by Jay | Sep 13, 2009 | Beech Ridge, Maine, PASS
Action aplenty as Thursday Night Extravaganza kicks of PASS 400 weekend
Naples ME (9/11/2009) Over 100 mid-week racing warriors from throughout the region came together Thursday night to kick off PASS 400 Weekend at Scarborough Maine’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, and the action was fast and furious in all four divisions. 50 lap features were the order of the evening, and the extra distance features gave these racers a change to stretch their legs and, in some cases, come from behind.
Adam Polvinen and Scott Farrington Started on the front row in the four cylinder feature, and Farrington got the jump on Polvinen for the early lead. Natasha Dyer and Kyle Hewins used the outside groove to work their way to the front and Dyer took over the point on lap six. Polvinen regained the second spot, and tried to make his move under Dyer on lap 11. The pair raced side by side for several laps until Polvinen edged by on the bottom with Hewins, Troy Jordan and Farrington following Polvinen by Dyer as well.
A quick caution gave Hewins the outside pole on the restart, and he took advantage to take over the top spot. At the halfway mark it was Hewins, Polvinen, Jordan, Farrington and Dyer. A lap 27 caution brought the field back together and on the restart and Polvinen put his VW back out front, but Hewins came back to challenge on the outside. With ten to go it was still Polvinen on the bottom, Hewins still outside and Jordan right there in third. Jordan made his move under Hewins on lap 42 for second but Hewins quickly regained the spot. The caution flew on lap 43 for a minor fracas off turn four, setting up a seven lap shootout for the win. Hewins got the jump on the outside, with Polvinen hot on his heels. Jeff Hebert worked his way up to third and Jordan now fourth. At the stripe it was Hewins in victory lane, Polvinen second and Hebert third.
The truck feature rolled off second with Chad Binette and Brian Beaulieu on the front row. Binette got out front early and Tony Field took the second spot away from Beaulieu. Binette started to work lapped traffic on lap 14 and continued to drive away from the pack. At the half way mark Binette was out in front by a straightaway over Field and Kevin Oliver. The first caution flew on lap 34, tightening up the field but Binette was on a rail. He held the top spot on the restart and the top two left the rest behind. At the checker it was Binette by a straightaway over Field, followed by Beaulieu, who was later disqualified in tech. Beaulieu’s DQ gave Oliver the third spot .
50 laps for the JV/305’s was next and Archer Bernard led the twenty nine car field to green followed by Paul Ureneck , Renn Noble, John Lord and Tom Lovejoy. A quick caution set up a restart that saw Noble successfully make it three wide, just before a melee on the front stretch that cost Ureneck his spot in the front of the field and spoiled Bernard’s’ night.
Noble lined up with John Lord on the restart, the front two battling with Lovejoy and Scott Dery. Noble kept the top spot until lap six when Tom Lovejoy took over. Lovejoy looked strong, motoring away from Jason Curtis, Dennis Hall, John Lord and Scott Dery. The field caught up to Lovejoy on several more cautions but he held sway on every one. At the half way it was Lovejoy, Hall, Dery, Curtis and Noble. Lap 39 saw caution number six fly, setting up a wild restart. Lovejoy pitted from the lead with problems , and it was now Scott Dery’s turn at the point with Curtis second, Noble third with Lord now back in fourth. When the green flew Curtis took over the top spot with Dery and Lord in tow. Curtis held on for the win but Paul Ureneck raced all the way from the back of the field to take second on the white flag lap over Dery and, Hall and John Lord.
The Varsity/Outlaw /Mad Bomber cars wrapped up the night with Josh Childs on the point and Larry Emerson to his outside. Emerson took the early lead but Childs spun all alone out of his second spot to bring out the caution. After a rash of yellows Larry Emerson kept the point but Matt Dow came up to challenge Emerson and came away with the lead on lap 18. Emerson rode second with Steve Moon third Kenny Robbins fourth and Jim Davis fifth. Josh Childs was putting on a show from the rear, running sixth at the half way mark. Childs got into Robbins on lap 29 and Robbins spun, giving Childs the fifth spot.
