Oxford 250
Benjamin Wins Second Consecutive Oxford 250
Series Release
The 41st running of the Oxford 250 was a crowd pleaser as sixty of the best Super Late Model teams in the country converged on the small town of Oxford, Maine to participate in the historic event. The fans were treated to over seven hundred laps of racing, with several teams collecting checkered flags, but none as happy and as excited as Travis Benjamin, whom collected his second straight $25,000 payday, plus lap money.
Forty-four Super Late Models lined up on the grid with Concord, N.C. speedster, Preston Peltier and Turner, Maine’s, Shawn Martin filling the front row when the green flag flew. Peltier jumped to lead and held the point for the first 21 laps with the exception of lap six when Kelley Moore edged him out at the stripe. Joey Doiron raced by Peltier on lap 21 and held the point for the next 66 laps with Austin Theriault, Shawn Martin, Scott Mulkern and Moore in tow. Theriault held the lead through four restarts before he and Travis Benjamin pitted for tires and fuel on lap 185, setting the stage for a storybook ending. Cassius Clark took over the lead from Theriault as pit stops completely changed the lineup around. DJ Shaw, Richie Dearborn, Scott Moore and Johnny Clark were all now in the top five and ready to challenge for the lead. Clark held the lead all the way until lap 220 when Richie Dearborn edged him to the stripe when the final caution waved.
Dearborn took the lead at the green, but Benjamin and Theriault were right on his heels. Benjamin made his move on lap 227, grabbed the lead and set sail towards the checkers. His only obstacles included heavy lapped traffic, and the #57 of Theriault. Theriault tried every move in the books looking inside and outside, but Benjamin would not be denied his second Oxford 250 win in a row. Theriault raced home second from his sixth starting position, ahead of Dearborn who actually had to take a provisional to get into the event. Dearborn started 40th on the grid. Cassius Clark took home the 4th spot ahead of OPS regular, TJ Brackett. Rounding out the top ten were Tyler Dippel, Derek Ramstrom, Ben Rowe, David Oliver and Shawn Martin.
Heat checkers flew for Peltier, Martin, Kelley Moore, Tim Brackett, Daniel Hemric and Theriault. Consi victors were DJ Shaw, Benjamin, and Brent Dragon. David Farrington Jr. was awarded the win in the Last Chance Race as apparent winner Travis King failed post race inspection as his car was too low.
Oxford 250 sidebar: Travis Benjamin started 27th and drove to the win.
1) 17 – Travis Benjamin – 250 Laps
2) 57 – Austin Theriault- 250
3) 33 – Richie Dearborn – 250
4) 77 – Cassius Clark- 250
5) 61 – TJ Brackett – 250
6) 1 – Tyler Dippel – 250
7) 35 – Derek Ramstrom – 250
8) 4 – Ben Rowe – 250
9) 21 – David Oliver – 250
10) 94 – Shawn Martin – 250
11) 73 – Joey Doiron – 250
12) 60n – DJ Shaw – 250
13) 54 – Johnny Clark – 250
14) 55vt – Brent Dragon- 250
15) 03 – Scott Moore – 250
16) 00 – Brian Kruczek – 249
17) 60 – Tim Brackett – 249
18) 24 – Mike Rowe – 249
19) 29 – Trevor Sanborn – 249
20) 73me – Adam Polvinen – 249
21) 27nh – Wayne Helliwell Jr. – 249
22) 44 – Kyle Treadwell – 248
23) 25 – Shawn Knight – 248
24) 41 – Daniel Hemric – 248
25) 23 – Dave Farrington Jr. – 247
26) 8F – Tate Fogleman – 247
27) 16 – Travis Stearns – 246
28) 09 – Jeremy Davis – 246
29) 72 – Chris Coolidge – 245
30) 54x – Shane Green – 245
31) 28 – Mark Lundblad Jr. – 239
32) 74 – Preston Peltier – 239
33) 38 – Alan Tardiff – 216
34) 14 – Scott McDaniel – 182
35) 84 – Scott Mulkern – 124
36) 7L – Glen Luce – 124
37) 47 – Kelly Moore – 124
38) 53 – Alan Wilson – 122
39) 36 – Scott Robbins – 120
40) 19 – Steve Park – 114
41) 7 – Curtis Geary – 114
42) 75 – Gary Smith – 103
43) 37 – Larry Gelinas – 57
44) 14me – Brad Babb – 20