OXFORD – Shane Wilson vowed to figure out how to win in Oxford Plains Speedway biggest showcase.

He wasn’t sure if that goal would ever materialized, but the South Royalton, Vt. native watched it happen Monday.

Armed with one of the nation’s top drivers and pretty stellar support staff, Kevin Harvick’s crew chief had all he needed to get that coveted TD Banknorth 250 title.

“It was a fun weekend,” said Wilson. “This is just awesome. I can explain it. It’s definitely going to be one of my favorite wins. I’m just glad we came up here and did it.”

Potentially overshadowed by the Maine appearance of Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, Harvick grabbed his share of the headlines, moving up from the 11th starting spot to the 250 win.

Harvick’s No. 29, built especially for this race, proved its worth. When Harvick took the lead midway through the race, it certainly had more power than most cars left in its wake.

“It was good,” said Wilson, who said the car has already been sold to Canadian racer Kari Allard. “We made some adjustments at the halfway point. He paced himself. It all starts with practice. He helps us get it right, and it works out.”

Wilson had been part of a crew that competed in the 250 in the mid-1990’s. He never had success at OPS and was always frustrated by that fact. When Harvick, with Wilson’s encouragement, decided to race in the 250, Wilson wanted to build the car.

Harvick said Wilson built a special shot at his home just to work on the car.

“Shane and I have have won 17 or 18 races together, the last being in 2006-2007,” said Harvick. “This is the first time we’ve been back together since 2007. Our wives are good friends. So that makes it a lot of fun.”

Harvick made it clear upon arriving in Maine that he wasn’t here to just to make a goodwill appearance.

Harvick was patient early but he started to make some noise when he had a heated duel with Denmark’s Corey Martin early in the race. Martin and Harvick finished first and second respectively in their heat race on Sunday. Martin was fifth and Harvick was on his tail in sixth Monday. Harvick kept the pressure and appeared to have a move on the backstretch that put him past Martin. He made a move to the outside. When Martin went to block him, Harvick burst by him low. Martin nearly forced Harvick off the track to take back position. Harvick responded with a love tap to the bumper of Martin. When a caution came out moments later, Martin swerved at Harvick. Harvick swerved back at him.

“I told him I was his No. 1 fun,” said Harvick of Martin.

Harvick dispatched Martin soon enough. He passed Martin following another caution and took fifth on lap 67. Harvick then moved into third by slipping by Eric Williams.

Harvick then had to battle Joey Polewarczyk Jr., but the Dayton 500 champ was able to get by him to move into second by the midway point.

Harvick found success on the outside groove and chased down Polewarczyk, putting him on the heels of Eddie MacDonald.

“That’s him being tireless and working the car and working the grip,” said Wilson. “That’s what makes guys like him and (Jeff) Gordon so good. He’s good. He’s probably one of the best short-track racers in the business.”

After the mid-race caution shut down the action for a few minutes, Harvick used the outside groove to race past MacDonald for the lead on lap 128. He cruised to victory from there, bursting ahead of all comers after each caution.

“That’s kind of his strategy,” said Wilson. “A lot of the races he’s won in Cup, he’s come through and got his car ready for the long run. It’s good to get a lead, but you don’t want to burn yourself out.”

Harvick said he and Wilson concocted the idea of coming to Maine over a few too many beers but it was an idea that paid dividends. Harvick said he’d love to return at some point and do it again.

“We started this process back in January,” said Harvick, who said the car began to truly take shape Monday morning.. “We’ve been building this since then. We weren’t sure until we got here whether we had what we needed.”