Up front Matt Dow was looking like he had the field covered, with Emerson still second and Moon in a battle with Davis for third. Caution flew at lap 37 and the front five lined up for the restart with no lapped cars in between. Emerson took the lead from Dow on top and Jim Davis looked low on Dow for second. Their battle gave Emerson a little breathing room, with Dow winning the skirmish for second. Childs got around Robbins for fourth spot just as the caution flew. At the green Emerson and Dow battled side by side with five to go, but Phil Knowlton’s car erupted in flames to bring out a red flag. The blaze was quickly extinguished, setting up a four lap shoot out for the win. Emerson held off Dow on the restart but Dow and Robbins got wide off turn four, handing second to Josh Childs and third to Jim Davis. Robbins and Steve Moon finished in the fourth and fifth spots.
PASS 400 Weekend continues on Saturday with qualifying races for all six weekend divisions and features for the NELCAR Legends, Road Runners and a $1,000.00 to win 75 lapper for Wildcat/Strictly racers.The grandstands open at 10:00, just as practice takes to the track. The first qualifier goes green at 12:15 PM.
The front gate swings open at 11:00 AM on PASS 300 Sunday and there’s an hour of rotating final practice before the PASS Super Late Models get on track for their “B” feature. Then it’s time for the $2,000.00 to win PASS Sportsman 100 followed by a 50 lapper for the PASS Mods. Time and weather permitting, a front stretch driver meet and greet will precede the PASS Super Late Model 300.
The latest PASS news and standings is on line at www.proallstarsseries.com and www.racewithpass.com
Unofficial Top Ten by division – PASS 400 Week end / Thursday Night Extravaganza – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway – Scarborough ME – 9/10/2009
Four Cylinders – 50 Lap Feature
1) 54 Kyle Hewins Leeds ME 2) Adam Polvinen Oxford ME 3) 86 Jeff Hebert Auburn ME 4) 59 Cory Beaulieu W. Paris ME 5) 521 Scott Farrington Minot ME 6) 32 Natasha Dyer Arrowsic ME 7) 83 Brady Romano Livermore Falls ME 8) 11 Jeff Walker Saco 9) 09 Chris Peters N. Waterboro ME 10) 93 Jamie Leavitt Minot ME
Race Trucks – 50 Lap Feature
1) 96 Chad Binette Buxton ME 2) 1 Tony Field Buxton ME 3) 28 Kevin Oliver Gray ME 4) 4) 3 Duane Booth Wells ME 5) 69 Ryan Farrar Sumner ME 6) 88 Chaz Briggs Westbrook ME 7) 02 Chad Emery Buxton ME 8) 68 Opie Allard Harpswell ME 9) 22 Jeff Schmidt Mechanic Falls ME 10) 17 Ross Spurling New Gloucester ME
JV/305’s – 50 Lap Feature
1) 5 Jason Curtis Hollis ME 2) 8 Paul Ureneck Portland ME 3) 16 Scott Dery Hollis ME 4) 11 Dennis Hall Scarborough ME 5) 21 John Lord Scarborough ME 6) 19 Ryan Tenny Scarborough ME 7) 64 Renn Noble Kennebbunk ME 8) 22 Tom Lovejoy Kennebunk ME 9) 25 Bob Hogan Wells ME 10) 88 Steve Swendsen Gorham ME
Varsity/Outlaws – 50 Lap Feature
1) 139 Larry Emerson Durham ME 2) 3 Josh Childs Oxford ME 3) 17 Jim Davis Gray ME 4) 36 Kenny Robbins Canton ME 5) 19 Steve Moon Gray ME 6) 84 Matt Dow Buxton ME 7) 00 Guy Childs Sr. Turner ME 8) 16 Brian Picard Gorham ME 9) 04 Zach Bowie Poland ME 10) 26 Corey Morgan Lewiston ME
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | Beech Ridge, Maine, New England, PASS
Naples Maine (9/8/2009) One of the most anticipated weekends of the Northern New England racing season is upon us! Beech Ridge Motor Speedway will come alive this Thursday, September 10th for four straight days of racing when the Scarborough Maine speed plant hosts the biggest and most ambitious edition of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) 400 week end ever.
