Oxford Plains Speedway

OXFORD, Maine - NASCAR’s Kenny and Steve Wallace will be affiliated with two of New England’s most successful Late Model race teams when they compete in the 36th annual TD Banknorth 250 Presented By New England Dodge Dealers at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Kenny Wallace will drive a car provided by Brackett Motorsports and Ricky Rolfe in the race on Sunday, July 19, while Steve Wallace’s ride will be furnished by the American-Canadian Tour team of Kendall Roberts.

“The tradition of NASCAR drivers going after the TD Banknorth 250 win in top-notch equipment definitely will continue this year,” said OPS owner Bill Ryan. “Much like Kevin Harvick last year and Matt Kenseth and Kyle and Kurt Busch before him, there’s no question that Kenny and Steve Wallace will be coming to OPS with a legitimate chance to win the race.”

Rolfe is one of Maine’s most successful racers and car builders. During the week, the driver from Albany Township works in the fabrication shop at Race Basics in Andover. On weekends, he is a two-time OPS champion who has been a feature winner in six different divisions since the mid-1980s.

A multi-time qualifier for the TD Banknorth 250, Rolfe finished second to Ben Rowe in the 2004 race, holding off NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth to claim the spot. Last season, race winner Kevin Harvick credited Rolfe’s advice for helping him adapt quickly to a 3/8-mile oval that has been notoriously elusive to first-time visitors.

This year, Rolfe joined forces with Brackett’s Jay-based team. Their first season has been highlighted by a win in the weekly Oxford Networks Late Model feature at OPS on May 30.

Roberts owns the No. 26 National Guard ride driven by ACT veteran John Donahue of Graniteville, Vt. The team won an open competition race at Oxford in June 2007.

Both teams tasted success in the season-opening New England Dodge Dealers ACT 150 on May 17. Rolfe dominated the early stages of the event at his home track before carburetor problems beset the No. 51. Donahue finished second to race winner Joey Polewarczyk Jr.

Qualifying for the TD Banknorth 250 begins at 2 p.m. on race day, with the main event scheduled for shortly after 6 p.m. Eighty-eight drivers attempted to earn a starting position in last year’s TD Banknorth 250.

Kenny’s brother and Steve’s dad, NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace, will be the TD Banknorth 250 grand marshal.

The TD Banknorth 250 is the headline event of a three-day weekend presented by New England Dodge Dealers that also will include full cards of racing competition on Friday and Saturday.

Past winners of the summer classic include Mike Rowe, Dave Dion, Ralph Nason, Geoff Bodine, Ben Rowe, Butch Lindley, Bob Pressley, Joey Kourafas, Jamie Aube, Dick McCabe, Chuck Bown, Ricky Craven and Junior Hanley.

For more information or to order tickets , call (207) 539-8865, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.