Mark your calendar: 2008 schedule's out

OXFORD, Maine - Milestone seasons for the TD Banknorth 250 Presented By New England Dodge Dealers and Oxford Acceleration Series and the return of the L/A Harley-Davidson Late Model Challenge highlight the 2008 event schedule at Oxford Plains Speedway. 

Speedway owner Bill Ryan unveiled the ambitious slate today. It features 37 jam-packed Saturday, Wednesday and special event dates from the final weekend in April through mid-September. 

This season's centerpiece, as always, is the 35th annual TD Banknorth 250. The lucrative late model extravaganza that launched in 1974 is scheduled for Sunday, July 20. It is again the hub event of Oxford's L/A Harley-Davidson Late Model Challenge, which includes American-Canadian Tour events on April 26, June 21 and September 13 (all Saturdays). 

Roger Brown of Lancaster, N.H., is the defending champion of both the TD Banknorth 250 and L/A Harley-Davidson Late Model Challenge. 

"With 115 drivers making at least one qualifying attempt during our first L/A Harley-Davidson Late Model Challenge, it was a great testament to the depth of late model competition throughout New England and the draw of the TD Banknorth 250," Ryan said. "That was a great way to start a new chapter in the history of this race, and once again I cannot wait to see what next season will bring." 

Oxford's schedule goes much deeper than those headline events, however. The Oxford Championship Series is on the docket every Saturday night from May 3 through August 30, awarding the traditional championships in Oxford Networks Late Model, Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy Strictly Stock and Allen's Mini Stock competition. 

In an expansion of a tradition started in 2007, every Saturday event will include an appearance by two Oxford Acceleration Series classes. Those events again will be waged in a separate championship, the Agren Appliance Saturday Showdown. 

"Our Wednesday night divisions each had up to four opportunities to compete on Saturday nights in 2007, and the racing was just sensational," Ryan said. "This season we'll be making the Acceleration Series part of every event, giving them each nine events in the Agren Appliance Saturday Showdown. It's simply going to ensure more three- and four-wide racing for our fans every week, and with a longer points chase that racing should be more intense than ever."

Acceleration Series fans will have the opportunity to see all five divisions each Wednesday night, as well. 

"We started giving the divisions that raced on Saturday night a week off the following Wednesday," explained Ryan. "But it became obvious to us early in the 2007 season that those drivers wanted to race and that our fans wanted to see them race, so doing away with the 'off' week was an easy decision." 

To accommodate the expanded schedule, the regular, midweek Acceleration Series will go back to the later, traditional start date of Wednesday, June 4. Only Wednesday events will be awarded points toward the full-season championship. 

Championship night is August 27, with the annual Summer Showdown on Saturday, Sept. 6. 

Other schedule highlights include: 

- Four fireworks displays, highlighted by the classic Maine State Lottery Fireworks Night celebration on Thursday, July 3. Fireworks will also complement the racing on May 24, August 2 and on Championship Night, August 30. 

- The Agren Appliance Triple Crown for OCS Strictly and Mini divisions. Strictly Stock 100s are slated for June 7 and August 9, with the Minis dialing long distance on June 14 and August 16. Both classes have the New England Dodge Dealers Little Guy 100s on Sept. 13. 

- Motor Mayhem moves to prime time, with old-style Enduro racing and other shenanigans sending the sparks flying on three Friday night programs: June 27, August 1 and August 29. 

- The second annual True Value Modified Racing Series 100 on Saturday, July 19, the second night of TD Banknorth 250 weekend. "The inaugural True Value Modified race was incredible, and it should only get better as some of those great drivers familiarize themselves with OPS," Ryan said. Additionally, Strictly Stocks and Mini Stocks will have a tripleheader weekend in conjunction with the 250. 

The 2007 season begins with practice for all divisions at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 19. One week later, the season gets the green flag with the New England Dodge Dealers ACT 150 at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. 

Discounted season tickets are now available. 

2008 SCHEDULE
(subject to change)
All events 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted

Saturday, April 19 Practice All Divisions, 9 a.m.    

Saturday, April 26 New England Dodge Dealers Night ACT 150/OCS/Outlaws/Ladies, 2 p.m.

Saturday, May 3 Sunoco Race Fuels Night OCS/Rebel/Truck.

Saturday, May 10 Double T Fence Night OCS/Outlaw/Ladies/Legends

Saturday, May 17 Sun Journal Night OCS/Rebel/Truck 

Saturday, May 24  Oxford Federal Credit Union Night OCS/Outlaw/Ladies/Fireworks

Saturday, May 31 OCS/Rebel/Truck 

Wednesday, June 4 OAS

Saturday, June 7 OCS/Outlaw/Ladies/Strictly 100

Wednesday, June 11 OAS

Saturday, June 14 OCS/ Rebel/Trucks/Mini 100

Wednesday, June 18  OAS

Saturday, June 21 New England Dodge Dealers ACT 150/OCS/Outlaws/Ladies 

Wednesday, June 25  OAS

Friday, June 27 Motor Mayhem

Saturday, June 28 OCS/Rebels/Trucks

Wednesday, July 2  OAS

Thursday, July 3  Maine State Lottery Fireworks Night, OCS

Saturday, July 5 OCS/Outlaws/Ladies/Legends

Wednesday, July 9 OAS

Saturday, July 12 OCS/Rebels/Trucks     

Wednesday, July 16 OAS

Saturday, July 26 OCS/Outlaws/Ladies

Friday, Aug. 1 Motor Mayhem

Saturday, Aug. 2  OCS/Rebels/Trucks/Legends/Fireworks

Wednesday, Aug. 6 OAS

Saturday, August 9 OCS/Outlaw/Ladies/Strictly 100 

Wednesday, Aug. 13 OAS

Saturday, Aug. 16 OCS/Rebels/Trucks/Mini 100 

Wednesday, Aug. 20 OAS

Saturday, Aug. 23 OCS/Outlaws/Ladies     

Wednesday, Aug. 27 OAS Championship Night

Friday, Aug. 29 Motor Mayhem

Saturday, Aug. 30 OCS Championship Night/Fireworks/Rebels/Trucks

Saturday, Sept. 6 OAS Showdown, 5 p.m.