Thursday evening the true little guys (and gals!) of motorsports have the spotlight to themselves , with Beetle Bugs/ Runnin’ Rebels, OPS Outlaws/ Beech Ridge Mad Bombers, Race Trucks and Beech Ridge 305’s all on the schedule. Grandstands open at 3:00 PM, and the first qualifier gets the green at 6:00 PM sharp.
Friday is a tune-up day for two days’ worth of flat out racing. There’s practice on tap for all six Friday and Saturday divisions. The stands open at 11:00AM (at no charge) and there’s rotating practice from 12:00 noon until 6:00 PM.
On Saturday it’s time to get down to business. With qualifying races for all six weekend divisions and features for the NELCAR Legends, Road Runners and a $1,000.00 to win 75 lapper for Wildcat/Strictly racers, Saturday will serve up a day of non-stop, wide open racing. The grandstands open at 10:00, just as practice takes to the track. The first qualifier goes green at 12:15 PM.
The front gate swings open at 11:00 AM on PASS 300 Sunday and there’s an hour of rotating final practice before the PASS Super Late Models get on track for their “B” feature. Then it’s time for the $2,000.00 to win PASS Sportsman 100 followed by a 50 lapper for the PASS Mods. Time and weather permitting, a front stretch driver meet and greet will precede the PASS Super Late Model 300.
Visit www.proallstarsseries.com and www.racewithpass.com for the complete weekend schedule, camping information, lap board sponsors, and much more. Beech Ridge Motor Speedway is located at 70 Holmes Road in Scarborough Maine. The speedway is on line at www.beechridge.com
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | ACT, NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Center Harbor, NH (September 7, 2009): Brad Leighton has a chance to add to an already stellar record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when he heads to the track September 18-19 for a double-header weekend that includes competing in the NASCAR Camping World Series East and ACT Invitational races. Leighton will pilot the No. 55 Irving Oil-sponsored car in both events.
Leighton has eight wins in 38 starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Series East, and has been looking to add to that total since he last won there in 2003. He’s led over 600 laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and is always a fan-favorite for the win.
“We’ve come close so many times over the last couple of years, so hopefully, this time will be our trip back to victory lane,” said Leighton, who has posted five top-10 finishes since his last win. “We’re aiming to bring home back-to-back wins.”
The Center Harbor, N.H. resident will also compete in the inaugural ACT Invitational on Saturday. Leighton earned an invitation by virtue of his win at the at the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup at Lee USA Speedway earlier this year. He was the first driver to earn one of the 36 total invitations to the race.
Late last month, Leighton participated in a test session in preparation for the Late Model event that will carry a purse of more than $65,000 for invited and approved teams.
“The test went well, but we discovered we have a lot more work to do,” said Leighton. “You can really drive the ACT car deep into the corners unlike the East Series car, but the East Series cars have a lot more power. The good thing is the two races are a day apart so it’ll lessen any transition issues.”
Leighton is already the winningest driver in the history of New Hampshire Motor Speedway so a win in either division would be a feather in his cap.
“If we win the East Series race, we’ll end a dry spell I’ve been trying to end for some time now, but at the same time I’d really like to win that ACT Invitational. It’s going to be a busy weekend, but I’m going to have a lot of fun with it all. I can’t wait – I’ll be like a kid in a candy store.”
Catch Brad Leighton and the Irving Oil Chevrolet in the Heluva Good Fall 125 NASCAR Camping World Series East race on Friday, September 18th at 5 p.m and the ACT Invitational on Saturday, September 19th at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on Brad Leighton or Irving Oil, visit www.bradleighton.com
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | NASCAR K&N Pro Series
North Haverhill, N.H. (September 7, 2009): When the NASCAR Camping World Series East returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, September 18th, a new face will occupy the seat of Fadden Racing’s familiar No. 61. The car, normally piloted on a limited basis by car owner Mike Olsen, will be driven by Joey “Pole” Polewarczyk, a talented up-and-coming racer out of Hudson, N.H.
