Top 50 Drivers in Oxford 250 History - No. 45 - 41

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 look at positions 41 through 45 in our Oxford 250 ranking. To see the first five names unveiled last week, click here.

45 – Sam Sessions

The first time Sam Sessions competed in the Oxford 250, it was part of the 1989 NASCAR Busch Grand National North Series. He started on the pole for the 1998 running of the event, then scored back-to-back fourth-place finishes in 1999 and 2000.

Sessions had his best Oxford 250 showing in one of his last appearances in the race, finishing third in 2006. He was the highest finisher not named “Whorff” that year, as Jeremie Whorff took the win ahead of his father, Bill Whorff, Jr.

44 - Alan Wilson

Alan Wilson’s best finishes in the Oxford 250 came at the turn of the century. The Hebron, Maine native finished fourth in 2001, then backed it up with another fourth-place finish a year later despite starting 37^th in the 43-car field that year.

However, Wilson’s best shot at Oxford 250 glory came in 2004. Wilson took the lead on lap 177 and appeared destined to win the event, but an issue with the rear end of the car left him fighting for control in the final 10 laps. He eventually scraped the wall and fell to fifth place while Ben Rowe became a back-to-back Oxford 250 winner.

43 – Tommy Houston

During the late 80s and early 90s, the Oxford 250 was either a NASCAR Busch Grand National Series or Busch North Series event, and often a combination event between the two touring series. This brought a new cast of characters to Oxford Plains Speedway, such as Busch Series veteran Tommy Houston from Hickory, North Carolina.

The 24-time winner in what is now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series did not add to his win total at the Oxford 250, but he had several strong runs. In 1990, he led 28 laps, but the dominant driver of the day, Chuck Bown, took the win. One year later, Houston finished second to Maine’s Ricky Craven, marking Craven’s first Busch Series win.

42 – Reid Lanpher

Reid Lanpher is a three-time winner in PASS North competition at Oxford Plains Speedway, once in April and twice in October. While the win in the “big race in August” eluded him, Lanpher was frequently a threat to win, with three podium finishes in five starts.

Making the show for the first time in 2015, Lanpher finished second to Glen Luce, who led the final 50 laps of the race. Two years later, Lanpher finished second to another driver in car number 7, Curtis Gerry. In 2018, Lanpher was on the third step of the podium with Bubba Pollard taking the win and Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. finishing second.

41 – Brian Hoar

An eight-time ACT Tour champion, Brian Hoar made four starts in six attempts in the Oxford 250, with three top-five finishes and 52 laps led.

In 2009, Hoar finished fourth and led 38 laps, as Eddie MacDonald took the win. Hoar started on the pole and led the first 12 laps before finishing second to “Eddie Mac” again in 2010. 2011 saw another top-five finish, with Hoar driving from 25^th to fifth while Kyle Busch took the victory.