The Oxford 250 is known as one of the can’t-miss events on the national short track racing calendar. This year, the night before the big race is shaping up to be notable, as well.
Bubba Pollard, the winner of the 2018 Oxford 250, is entered into the American-Canadian Tour’s Oxford Plains 125 on Saturday, Aug. 27, before trying to win his second 250 title the following night.
Pollard, who is from Senoia, Georgia, isn’t the only national name on the ACT entry list, as he is joined by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor Carson Hocevar, who has raced against Pollard at other national short-track crown jewel races.
Bubba Pollard accompanies his car to the Last Chance Qualifier lineup at the Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in 2021. Pollard, the 2018 champion, reached the race through a provisional. Brewster Burns photo
According to the ACT website, Pollard will be driving a car owned by Jason Glaude- and built by Port City Race Cars. An ACT press release announcing Pollard and Hocevar’s entries into the Oxford Plains 125 said that Hocevar, a 19-year-old from Portage, Michigan, will be driving a car owned by Vermont-based Lanphear Motorsports.
The car Hocevar will be driving is normally run by his girlfriend, Peyton Lanphear, who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma and has cut back her racing schedule this season.
Carson Hocevar talks on his phone on pit road before the NASCAR 250 truck auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) AP
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
After it was announced that two-time Oxford 250 champ Ben Rowe had split with longtime race team Richard Moody Racing, speculation has been swirling about if and how the Turner native would be competing in this year’s Oxford 250.
Well, Rowe did find a ride, one as equally familiar as it is somewhat surprising. Rowe will take over his father Mike’s No. 24 race car for this year’s race. The elder Rowe, a three-time Oxford 250 winner, took part in last Saturday night’s PASS 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway, but Racing America first had the news that he will be turning the car over to his son for Oxford 250 weekend.
Mike Rowe drove his car from the middle of the pack into the top 10 in Saturday’s race before he suffered a blown tire. But the grind of Oxford 250 weekend, which includes multiple days of practice before qualifying along with the Sunday feature, is not something the elder Rowe wants to attempt while battling health issues, Ben Rowe told Racing America.
Ben’s turn in the car will mark three generations of Rowes who will have wheeled the car this season. Mike’s grandson and Ben’s nephew, Max, also drove it this year.
LAST CHANCE TAKEAWAY
Last Saturday’s Pro All Stars Series 150-lap race, won by DJ Shaw, was the final chance for PASS Super Late Model drivers to compete in real racing conditions before Oxford 250 Sunday.
Shaw, now a three-time winner on the tour this season, can claim dibs to having the most momentum heading into the biggest race of the year, but he’s not the only racer who make a claim.
Trevor Sanborn, who guaranteed his spot in the Oxford 250 by winning the Port City Race Cars Triple Crown title, dominated the first 93 laps of the race from the pole before bowing out with electrical issues in his car’s engine.
Joey Doiron took the lead spot out of an ensuing restart and held control of the race until Shaw connected with Doiron while battling for the lead with 11 laps remaining, causing Doiron to spin. Doiron’s 21st-place finish isn’t cause for celebration for the Berwick native, but the performance of his “Oxford” car in Saturday’s race and other recent outings should give him confidence going into this year’s Oxford 250.
Other winners at Oxford Plains Speedway on Saturday night were Shawn Knight (PASS Mods), Jordan Russell (Oxford Plains Speedway Street Stocks), and Colby Meserve (Oxford Plains Limiteds). Each of those divisions ran 50-lap features.
Friday night winners at Oxford Plains included Cam Richards (Mad Bombers), Charlie Young (Thunder Stocks), Jeremy Turner (Rookies), Jeff Heaward (Figure 8s), Amara Parker (Ladies), Kyle Glover (Sport Trucks), Skip Tripp (Outlaws), AJ Smith (Rebels), Matt Morneau (Cruisers) and Ava Gailloux (Jr. Rookies).
WISCASSET WINNERS
It was Group 1’s turn at Wiscasset Speedway on Saturday night, and Canton’s PJ Merrill was among the four feature winners.
Merrill captured the checkered flag in the Super Streets division for the first time. Other winners were Nick Hinkley (Pro Stocks), Ben Burgess (4-Cylinder Pro) and Zach Audet (Thunder 4 Mini).
DRIVER OF THE YEAR
It was a long weekend at Wiscasset Speedway, with the track hosting the Maine Vintage Race Car Association SummerFest on Sunday. Part of the festivities was the announcement of the MVRCA’s 2021 Driver of the Year award, which went to Wiscasset regular Josh St. Clair. Other finalists for the award were Ben Rowe, Trevor Krause, Joe Pastore, Johnny Clark and Dave Farrington Jr.
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