Ben Rowe: PASS North Series
White Mountain Motorsports Park Race Preview
4-time PASS North Series champion Ben Rowe of Turner, Maine, attempts to add to his decorated resume in the PASS 150 at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, N.H., on Saturday night, May 22. Rowe owns a PASS-record 8 career victories on the high-banked quarter-mile and is the defending champion of this event. A recent test at the track with with his new team at Mulkern Racing suggested he’s still one of the favorites at a track owned by the Avery family — which, ironically, fields an ACT-legal Late Model in which Rowe races part-time.
WHO: Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine
TEAM: Community Pharmacies No. 48 Chevrolet
BEST CAREER WHITE MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS PARK FINISH: 1st (8 times; most recently: May 2009)
LAST RACE AT WHITE MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS PARK: 2nd (September 2009)
WHAT: PASS North Series PASS 150
WHERE: White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, N.H. (.25-mile oval)
WHEN: 4 p.m., Saturday, May 22
PASS NORTH SERIES
LAST RACE: Saturday, May 1, PASS 150, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, Maine (3rd-place finish)
NEXT RACE: Saturday, June 12, Speedway 660, Fredericton, New Brunswick
POINTS POSITION: 1st
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BEN, WHAT IS IT ABOUT WHITE MOUNTAIN THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH?
I don’t really know. The first time I ever was there, I thought I was flying around there and then my father went by me and I figured I was about 3-tenths of a second too slow. I just couldn’t quite get it figured out, and then he got into my car and came back in and said, ‘That’s what it’s supposed to feel like.’ Ever since then, I’ve tried to have that feeling in the car.
I love the place. It’s just a great place where you can actually race each other. There’s plenty of room, there’s two grooves, and you can pass people.
MOST PEOPLE DESCRIBE THE PLACE AS BEING VERY UNIQUE. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT?
Yeah, I do. It’s weird. The other quarter-miles we go to — (Riverside Speedway) and All-Star Speedway — they’re tight and narrow. They don’t suit me at all. I’m sure if you talk to Johnny (Clark), he loves those other places.
You always seem to find one of those places you do well at, and fortunately for me this has been one.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU’VE BEEN TO WHITE MOUNTAIN WITH SETH HOLBROOK AS YOUR CREW CHIEF. ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC?
Absolutely. We tested up there last Thursday with both cars, and we had a really good test. I can’t wait to get back there for the race. I was so happy with everything, that I just can’t wait for this weekend.
Me and Seth, we grew up racing with each other, so it wasn’t like it was a matter of him and I getting along. (Tony Ricci) has been great to work with, too, and (car owner Scott Mulkern) gives you everything you need. We go to the race track, and we laugh and have a good time together. It’s been a lot of fun with this team so far.
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