OXFORD, Maine — One way Mainers are celebrating America this Fourth of July week is at a new event at the Oxford Plains Speedway.
The two-day Celebration of America 300 race has brought some famous racers to the track.
The drivers are all fighting for a large purse of $40,000.
"There's $40,000 on the line, there's 40 good cars here, they are going to be fighting for that," Johnny Clark, a race car driver from Farmingdale, said.
Drivers from all across the country are there this week, as well as a handful of Mainers in the competition.
The purse for the annual Oxford 250 is $25,000, but the $40,000 at stake has drivers excited for the possibilities.
Clark said this is a big deal for Maine.
"There's other races that pay good money, but they are in Florida, California. There are not many people that get the opportunity to race, so if you're from New England, it's really cool it's right here in Oxford," Clark said.
Wednesday's race consists of 300 laps, which averages around 100 miles.
Big names like Kyle Busch are bringing fans to the speedway.
"I've been going to races since I was born," Wyatt Labrecque, a fan in attendance, said. "My dad's been bringing me my whole life, the smells, the sounds, the people too, everyone at the racetrack is good people. Almost everyone here is one big family."
Drivers and speedway leaders say this event will never replace the annual 250, but they hope to make this an annual race, too.
"You know, [the 250 is] nothing that can be duplicated but it's just something else to be a big race and a way to celebrate the Fourth of July week as well," Vice President of Oxford Plains Speedway Mike Mayberry said.
"There is no replacing that [250], it is what it is, everyone all over the country knows what that race means to New England racers," Clark added.
For many drivers, this holiday week race is about much more than money.
"We don't race for the money and trophies. We race to be the best man on the track," Garrett Hall, a race car driver from Scarborough, said.
Wednesday's race is expected to last two hours and wrap around 9 p.m.