Winning the Oxford 250:Kyle Busch

Photo Credit:Trudy Marshall
 Winning the Oxford 250 is a once in a lifetime experience very few drivers have been able to win it more than once including the father and son duo Mike and Ben Rowe of Turner and legends like Dave Dion and Ralph Nason.

If you don’t keep up with New England short track racing these aren’t names you would remember. Something that has drawn casual race fans to the Oxford 250 in the past has been NASCAR drivers.

Only 3 NASCAR drivers who have raced in the event have won the Oxford 250 including two sprint cup champions.

 Friday afternoon I had the opportunity to speak with 2011 Oxford 250 winner and reigning 2015 sprint cup champion Kyle Busch about his Oxford 250 experiences.

“What makes the Oxford 250 different from other big short track races is the Payday.Its pressure packed for all the guys, they want to lead laps and they get money for leading those laps and of course the big paycheck of $25,000. It’s a big race for late model drivers anywhere in the country but especially up north there’s a lot of pride and pressure put on the event.”

During the 2015 season, Busch was sidelined with a broken leg for most of the season but he persevered to dominate the remainder of the season and took home the championship.

Kyle Busch made two attempts at winning the Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway in 2005 and 2006 before finally winning the prestigious event.  It just goes to show hard work pays off in the end.

“Just having everything go our way was what made our last 250 a success” He admitted.

In 2005 they had a lugnut fall off on pit road that got stuck in a brake caliber which led to blowing a tire and when he returned the in 2006 following the year he had engine failure when he was passing for the lead.

“Being able to come back and have a race where we didn’t have the car torn up or the engine torn up we were able to make it through the whole event and win. Obviously the greatest satisfaction was bringing home the checkered flag”

Though the Oxford 250 is held on a short track many drivers including Busch don’t consider Oxford Plains Speedway a very easy track.

“It’s kinda tricky the layout is very round but flat. There’s definitely different grooves you can but running on the bottom and keeping it tight against the curb on the inside is probably the best place to be. Also when the sun goes down in turns 3 and 4 you get a blast of sun as the day progresses.” Busch said about Oxford.

“Also pit road there’s a huge challenge the way pit road is laid out where you have a front stretch pit road and an back stretch pit road where you kind of have to weave through the infield.” He added.

Many short track drivers from Maine never get the chance to drive on the NASCAR level due lack of funding. Busch races every week with the same guys all across the country so when he raced at Oxford with different guys who knew the track well he had a disadvantage.

“sometimes it’s a greater challenge to race local short track drivers because there is some just as good as cup drivers but being on their home turf they know all the things about the track and how it changes. While racing against cup guys every weekend we travel around to different tracks, we’re always moving no guy who races cup races the same track every week.” He explained.

Behind every driver is a great crew during his runs at Oxford, Busch had help from a pretty well-known face around short track racing Seth Holbrook, a 4 time 250 winning crew chief for Mike Rowe, Ben Rowe and for Glen Luce last year.

“I’d been working with Seth a long time since coming up in 2005, Seth is really smart and has a great respect for competitors helping me or the guys he’s won races with for years. He has a lot of wins and does a good job preparing fast race cars.”

“A lot of people talk about the different drivers who have won the race it would interesting to learn about who the crew chiefs were for those races.”

To be on the list of 250 winners with the likes of Mike Rowe, Dave Dion and Jamie Aube it’s truly a great accomplishment.

“The 250 for me was a big deal, I’ve wanted to win any race that I’ve been in during my career. That was a race I knew was a big deal to a lot of people in the northeast it was great finally being able to win and add such a cool race to my resume.”

“To be a winner and championship winner in the sprint cup level is one thing but for me being able to go compete against some of the best talents out there that may or may not ever be recognized. It was cool to be able to beat out guys like Mike Rowe and Jeff Taylor that are well respected and know the Oxford 250 really well.” Busch admitted.

43 years ago Oxford Plains Speedway held its first Oxford 250 I don’t think they truly realized how big of an impact it would have on short track racing in New England. It’s become more than a race for most, it’s an event and a reunion with racing friends and family.