NASCAR Champion Kyle Busch Returning to Race at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine
OXFORD, Maine (WMTW) — Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is set to return to Oxford Plains Speedway to compete in the Celebration of America 300 for the second consecutive year.
The 300-lap event, which was introduced last year, will once again feature Busch, who raced in its inaugural edition.
Oxford Plains Speedway, located in Oxford, is Maine’s top short-track racing venue. It features a 3/8-mile asphalt oval and can seat more than 14,000 spectators, making it the largest sports venue in the state. The track is best known for hosting the Oxford 250, a prestigious stock car race that marked its 50th anniversary in 2023.
Qualifying for the Celebration of America 300 will include two 75-lap races on Tuesday, July 1. A last-chance qualifier may be added if needed. The main event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 2.
Busch, who boasts a record 232 victories across NASCAR’s top three national series, won the Oxford 250 in 2011. For this year’s COA 300, he will drive a car prepared by Go Fas Racing, owned by Archie St. Hilaire and backed by CorvetteParts.net.
He also competed in May’s Memorial Day Clash 200, where he contended for the lead before finishing eighth. Reflecting on his past races at Oxford, Busch noted in a video announcement that he has “unfinished business” at the track. He was running inside the top 10 in last year’s COA 300 before a late-race incident ended his chances.
PASS president and Oxford Plains Speedway owner Tom Mayberry expressed his enthusiasm for Busch’s return: “It’s always great to have Kyle back. Our relationship with him has been fantastic, and his presence brings even more excitement to our events.”
The winner of the COA 300 will earn a $20,000 prize.
Joining Busch on the entry list are local and regional standouts, including Joey Doiron of Berwick and Derek Griffith of Hudson, New Hampshire — who finished first and second, respectively, in last year’s COA 300. Also entered are reigning PASS champion D.J. Shaw, 2023 Oxford track champion Trevor Sanborn, Garrett Hall, 15-year-old Sylas Ripley, and veteran driver Mike Rowe of Turner, who recently notched his 154th and 155th career wins at Oxford, extending his all-time record.
