Race Preview Of A Legendary Event, The 2017 Edition Of The Oxford 250

Column By: AMY HARROP / RPW – OXFORD, ME – The Scott’s Recreation Oxford 250 is coming back to Oxford Plains Speedway this weekend, making for an exciting 3-day weekend full of racing. The 250-lap race, which is presented by Fastway Trailer Products, is the 44th annual race.

Sunday alone is jam-packed with racing action, featuring a day full of PASS SLM, PASS Mods, Street Stocks, Legends and Rebels racing action. With over 60 drivers on the entry list for the 250, it’s sure to be a fight just to get onto the big stage come race time on Sunday.

Sunday’s race to the 250 will feature 6 heat races, in which the top 4 drivers qualify for the big show. Following these heat races will be 3 consolation races, where the top 3 drivers from each race will qualify for the 250. Finally, there will be a last chance qualifying heat, where only the winner will advance to the 250. The remaining cars in the field will be set by an OPS point provision and by a handful of promoter provisions. The race will be televised nationwide on MAV TV, so race fans outside of the state of Maine will be able to cheer on their favorite driver from the comfort of their own home. With a big race comes big stakes, with $25,000 being awarded to the race winner and $25,000 in additional money on the line for lap leaders throughout the race. With the race falling on the NASCAR off week, there are some key players in the race that have involvement on NASCAR race teams, but no active Monster Energy Cup Series drivers are racing in the 250 this year.

Derek Kneeland, Westbrook, Maine native and spotter for Chip Ganassi’s own Kyle Larson, will attempt to qualify for the 250. Kneeland finished 15th in the 2013 Oxford 250. He will be running in the Granite State Pro Stock race on Saturday night in hopes of getting some good practice laps in and attempting to lock into the big show on Sunday. There are a lot of potential heavy hitters in the race, including Travis Benjamin, who won the 250 in both 2013 and 2014. Maine racing veteran Kelly Moore will also return to Oxford on Sunday.

Beech Ridge native Curt Gerry is still seeking his first PASS victory. Gerry, the 2016 Beech Ridge Motor Speedway champion and 2017 Beech Ridge Championship contender will be making another run for it on Sunday. Reid Lanpher, 2015 Beech Ridge champion, will join him. Reid is on a hot streak lately, winning the last 2 Pro Series races at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, making for a total of 7 (overall) wins on the season so far. Lanpher won the PASS 300 at Beech Ridge in April, and he is seeking another big win to add to his impressive resume this season.

DJ Shaw, driver of the Dale Shaw Racecars #60 car, won the PASS Open 100 in July at Oxford and is the defending PASS North Champion. He’s definitely another driver to look out for, as is Trevor Sanborn, who is taking a shot at it, driving the #44 car for Richard Moody Racing. Sanborn dominated the Legends Series at Beech Ridge, winning the ‘17 track championship for the division. He hopes to continue this hot streak in a SLM at Oxford.

Joey Pole is another one to look out for. He is a past victor in the Oxford 250, leading 202 laps in the 2012 race, running away with the victory. He’s strong in long races, winning the 2017 PASS 150 at Beech Ridge earlier this season and the 2013 ACT 500. Joey is also the 2014 ACT champion, so he’s proven competitive in both the PASS and ACT Series’. Another Joey, Joey Doiron, was the runner-up in the 2013 Oxford 250 and the former 2015 PASS North champion.

2014 Beech Ridge champion Dave Farrington is making another run for it, as is Cassius Clark, who picked up another PASS win at Speedway 95 in June. He was on a roll in June, also picking up a win in the Nova Truck Centres Make a Wish 150 in the same month. Clark is also a 2013 winner in the PASS 150.

With so many past victors and champions in the entry list, the 250 is sure to be a thrilling race! All racing action starts at 1:30 pm on Sunday at Oxford Plains Speedway!