OXFORD — After a long, drawn-out spring that delivered chilling March winds throughout April and well into May, summer-like conditions are in the forecast just in time for the opening of the local racing season.

Oxford Plains Speedway swings open its gates Sunday afternoon with the Armed Forces Day ACT 150, the fourth event on the American-Canadian Tour’s 10-race schedule. Oxford’s new schedule features 15 points races for the three major championship divisions (Late Model, Strictly Stock and Mini Stock).

Once again the TD Bank 250 headlines the schedule, set to run July 20-22. That weekend will also see the PASS Mods compete on Friday, the PASS North Super Late Model 150 on Saturday night, and the TD Bank 250 — the richest single-day short track race in America — on Sunday.

“I think 250 weekend should be a real treat again this summer,” track owner Bill Ryan said. “There is something different each night, giving fans a reason to get excited. Modifieds are popular among older fans, and they have a history here that goes way back. Having the Super Late Models a part of 250 weekend last year worked out well, so I think their show will be very thrilling again this year.

“The 250 has become one of those events where people mark their calendars and make travel plans. It’s a three-day experience much like a NASCAR weekend where fans want the whole package. We put a lot of emphasis on it each year, and we hope the fans will come enjoy it again with us this July.”

What makes Sunday’s Armed Forces Day 150 so exciting is the rivalry that exists between Oxford’s weekly Late Model teams and the touring ACT drivers. Last June, eventual track champion Jeff White of Winthrop claimed the ACT 150 over multi-time ACT champion Brian Hoar.

Drivers like Shawn Martin (two-time ACT winner), 2010 champion Tim Brackett, his son T.J., who finished fifth in this race last year, and a host of others will be working overtime to defend their home turf against teams from Vermont, New Hampshire and points beyond. In the 24 ACT races that have been contested at Oxford since May of 1995, nine have been won by Oxford regulars.

Along with the 15 points-paying races for their OCS (Oxford Championship Series) divisions, officials also have a full slate of Acceleration Series events on Wednesday nights this summer. The first program for Wednesday evenings is set for July 11, with the finale scheduled for August 29.

The speedway opened its gates for practice for all divisions last Saturday, and beautiful conditions made for a packed pit area. Among those busy preparing for opening day was two-time and defending Strictly Stock champion Kurt Hewins, former Mini Stock standout now running a Late Model Adam Polvinen, and Late Model rookie Thomas Bell.

“I built a new car during the off-season, very much like my son Ryan’s car,” Hewins said. “My other car is sitting home all complete ready to go if we should have any problems with the new one. My car owners, Eric Brown and Scott Brewer, are committed to winning a third straight championship. They paid for this new car, everything on it is brand new and our tire budget is all set for the season. We’re hoping to run fast, run clean and promote all of our great sponsors while earning another title.”

After a few seasons in Mini Stock, highlighted by eight feature wins, Polvinen, known to fans as “The Flying Finn,” started dabbling in Late Models last season and ran a couple of races.

“We’re going to concentrate on getting the Late Model up to speed this season,” Polvinen said. “I’m working on getting the chassis straightened around today and get some speed out of the car. My goal is to get this car into the TD Bank 250 this year. I think the car has potential, if we can get it dialed in during the first month or so we should be in good shape. I’m anxious to see a green flag.”

Bell’s prior experience was in Oxford’s highly-competitive Outlaw division. The 37-year-old family man from Minot has surrounded himself with talented veterans as he makes the transition to Late Models.

“Since this will be my first venture into the premiere division, I’m trying to do it carefully and wisely,” Bell said. “I came to the track and tested (on May 8), and it didn’t go very well with a slight impact to the wall. But we’ll go to work and fix it to where it handles. Because I don’t have an ACT-legal engine, I plan to use next Sunday as a practice session. By the time May 26 arrives, we hope to have this car ready to roll.”

Qualifying races for the ACT Armed Forces Day 150 will roll Sunday at 2 p.m.

Copy the Story Link