The new-look Oxford 250 is just 6 days away, and the story lines are seemingly endless.What to make of the 175 entries? What to make of Late Model racing, in general? How do the nearly 150 championships among those on the entry list effect the race, if at all? Do fans flock out for just any Cup drivers, or will it take more than Terry Labonte and Kevin Lepage to create that buzz about the event?
Who's coming, who's not coming, who's going to win and who's going to miss out on qualifying altogether?
For the last 12 months, the biggest racing story in New England has continued to revolve around Late Models and Super Late Models. For 15 years, the Oxford 250 belonged to the Super Late Model crowd, as did Oxford Plains Speedway's weekly racing series. Now though, it's a Late Model track clearly aligned with Tom Curley's American-Canadian Tour, and those cars will get their crack at running the richest short-track event in the region.
Some guys are all-in, like weekly racers from places like Wiscasset and Unity Raceways. Some guys are all-out, like reigning and 2-time PASS champion Johnny Clark. Other guys don't care what kind of car runs the race and they'll be there anyway, like multi-time race winners Mike Rowe and Ben Rowe.
The lines have clearly been drawn.
As a reporter, I'll admit to liking more than a little controversy. Guys take sides, turn into high-powered quote machines, and every week there's seemingly a new angle to the story.
But there's another side to all this ugliness, one that is growing tired. It's been a year -- and we're still talking about it. One Super Late Model racer asked me earlier this summer why I was bothering to cover "just a Late Model race."
Here's the deal, as straight as a newspaperman can lay it out -- the Oxford 250 has more than 3 decades of history behind it with all different types of cars and, last I checked, the winner is still guaranteed to take home at least $25,000 in front of a capacity (or very near-capacity) crowd. That makes the race relevant and a must from a coverage standpoint.
I'd also think it would make it a must from a fan's standpoint, but I guess we'll learn all about that in the coming days.
17 comments:
Amen to your comment about the ugliness leading up to the 250.
For better or worse, the race has undergone a change. It's done so at other times in its history and will likely undergo more in its future.
Both sides of the debate have made plenty of tasteless comments in public statements, blog entries and posts on the Internet. It's too bad because short track racing needs all of the help it can get at this point instead of two sides that should be working to promote the sport together trying to bring about what could be their mutally assured destruction.
Whether you are watching the 250, or the PASS race at Antigonish or just the regular weekly racing card at any of the other tracks around this weekend, enjoy what you are watching. I'm sure you'll see a good show.
I think the fans will support it this year but I think they are going to be disappointed with the car count. I just don't see them pulling in more then 100 cars at best. The the track keeps talking about the 175 entry's. Great marketing this year but people wont fall for it next year.
The super late model vs late model debate is getting real old and I think if Bill would stop slinging mud on his blog every chances he gets it would go a long way on helping people get over this. It is all kind of childish and puts him right up there with the showstopper.
The race has never been about the cars. This is the first time in my 27 years that I've heard the type of car being such a big factor. The race's success has always been about large number of entrants, heat races, and local guys taking on regional and national stars.
None of that has changed. The track owner has a chance to put a type of car that has some of the largest car counts in this region into his biggest show without losing much of the "star" power of the drivers.
By moving to this type of car the race will see even more representation from Canada and other parts of New England.
The only debate and mudslinging that I've seen comes from an upset 6-8 people who are active on the regional message boards and have a personal vendetta against a track owner doing what he thinks is best for his track.
I'm thinking this could be one of the best Oxford 250's of all time simply due to the amount of action that will take place ON THE TRACK. Imagine that...judging success by the show itself. Novel concept.
Seems to me that if you read his blog, the track owner that has the vendetta against him does a fair amount of slinging mud himself.
I would think that if he wants to focus on the race and not the cars, that he might tone down his comments a little when it coems to other tracks and tours that don't visit Oxford anymore.
So I guess I'm not the only one that sees the track owner helping keep all of this crap going. Keep those Rosie glasses on Fanmark. I wouldn't want to see you say some thing truthful about Oxford and have you risk having Bill pull you credentials for the race. May be Andy B will save you a seat with him.
"I would think that if he wants to focus on the race and not the cars, that he might tone down his comments a little when it coems to other tracks and tours that don't visit Oxford anymore."
So let me get this straight. Bill is supposed to sit back and listen to everyone spout off their OPINIONS about how he has ruined the track, racing, the 250, etc, etc, etc. BUT he cannot go on HIS blog and express HIS OPINIONS?
I don't get it?
The nay-sayers that haven't even been to OPS this year because they are so mad have had plenty bad to say about the track, the racing, and the fans, so maybe they should "tone down" their "comments a little when it comes to" OPS.
Oh, no. That wouldn't work. All the nay-sayers are 100% right about everything, while Bill is 100% wrong about everything...
It's about the tradition of heat races, locals vs. "outsiders" and lots of action. How can setting a record car count be a bad thing in a type of car that is being run all around the country?
I've spoken the truth about Oxford many times but the "Oxford Haters" only see what they want to see and comment on what they want to comment on.
I have purchased tickets, multiple tickets, to every 250 that I have ever been too. Have you Mr. Anonymous??
Travis...your blog is now being hit by the "Oxford Haters". Good luck. :)
A few questions for Fan Mark?
