PHOTO: The bumper on Kyle Busch’s TD Bank 250 Toyota Camry tells you where the action is this weekend. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM Photo)

–by T.J. Ingerson

OXFORD, Me. — At one point today, Kyle Busch’s war wagon registered a temperature of 106 degrees Fahrenheit. If the air temperature is any indicator, we’re in for an awesome night here at the Oxford Plains Speedway.

Hot temperatures usually bring hot tempers. And with 37 Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models registered for tonight’s Brackett Mechanical/RB Performance PASS 150, it should be a slugfest to qualify. And then who knows what will happen when the 150 comes down to the checkered flag.

Imagine Kyle Busch, Ben Rowe, Patrick Laperle, Johnny Clark, and Brian Hoar in the top five with five laps remaining. None of those drivers are pushovers and will hold their own. It should be exciting.

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It has been five long years for Super Late Model/Pro Stock competitors. After the 2006 season, the Pro Stock division was axed from the Oxford Plains Speedway in favor of the ACT-style Late Model. Tonight, though, marks the return of a day some believed would never come.

Veteran Super Late Model driver Mike Rowe, who has won the TD Bank 250 on three occasions (1984, 1997, and 2005), was overhead saying “It feels good to be back. This is home.”

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Whoever decided to close down a section of Route 26 north of the speedway is either dumb, or doesn’t have a clue. Or both.

Closing down the main path into the speedway, backing up traffic for over 15 minutes, on the biggest race weekend in Maine, is just absolutely dumb.

It seemed like a temporary setup, and hopefully it will be fixed for tomorrow. Just in case, plan ahead. Leave a little earlier in case traffic is backed up.

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According to Oxford Plains Speedway officials, 72 cars registered for competition as of Saturday afternoon. With more cars expected tomorrow, it’s lining up to be an extremely full field attempting to qualify for the TD Bank 250.

Defending TD Bank 250 champion Eddie MacDonald is expected to arrive Sunday morning after competing in a K&N Pro Series East race at the Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio.

Tracks from all over New England, Quebec, and Ontario are represented thus far with the 72 entrants.

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I must be honest. 18 Modifieds in attendance for tonight’s Valenti Modified Racing Series portion of the double header is a bit disappointing. But, it isn’t totally unexpected after last week’s Ricky Race for Kids 112. Series regular Kenny Barry and rookie of the year contender Tim Jordan are sidelined after rough weeks. Barry was involved in an early race incident at Canaan for Ricky’s Race. Jordan discovered that his car’s frame was bent while working on it after a mid-week race at the Seekonk Speedway.

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It’s fun to see the different strategies by teams playing out on Saturday. There are teams who will turn as many practice laps as possible, trying to perfectly adjust the car. Then there are other teams who will run only a handful of laps, bring the car in the pits and put it up on four jack stands and let it sit.

That’s the fun of the 250. And not one person has the perfect strategy that will guarantee them the 250 victory.

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Eight drivers are attempting double duty at Oxford this weekend. Scott Dragon, Brian Hoar, Ricky Morse, Joey Polewarczyk, Brad Babb, Patrick Laperle, Jean-Francois Dery, and Kyle Busch are attempting to qualify for both the PASS 150 on Saturday and then the TD Bank 250 on Sunday.

Hoar, Polewarczyk, Laperle, and Busch are the favorites to contend for both victories.

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I must say. Oxford has some good tunes. Just hope they don’t rely on the tunes too much.

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Say what you want about Kyle Busch, but the kid can wheel a race car.

While watching early TD Bank 250 practice, Busch, 26, of Las Vegas, Nevada, had the right-rear of his Late Model stepped out all the way around the Oxford 3/8ths mile. Most drivers in that condition would struggle to keep the car from spinning around. Not Busch. He was gaining, and passing, the guys in front of him.

It’s just one of the reasons why the TD Bank 250 is one of the best races. Period.

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Stick around for the party afterwards tonight. It’s as much part of the TD Bank 250 weekend as the race itself.