Naples ME (11/17/2009) Johnny Clark’s 2009 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Championship is remarkable unto itself, given the level of competition in the New England super late model ranks. But two in a row and four titles in the nine years that PASS has been sanctioning super late model racing is a feat that only one other driver has managed to accomplish. Clark tied Ben Rowe for the most series titles by beating Rowe for the thirteen race crown in 2009, and it’s fitting that the two drivers that top the all time PASS standings are now tied in the titles won column.
Clark’s 2008 championship was a come from behind effort that saw the Farmingdale Mainer come on strong in the second half of the season. His 2009 title drive started out just the opposite, winning two out of the first three races (Speedway 95 and Unity) and scoring a seventh at the Beech Ridge PASS opener. Clark’s consistency was challenged throughout the campaign by perennial title contender Ben Rowe and upstart Adam Bates.Derek Ramstrom, Richie Dearborn and Kelly Moore were all ready to pounce should Clark falter.
But Clark and his veteran crew kept their train on the tracks, posting another win in the series’ return to Lee USA Speedway and never finishing outside the top ten after that. The final tally was Clark 2799 -Rowe 2767, a 32 point bulge.
Clark’s 2009 stats are remarkable: thirteen starts, three wins, eight top fives and twelve top tens in the North, plus another top ten in The PASS South opener at Hickory Motor Speedway, a fourth place in the Mason-Dixon Meltdown at South Boston and capped his year of with a win in the season closer at Greenville-Pickens Clark’s only hiccup of the season came at New Brunswick Canada’s Speedway 660 where a wheel departed the Clark’s Car Crushing /Port City Race Cars 54, resulting in a fourteenth place run.
That’s the kind of consistency that championships are made of, and a big chunk of the credit goes to the team that keeps Clark on the speedway lap after lap. From crew chief Robert Green to brother Bobby Clark on the spotters stand, John Marshall taking care of the tires and Heidi Marshall keeping track of the stats. Dad John Clark, Tim Clark, Terri Davies, Craig Smiley and Herb Geraux, each played key roles in the 2009 PASS title for Johnny Clark Motorsports. In fact,many of the team’s members have played a role in all four championships.
The right equipment, team work, consistency, and most of all, the talent and will to win. Those are the key elements to any championship. Johnny Clark and his race team have once again proven that they have them all in spades.
The Pro All Stars Series will return to action in ten weeks, kicking off their 10th season with the non points PASS Florida Speedfest at New Smyrna Speedway on January 29-30, 2010. Keep up with all the off season news at www.proallstarsseries.com and www.racewithpass.com .