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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25th, 2024 |
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www.barharbor.bank |
2024
OXFORD 250 LAP BOARD |
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We would like to thank
everyone who made this 250 Weekend a success.
It takes a lot of people to make this thing work.
This year we had the challenge of Mother Nature
during the 250.
We want to thank all of the fans who waited patiently
during the rain delay.
And a huge thanks to our volunteer track drying
heroes. Without
your help the rain delay would have been really long.
With your help we were able to get the race completed in
a reasonable amount of time.
Thank you so much! |
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SLM ENTRIES - OPS - OXFORD 250 - 8-25 |
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proallstarsseries.com/NESS-SUPERMODIFIEDS |
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SUN. NESS ENTRIES - OPS - 8-25 |
LIMITEDS
STREET STOCKS |
DJ
SHAW - JEFF TAYLOR - BUBBA POLLARD
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LIMITEDS |
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STREET STOCKS |
...coming... |
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Jeff Taylor
Holds Off Bubba Pollard
for Elusive
Oxford 250 Triumph |
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by Tim Packmsn - Racing America
News |
When the checkered flag finally waved over the
51st Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Oxford 250, it was
nine-time Oxford Plains Speedway track champion Jeff
Taylor standing tall next to his No. 88 in Victory Lane.
After battling 41 other competitors and enduring a
three-hour rain delay, Taylor won the Oxford Plains
Speedway’s prestigious race for the very first time in
28 attempts.
It was a reflective and slightly
shocked driver talking about his win afterwards.
“I honestly don’t know how we won,” the Farmington,
Maine native shared. “I can’t believe this, we don’t run
full-time like a lot of these other drivers. I can tell
you one thing, that rain delay really helped this car
out a lot.
“There are so many people who helped
us out. We just threw a team of volunteers together to
beat these other teams. It’s unbelievable, it really is
something.
In the closing laps, Taylor withstood
a fierce challenge from 2018 Oxford 250 winner Bubba
Pollard. Taylor successfully defended the bottom lane to
hold off Pollard for the win.
“We had the track
position, and I’ve watched Bubba Pollard race enough to
know I needed to just stay on the bottom. He had the
outside to pass me if he wanted.”
Pollard came up
one position short of repeating his 2018 Oxford 250
victory and appreciated how the race ended.
“It
was good. I don’t like running second, but I’m okay with
how it ended with Jeff winning.” Pollard said. “This is
big for him, his family and team.
“This is what
short track racing is all about. I love coming up here
to Oxford. There were a lot of people who helped me get
here this weekend, and I can’t thank them enough.”
The Oxford 250 starting line-up had 42 drivers
taking the green flag, which guaranteed all kinds of
action would take place around the 3/8-mile Oxford
Plains Speedway. Adding in pit stops, tire strategy,
race strategy and weather strategy made the event more
interesting.
Leading the field to green was Ryan
Kuhn and Joey Doiron in the front row. They took off and
battled for the lead in the early going with Doiron
taking the lead from Kuhn by lap six.
Negotiating
lap traffic by lap 21 slowed Doiron and Kuhn down just
enough to allow their competitors to close in. One
driver taking advantage of it was Derek Griffith,
running third at the time.
At the lap-50 mark,
Griffith worked his way to second and began closing in
on the leader of Doiron as they negotiated the slower
cars. The first caution of the night took place on lap
52 to rerack the field.
Multiple teams hit pit
road with some taking two and others four tires, while
checking tire pressures to improve handling.
Doiron and Griffith led the way on the Lap 53 restart
and quickly tried to separate themselves from the field.
Kuhn was in third with a hard-charging Bubba Pollard
working the high side.
After another restart on
Lap 56, Pollard really let the leaders know he was there
to race by taking over second place. After looking to
the outside and inside of the leader Kuhn, Pollard
powered his way past Kuhn with 181 laps to go.
From there, they raced side-by-side for multiple laps
battling for the lead until a caution three laps later
showing Doiron as the leader. With all eyes on the
Senoia, Georgia native of Pollard to the outside of
Berwick, Maine’s Doiron, the race resumed to see who
would lead next.
With 34 cars still on the lead
lap, Doiron continued to lead Pollard as Griffith now
joined the top three. Pollard surrendered second to
Griffith with 165 laps remaining, who then fell into the
clutches of DJ Shaw who took over third place on lap 89.
Under two more cautions, Pollard and many other
leaders hit pit road for tires, mostly two, and
adjustments. The phrase “cautions breed cautions” was in
full effect from laps 98 to 105.
On the ensuing
restarts, Doiron worked the wheel holding off Griffith,
Shaw and Sanborn. Behind them, their fellow competitors
were racing two and three wide to gain positions.
After a long-green flag run, and just nine laps from
the halfway point of the race, Mother Nature showed up
as rain forced the field onto pit road.
After the
three-hour rain delay, the 34 remaining cars tried to
get a feel for the freshly washed surface. Doiron and
Griffith set the pace from the front row when the green
flag waved.
Behind them, a three-car pile-up
happened on the frontstretch with them all coming to
rest under the flag stand.
On Lap 122, a light
rain started again bringing out the caution. This time,
cars remained out to keep some heat in the track to
continue racing sooner.
Once the Oxford 250
restarted, a 10-car wreck took place on Lap 124 in Turn
1 sending several cars pit side and done for the night.
Until this point, the leader of Doiron had still not
been to pit road.
Race strategy for his team was
paramount as to when he would pit, and how many tires
he’d take. Other teams were also paying attention,
because the second-place car of Griffith had been passed
and was back to fourth.
Garrett Hall and Mike
Hopkins were now in second and third, respectively, and
chasing down the leader of Doiron. With 113 laps
remaining, the caution came out and this was when Doiron
hit pit road taking four tires, fuel and adjustments.
Hall and Hopkins also came to the attention of their
crew to take four tires. Griffith decided to remain out
and take over the lead, Moltz would line up second for
the restart.
Griffin would be passed for the lead
by DJ Shaw with 95 laps remaining, who overtook him on
the outside and quickly separated himself from the
second to seventh positions.
On lap 175, Shaw had
a 4.1-second lead over Griffith, Moltz and Pollard, who
had returned to the top five running order after an
earlier pit stop put him back to 28th place. Five laps
later, Pollard had moved to second and was on the
charge.
A caution 10 laps later allowed Griffith
to finally pit for tires, but problems changing the left
front cost him valuable track position. Also pitting was
Pollard, giving up second place.
Shaw and Gabe
Brown showed the way for the restart, which was followed
by another caution. The pace of the race picked up with
a long green flag run that included Pollard breaking
back into the top five, Taylor taking over second, Brown
to third and Pollard fourth.
With 43 to go,
Pollard raced his way to third with the leader of Shaw
working his way through lap traffic. Taylor started
looking to the outside of Shaw with 35 laps remaining as
Pollard closed in on them both.
The scoreboard
showed 30 laps remaining when Shaw, Taylor and Pollard
were running within .1 seconds of each other battling
for position. Taylor took the lead five laps later, but
now lap traffic was becoming a factor as Pollard leaped
into second.
Pollard was filling the rearview
mirror of Taylor as he chased him around the track.
Looking to the inside and outside of the leader, Pollard
was looking for a way to take the lead.
Taylor
was looking for his first Oxford 250 victory, Pollard
his second as he kept trying to the outside. That didn’t
work, so Pollard backed off a bit to cool his tires.
Five laps remained when Taylor started to pull away
from Pollard with a three-car length lead. When the
checkered flag waved, Taylor took the win and his very
first Oxford 250.
Pollard was second and Shaw
third at the stripe. |
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How The Field
Is Set:
Qualifying For The Oxford
250 |
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by Racing America
News |
As is the norm in
Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model
Series events, there is no single-car time trial
or qualifying against the stopwatch. Instead, an
expanded format with heat races, consis and a
last-chance qualifier determine which of the
60-plus drivers entered will make up the
starting field for the main event.
Here
is a breakdown of how Sunday, August 25 will
look for Super Late Model competitors in the
51st Annual Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Oxford 250.
As always, specific details are tentative and
subject to change, and you can stay up to date
on race day by following Racing America.
The Draw
While most Super Late Model teams will be at
Oxford Plains Speedway throughout the weekend
practicing, and perhaps even competing in
Friday's Open Comp 200, the entirety of the
Oxford 250 racing program takes place on Sunday.
