By Lou Modestino
It’s been a long hard winter throughout the Northeast, and the harsh winter has caused Pro All Stars Series President, Tom Mayberry to move the Oxford Plains Speedway’s scheduled season opening, Ripley & Fletcher Ford 150 from Saturday, April 12, 2014 to Saturday, April 26that 2 p.m. This change turns the weekend into a giant doubleheader as PASS North will open their Series on Saturday, and the $7,000 to win, Colossal Carnage 150 Enduro will go green on Sunday.
“We knew it was risky scheduling the opener in early April, but the past few seasons have allowed us to open up earlier as warm weather has graced us in late February and early March. Right now we still have several inches of snow on the grounds, and even with warm weather, we don’t feel the grounds will dry up enough to allow the event to be held on April 12th, stated Mayberry. We want to make sure to give plenty of advanced notice to our race teams, race fans, and employees, and that’s why we decided to make this decision well in advance of the event.”
With the opening date changed to April 26th, this will give teams like 2013 champion Cassius Clark, runner-up Joey Doiron, DJ Shaw, Johnny Clark, Ben Rowe and a host of others a couple of more weeks to fine tune their racers. Joining the PASS Super Late Models will be the PASS Mods, PASS Sportsman and the NELCAR Legends. Post time for the Saturday event will be 2pm.
Several Quebec teams are set to help kick off the 2014 American Canadian Tour season at Lee USA Speedway on Sunday, April 13. Serie ACT Quebec runner-up in 2013, Alex Labb?of St. Albert, Quebec, two-time Serie ACT Champion Donald Theetge of Boischatel, and Jonathan Bouvrette of Blainville, a NASCAR All-American Series Champion and first-time ACT event winner on the final weekend at Autodrome St-Eustache in 2013, are all gearing up for the 150-lap Governor’s Cup on the fast 1/3 mile asphalt track.
Labb who missed the 2013 Serie ACT Quebec title by just eight points, the difference of four positions in a race, undoubtedly will be the driver to give his Larue Equipment team a second championship, following the one by Karl Allard of St. Filicien in 2010.
For Louis Larue, the owner of the team, there is not a shadow of a doubt that Alex will have a great season with ACT on both sides of the border, and their goal is to win the Championship on the Serie ACT Quebec. “Last season, Alex participated in 31 races and has gained a lot of experience on many tracks and driving different cars. He was strong throughout the 2013 season in the Serie ACT-Quebec and on the American Canadian Tour, and put any doubts about this team to rest when we won the Fall Foliage 200 at Airborne. As if that was not enough, he captured the pole position at the Milk Bowl and finished third overall in that prestigious event.”
Larue continued: “Last year, we participated in this event in Lee, but Alex was brand new with us, and unfortunately, we experienced some mechanical problems. This time, the situation is totally different and we are all confident that Alex will be the second Quebecois to win the Lee opener, after Patrick Laperle in 2003.”
Donald Theetge of Boischatel has also filed an entry for the April 13 event. Theetge is looking to improve over his experience in last year’s Lee opener, where he finished in 12th. Not only does Theetge hold two titles on the Serie ACT-Quebec, but he also claims the largest number of victories since 2005 with a total of 20.
Theetge’s 2014 season will see him concentrate primarily on the Serie ACT Quebec, with some U.S. events also on his schedule, including the ACT International at Airborne on July 20. Since his victory in the St-Eustache 200, the last event of the Quebec series in 2013, Jonathan Bouvrette of Blainville is ready to race. The team is well prepared and anxious to debut their new chassis at the Lee USA Governor’s Cup. Bouvrette will also concentrate primarily on the ACT Quebec series, aiming to improve on his final position overall, as he was 9th in 2012, and in 2013 he finished 4th in the final tally, but also will compete in several ACT US events throughout the 2014 season.
Quebec competitors will get the chance to attend several ACT U.S. events before the 2014 Serie ACT season opener at Autodrome St-Eustache on Saturday, May 24. The annual NH Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee USA Speedway will kick off the 2013 ACT U.S. season on Sunday, April 13.
Oxford Plains Speedway is pleased to announce the birth of the new Bandit division for four cylinder cars. This entry level division will compete periodically on Friday night’s of the Budweiser, Oxford Championship Series. This division is basically a bone stock class and will hold strict to the rules and inspections. This novice class will allow only drivers that haven’t competed in the Outlaw / Outlaw Sportsman class, Street Stocks, Late Models, Pro Late Models / Super Late Models or Mini Stocks divisions that are equivalent to these. Eligible drivers include Runnin’ Rebels, Sport Trucks, Cruisers, and Ladies, however you must have a different car than what you would race for on the Oxford Acceleration Series. You may now register for this division to secure your number. License fee is just $25.