1. How do you figure that the "Oxford Haters" are taking over when what I read is saying that both sides should stop sparring and enjoy the races.
2. How can you have a record car count when right now, to my knowledge, there is not a single Late Model in the pits at Oxford. Maybe there will be, maybe there won't be but aren't you just doing the same thing that you are accusing other people of by fanning the flames with that bold statement?
And yes, Bill can do whatever he wants to the race track. He owns it and I don't. Taht gives him all of the right in the world. He can also write whatever he wants on his blog. But it seems backwards to me to go on the attack and then complain that nobody is getting along. It's like throwing a bomb and then complaining about the smoke from the fire afterwards.
With his comments, is he doing any better or worse than the "Carists" and idiotic pro pro stock people out there? Seems the same to me.
I just want to see a good race. I don't care if it a pro stock, a late model or a wheelbarrel.
For this particular Anonymous:
1. The Haters are throwing jabs. The rest of us are pumping up the TD Banknorth 250 and getting behind Oxford Plains and counter-punching. Anybody who likes the track is always having to play defense. That's just the way it has been. And I didn't say they were taking over...just that they were here.
2. I'm predicting a record car count. I could very well be wrong. I'm not saying, as of now, that they have X number of entries. I'm saying that I think the race will get a record number of cars through the gate.
Well, we can agree that everyone ought to shut up and enjoy the races this weekend.
I'm really looking forward to the race as a fan, amatuer historian of the event, and recap writer. I think it's going to be a very interesting weekend and that the race could be one of the best ever. I don't know why...I just do. If it's a snoozer, I'll write it.
And use your name from time to time. Everyone is going to think you have no opinions on this if you keep it up! You haven't posted with your name anywhere in a long time.
Why is the RECORD CAR COUNT so damm importent. Oxford on any Sat. does not have any more weekly LMS cars than it did Pro Stocks.What it does have is ONE car that wins all the time and the rest suck or he wouldn,t win them all. The Record that is going to be set is an alltime disapointment of the cars that spend the same money or more and go home. the real question is what will 2008 bring. And after this weeks race there will be about 18 LMS next week and the weeks to follow. the Hundreds will be gone and the FEW will stay.
I can't wait!!!!
When Oxford's decision was first announced many said it was a huge mistake, Late Models can't put on exciting races, yada, yada, yada, yada. Since the season has started, the Late Models have converted quite a folks. I predict after the Oxford 250 a whole lot more will be converted to Late Model racing.
It's been a long, long time since the Oxford 250 has attracted this much talent from such a broad and diverse area. And on the day after the Oxford 250 when everyone is raving about what a great event it was, you better believe Andy B will there to say "I told you so".
Andy I bet 80% of your deep talent pool will be watching the race.
Yeah, when they fail to qualify.
Didn't Johnny Clark fail to qualify last year? Didn't Jeff Taylor fail a couple of times? That's what happens in a big money "open" event with heat races. You have race your way in and do it legally.
The comfort of being a series regular is not there. There's an urgency to this race that most of these guys don't get all the time.
That's why just getting into the show is such a major accomplishment for some teams. If weekly racer Joe gets in and Johnny Clark doesn't, isn't that a nice accomplishment in the richest paying race in the region? I'd say so.
I agree with you completely. I was responding to the person before who implied that it would be less of a race because a couple of his PASS supercalifragilistic late model drivers won't be in the field.
Hey Travis,
Look at all these comments! All you have to do is bring up Oxford and the 250 and they come out of the woodwork.
As for fanning any flames, I really do not think I have done any of that. I have responded to people's comments. Sometimes I have a little too much fun doing it. I think I should be allowed to defend Oxford and its drivers, no? What I have not done is criticize any other track or series. I think that when people have tried to make comparisons, I have been very, very, very restrained in my comments. Even when we have been attacked. I do not see defending myself on the blog as childish. Childish is anonymously and irrationally attacking the track.
We have 175 entries. Are we supposed to hide that?
Tell me how I am mudslinging?
Oh, by the way, are people going to be seriously disappointed if "only" 100 cars show up? Wouldn't that be twenty more than last year and near a record?
I sincerely apologize if you think that I am slinging mud.
One of my favorite stories from all of this came last year in the pit at the Ridge. I was standing talking to Dale Shaw, who I think is one of the funniest guys out there. As we were talking a guy who was an old time Pro Stock owner walked by. The guy did not know who I was and Dale knew it. Dale said to the guy, "Hey what do you think about Oxford getting rid of the Pro Stocks?" The guys response was "That #@$#@ guy Bill Ryan. He is the biggest @#!#@$#@ %$#@%$# in the world. That &^%$%^ idiot!" The guy was coming unglued. He went on for a full minute. Dale was smiling when I put my hand out to the Pro Stock owner and said, "Hi I'm Bill Ryan." The look on the guys face was priceless. It is amazing the type of mud people will sling when they think they are anonymous.
Lastly, why does everyone with a criticism post anonymously? I ask this question all the time but it amazes me that if you have such a strong opinion you are not willing to stand by it by telling us who you are.
Bill Ryan
Good thing that what Ryan did to your blog didn't happen with his decisions about his race track! LOL
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