OXFORD — The Speedway crowd broke into cheers and jeers Sunday as the man of the hour — NASCAR’s own Kyle Busch — joined the field of 38 competitors for the 38th running of the TD Bank 250.

Whether die-hard NASCAR fans or Oxford Plains race lovers, the crowd went wild as 38 drivers strapped in, revved up and tore up the asphalt during the popular event Sunday evening.

“It’s all about the people,” Eric Brown, 48, of Leeds, said. “It’s all good people getting out and having a great day.”

Brown, co-owner of B&B Motorsports, had hoped one of his own cars — No. 10 Brown’s Construction — would land one of the coveted 38 race slots, but fell short of that goal. His company did, however, end the day with a third place finish in the strictly stock feature just before the running of the big race.

For Brown and his family, the TD Bank 250 represented more than just good racing. Brown said the the racing company supports breast cancer survivors and helped raise awareness about the cause by handing out hundreds of pink T-shirts at the race, like the one he was wearing.

Brown said the race is also a great opportunity for friends and families to gather. His own family was joined by friends from as far away as New Brunswick, Canada, to camp out the past week and spend their days at Oxford Plains Speedway.

“For a lot of these racers, this is NASCAR for them,” said John Hurd, 47, of Meredith, N.H., who came out to support his friend Brad Leighton. “Some of these guys must be absolutely beside themselves to race on the same track with Kyle Busch and to be able to meet him in the pits.” Leighton finished last in the race.

Hurd said that having the famed NASCAR driver amid the ranks was definitely a draw for the fans. Tony Rose, 44, of Greene, and Alvin Legere, 70, of Farmingdale, agreed that Busch racing in the TD Bank 250 was certainly going to help ticket sales for the main event.

But like many fans, Legere secretly came out for something else, too.

“I like to see the wrecks,” Legere chuckled like a kid. “But I don’t like to see anyone get hurt. There’s a lot of fighting to get to the front.”

Eleven-year-old Devin Jeselskis couldn’t agree more. The Auburn boy said the wrecks were his favorite part of the race. Well, that and the chance to see Kyle Busch race in Maine.

But for 5-year-old Paxton Timberlake, Busch, bumper butting and bad wrecks had nothing on “Lucky the Dog” — the Aaron’s Inc. racing mascot who made his way through the crowd high-fiving kids.

Attending his first race with his dad, Matt, the little boy was fascinated by the big brown dog and proudly showed off his “Lucky” hat with floppy ears. On the other hand, 35-year-old Matt Timberlake was proud to know three of the TD Bank 250 racers from his high school days.

“It’s one of those things where local guys can go and race against a guy they watch on the weekend,” Timberlake said of why he’s been coming to the TD Bank 250 since he was a teen.