Big names will race at the Oxford Plains Speedway this week for the Celebration of America 300, none bigger than NASCAR star Kyle Busch.

The 300-lap race, which takes place Wednesday night, has already turned heads with a $40,000 cash prize to the winner. It is guaranteed to be one of the largest payouts offered in asphalt Super Late Model racing this year. It’s nearly double the payout of Maine’s biggest race, the Oxford 250, which has given $25,000 to the winner in recent years.

But having Busch, the 2015 and 2019 Cup Series champion, brings more eyes, and ticket sales, to the new race. And it’s a fact not lost on drivers of the Pro All Stars Series.

“Kyle’s a pretty big short track supporter and always has been,” said driver Derek Griffith. “I’ve gotten the chance to get to know him over the last handful of years. A guy like that brings people into the stands, and people always come to see someone like him come around.”

“He brings in a lot of casual fans who probably wouldn’t (normally) be there,” said driver Joey Doiron. “Hopefully, he can turn a couple of those casual fans into fans who will come out to more PASS races, whether they’re at Oxford or other tracks around New England.”

Busch is no stranger to OPS, winning the Oxford 250 in 2011. Both Griffeth and Doiron have been on the track more than once against Busch. In fact, Griffeth beat Busch in a 125-lap Super Late Model race last year at Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire.

“He’s obviously super talented,” Griffith said. “It obviously pays some respect to the drivers up here, because it’s not going to be a cakewalk of a weekday up here, especially in a place like Oxford.”

“I’ve raced with Kyle quite a few times in the past,” added Doiron. “He’s just another driver out there. He races you how you race him. You race him fair, and he’ll race me fair, that’s all you can ask for.”

Griffith (1,050 points) and Doiron (1,029 points) are eighth and ninth, respectively, in the current PASS North points standings and are looking to continue strong seasons, including a successful run at OPS on Wednesday. DJ Shaw (1,326 points) is currently the leader in the standings.

“Oxford is a place that hasn’t been super great to me over the years, but I feel like it’s one of our stronger tracks over the last handful of years, we’ve gotten better and better,” said Griffith, who has two PASS wins already this season. “We’ve finished on the podium twice at the (Oxford) 250. I think we’re in a spot where we at least have a chance at winning (this week). That’s cool, I’m pumped for that.”

“We’re certainly looking forward to going to Oxford, we’ve always raced well there in the past,” Doiron said. “We should have a good chance (this week), I think.”

Busch is not the only major name racing at OPS this week. Fellow NASCAR driver Daniel Hemric, who won the Xfinity Series championship in 2021, will be in the race, as well as 2018 Oxford 250 winner Bubba Pollard.

“I’ve got to give credit to (OPS and PASS owner Tom Mayberry) for sticking their necks out on the line,” Doiron said. “Hopefully the fan turnout is good. There’s a lot of money at stake, no doubt about that. I’m hoping it’ll turn into (a yearly race) for the next 10-15 years and they can keep building on it… It would certainly be nice to win the first one.”

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