Construction of the facility began on April 10, 1950, representing a $35,000 investment. The project was led by George Damon, operator of Damon Brothers Lumber and President of the Pine State Stock Car Racing Association (PSSCRA). The site, situated on State Route 26, required the demolition of foliage to accommodate the track and a 600-foot long grandstand built from lumber sourced from a sawmill in Norway, Maine.
The original configuration was an oval composed of clay and gravel, featuring heavy banking and a lighting system for night racing. Although initially targeted for a May 30 opening, the first races were held on May 27, 1950. Early time trials revealed a dusty surface, prompting the use of oil treatments to stabilize the track. The inaugural weekend, sponsored by the PSSCRA, featured a program of four qualifying heats, a consolation race, two semi-finals, and a main event.
The track is distinguished by its wide-open turns, a layout that has remained a defining technical characteristic throughout its history. While the original 1950 design emphasized heavy banking on a clay and gravel surface, the modern 0.375-mile oval serves as a premier venue for Super Late Model racing, requiring a balance of speed and tire management across its 250-lap major events.
The speedway has transitioned through several eras of ownership and sanctioning. In late 2012, long-time owner Bill Ryan sold the facility to Tom Mayberry. Under Mayberry’s leadership, the track shifted its competitive focus, moving away from ACT-type Late Models as a weekly division in favor of the Pro All Star Series (PASS) Super Late Models.
Safety-driven changes have also altered the event schedule. The track’s "motor mayhem" events previously included a ramp jump attraction, which was eventually discontinued for safety reasons. Current modernization is reflected in the standardization of rules for the Oxford 250, allowing drivers from various national series—including the Champion Racing Association and Spears Southwest Tour—to compete using universal Super Late Model specifications.
The track's marquee event is the Oxford 250, a 250-lap green flag race currently sanctioned as a PASS Super Late Model event. Historically, the race has seen various sanctioning bodies; in the early 1990s, it served as a combination race for the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Busch North Series before transitioning to the American Canadian Tour (ACT).
Because the race is held during a late-summer off-week for NASCAR national series, it frequently attracts high-profile guest drivers. The Oxford 250 has featured 17 drivers who have won NASCAR Cup Series majors, including eleven Cup Series champions and five members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Beyond late models, the speedway hosted three NASCAR Cup Series races between 1966 and 1968. Richard Petty won one of these events, while Bobby Allison secured victories in the other two.
Oxford Plains Speedway maintains a dense racing calendar, offering events twice weekly during the season. The Wednesday night "Oxford Acceleration Series" features five divisions: Outlaws, Rebels, Sport Trucks, Cruisers, and Ladies. Saturday nights host the "Oxford Championship Series," headlined by Super Late Models and supported by Street Stocks, Bandits, and Figure 8s. Regional tours, including the Tri Track Modified Series, Legends, and the Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association, also utilize the facility.
The venue has also served as a major concert site. In June 1988, it hosted the "Monsters of Rock" festival featuring Van Halen, Metallica, and Scorpions, drawing 40,000 fans. In July 1988, the Grateful Dead performed two consecutive nights for an estimated 140,000 people. The resulting traffic congestion on the Maine Turnpike and local Route 26 led the town of Oxford to pass an ordinance restricting future event crowds to a maximum of 25,000 people.
Today, Oxford Plains Speedway remains the central hub for short-track racing in New England. It continues to host multiple PASS Super Late Model and Modified tour stops annually. The return of the American Canadian Tour in 2018 and 2019 further solidified its standing as a multi-sanctioned venue. The track is culturally significant in Maine not only for its professional racing pedigree but also for its "motor mayhem" events, which include spectator drags, smokey doughnut shows, and enduros.