Could This Weekend’s 45thAnnual Oxford 250 Be The Best Yet?
NAPLES, ME (August 23) – With nearly 70 entries and campers already covering the grounds of Oxford Plains Speedway, anticipation for this weekend’s 45thAnnual Clark’s Scrap Metal Oxford 250 has reached a fever pitch. The best Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model drivers from across the United States and Canada are currently arriving for Maine’s largest sporting event. An event that is expected to attract over 10,000 fans to the area over the course of the weekend.
Last year’s winner, Curtis Gerry, is clearly the favorite to become the first back-to-back winner of the 250 since Travis Benjamin accomplished the feat in 2014. In addition to winning the 250 last year, the native of Waterboro, ME, has won the last four PASS North Super Late Model races at Oxford Plains and that has him excited about his prospects this weekend.
“It is an awesome feeling knowing that we have such momentum going with this winning streak, but it’s very stressful also,” says Gerry, driver of the #7 Ripley & Fletcher Ford. “We have a great car and just need a good draw [in the heat races] and a clean race and we’ll see where we end up.”
One of the most talked up drivers coming to the Clark’s Scrap Metal Oxford 250 this weekend is Senoia, GA’s, Bubba Pollard. Pollard has been one of the most successful Super Late Model drivers in the country over the last decade and recently got locked in to the 250 by virtue of his PASS South win at South Boston Speedway. Coming to Oxford for the first time, Pollard will team with former two-time Oxford 250 winner, Ben Rowe, in their Senneker Performance Chassis to try and help speed up his learning curve in the big race.
“Getting locked in to Oxford was huge, it’s big,” says Pollard, driver of the Harrison’s Work Gear Ford #26. “Oxford is gonna be a tough field, those guys are good. We’ve been working hard all year to try and make that our race to focus on, so I hope we can do it.”
Canadians have been a big part of the Oxford 250 since Ontario’s Don Biederman became the first Canuck to win in 1977. Several Canadian drivers are once again entered this year, with Nova Scotia’s, Cole Butcher, being one of the most successful. Butcher hopes to end Canada’s winless streak in the 250 by becoming the first Canadian to win since Dave Whitlock in 1995.
“We left for Oxford on Wednesday and are staying the whole weekend,” says Butcher, driver of the Atlantic Tiltload #53. “We’re putting a lot of effort into the 250. The competition is always so tough at Oxford, but we think we will have something for them this time around.”
The competition will be keen this year and hard to predict with the starting lineup being determined by the ever-exciting heat races. When looking at local Super Late Model shows at Oxford Plains, it makes predicting the winner of the 250 even harder. Brandon Barker and Ivan Kaffel recently scored their first Super Late Model wins there, while three-time Oxford 250 winner, Mike Rowe, picked up the win last weekend.
And then there are the championship contenders. DJ Shaw and Travis Benjamin competing for the PASS North title, while Derek Griffith, Ray Christian, III, Ben Rowe, and Kodie Conner are all in the thick for the PASS National Championship.
The 45thAnnual Clark’s Scrap Metal Oxford 250 will go green on Sunday afternoon, August 26 with the heat races to determine the starting lineup going green at 1:30 PM for the PASS Super Late Models, PASS Modifieds, Rebels, Street Stocks, and NEMST. With the possibility of $50,000 going to the winner, the Oxford 250 is the biggest single day event in motorsports, with nearly 70 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models expected to compete in the qualifying heats and main event, and it is all held on Sunday, August 26. In addition to the showcase event on Sunday, fans will have the chance to enjoy a full weekend of racing at Oxford Plains Speedway. It will all begin on Friday, August 24 when the PASS Super Late Models will get their first chance to take to the track for practice. Beginning at 6:30 PM, a full slate of heat and feature racing gets under way for the Outlaws, Rebels, Street Stocks, Cruisers, Trucks, Ladies, Legends, and Bandits.
On Saturday, August 25, the PASS Super Late Models will have another opportunity to practice before heats and features begin for the ACT Late Models, PASS Modifieds, Street Stocks, NEMST Cyclones, NE Lites, and Wicked Good.
Entry forms and the complete weekend schedule for the 45thAnnual Clark’s Scrap Metal Oxford 250, along with the inaugural PASS Commonwealth Classic at Richmond Raceway, are available at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
The Pro All Stars Series is recognized as North America’s premier sanctioning body for asphalt Super Late Models and boasts such marquee events as the legendary Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, the Easter Bunny 150 at historic Hickory Motor Speedway, and the PASS Commonwealth Classic at Richmond Raceway. For media or marketing questions, please contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or alandietzpass@live.com. Please visit ProAllStarsSeries.com for more information and don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.
Sources: Alan Dietz/PASS PR