OXFORD — Oxford Plains Speedway General Manager Dick Therrien announced his departure from the company Monday.

In an interview, Therrien said the decision was a mutual agreement between himself and owner Tom Mayberry after reaching what he described as an impasse over conflicting philosophies.

“Tom and I have a difference of philosophy on how things should be done. That difference escalated, but there’s absolutely no animosity either way,” Therrien said.

He declined to comment specifically on his departure, other than to say it was “amicable”.

“We’re still good friends,” Therrien said. “It ended as it began — with a handshake.”

A call to Oxford Plains Speedway Vice President Mike Mayberry was not returned Monday.

The remaining dozen or so races are expected to go on as scheduled, Therrien said.

The announcement comes past the halfway mark in a season revamped by improvements on and off the track.

Mayberry bought the track in 2012 from longtime racing promoter Bill Ryan Jr., whose family had owned it for 12 years.

Ryan purchased partial ownership of the track from Gray real estate developer Michael Liberty in 1998. He took over completely in 2000.

Liberty previously took the reins from Bob Bahre, who ran OPS from 1964 to 1986 before building New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Mayberry’s ownership brought changes to the track, which reintroduced PASS super-late model and expanded many events.

In April, organizers struck an agreement — later approved by town officials — to expand beer sales through the grandstands and successfully negotiated a new contract with the town that helped reduce the cost of emergency aid.

In June, the Oxford Plains Dragway’s season was canceled, with Mike Mayberry citing declining attendance and interest. Two weeks later, hundreds of people attended its final event of the season, at which it was announced the Show, Shine and Drag would continue in 2015.

Asked why his departure came in the middle of his first full season, Therrien said, “They wanted to start putting a plan together for 2015. You can never rest on your laurels.”

Under his tenure, he said the speedway made great strides to grow the track’s marketing presence, something lacking from previous years.

“I’m proud of the work I’ve done here,” he said. “Oxford has so much heritage, it was a privilege.”

Therrien, who ran a marketing company in Vermont among other jobs before taking over in Oxford, declined to speculate on his next stop, but said it likely will be outside Maine.

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