Oxford 250 weekend a treat for race fans

Ben Rowe of Turner, ME can never be counted out when he competes in long distance race at his home track Oxford Plains Speedway.

Ben Rowe of Turner, ME can never be counted out when he competes in long distance race at his home track Oxford Plains Speedway.

By Lou Modestino

The 41st edition of the Oxford 250 in Oxford, Maine is sure to please the spirits of any and all race fans, young or old! The weekend of July 18 through the 20 has got a diet of exciting events, many of which have never been included in the giant three day weekend.

The weekend kicks off with Sun Journal Night on Friday, July 18th at 7:30pm. The card will feature the ever popular PASS Mods and PASS Sportsman. Joining these two high powered divisions will be the Street Stocks, Outlaws, Sport Trucks, Ladies, Runnin’ Rebels and the all new six cylinder Cruiser division. This opening night will surely get the race fan pumped with excitement about the rest of the weekend.

Night number two, Dunkin’ Donuts Night, on Saturday, July 19th will be the biggest Oxford 250 preliminary night in the history of the Speedway. The card will be filled with top billing events all night long! Five distinctly different classes will be in town that never has competed on Oxford 250 weekend. They include the ground pounding NEMA Midgets and their sister class, the NEMA Lites. These mighty miniature winged warriors will turn unbelievable speeds on the 3/8 mile Speedway. Joining them will be the Northeast Classic Lite Dwarf Cars from Southern, New Hampshire.

These motorcycle engine propelled beasts will keep you on the edge of your seats with their three and four wide racing. For the first time ever, the Wicked Good Vintage Racing Group will compete on Oxford 250 weekend. These vintage race cars put on a whale of a show, and with these competitors, it is full contact racing. You veteran fans will certainly enjoy the nostalgia of the ‘57 Chevys, ‘56 Fords, Studebakers, Chryslers and more. Also on the card will be Outlaw Sportsman and Street Stocks. The night will wrap up with a $4,000 to win, PASS Northeast Late Model Series, 125 lap main event.

This event is Round #2 of the newly formed PASS Series. Some of the Northeast’s biggest Late Model names will be in competition. Post time will be 6 p.m.

Day three will feature the 41st edition of the “Greatest one day racing event in America” the Oxford 250. 250 green flag laps for the Super Late Models featuring cars from the Northeast, Canada and the Southern United States. The Oxford 250 will be a PASS National Championship event, and last year’s return to Super Late Model racing turned out to be one of the best races in forty years of the event. Travis Benjamin made a wild, three wide pass, splitting between lapped cars with one of the boldest moves ever seen. Benjamin held off hard charges by Joey Doiron, Scott Mulkern and Cassius Clark to add his name to the Oxford 250 victory lane history books.

Joining the Super Late Models will be the PASS Modifieds running for the second time this weekend, but this time they will be racing for $1,000 to win. Also on the card will be the brand new Maine Outlaw Series racing for 50 laps, plus a 50 lap NELCAR Legends National Championship event, and our own Street Stocks. Qualifying begins at 2 p.m..