The phone call a couple of weeks ago caught Oxford Plains Speedway owner Bill Ryan by surprise.

From past experience, Ryan knew it would be at least a few more months before learning which big-time drivers might consider traveling to Maine on NASCAR’s off-weekend to compete in the speedway’s prestigious event.

But on the phone was a representative for reigning Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick, informing him that Harvick had already decided to come to Oxford and compete in the TD Banknorth 250. He was also inquiring about testing dates.

Ryan made it official Thursday, announcing that Harvick would join a long list of NASCAR Sprint Cup stars who have competed in one of the nation’s richest short-track tests. He is the first to confirm his entry into this year’s 35th annual race, scheduled for Sunday, July 20.

“It was an early Christmas gift,” Ryan said. “The call came right out of the blue. It was one of those days when you like to show up at the office.”

This is the fifth consecutive year that the TD Banknorth 250 will feature at least one Sprint Cup driver. That roster includes Cup champions Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Terry Labonte. Kevin Lepage and Labonte drove in last year’s race.

Already, Harvick appears to be all business. According to Ryan, Harvick’s race team in North Carolina will build a car just for this race.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things about Oxford Plains Speedway,” Harvick said in a statement. “From all the stories I heard about last year’s race, I can only imagine what this year’s race has in store. When it is all said and done, I would like to tell people that I not only made the show, but won the race.”

Harvick, 32, who finished 10th in last year’s Chase for the Cup, has 11 career victories in NASCAR’s elite division. His best year was 2006, when he took the checkered flag five times and finished fourth in the points standings.

He made his Cup debut in 2001 when he was chosen to replace Dale Earnhardt after he died in a crash at the Daytona 500.

His only win last year came in the season opener at Daytona. With much of the field involved in a crash behind them, Harvick eked past popular veteran Mark Martin to win by .02 seconds in a memorable, door-to-door finish.

Harvick is the 10th Daytona 500 winner in to race in the 250, joining Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett, Ernie Irvan, Geoff Bodine, Davey Allison, Ward Burton and Dwayne Lund.

Ryan said he wasn’t expecting any activity on this year’s race until March at the earliest. That Harvick even called was a surprise.

“I don’t know him at all,” Ryan said. “I’m not even sure we’ve ever met. I think it speaks to the reputation of Oxford and the event we’ve been able to build.

“We’ve really created a special buzz in the Cup garage about our event.”

Harvick does have a family history with the 250. His father-in-law, John Linville, made a couple of unsuccessful attempts to qualify in the 1980s, when the race was part of the Nationwide (Busch) Series.

That familiarity with the 250 played a role, Ryan said. As he understands it, Harvick and friends were looking for something fun to do during the Cup’s free weekend in July. That’s when the topic of Oxford came up.

Tickets for the TD Banknorth 250 are currently on sale at the speedway office or by phone at 539-8865.