LEEDS, Maine — Billy Childs Jr. is gearing up for a part-time super late model effort at Oxford Plains Speedway this year, with a goal of qualifying for the Oxford 250 in late August.
Childs, 45, has driven just about everything with wheels at Oxford and around northern New England during his 30-year career. From American-Canadian Tour late models, to the current version of street stocks, the Leeds-based racer has done it all.
Now, it’s time for another shot at the big one.
“My Dad has been pretty serious about trying to run a super late model, and seeing me make the 250 again,” Childs said. “So he purchased a car from David Childs, one my cousin Josh drove in the past. It’s a Hamke chassis that Jeff Burgess built in 2019. We’re going to give it a part-time shot.”
Childs has participated in three Oxford 250s during his career; in 2007, the first time it was a late model race (started 39th, finished 22nd); in 2009 (started 17th, finished 40th); and in 2010 (started 25th, finished 38th). The memories come flashing back any time the number 250 is mentioned.
“I had my best 250 effort in 2009,” Childs said. “I was running in the top 10 when the crew found a broken hub on my pit stop. That ended our day, but we sure were fast that year.”
Childs still has his 2020 street stock machine in the shop, yet with that division morphing into a new limited late model configuration, he chose to step aside from that class – at least for now.
“Track management has elected to make several rules changes to what was my beloved Street Stock class,” Childs explained. “Along with the new name, they’ve gone to a bigger tire and made some other changes. I decided it was time to try the super late model, but I may dabble in it some late in the year.”
Despite the time away from this big cars, Childs says he’s anxious to get reacquainted once the snow melts and he can get a little seat time.
“I haven’t driven anything like this for quite a while, but I’m super excited about it,” Childs added. “I’m hoping the success I enjoyed the past couple of years in Street Stock carries over, that I can bring the momentum I had there in the super late model. Once I get comfortable in it, we should be competitive.”