Mathew Bourgoine’s first Oxford 250, an emotional and memorable weekend

They call it beginners’ luck sometimes, when you perform well at something in your first attempt. Mathew Bourgoine, in his first attempt at an Oxford 250, he qualified into the 250 through his heat race, then went on to finish with a strong Top-10.

In the Oxford 250, it’s not just about luck though. Bourgoine proved that this past weekend, but he was just as surprised with their sixth place finish in the Oxford 250 early Monday morning.

“Pretty wild, we weren’t planning on that,” Bourgoine said. “We were just trying to get in the show. It was our fourth race ever at Oxford. We raced here earlier this year, finishing mid-pack and then the PASS race on Friday, we got 10th. I think we had a Top-5 car and the Oxford 250 was just wild and we were very happy with the outcome.”

Bourgoine was overwhelmed with emotions after his heat race qualifier earlier in the day on Sunday, where he finished second behind weekly regular Scott McDaniel and ahead of Jimmy Renfrew Jr.

“I can’t even describe it, I bawled my eyes out when we made it through the heat race,” Bourgoine exclaimed. “I only ever had the chance to race legend cars and smaller divisions. Never dreamed I would have the chance to drive a super late model, or even attempt to make the Oxford 250. When I crossed the finish line in the heat race knowing I’m going to be in the 250 for the first time, I bawled. I can’t even describe what it was like to race with Casey Roderick, Bubba Pollard, DJ Shaw. I mean countless guys we were racing and competing with.”

When the checker flag flew early Monday morning on the Oxford 250, Bourgoine couldn’t believe their sixth place finish, and is still trying to comprehend it days later. 

“I still haven’t digested it,” Bourgoine says. “I know it’s a sixth place finish and not a win, but it felt like a win to us and I can’t wait for the next. I hope we get the opportunity to do it again, be a little bit more prepared and just thankful, but I can’t describe it.”

For Bourgoine, the great results over Oxford 250 weekend, carried an extra meaning to him, as he thought of his family and everything they have done to get him to where he is today.

“Racing is hard, it takes dedication from everyone, not just me,” Bourgoine said. “I can not thank my wife enough, she has given up her life for me and the kids. I’m out here living my dream, people don’t see my wife keeping me together.”

Bourgoine was flooded with emotions throughout the weekend and in the days that followed, reflecting on his parents and everything they have meant to him throughout his racing career.

“My parents have done so much over the years, the sacrifices they made over the years to keep me racing,” an emotional Bourgoine said. “It’s been hard since losing my dad in 2019. I took a step back from racing, but lately, it’s been awesome having a chance to be back at the track. I miss my dad. I think this weekend would have meant a lot to him. I’m very thankful for everything he did for me.”

For Bourgoine, he is forever thankful for his mom’s support.

“I also can’t thank my mom enough,” Bourgoine said. “She’s always been my biggest fan. I know racing is hard on her, and having her support means a lot.”

Bourgoine has grown up around racing, with strong support from his parents as a kid. He couldn’t be more thankful for those opportunities as a kid, now 30-years-old, making his own opportunities.

“We did go-karts from when I was 10 to 13, got into Legend Cars when I was 14 and raced that till I was 18,” Bourgoine said. “We had very good success with legend cars. We still hold the most wins in the NELCAR Tour. When my dad passed away, then got out of racing. I did a couple late model and street stock races, just one or two times a year recently. Never really had the chance to race full-time in a big car. This year is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to do so. Why? I don’t know why I was the one that was picked, but it’s been a wild year for me.”

The 83 Dale Shaw Racecar is owned by Mike and Julie Ogden, a relationship Bourgoine has had for years. The Ogdens and Bourgoine decided only recently they would attempt the Oxford 250.

“We probably were about two weeks away from the 250 and we decided to do it, got a crew together, got the car prepared and we definitely outperformed what we were planning on doing,” explained Bourgoine. “We just had the mindset to make the show. Anybody who’s ever tried for the 250, that’s a battle in itself. A lot of good cars go home. We were able to get a good draw, go in straight through the heat race, and miss the consolations. We had a way better car than I could have dreamed of for the race. Very appreciative of Mike and Julie for everything they’ve done.”

A former regular at Oxford Plains Speedway and with the Pro All-Star Series, Max Cookson was helping Bourgoine get his Dale Shaw Racecar dialed in over Oxford 250 weekend.

“Really thankful for Dale Shaw Racecars, Max Cookson, Mike, and Julie Ogden,” Bourgoine said. “Max is a huge part of it. We’ve been best friends forever. I helped him back out when he was racing super late models. It was cool that he was able to fly in from Ohio and stay the whole week and help us out. Made my job a lot easier. He’s wicked smart, but I helped him out quite a bit back when he was racing. He’s the best tire guy, spot or crew chief. I can’t even think of anybody better.”

The pairing of the Ogdens and Bourgoine came together earlier this spring, a couple of weeks ahead of opening night at Speedway in Bangor, Maine. 

“It was a really last minute deal even for the first Speedway race,” Bourgoine said. “They called me up a week and a half, two weeks before the race, and said, “Let’s go racing.” We have been doing halfway decent at Speedway, decided to try Oxford out and Mike wanted to take a chance at the Oxford 250 and we geared up.” 

That first time out in the Ogden family owned super late model, it was the first time in a super late model for Bourgoine, ever.

“It was the first race, and I was scared to death,” Bourgoine explained. “We didn’t even get time to test. We decided to go racing two weeks before the opening day at Speedway, Ricky Craven running the track and we figured out the motor was seized up in the car and all that fun stuff. So we had to do a lot of work. I got the motor back at 7:00PM the night before the race, stayed up all night to get it together. The first time I ever sat in a super late model, we were at Speedway with a brand new wall around the racetrack and 24 other guys there. I had to learn how to drive real quick and it was a little bit frightening with the wall around the place and that place is one of the toughest to get around in New England.” 

Bourgoine and the Odgen family have been racing part time at Speedway located in Bangor, Maine. Just last fall, former NASCAR Cup Series driver Ricky Craven took over as the owner.

“Speedway has been awesome, Ricky’s been doing a good job,” Bourgoine said. “The facility has been updated and it’s clean, the racing has been clean. It’s been good racing. They’re doing a good job maintaining the track. It’s been very racy, two grooves, the environment up there and the whole atmosphere is very positive since Ricky’s taken over and it’s been a great year for super late models up there with big car counts. If you’d told me that there’s going to be 20 cars at Speedway last year. I would’ve laughed at you and it’s been great car counts, good quality cars and just good clean racing. Every race so far has been a battle in the last 10 laps side by side and Ricky’s doing an excellent job running the place.”

After the strong finish in the Oxford 250, Bourgoine and the Ogden family aren’t done yet with big races in Maine.

“We’re signed up for the Granite State race at Speedway, the Stan Merserve 128 and we’re signed up for the Harbor Bank and Trust 200 at Speedway,” Bourgoine said. “We plan on going, but I think we’re going to go to Oxford Plains Speedways for the last 100 lapper there on Monday. We might try to do the PASS 400 weekend. That hasn’t been decided yet, but we’re definitely going to do the final two at Speedway.”

Bourgoine will get ready for the rest of their 2026 schedule at Speedway in Bangor, Maine, with expected drips down to the Oxford Plains Speedway through the end of the season.