Dixfield’s Scott Robbins bangs his fist on his car to the delight of his crew after winning the Oxford 250 in 2002. Press Herald file photo
Scott Robbins has been to the top of the Oxford 250 mountain, winning Maine’s biggest auto race in 2002.
It’s been a while, but he said he feels as in the thick of the competition now as he did on that day 23 years ago.
“It’s no different for me (now) as it was when I first started running Super Late Models, before I won the 250,” said Robbins, 53, of Dixfield. “Everybody wants to win. There’s bigger races, and now there’s bigger-money races. But this race is the race that everyone wants to win, because of the history.”
Cousins Scott Robbins, right, and Ryan Robbins, both of Dixfield, chat after they qualified for the Oxford 250 in August 2021 at Oxford Plains Speedway. Brewster Burns photo
He added: “As a kid, the history of the race has always intrigued me. To actually get to do it and actually get to win it (is huge). You would think, ‘Oh, well, I won it; oh, well (I can stop now).’ The competition, or challenge, to not only qualify but be competitive and have a chance to win, that’s what keeps us coming back year after year.”
Robbins is one of a slew of veteran drivers — and former 250 winners — who come back to the race year after year. The reasons may vary, but their ultimate goal is almost always the same: Compete with the best New England has to offer, and win once more.
“Anyone that can run this race wants to run it and win it,” Eddie MacDonald, who won the Oxford 250 in 2009 and 2010, said at Wednesday’s Oxford 250 media day. “You never know, throughout the course of the weekend, you might find (some luck) and be there at the end on Sunday. That’s the biggest thing, find some speed, have luck go your way, make the right pit stop, get some new tires and hope you can make it to the front and at least have a shot at it.”
MacDonald, 45, of Rowley, Massachusetts, is still a regular on the Pro All Star Series (PASS), as is Turner’s Mike Rowe, who turned 75 on Aug. 19 and is a three-time Oxford 250 champion (1984, 1997 and 2005).
“There’s so many good cars (in PASS) right now,” Rowe said at media day. “They all have their (stuff) together right now, and we hope we can get ours together.”
Driver Mike Rowe of Turner gives an interview during Oxford 250 media day at Oxford Plains Speedway on Wednesday. Rowe is one of four three-time winners of the Oxford 250. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)
Robbins is currently 12th in the Oxford Championship Series, and feels his team is more prepared than it has been in recent years for the Oxford 250. One of the reasons he continues to race in the event is testing his skills against younger competition.
“It’s getting harder and harder, obviously, to do that,” Robbins said. “These young kids are good. They’ve got equipment, they’ve got money behind them. It’s a tough challenge, but that’s the challenge still. We still feel like we can be competitive and maybe even have a shot at getting a good finish.
“The race has given me so much over the years. I not only want to be a part of it, but I feel like I need to be a part of it as long as I can and still be competitive.”
There are veteran drivers who have had success at Oxford Plains Speedway, but found the Oxford 250 to be their white whale over the course of their careers. Farmington driver Jeff Taylor was one was of those drivers, until he finally won the race last season. Celebrating his victory after the race, Taylor announced his retirement from driving. So far, he’s stuck to it.
“I try to explain to people. For myself, we raced there so much, and that was the one thing that we couldn’t do,” said Taylor, 58. “It’s no different than anything sport-related: If you’re shooting the ball with your friends, how do you want to stop? Do you want to stop continuing to go to the races and fade away? Or would you rather go out winning the biggest race, in our area, and stop there? I’m going to stop now.”
Buckfield driver Tim Brackett is a longtime driver hoping to capture his white whale this year. He is a three-time Super Late Models champion at Oxford Plains, but has never won the 250.
Tim Brackett climbs out of his car Saturday following a few practice laps at Oxford Plains Speedway in July 2022. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)
“This (race) is what it’s all about,” said Brackett, 63, who won the Mid-Coast Excavation 150 last year at OPS. “I haven’t had that much luck in the race, but you feel so relieved when you qualify, especially if you’re doing the heat (races).
“(A win) would definitely complete (my career). I’ve won PASS races now, I’ve won championships, I’ve won a bunch of races. This one would be the ultimate, ‘OK, you’ve done it all.’ I still don’t know if I’m ready to stop (racing). I’m not sure I can do the mic drop like Taylor did. I don’t know what else I’d do.”
