TJ Brackett
Two-time track champion TJ Brackett powers off Turn 4 at Oxford Plains Speedway earlier this season. Brackett finally broke a streak of no-repeat winners in the premier class with his second win of the season last Saturday night. 

Two-time track champion TJ Brackett took the lead from Auburn’s Travis Stearns for the final time with just six laps remaining and hung on to claim his second Super Late Model feature win of the season Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Brackett, of Buckfield, who earned Pro Late Model titles at Oxford in 2013 and 2014, swapped the lead with Stearns a few times as they battled side-by-side in the closing laps. Brackett slowly began to pull away, and his margin of victory was just over a full second.

Rhode Island native Kyle DeSouza made a rare Oxford start pay off with a third-place finish. Auburn native Kyle Treadwell fought his way to a fourth-place finish, while SLM rookie Ryan Robbins of Dixfield rounded out the top five.

Bryce Mains of Bridgton continued his recent hot streak, earning his sixth win of 2017 in the 30-lap Street Stock feature. Mains took the lead from Matt Dufault at lap 11 and hung on for top honors.

Tyler King, of Livermore, made a late charge into second position, while point leader Billy Childs Jr. of Leeds filled out the podium in third. Poland’s David Whittier came home fourth, while Dufault faded to fifth at the finish.

Mechanic Falls-based racer Richard Kimball raced to a career-first victory in a 20-lap tilt for the entry-level Bandit class. Kimball quickly moved up through traffic to take control in a caution-free race with 28 cars.

Chad Wills of Oxford outgunned Kyle Hewins Motorsports teammate Adam Sanborn of West Paris for runner-up honors. Defending class champion Jamie Heath, of Waterford, raced from the back of the pack to finish fourth without the benefit of a caution flag, while Travis Verrill crossed the stripe in fifth.

Longtime Figure 8 racer David Smith of South Paris claimed victory in a wild 15-lap feature. Tommy Tompkins posted a solid runner-up finish, while Kyle Kilgore passed a slew of cars to finish third. Eric Hodgkins of Minot and Lisbon’s Dale Lawrence rounded out the top five.

Corey Hall, of Jolicure, New Brunswick, emerged triumphant in the 25-lap battle for INEX Legends Cars. New Hampshire invader Thomas Everson of Gilmanton claimed runner-up honors, with the podium filled out by Windham’s Austin Teras. Poland’s Peter Craig was fourth, followed by Buxton’s Colby Meserve. 

Gerry on top at The Ridge

Defending track champion Curtis Gerry powered to his third Pro Series victory of 2017 in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action Saturday night at the Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.

Gerry, of Waterboro, distanced himself from the field as he crossed the stripe more than two seconds ahead of runner-up Brandon Barker. Gerry unofficially took over the points lead from Manchester’s Reid Lanpher, who filled out the podium in third.

Nick Cusack (Scarborough) and former track champion Mike Rowe (Turner) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

In Sport Series action, longtime Beech Ridge master Richard Pelton added to his impressive career resume with another feature win. Pelton, of Scarborough, outgunned Gorham school teacher Sally Gherardi for top honors, while Windham’s Reggie Leeman filled out the podium in third.

Mike St. Pierre (Buxton) and short track veteran Clyde Hennessey (Windham) completed the top five.

Adam Lovejoy raced to his second consecutive and fourth overall feature win of 2017 in the Wildcat division. The Alfred-based racer held off his brother and eventual runner-up Travis Lovejoy in the closing laps, while defending class champion Lewis Anderson put in another solid performance to finish third.

Ryan Lund (Westbrook) and Zach Nicholson (Center Ossipee, New Hampshire) rounded out the top five, as Beech Ridge continues to deliver impressive weekly short track racing. 

Melcher still on a roll at Wiscasset

Logan Melcher has been enjoying a dream season down on the mid-coast at Richard and Vanessa Jordan’s Wiscasset Speedway. The second generation driver from Jay won his fifth consecutive feature in a makeup race for the Thunder 4 Mini class on Saturday night in convincing fashion.

Brian Sweatt, of Albion, finished second in that 25-lap makeup battle, while South China’s Travis Poulliot filled out the podium in third. Spencer Sweatt (Albion) and Michael Golding (Pownal) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the night’s regular show, Poulliot put an end to Melcher’s win streak with his own victory. He nipped Melcher at the line by a scant 0.282 seconds to score the biggest win of his career.

Briant Sweatt capped a stellar night of racing with a strong third-place run, while Spencer Sweatt and Don Mooney completed the top five.

The Super Street class also ran a pair of features Saturday at Wiscasset. Oakland’s Sean Johnson won the makeup race, while Josh Bailey of Wiscasset and Benton’s Barry Poulin finished second and third. Mark Lucas (Harpswell) and Zac Poland (Wiscasset) rounded out the top five.

In the nightcap, Bailey took over the points lead with his first victory of the 2017 season. Johnson settled for second, while Lucas filled out the podium in third. Poland and Mike Hodgkins (Jefferson) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Kamren Knowles rounded out the list of feature winners on Saturday, driving to victory in a 25-lap tilt for the New England 4-Cylinder Pro division. Ryan Hayes (Jefferson) and Larry Melcher (Jay) put in solid performances to finish second and third in a hotly-contested feature race.