NAPLES, ME (July 14) – A season of firsts continues this weekend as the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) AIM Recycling Super Late Models Presented By Kenny U-Pull head to New York state for the first time ever to compete as part of the International 500 weekend at Airborne Park Speedway. For only the second time in history, PASS will co-headline the weekend along with the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models, with twin 200’s, each paying $10,000 to the winner. The PASS 200 lap portion of the International 500 weekend will also be the fourth race of the prestigious PASS National Championship Series.
One driver who will be very busy this weekend will be Hudson, NH’s, Joey Polewarczyk. Joey Pole, as he is known by his fans, will be competing in both main events, driving his ACT Late Model as well as his PASS AIM Recycling Super Late Model. While it will be the first time many of the PASS drivers have competed at Airborne Park Speedway, Polewarczyk hopes to have the upper hand based on his previous experiences racing there with ACT.
“Airborne is a D-shaped, half-mile, progressively banked racetrack that has a lot of grip and a lot of speed,” says Polewarczyk, driver of the Pole’s Automotive #97. “It was repaved a few years ago, but it definitely has some bumps. You really need to get your car rotating well to run a fast lap there. Out of all the tracks the ACT tour goes to, it’s really one of my favorite tracks. I think the PASS cars are really going to race well there.”
But Sunday’s International 500 will not be the first time Pole has attempted the ACT/PASS double. In another history making event between the two sanctioning bodies at Oxford Plains Speedway in April, Pole pulled the double with mixed results. He claimed the checkered flag for the ACT Late Models, but struggled in his PASS AIM Recycling Super Late Model and finished 31st. Pole hopes lessons learned from Oxford Plains will produce different results this weekend at Airborne.
“It’s a lot of work to run both cars on the same day,” says Polewarczyk. “Both cars require different adjustments and just drive differently. Luckily we run our ACT car a lot at Airborne so we have a good baseline setup for that car. If all goes as planned, that car will be pretty good and we can spend some extra time trying to get our PASS car handling well. It’s all about finding a balance with both cars.”
While a lot of attention will be focused on the double duty drivers on Sunday, equal attention should also be given to the great points battles in PASS. After losing the PASS North points lead to DJ Shaw at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Mike Rowe rebounded well at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway and carries a 30-point advantage to Airborne. On the flip side, Rowe’s son, Ben, has struggled as of late, losing the PASS National points lead to North Carolina’s Tate Fogleman. The third generation racer will carry a scant three point advantage over Ben Rowe in his first ever trip to Airborne Park Speedway.
“I’m excited to race in New York following our strong run on the mile at New Hampshire,” says Fogleman, who finished 7th in his recent out at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “My team and I have been working really hard to get the car prepared for another big race. We have a good feeling about this coming weekend and are planning on having another good finish.”
A great field of PASS AIM Recycling Super Late Model Presented By Kenny U-Pull is expected this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the history making AIM 60. Defending series champion DJ Shaw will be joined by Mike and Ben Rowe, along with former PASS AIM Recycling Super Late Model champions Cassius Clark and Johnny Clark. Two-time defending AIM Recycling Oxford 250 champion Travis Benjamin will lead the Maine contingent along with Richie Dearborn, Glen Luce, Scott Mulkern, and Joey Doiron. New Hampshire’s Bryan Kruczek will be looking to continue his strong season, along with Patrick Laperle, Raphael Lessard and Eric St. Gelais, who are planning to come down from Quebec. Some of New England’s toughest contenders hope to be in contention as well including Ted Christopher, Brian Hoar, Derek Ramstrom, and Bobby Thierren.