Top 50 Drivers in Oxford 250 History - No. 40 - 36

Every year since 1974, Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine has hosted the Oxford 250. The event has seen many different forms, cars, drivers and sanctioning bodies over the years, but it has also seen plenty of star power during that time.

In celebration of the 50th Annual Oxford 250 taking place on August 25-27, 2023, Racing America has assembled a ranking of the top 50 drivers in the history of the event. We will unveil them in installments leading up to the big weekend in August, where you can watch the Oxford 250 here on Racing America if you are unable to attend the golden anniversary event in person.

This week, we break into the top 40 look at positions 36 through 40 in our Oxford 250 ranking.

Top 50 Drivers in Oxford 250 History: 50-46 | 45-41

40 – Bobby Dragon

A member of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame, Bobby Dragon is an icon of northeastern racing. He has 14 NASCAR North Series wins, 17 ACT Tour wins, and wins in major events such as the Milk Bowl and the Vermont Governor’s Cup to his resume.

Dragon didn’t win the Oxford 250, but he had plenty of strong showings there between 1974 and his final Oxford 250 in 2008. Dragon led 284 laps in his Oxford 250 career, started on the pole twice, and enjoyed a run of seven top-10 finishes in his first nine Oxford 250 starts.

39 – Robbie Crouch

Another veteran of the 70s and 80s at Oxford, Crouch won five ACT Pro Stock Tour events at Oxford Plains in his career, as well as a Busch North Series event at the Maine facility. Crouch won six championships and 77 races on the old ACT Pro Stock Tour, more than any other driver.

Crouch finished second on three occasions in the Oxford 250. The first came in 1981, as Crouch finished behind Geoff Bodine. In 1984, Mike Rowe took the checkered flag ahead of Crouch, with Crouch leading 77 laps that day. Chuck Bown took the win in 1986, with Crouch leading 60 laps before finishing second.

38 – Morgan Shepherd

Of course, it’s hard to discuss veteran racers without thinking of the ageless Morgan Shepherd, who made 517 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series between 1970 and 2014. Shepherd was another driver who became a regular at the Oxford 250 during its tenure as a NASCAR Busch Series event.

Shepherd led 74 laps in the early stages of the 1987 Oxford 250, but a broken axle ended his day after just 101 laps. He also led 31 laps in 1984 before being collected in an accident. Between 1975 and 1980, Shepherd finished in the top five in four of his five Oxford 250 appearances and started on the pole twice.

37 – Joey Doiron

Joey Doiron is still searching for his first Oxford 250 triumph, but he has become one of the drivers to watch every year during the big weekend in August at Oxford Plains Speedway. Even in his first appearances, Doiron showed speed but rarely had the finish to show for it.

In his first Oxford 250 start, Doiron battled for the lead late with Travis Benjamin before Benjamin went to victory lane. Doiron led 69 laps and finished 11^th in 2014. One year later, Doiron charged from 35th to the front of the field and led 27 laps before an engine failure while running in the top five ended his evening.

In his last four starts, Doiron hasn’t started or finished worse than sixth. Between 2018 and 2021, Doiron rattled off three straight top-five finishes. One year ago, Doiron crossed the line sixth.

36 – Austin Theriault

Austin Theriault didn’t have as many starts in the Oxford 250 as many on our Oxford 250 Greatest Drivers list. However, there was a time where you could bet on his No. 57 being near the front of the field every year in the event.

Theriault finished on the podium in back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012, finishing third both years with Kyle Busch and Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. taking the wins. Theriault finished fourth in 2013, but his best showing came in 2014. That year, Theriault led 95 laps and finished second to Travis Benjamin.