OXFORD – The 2005 Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway has been scheduled for Sunday, July 31.

The event is once again scheduled during an off-weekend for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The renown short-track race falls between the race at Pocono and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“We are excited about the timing of the 2005 edition of the Banknorth 250,” OPS owner Bill Ryan Jr. said in a statement released by the speedway. “July 31 is an off date for the Nextel Cup Series and this will give Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and our other friends in Nextel Cup the chance to compete in the Banknorth 250.”

The announcement comes on the heels of one of the most successful 250 race in history, which saw Ben Rowe of Turner become the third driver to win back-to-back titles in the race’s 31-year history, joining Geoff Bodine in 1980-81 and Ralph Nason’s three-year run from 1998-2000.

Rowe pocketed $29,700 of the $142,150 total purse before a sellout crowd of nearly 14,000.

The race also featured two top-tier Nextel Cup drivers, Kenseth and Busch. Kenseth started 41st and finished 3rd while Busch, who started 35th, recovered from a spin to place 13th.

For more information please call (207) 539-8865 or log on to www.oxfordplains.com.