While the 2011 season at Oxford Plains Speedway may still be a month away, a pair of the track’s veteran drivers will take on a new challenge this Sunday when they head to the Lee USA Speedway for the American-Canadian Tour New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150.

Following the season opener at Lee and the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road on May 1, ACT will feature a full card of racing on opening day when Oxford Plains Speedway begins its 61st season on Sunday, May 15.

Two drivers very familiar to Oxford fans will compete fulltime on the ACT circuit in 2011, and both are more than excited as opening day approaches.

Two-time Late Model champion Dennis Spencer Jr. and former Strictly Stock champion Shane Green will take their programs to the touring level this weekend. Competition on the ACT circuit is higher than ever, yet the two veterans say they are well prepared for the challenge.

“This is going to be an exciting season for our team,” Spencer said. “We know there is a ton of talent on the ACT tour, but I feel we’re ready. We totally rebuilt the car over the winter and found some things that needed improvement. The updates have been made, everything is fresh and I can’t wait to strap in and fire it up. I haven’t run at Lee for 15 years, but am anxious to get back down there and see what we can accomplish.”

Green’s career is highlighted by 53 feature wins in a variety of divisions and the 1999 Strictly Stock championship. He tested the waters in Late Models last year, driving a car owned by Geoff Low of Minot. Green qualified for the TD Bank 250 (he started fourth) and finished 24th.

“We started preparing for this move soon after the 250,” Green said. “Geoff had a brand new car built for this season, and told my brother (Mitch at Crazy Horse Racing) to spare no expense. It’s a beautiful piece, my first ever brand new car in over 30 years of racing. We have a great crew assembled, all the equipment we’ll need and I couldn’t be more stoked. I’ve run at Lee before, which should help us this weekend. Getting off to a good start is our goal for Sunday.”

Another Oxford regular planning to compete in New Hampshire is 2004 Late Model champion Shawn Martin. The Aroostook County native got off to a slow start in 2010, then made a late-season charge to push eventual track champion Tim Brackett down to the wire.

“Lee has never been a strong track for us, but we feel it is important to get as much track time as possible before our season starts at Oxford,” Martin said. “We know there will probably be between 40 and 50 cars down there, but our goal is to make the show and finish in the top 10.”

Other former Oxford regulars who now spend their summer weekends on the ACT circuit include Ricky Rolfe, Glen Luce and five-time Late Model champion Travis Adams.

Miles Chipman is the defending race winner. After steady rains last spring forced ACT officials to postpone the event, Chipman powered his way into Victory Lane when the race was finally run on June 11. Five Maine drivers were in the race, with Austin Theriault of Fort Kent the highest finisher in ninth.

Theriault, 16, made a big impression on the ACT circuit in 2010. His performances in the family-owned Ford (highlighted by a third at Beech Ridge) landed him a ride on the prestigious RPM Racing squad for 2011 as a teammate to defending and seven-time tour champion Brian Hoar. Along with rising star Joey Polewarczyk Jr.’s bid to dethrone Hoar for the title this year, Theriault will draw the most attention among the young drivers on the ACT circuit.

Qualifying races for the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 and support division features will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday.