The Green Flag Drops For the 49th Annual Oxford 250 This Sunday

It's a big weekend at Oxford Plains Speedway as the biggest Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model race, the 49th annual Oxford 250 gets underway.

Growing up in the Oxford Hills, I remember that the "250" was always a big deal for the area. Back then it was part of NASCAR and you saw many big-name NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers come to Oxford Plains to race in the 250. Names like Geoff Bodine, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Maine's own Ricky Craven.  They would race 250 laps with lots of local New England drivers around the 0.375 mile track in front of a crowd of 14,000 fans.

In the days leading up to the 250, you'd see the parking lot start to line up with RVs from all over the country that traveled to see this race that has been held at Oxford Plains since 1974.

I remember in the 70s and 80s being able to hear the roar of those engines at my house 5 miles from the track, as the crow flies, two towns over in South Paris. It was faint, but you certainly knew what it was.

This year's Oxford 250's green flag drops at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 28th, but there are events all weekend long including a kickoff party at the track on Thursday with live music at the Crash Pad Bar and Lounge in turn 1. There will also be racing on Friday and Saturday leading up to the main event on Sunday.

If you want more information or to get tickets, if they haven't already sold out, just go to oxfordplains.com.