Jimmy Renfrew Jr With a Statement Win in The Oxford 125 with the American-Canadian Tour
Column By: Stephen Durham / RPW – OXFORD, M.E. – On Friday night in the Yvon Bedard 109 with the American-Canadian Tour, Renfrew came up 2 spots short, finishing third. Saturday would be a much different outcome, as he’d grab the lead the 2nd lap, and lead every lap from there on to win The Oxford 125.
Renfrew Jr. started the Oxford 125 in 2nd, outside of Geoff Rollings. He would take the lead on the 2nd lap, and hold onto that lead despite numerous cautions throughout the race.
Renfrew was able to defend the lead against multiple contenders like, Erick Sands(36nh) and Derek Gluchacki(03ma).
Multiple cautions flew during the final 30 laps of the Oxford 125, with the final caution coming out on lap 122, with the top 5 running with Renfrew Jr leading, followed by Erick Sands(36nh), Raphael Lessard(48qc), Derek Gluchacki(03ma), and Gabe Brown(47nh).
On that final restart, Renfrew jumped out front, and Sands tried to hold strong on the outside, but Lessard made quick work of the Sands and moved into 2nd. Lessard wouldn’t be able to track down Renfrew in the final couple of laps.
For Renfrew, it was a special win for him and meant a little extra something for him.
“I’ve raced at Oxford a long time, and I’ve struggled a lot. Tonight, we executed like we needed to,” Renfrew Jr explains, “I felt like we had a shot last night(Friday night), but didn’t want to rough Gabe up for the win. I promised my guys I would make it up to them, and come back tonight and get this one. I can’t thank those guys enough.”
With numerous cautions within the last 30 laps of the Oxford 125, Renfrew Jr wasn’t too concerned, but definitely didn’t want them.
“I didn’t want to see a couple of those cautions, especially in the last 10 laps or so, but the car was really dominant,” Renfrew Jr says “I knew as long as I could be leading by three/four car lengths on the restarts, I would be alright.”
Renfrew Jr. will finish up his weekend with trying to race his way into The Oxford 250 Sunday, and is feeling good after being P12 in practice on Saturday.
“Feel pretty good, if we can keep it close for tomorrow, I think we’ll be alright,” Renfrew Jr says, “just going to be the luck of the draw and making it in through the heat race. I think as long as we get in the race, then run a smart 250 laps, I think we’ll be alright, and have a shot there at the end.”
Jimmy Renfrew Jr. says he is very thankful for all his supporters and team around him.
“I can’t thank all of these guys enough, my sponsors, and my parents enough for everything they do for me,” a proud Jimmy Renfrew Jr says “just really happy to get a win here at Oxford after so many years of trying and pick-up another win on the ACT tour.”
The Oxford 250 Day gets underway with heat races at 1:30PM. The PASS super late model draw will set the heat race line-ups, with the heat races set for 20 laps. Also on the race program Sunday at Oxford Plains Speedway is streets, limited late models, PASS modifieds, and the New England Supermodified Series.
