OXFORD – The route to the checkered flag at the Banknorth 250 became a little tougher Wednesday.

Kurt Busch, one of top stock car drivers in the country, officially entered the Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. Busch, 25, joins fellow Nextel racer and Roush teammate Matt Kenseth in Maine’s premier’s short track race, scheduled for Sunday, May 18.

Kenseth, the defending Cup champion, and Busch are currently fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Nextel Cup points standings.

Speedway owner Bill Ryan Jr. was thrilled about Busch’s decision.

“Having a pair of top-tier Nextel Cup drivers compete in the Banknorth 250 is truly incredible,” said Ryan. “It brings the race and the track to a new level and I couldn’t be happier for our fans.”

Busch has nine career victories in the Nextel Cup series, including the the 2004 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in March. He currently has five top-10 finishers. Busch finished third in the Cup points standings in 2002 and was 11th last year.

Busch will enter his No. 97 Crown Royal Chevrolet in the Banknorth 250.

The Charlotte, N.C., resident drives the No. 97 Sharpie/Irwin Industrial Tools Ford. Busch is the defending champion of the Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) series and is currently fifth in the 2004 IROC point standings. Busch will use the IROC pit crew as his race day crew in Oxford.

Following success in Dwarf Cars, legend cars late models and the NASCAR Southwest Touring Series, Busch quickly attracted the attention of multi-team owner Jack Roush. The Las Vegas native began driving in the Craftsman Truck Series for Roush in 2000, notching four wins and placed second in the final point standings.

Roush wasted no time accelerating the young driver’s career, bypassing a year in the Busch Grand National Series and sending him straight to Nextel Cup.

Busch finished runner-up for rookie of the year honors in 2001 and has since collected nine wins and 22 top-five finishes. His first win came March 24, 2002, at Bristol, a track he has conquered in three straight tries and four times in his career.

The Banknorth 250 is widely known as one of the richest one-day short track races in the country. The race guarantees a winners share of $25,000 coupled with $25,000 in lap leader bonus money paying $100 per lap led. Former champions include Geoff Bodine, Chuck Bown, and Ricky Craven.

Oxford Plains Speedway is a 3/8-mile asphalt oval. With seating for over 13,000, it is the largest spectator facility in the state.

Reserved seating and general admission tickets are still available for the Banknorth 250. For more information please call (207) 539-8865 or log on to www.oxfordplains.com.

Copy the Story Link