PORTLAND – The top area drivers had a difference of opinion Wednesday when Oxford Plains Speedway owner Bill Ryan asked, besides themselves, who would win the Banknorth 250.

There were nearly as many answers as there were drivers in attendance at the annual media day for Sunday’s showcase event at the 3/8-mile oval track in Oxford.

But those same drivers were unanimous on one point – they all agreed that the key to the race was something which none of them have any control.

The luck of the draw.

The draw before the qualifying races determines whether a car starts at the front of the pack or, instead, must work its way through a hungry field in a short heat race to earn a ticket into the big show.

With only the top-four finishers advancing and the lack of an equally quick outside groove, a poor spot on the starting grid in the heats could frustrate even the best driver and equipment.

“If the race is going to unfold like we think it is with a lot of hard passing, you want to start up front,” said 2002 winner Scott Robbins. “You want to be the guy up front dictating the pace. A fast car that draws the pole (in the first qualifying race) and then starts on the pole for the 250, he could be leading for quite awhile.”

“The draw is the most important thing going into the race,” added 2001 winner Gary Drew.

Officials at Oxford Plains Speedway have drawn up a spectacular weekend of racing, which culminates Sunday with the 31st Banknorth 250. Once billed as the richest short-track race in the country, the race still attracts an all-star field of the best racers in the area.

Adding to this year’s excitement is the entry of two of NASCAR’s best young stars – defending Nextel Cup champion Matt Kenseth and top challenger Kurt Busch.

Largely due to the presence of the top-flight challengers, officials are expecting a capacity crowd of 14,000 to attend Sunday’s day-long affair.

“The fan response as been just huge,” said Ryan. “We’re real excited. It’s been gratifying, just the excitement level. We see people so excited about the event. It gets us excited, gets my staff excited and I think it really gets the other race car drivers excited, too.”

“There are a lot of people who are going to this race that might have never been to a 250 before just because of Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth,” said Robbins. “But they’re going to find out that there’s a lot of good talent here. They may not know their names, but it will still be a heck of a race. They’re bringing the excitement and they’re bringing the fans.”

This is the first year since 1992 that drivers from NASCAR’s top circuit have not had a race scheduled for the same weekend as the 250.

The concern about the draw is even more critical because of the condition of the second groove. Recent rains have washed away much of the rubber, which has made that outside track difficult for drivers to maneuver around and pass cars traveling on the super-fast inside groove.

“The track right now is in rough shape,” said Drew. “Maybe all the racing will help the track out this weekend. Hopefully it does because it will just make for better racing for the 250. If not, I think it’s going to be a slugfest.”

The weekend card includes the popular ISMA supermodified race on Friday preceding the ACT Dodge Tour on Saturday. These are the only two nights that the two tours will compete in Maine this year.

More than 50 cars have already entered the Banknorth 250, but Ryan has talked to several more drivers who are expected to register by Saturday.

Busch and Kenseth should have their hands full Sunday competing against drivers who have circled the Oxford race track thousands of times. Among the local favorites are defending champion Ben Rowe of Turner, his father and two-time champ Mike Rowe, Robbins, Drew, Alan Wilson and two other father-and-son combinations – Bill Whorff Jr. and son Jeremie and Mike Maietta Sr. and Jr. Another contender is 20-year-old Ryan Moore, who is enjoying a breakout season on the Busch North Tour and who many consider has a bright future on one of NASCAR’s top circuits.

“All the local guys are at some advantage, but I was so impressed with Busch when he came her,” said Ryan. “And the things I’ve heard about Kenseth are so impressive, too. There are 20 guys that I wouldn’t be surprised at if they won, and there are guys who I might be a little surprised at, but could still win. That’s why it’s such a great race.”