswagen of Keene at the checkers. Ralph Felker crossed the stripe third.

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