When the green flag waves over Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday, April 21, it will mark the beginning of a new era for stock car racing in western Maine.

In October, former racer and now longtime touring series promoter Tom Mayberry purchased the facility from Bill Ryan Jr. With a new owner comes the return of Super Late Model (SLM) racing, starting with the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North opener one week from today.

Weekly points racing for Oxford’s Championship series teams begins Sunday, April 28, and switches to Friday nights on May 17 after three Sunday afternoon programs.

During the offseason, various rules and divisional changes were announced, along with an ambitious schedule for 2013. Mayberry has enhanced weekly competition by upgrading the previous Late Model style car to a “Pro Late Model” class — not full-blown Super Late Models like their PASS North cousins, yet quite a bit more “racy,” with wider tires and more horsepower.

“I’m excited about the upgrade to our cars and feel like we’re in for a good season,” said Chris Coolidge, who won Oxford’s final Late Model feature of 2012. “It was a significant investment to convert the car, but less costly than keeping it the way it was and trying to run the tour.

“I think we’ll be about a second faster in laps times, plus the cars should handle well on the Hoosier tires that PASS uses. I hope the move to Friday nights goes well, the thought of having my weekends open now is pretty cool.”

Beyond the premier Pro Late Model division, Mayberry has also regained control of the “Mini Stocks Gone Wild” division that ran Saturday nights. The rules had evolved beyond the original, entry-level design for that class. The guidelines will now return to a milder, more affordable package for 2013.

What used to be called the Outlaw class will now be referred to as “Outlaw Sportsman,” with minor rules changes for most teams who will be entered. This season, fans will see Mini Stock, Strictly Stock, Outlaw Sportsman and Pro Late Models on the card for Friday evenings.

“I ran the Outlaw class in recent years so our car won’t require many changes to fit into the new Outlaw Sportman division,” Oxford veteran Todd Bisbee said. “Whatever we do need to change will probably help our chances. I really don’t know what to expect this season. Anything can happen, so I try not to set my expectations too high. We’ll just try to be well prepared and give it our best shot.”

This new era also means the prestigious TD Bank 250 will return to a Super Late Model race. On Sunday, July 21, the 40th running of Maine’s mid-summer classic goes green at 2 p.m. Fans who felt the nation’s richest, non-NASCAR single-day short track race should be contested in SLM cars can rejoice for the first time since 2006.

Mayberry has elected to keep the successful Oxford Acceleration Series (OAS) program on Wednesday nights. This is where entry-level racers get their start. Yet unlike in recent years, no OAS classes will compete on Friday nights.

It separates the two programs, allowing each to stand on its own merit.

pwhipple@sunjournal.com

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