The purse for the new Bandit division has been announced. The winners share will be $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50, 4th $40, 5th $35, 6th $30, 7th $25, 8th $20, 9th $20, 10th $20, 11th on back $15.
Due to snow still covering the grounds, PASS President, Tom Mayberry postponed the season opening event for the Ripley and Fletcher Ford 150 until Saturday afternoon, April 26th at 2pm. As of right now we have not postponed the open practice scheduled for Saturday, April 19th but we will make a decision on that shortly. We have also scheduled a practice day on Friday, April 25th from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
We are still looking for volunteers and workers for our Go-Kart program. If you are interested in participating, please contact Dick Therrien at 802-274-8823. We are looking for corner workers, lineup people, sign in people, etc. Come join the fun at OPS!
The Oxford Select board approved the 2014 Polly’s Pit Stop license to sell beer in the grandstands for 2014. There will be a significant change for 2014 in the sales department as you will be able to purchase beer at the main concessions behind the grandstands, and enjoy your beverage anywhere in the grandstands. There will be a strict policy on beer sales s everyone will have to adhere to. Everyone will have to show ID, and once you have done that you will be issued a special bracelet. You will be allowed a maximum of four beers for the night, and your bracelet will be punched once for every beer. Beer will stop being sold prior to the start of the final feature of the night. OPS Management will have the right to not serve individuals with non-conforming photo ID’s, as well as people that are already under the influence.
Whited Motorhome, RV and Auto Center, located at 2160 Hotel Road in Auburn, Maine has signed on to be a major sponsor here at Oxford Plains Speedway. The organization will be sponsoring a Wednesday Oxford Acceleration Series night as well as an Oxford Championship Series night. This is another fine addition to our marketing partners list.
The management team at OPS has worked very hard in the off season securing sponsorships and setting up one of the most aggressive schedules in the Northeast. The group has something on the schedule that is sure to satisfy every type of race fan. Of course, the Northeast’s most favorite touring Series, the PASS organization is back in force for 2014. They will be entertaining us a minimum of three times this season. The PASS Mods, PASS Sportsman and the all new PASS Northeast Late Model Series are sure to be crowd pleasers.
The $7,000 to win, Colossal Carnage 150 Enduro will be a highly entertaining event on April 27th. May is full of excitement as we kick off the 2014 OCS Series. With close to thirty-five Budweiser Pro Late Models registered already, and the support divisions starting to fill in nicely, it’s sure provide awesome weekly racing. We are proud to have the American Legion joining us for the Memorial Day weekend event for the first time as well. June will see some major events as the Wednesday night OAS Series kicks off on June 11th at 7 p.m.
The NAPA Auto Parts Show, Shine, and Drag takes place on Father’s Day, June 15th. Friday, June 20th will feature the Bentley Warren ISMA Classic for the wild winged ISMA Supermodifieds. On July 3rd, Ripley and Fletcher Ford will host the 4th of July Spectacular which includes a giant fireworks display. Friday, July 18th starts off the biggest weekend of the year at Oxford Plains Speedway, the Oxford 250 Weekend. PASS Mods and PASS Sportsman along with several other classes kick off the weekend for Sun Journal Newspaper night. Then on Saturday the 19th, our great supporter, Dunkin’ Donuts provides us with an unbelievable night of racing featuring the winged NEMA Midgets and NEMA Lites. The $4,000 to win Northeast Late Model Series will be hosting Race #2, a 125 lap main event. Also on the card will be the Northeast Classic Lite Dwarf Cars, Wicked Good Vintage Racers, Outlaw Sportsman and Street Stocks.
Then on Sunday, July 20th, the granddaddy of them all, The Oxford 250. 250 green flag laps for Super Late Models plus a $1,000 to win event for the PASS Mods, a 50 lap national championship event for the NELCAR Legends, Street Stocks and the brand new Maine Outlaw Sportsman will be on hand. In August its Monster Truck Throw Down #2, presented by O’Reilly’s Auto Parts on August 16th and 17th. This year’s edition will feature a Monster Truck attempting to complete a full back-flip. September will feature the PASS Championship Fall Foliage Special on September 26th and 27th, and finally the racing season will come to an end with the 2nd Annual Armageddon of Destruction on Saturday, October 11th. Tom Mayberry’s 2nd Annual Automotive Swap Meet and Flea Market will be held throughout the weekend of October 24-26.
There is still time to become a marketing partner here at Oxford Plains Speedway. We have openings for nightly sponsorships, divisional sponsorships, Go-Kart sponsorship, and special event sponsors, as well as program ad sponsors. Prices begin as low as $350, and we do offer payment plans. Contact Dick Therrien at 802-274-8823, or e-mail him at [email protected].