Turner’s Ben Rowe and Unity’s Ralph Nason agree with the new tire policy which is designed to level the playing field for the Oxford True Value 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway Sunday.

Race tires were available for purchase on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but, once they are purchased, they must remain in the speedway’s possession until 8 a.m. on Sunday. Also according to the edict, all race tires must remain in plain sight outside of the car trailers. Any violations result in the confiscation of the tire.

And any practice tire that had its markings altered would be removed.

In the past, drivers were able to purchase the tires way in advance and take them with them. That led to wholesale doctoring of the tires.

“There’s so much stuff you can put on tires, everything from paint thinner to WD-40,” said Ben Rowe. “Softening your tires makes a tremendous difference. It’s the single biggest thing you can do to gain speed.

“Now, if you get rid of all of it, nobody will do it,” added Rowe.

Nason said, “A lot of people were doing it. You’d throw your hands up in the air. Now everybody will be on the same page. They’ve banned it before but never had a successful way of following through.”

Rowe said the pace of the race will be “slower” and Nason said it could add another pit stop.

“That will be an advantage for the Busch North guys because their crews are used to pit stops,” said Nason.

Qualifiers face uphill battle

So just how difficult is it to qualify for the Oxford True Value 250?

Based on 96 entries – and there are likely to be more – there will be six 16-car 20-lap heat races beginning at 2 p.m.

The top four finishers qualify for the race and the heat winners earn the top six starting spots.

The remaining 72 cars are divided into three 20-lap consolation heats and the top four in those heats earn qualifying spots 25 through 36.

Then there is a 50-lap last chance race for the remaining 60 cars and just the winner qualifies for the 250 in the 37th spot.

That driver will have run 90 laps prior to the Oxford True Value 250 and the 250 doesn’t count caution laps, meaning that driver will probably put more than 400 laps on his car between 2 p.m. and approximately 11 p.m.

Another qualifying spot goes to the winner of Saturday night’s 50-lap late model race at Oxford Plains although the driver must still try to qualify on Sunday.

There will be two spots remaining for the promoter’s provisionals.

“You hope you can draw a good number [starting spot] for the heat races. If you start in the back, you have to work your way up front,” said Rowe.

There have been 19 different winners in the previous 27 Oxford True Value 250s.

Nason and Dave Dion are the only three-time winners but Nason is the only one to win it three straight years. Geoffrey Bodine, Mike Rowe, Chuck Bown and Jamie Aube each won twice.

TOP THREE FINISHERS

OXFORD ? Past Oxford 250 champions with second- and third-place finishers:

2000: Ralph Nason, 2. Ben Rowe, 3. Andy Shaw

1999: Ralph Nason, 2. Ben Rowe, 3. Scott Fraser

1998: Ralph Nason, 2. Tracy Gordon, 3. Mike Rowe

1997: Mike Rowe, 2. Tracy Gordon, 3. Gary Drew

1996: Larry Gelinas, 2. Dennis Demers, 3. Scott Kelly

1995: Dave Whitlock, 2. Jeff Taylor, 3. Tracy Gordon

1994: Derek Lynch, 2. Greg Sewart, 3. Mike Maietta

1993: Junior Hanley, 2. Brad Leighton, 3. Danny Knoll Jr.

1992: Dave Dion, 2. Dale Shaw, 3. Babe Branscomb

1991: Ricky Craven, 2. Tommy Houston, 3. Todd Bodine

1990: Chuck Bown, 2. Tommy Houston, 3. Joey Kourafas

1989: Jamie Aube, 2. Dick McCabe, 3. Bruce Haley

1988: Dick McCabe, 2. Kelly Moore, 3. Randy Lajoie

1987: Jamie Aube, 2. Dave Dion, 3. Joey Kourafas

1986: Chuck Bown, 2. Robbie Crouch, 3. Dave Dion

1985: Dave Dion, 2. Joey Kourafas, 3. Dick McCabe

1984: Mike Rowe, 2. Robbie Crouch, 3. Butch Lindley

1983: Tommy Ellis, 2. Dick McCabe, 3. Claude LeClerc

1982: Mike Barry, 2. Butch Lindley, 3. Dick McCabe

1981: Geoff Bodine, 2. Robbie Crouch, 3. Jeff Stevens

1980: Geoff Bodine, 2. Butch Lindley, 3. Morgan Shepherd

1979: Tom Rosati, 2. Harvey Sprague, 3. Bob Pressley

1978: Bob Pressley, 2. Bill Dennis, 3. Butch Lindley

1977: Don Biederman, 2. Butch Lindley, 3. Bob Pressley

1976: Butch Lindley, 2. Ralph Nason, 3. Joey Kourafas

1975: Dave Dion, 2. George Summers, 3. L.D. Ottinger

1974: Joey Kourafas, 2. John Rosati, 3. George Summers