The day begins with a blind drawing on the
frontstretch to determine heat race lineups. It
may be one of the most anticipated draws of the
year in short-track racing, as fans will already
be in the grandstands eagerly awaiting to see
where their favorite driver will start the day.
One by one, numbers are written onto the
lineup board as drivers - or their crew members,
children, or other "lucky charms" - draw their
fate, setting the stage for the upcoming heat
races. This draw could give a driver a front-row
seat for their heat race, or a long day of
trying to pass cars to make the show.
The Heat Races
Following the draw, teams will prepare for the
heat races. While the exact number of heat races
and transfers varies based on entry counts, last
year's Oxford 250 saw five heat races, with the
top-five finishers in each heat race
transferring directly to the Oxford 250. These
drivers will have the best starting spots for
the 250, with the winner of the first heat race
starting on the pole for the main event.
However, the last driver to win the Oxford 250
from pole position was Ben Rowe in 2003.
Perhaps more importantly, those drivers who
transfer get to keep their car off track for the
rest of the afternoon until the start of the
250, and teams can make any necessary
adjustments to prepare for the big race. For
those missing the cutoff, there is still more
racing ahead.
The Consolation Races
The next
stop for drivers who haven't yet earned a spot
in the Oxford 250 are the consolation races.
This is where intensity and desperation will
begin to ramp up, as no driver wants to face the
prospect of having to win the Last Chance
Qualifier. However, competitors will only have
20 laps to work their way into a transfer
position.
The
Last Chance Qualifier
At this
point in the program, just one starting spot in
Oxford 250 grid is available on merit. Only the
winner of the Last Chance Qualifier will move on
to the main event. It may seem like a lot of
effort just to start behind so many cars, but
anything can happen once you're in the big race.
After all, Mike Rowe won the 2005 Oxford 250
from the 37th starting position after winning
that year's Last Chance Qualifier.
Once
the field of qualifiers is set, there will be
select provisionals awarded based on
qualifications set forth by PASS and Oxford
Plains Speedway. For instance, we know Trevor
Sanborn and Austin Teras hold provisionals after
winning qualifiers for those respective
sanctioning bodies in the past month. However,
they'll both be eager to earn a much better
starting position by racing their way into the
250. Drivers must make every attempt to qualify
into the field on their own merit to officially
be granted a provisional on race day.
Fans can watch every lap of the action live on
RacingAmerica.TV this weekend.
CLICK HERE to order your broadcast today and
watch all weekend long, including every lap of
qualifying for the 51st Annual Bar Harbor Bank &
Trust Oxford 250. |
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barharbor.bank |
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BAR HARBOR BANK & TRUST TO SPONSOR THE OXFORD 250! |
Naples ME - Officials at the Pro All Stars Series (PASS)
and Oxford Plains Speedway (OPS) are thrilled to
announce Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has agreed to be the
title partner for the 51st annual Oxford 250. The Bar
Harbor Bank & Trust Oxford 250 is known as one of the
biggest short track races in the country and will be
contested on August 25th 2024.
Bar Harbor Bank &
Trust has been serving the financial needs of Northern
New England residents and businesses since it was
founded in 1887. Recognized by Forbes as one of the
"World's Best Banks" for multiple years, Bar Harbor Bank
& Trust offers a full range of personal and business
banking services and wealth management services through
its subsidiary, Bar Harbor Wealth Management. Bar Harbor
Bank & Trust provides the technology offerings and
capabilities you would expect from a larger bank, as
well as a personal approach to banking that customers
desire, including a full-service network of more than 50
branches and 90 ATMs across Maine, New Hampshire, and
Vermont.
"As an award-winning bank, we
understand the commitment and hard work it takes to take
the checkered flag, which is why we are proud to sponsor
the 51st Annual Oxford 250," said Joseph Schmitt, SVP,
Chief Marketing Officer at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. "The
Oxford 250 is one of the world's best short track races,
and we look forward to an exciting day of racing on
August 25."
The Oxford 250 is widely known as one
of the premier short track races in America. Starting
off as a 200 lap event in 1974 won by Joey Kourafas, the
Oxford 250 quickly morphed into the biggest one day
short track race in America that every racer dreamed of
winning. Nationally known racers like Kyle Busch, Kevin
Harvick, Ricky Craven, and Bubba Pollard have won
previous editions of the crown jewel, while many others
like Jeff Gordon, Kenny Wallace, and Brothers Bobby and
Terry Labonte have attempted. Home track advantage often
provides a needed edge for drivers like Mike Rowe, Dave
Dion, and Ralph Nason who have all etched their name on
the trophy multiple times throughout their illustrious
careers.
