5 storylines to follow heading into the Oxford 250

OXFORD — The engines will roar to life Sunday at Oxford Plains Speedway as one of New England's most storied auto racing events takes center stage, drawing competitors from across the United States and Canada to Maine's premier short track.

The Oxford 250, a fixture in regional motorsports for more than five decades, has assembled its annual collection of top-tier talent, with drivers converging from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, Georgia and Canada. The purse totals $128,795, with the winner collecting $25,000, followed by $7,000 for second place and $5,000 for third. Even those who finish last will earn $1,250, with additional bonuses available for lap leaders and qualifier winners.

For Mike Rowe of Turner, the race represents an opportunity to make history. The 76-year-old has already claimed the Oxford 250 trophy three times — in 1984, 1997 and 2005 — and finished second in 2002 and third in 1998. If Rowe claims victory Sunday, he would become the first driver to win the event four times.

"Definitely (Oxford Plains Speedway) is my home track, and I just love this place and we get around here good," Rowe said during media day Wednesday. "And if you can get the tires right, we're going to do OK."

Rowe earned his spot in the field by winning the Aug. 15 qualifier race, establishing himself as a frontrunner once again despite his advanced age in a sport often dominated by younger competitors.

The race's history is rich with champions, though only six former winners are entered this year. Beyond Rowe, the list includes Ben Rowe, Eddie MacDonald, Johnny Clark, Scott Robbins and Bubba Pollard. Johnny Clark, who hails from the region, captured the most recent championship in 2020.

Competing for a breakthrough victory is DJ Shaw, who has finished third in each of the past three Oxford 250s and appears primed to finally reach the winner's circle. Also in the mix are Gabe Brown and Alexandre Tardif, both of whom joined Shaw on the podium at the Celebration of America 300 in July.

Brandon Barker, who finished 18th at that same event, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming challenge. He placed third in the Oxford 250 qualifier and echoed sentiments shared by many competitors: the race holds a special place on the calendar regardless of other commitments.

"The Oxford 250's something that you look forward to every year, so no matter what your race schedule looks like, I always have it circled that we want to come here," Barker said. "The (Celebration of America 300 is) a big deal, but there's nothing like the 250 laps around here."

Joey Doiron of Berwick arrives at the event with a different mindset than in previous years. After struggling through an inconsistent 2026 season, the former favorite finds himself among the underdogs — a position he believes might actually benefit his chances.

"Honestly, I feel like it's a lot less pressure," Doiron said. "I came into this race probably the last five years as the favorite and it hasn't worked out, so I feel like coming in this year, kind of under the radar — I felt like we've had good speed, we've just, every time we have good speed, we blow a tire, so I don't have many good finishes to show for it, but hopefully our speed will be there this weekend and we can make a few gains."

Doiron finished 26th in last year's Oxford 250.

Bubba Pollard, the Georgia native who won the Oxford 250 in 2018 by holding off New Hampshire's Joey Polewarczyk Jr., returns for another run at glory. Pollard has remained a consistent force, finishing 10th in 2021, runner-up to Jeff Taylor in 2024 and fourth last season. He's coming off a victory last week at the Georgia Summer Nationals in the ASA Southern Super Series at Cordele Motor Speedway. Like in recent years, Pollard was a late addition to the entry list but arrives as a legitimate threat.

With the combination of historic champions, hungry contenders and a purse that rewards every position, Sunday's Oxford 250 promises to deliver the high-octane drama that has made the event a staple of New England racing for generations.