The Oxford 250’s most recent villain is making his return after a year of exile, while one of its most beloved drivers has called it a career after finally winning the prestigious race.

Canadian driver Cole Butcher, who won Maine’s biggest auto race in 2022 and 2023, is officially listed as one of the entrants for this year’s edition on Aug. 24 at Oxford Plains Speedway. This comes one year after Butcher was banned from the 2024 Oxford 250 for his aggressive driving style.

Multiple phone calls and messages to Butcher were not returned. A phone call to Oxford Plains Speedway vice president Mike Mayberry was also not returned.

Butcher, a native of Porter’s Lake, Nova Scotia, was notified last year on March 22, in a letter from Oxford Plains Speedway owner Tom Mayberry — who runs the Pro All Star Series (PASS) — that he could no longer race at the track because of a pattern of incidents. The Oxford 250 is a PASS race.

In the letter, Mayberry told Butcher that “we feel it’s better for all parties for you and your team to no longer race with PASS Racing. Due (to) events at Hickory (Motor Speedway) and several others over the last few years, it seems that your race style is not the right fit for PASS Racing.”

During the PASS St. Patrick’s 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina on March 16, 2024, Butcher trailed Mike Hopkins with two laps remaining. As they entered the first turn, Butcher’s bumper made contact with the left rear of Hopkins’ car, forcing a spinout that also took out Garrett Hall’s car.

Prior to his PASS ban, Butcher was attempting to become only the second driver to win three straight Oxford 250s. Ralph Nason won three in a row from 1998-00.

“I’m a little bit bummed out, but it’s also a little bit of a weight taken off my shoulders, taking on (the pressure) of winning three in a row,” Butcher said last year. “Technically, I can do three in a row (for myself), but it won’t be in consecutive years, if I’m ever welcomed back. I know my family is bummed, my dad loves the place. … Very few Canadians have ever won (the 250). For me to be one of them, it’s a pretty great experience.”

Neither of Butcher’s Oxford 250 victories were without controversy. In 2022, he bumped race leader Johnny Clark with eight laps to go, causing Clark to spin. Butcher took over the lead and held on to win, while Clark, the 2020 champion, placed fourth.

Butcher made contact with several drivers throughout the day on the way to his win in 2023, starting in the qualifying races. Seven laps into the 250, he spun out pole-sitter Jimmy Renfrew Jr. and was sent to the back of the field on a penalty for rough driving. He made it back to the front, and with 26 laps remaining, Butcher aggressively passed Joey Doiron for the lead, earning the ire of Doiron and the fans at Oxford Plains Speedway.

“I mean, Oxford 250, 50th anniversary — get over it,” Butcher said after the race.

Butcher is having a successful 2025 season, winning four races in the ASA STARS National Tour. He’s scheduled to make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at the UNOH 200 on Sept. 11 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

TAYLOR HAPPY TO RETIRE ON TOP

The No. 88 car of Jeff Taylor hasn’t been touched since Aug. 25, 2024, except for one small detail.

“All the rubber is still on it, I haven’t touched it, except for dumping out the drink bottle so that wouldn’t get real (smelly),” Taylor said with a laugh.

Taylor, 58, picked up the victory that had eluded him in his 30-plus year career when he held off Bubba Pollard to win the 51st Oxford 250 last August.

The Farmington driver stated in his postrace interview that it would be his final race. One year later, Taylor is firm and content in his decision.

“It doesn’t bother me any at this point, because I work on race cars every day,” said Taylor, who owns Distance Racing Products in Fairfield. “The driving part of it, I’m sure I’m going to miss part of that. When I went to the race, honestly, it was just another day of work. Most people do their day jobs seven days a week. (Race cars) are my business. I still build a lot of race cars, work on a lot of race cars. I’m just not going to drive one.”

Taylor has won nine Oxford Plains Speedway championships (1993-97; 2000-02; 2006). Before last season, his best showings at the 250 were second-place finishes in 1995, 2012 and 2020. But that all changed during a rain-soaked 250 last year when he passed D.J. Shaw on Lap 224 and held off Pollard — the 2018 winner.

“I try to explain to people, for myself, we raced there so much and that was the one thing that we couldn’t do,” Taylor said. “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.”

Taylor said he does plan to attend the race.

SPEEDWAY 95

Speedway 95 in Hermon recently announced that it will be the first track in Maine to have an AWD (all-wheel drive) competition, starting in September.

Track and race director Damien Mayhew said the idea to include this class of racing came from “thinking out of the box.”

“Majority of tracks don’t allow all-wheel drive in any of their classes, and I thought out of the box like, ‘Hey, Subarus are all-wheel drive, they’re supposed to be track cars, how about let them come out on the track and have fun,’” Mayhew said.

The races are open to anyone above the age of 18, and Mayhew said he anticipates they’ll consist mainly of drivers “off the street,” Late Models, street stocks, and a couple of Limited sport models.

According to the rules published on Speedway 95’s website, “all wheel drive vehicles must be street legal for make and model except for modifications made for racing,” and can only be a passenger vehicle.

Mayhew said expectations for this new class are like “pretty much throwing a curveball,” but he’s excited to see the opportunities to enter racing in Maine expand.