1.03.2008

Harvick to run Oxford 250

Oxford Plains Speedway owner Bill Ryan can tell pretty early in the conversation when a driver is serious about his entry into Maine's annual summer stock-car racing classic.

"When they're like, 'What's the practice schedule?', I know they're pretty serious about it," Ryan said on Thursday afternoon, moments after confirming that defending Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick has filed an entry for the 35th annual TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains on July 20.


Harvick first approached Ryan about running the race roughly three weeks ago.


"It moved along pretty quickly from there," Ryan said.


The entry parallels that of former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, who competed in the 250 in 2004. Like Busch, Harvick will prepare his own car for the Late Model event. Kevin Harvick Inc. will field and crew the car on race weekend.


Ryan said Harvick and his wife were discussing his 2008 schedule, deciding which prestigious short-track races they wanted to run. The TD Banknorth 250 was near the top of the list for the driver who runs the No. 29 Shell Chevrolets for Richard Childress Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, according to Ryan.


Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch each participated in the Oxford 250 twice, and other current and former Cup drivers like Kevin Lepage, J.J. Yeley, Denny Hamlin, Ricky Craven and Terry Labonte have also run the race in recent years.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Finally a talented racer who has seen the light" Andy

Anonymous said...

"Seen the light" or "seen the green" ???
Did Bill pay him to show up ???

Sounds like he is coming on his own accord.

Anonymous said...

Excellant write up T.B..
Now do us all a favor this weekend at the Expo would you, ask EVERY driver you see what there plans are for next year and report back. Get with D.J.Shaw(ASA?) and Ben Rowe(ASA?), anybody else you see, ask them what there plans are. If you do that and post it here you'll be as popular that snow shovel by the door! Thank you.
SUPPORT LOCAL RACING!