With $25,000 plus lap money up for
grabs, 49 of the best drivers in the country have
already entered the 51st annual Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
Oxford 250. To see the current and up to date list
please go the Pro All Stars Series Website at www.proallstarsseries.com
Also in action over the three day extravaganza will
be the New England Super Modified Series (NESS), The
Kennebec Equipment Rental PASS MODS, The Little Webbs
Market 350 Super Series, along with all the OPS support
divisions. A full event schedule will be released in the
coming weeks. For those wishing to stay on the grounds,
camping information is posted on www.Oxfordplains.com
For more information on Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, please
visit them on social media at https://www.facebook.com/BHBTSocial/ or
their website at barharbor.bank.
To take advantage of marketing opportunities at the
Pro All Stars Series or Oxford Plains Speedway or to buy
a lap or many please call 207-577-1836 or inquire at OPSmarketing50@gmail.com
Oxford Plains Speedway is the largest spectator
sporting facility in Maine with a capacity of over
14,000 people. The 3/8-mile asphalt oval located in
Oxford, Maine is celebrating its 75th year of racing in
2024.
For technical information concerning all
PASS divisions please contact passracing@roadrunner.com or
call Jason Ricker 704-881-4429
Don't forget to
"Like" the Pro All Stars Series and the PASS MODS
touring series on Facebook. |
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Oxford 250 SLM drivers Tim Brackett, Derek
Kneeland,
Kate Re, Trevor Sanborn, Joey
Doiron, DJ Shaw,
& Johhny Clark |
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Photos by Sharon Perry |
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Lap Leader
Programs Open for the
Oxford 250 & All That’s
Metal 300 |
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2024 OXFORD 250 LAP BOARD |
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2024
COA 300 LAP BOARD |
Oxford, ME and
Naples, ME -- Officials at Oxford Plains
Speedway (OPS) and the Pro All Stars Series
(PASS) announced today that the popular lap
leader programs are officially open for their
two marquis events in 2024, the Oxford 250 and
the All That's Metal Celebration of America 300.
The Oxford 250 will have the traditional $100
laps while the 300 will feature $50 lap
sponsorships up for grabs. Those wishing to
participate will be given the option of the same
laps in both races when available.
The
lap leader program was introduced in the 1981
Oxford 250 as a way to add a unique twist to the
strategy of a long distance race. The initial
program paid $50 per lap to the leader, before
growing to $100 per lap in 1984 and where it has
stayed since that time. This year's early
January opening marks earliest launch ever for
the lap leader program.
"With two big
events at Oxford this year we wanted to get a
jump start on filling up these laps," Said PASS
President Tom Mayberry. "These programs are a
good way to add in some strategy to a long
distance race and in some cases there are some
low budget teams that earn a great payday by
leading a bunch of laps, which really helps
them."
Every single lap of the past two
Oxford 250s were sold for the 49th and 50th
annual edition of the late summer classic, and
officials with OPS and PASS hope to accomplish
the feat again for both of these races in 2024.
Laps sponsors are made available to
businesses for advertising purposes, so those
sponsoring 3 lap blocks or more are able to
include a logo and number or link on the
leaderboards. Oxford 250 laps at $100 will go
directly to the leader of that lap while the $50
laps for the 300 will see $25 to the leader $25
to help support the purse.
Laps are also
offered to individuals who wish to send a
message of support to their favorite driver,
celebrate a birthday, or even in memory of a
loved one. All lap sponsors are displayed on the
OPS and PASS websites and in person at the
speedway with a billboard in the main concourse.
To sponsor a lap or many, contact Mary
between 9am and 7pm at 207-693-6497 or Kevin at
207-577-1836.
To take advantage of
marketing opportunities at the Pro All Stars
Series or Oxford Plains Speedway please call
207-577-1836 or inquire at
OPSmarketing50@gmail.com.
For
technical information concerning all PASS
divisions please contact
passracing@roadrunner.com or call Jason
Ricker 704-881-4429 |
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