Sep 1, 2016 | Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, More Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway, PASS, Touring Series News
PR – Eric LaFleche Photo – Lindsay Ellison
(Oxford, ME) – Sometimes in a racers career, satisfaction comes with just being able to get into a race such as the prestigious HP Hood Oxford 250, for a racer such as Derek Griffith; qualifying for his first Oxford 250 was bittersweet.
Griffith, the 19-year-old Hudson, NH native was able to qualify for the main event through a Consolation race win. Griffith would roll-off in the 25th starting position. A lap-7 incident directly ahead of Griffith in turn three and four caused the driver of the No. 12 Hitman Industires/Provencher Insurance Toyota Camry to have to veer off of turn four; making contact with the front stretch wall.
“The lap 7 incident was caused by impatient people, it’s a shame. We had a very fast car all weekend long. The crew busted their tails and our expectations were being able to compete for a podium finish, I mean we know it was our first [Oxford] 250 but we can drive with these guys.” Says Griffith. (more…)
Aug 29, 2016 | Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, More Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway, PASS, Touring Series News
photo by Norm Marx
New Hampshire racer remains hottest PASS Super Late Model racer at Oxford Plains Speedway
Oxford, Maine – Wayne Helliwell, Jr. had suffered through more than his share of disappointment over the years in competition at Oxford Plains Speedway, but a turnaround in fortune for the Bernhardt Motorspots team came full circle Sunday night with victory in the 43rd Annual H.P. Hood Oxford 150, worth about $30,000.
“I can’t believe it, the way we’ve run at Oxford in the past, I can’t believe how this team has turned this around,” the winner exclaimed in victory lane. Longtime Oxford Plains Speedway and Ford fans were ecstatic to see the orange 27 with the Dion Brother Racing throwback paint scheme in victory lane, especially with Roger Dion on hand helping Bernhardt Motorsports effort.
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Aug 29, 2016 | Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, More Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway, PASS, Touring Series News
PR- Eric LaFleche / Photo – John Miller
Oxford 250 ‘Practice Saturday’ proves to give young New Hampshire driver more confidence for Sunday
(Oxford, ME) – When more than sixty Super Late Model teams head to Oxford Plains Speedway for the richest one-day asphalt short track race in the United States, the Oxford 250; the day before race-day is extremely important for race teams to get acclimated to the tricky 3/8th-mile oval.
Derek took the Hitman Industries/Provencher Insurance/Chuck Taylor No. 12 Toyota Camry out on four separate occasions during the three-hour practice session, Griffith steadily improved as the day practice went on. Early on, the Hudson, NH native peeled off a 15.814 second lap. The team decided to tweak the set-up to ensure the car would be very good on long green-flag runs, during the 250-lap main event on Sunday, August 28th.
“We planned on running a bunch of laps today to perfect the set-up said Griffith, we were 10th fastest for the entire 3-hours but our car didn’t drop off, there are cars that turned faster laps but seemed to slow, as the laps went on. Louie [Crew Chief Louie Mechalides] set us up with a car that is very consistent. It’s a neutral set-up, this is the most comfortable I’ve ever felt here, the car is great and we’re not changing a thing.” (more…)
Aug 25, 2016 | Maine Racing News, More Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, PASS, Touring Series News
PASS Photo
NAPLES, ME (August 23) – Since the inaugural HP Hood Oxford 250 in 1974, Oxford Plains Speedway’s location has helped insure that the “best of the best” in short track racing would have a chance to take on one another. Being in Maine, the HP Hood Oxford 250 has seen the top short trackers from New England, the Midwest, and Canada participate against one another over the last 40 years. But since it’s earliest days, the HP Hood Oxford 250 has been a showcase for talent from the Southeastern short track ranks. South Carolina’s legendary Butch Lindley took the checkered flag in 1976, while North Carolina’s Bob Pressley would take the win two years later, followed by Virginia’s Tommy Ellis in 1983. Drivers like Harry Gant, Morgan Shepherd, Tommy Houston, Jimmy Hensley and others made regular stops at the 250 throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.
The tradition continues today as another strong contingent of drivers and teams will be making the trip up from Dixie. Defending Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model champion, Tate Fogleman, from Durham, NC will be attempting his fourth straight HP Hood Oxford 250 this weekend. Fogleman hopes to better the performance of his dad, Jay, who finished third in 2013.
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Aug 25, 2016 | Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, More Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway, PASS, Touring Series News
PR- Eric LaFleche / Photo – Lindsay Ellison
New Hampshire native is looking to continue building confidence with solid Oxford 250 finish
(Oxford Plains, ME) – Derek Griffith and the No. 12 Provencher Insurance/Hitman Industries racing team will roll into Oxford Plains Speedway for the Hudson, New Hampshire natives second attempt in the prestigious 250-lap Super Late Model event.
The 43rd annual H.P. Hood Oxford 250 is considered by many to be one of the biggest short track racing events in the United States and Griffith, along with over fifty other drivers will be fighting for 40 starting spots in the event that commands a minimum $25,000 winner’s share.
Derek is entering this year’s event with much more experience and success competing with the Pro All Stars Series (PASS). Griffith who recently visited victory lane with the series by capturing the 150-lap event at Lee USA Speedway see’s the 2016 attempt in a much different light than last year, he explains; “In 2015 we really didn’t have much experience at Oxford Plains Speedway, it’s a tricky 3/8th mile oval that really only laps and seat-time can help.
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Aug 18, 2016 | Maine Race Tracks, Maine Racing News, More Maine Racing News, NE Racing News, Oxford Plains Speedway, PASS, Touring Series News
photo by Norm Marx
NAPLES, ME (August 5) – When you mention the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) to any race fan across North America, there’s a good chance that Ben Rowe is the first driver’s name that comes to mind. As the PASS North Super Late Model division’s “Ironman”, Ben Rowe has started every race since the series started in 2001, the only driver to do so. Along the way, Rowe has won 4 PASS North series titles, the 2009 PASS National and PASS South championships, and has won more PASS Super Late Model races than any other driver, nearly 50 when combining both PASS North and South wins.
Rowe, like most every other driver from across the nation, holds the HP Hood Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in high regard. As a kid, he watched his dad, Mike, go to victory lane in the 1984 running of the 250 and competed against him in Mike’s wins in 1997 and 2005.
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