Polewarczyk has built a name for himself as a regular on the ACT Late Model Tour, where he’s currently third in the point standings. Back in June, the 20-year-old driver won the Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 at Thunder Road after fielding a second car for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart, He’s also made two previous NASCAR Camping World Series East starts with the latest at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s September event in 2008, where he finished sixth.
“It’s Cup weekend and it’s one of the Camping World’s biggest races,” said Polewarczyk on his decision to race at NHMS. “It just made sense for us. We would love to race more in that series, but a lot of it comes down to sponsorship and how much money you can bring to the table to be with one of these top teams. I’m really looking forward to the experience of working with Mike (Olsen), Harry (Norcross), and everyone at Fadden Racing.”
The No. 61 will carry sponsorship from Pole’s Automotive and sport a blue and white color scheme.
“We’re thrilled to have Joey in one of our cars for New Hampshire,” said Olsen. “He’s proven he can drive a racecar, and he’s personable on top of that. I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll be successful in this race.”
Polewarczyk is entering the Heluva Good Fall 125 with realistic expectations of a top-10 finish, but the competitive side of him is going for it all.
“A top-10 would be great and that’s what we’re going to shoot for, but if we’re better than that we’re definitely going for it. We’ll adjust our goals as the race goes on,” he said.
The Heluva Good Fall 125 takes the green flag at 5 p.m. eastern time on Friday, September 18th. Qualifying is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
For more information on Fadden Racing, visit www.faddenracing.net.
by Jay | Sep 8, 2009 | NASCAR, NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Posts Fourth Place Finish In West Series Race
Newton, IA (September 7, 2009): Brett Moffitt waged a battle in the closing laps of the Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades 125 at Iowa Speedway Friday night to post a fourth place finish in No. 4 Andy Santerre Motorsports Chevrolet. Moffitt, making a rare appearance in the NASCAR Camping World Series West, pressured Max Gresham throughout the closing laps in his bid for third place but just fell short at the checkers.
“It came down to the end of the race and Brett caught Max (Gresham),” said Santerre. “We really came on in the last 25 laps. I told Brett to give it everything he had. He got under Max, but couldn’t quite clear him. They raced side-by-side for the last ten laps. We would get beside him in the turn, but Max would beat us down the straightaway. It was good racing and they put on a good show.”
Moffitt was among the six fastest cars in both practice sessions, but had to start 11th after posting a qualifying time of 24.339 seconds.
“The track slowed down a lot. We took the same car we had there in the spring for the combination race, but qualifying speeds were almost a second slower than it was back in May,” said Santerre. “The set-up we had was really good. We were close, but we never got the car balanced perfectly.”
Moffitt moved up to ninth at the drop of the green and settled into seventh by the halfway mark. The second half of the race was the most productive for Moffitt, who moved up to fourth by the time the race reached lap 100.
With eventual winner David Mayhew setting a torrid pace, Moffitt had to shoot for a top-three. When the car came in, Moffitt took off and immediately started challenging Gresham for third. It was a 20-lap battle that highlighted the closing laps of the race.
“This was the car that we wrecked at New Hampshire, and it had a new front clip and a new body. It was the first time out with it. We were pretty happy with how it ran and the set up that we had,” said Moffitt. “Obviously, I would have liked to win, but a top-five finish is nothing to balk at especially considering we had to come up through from 11th.”
Moffitt returns to action in the NASCAR Camping World Series East at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, September 18th. For more information on Brett Moffitt or Andy Santerre Motorsports, visit www.brettmoffitt.com or www.andysanterremotorsports.com.
by Jay | Sep 7, 2009 | NASCAR
HAMPTON, GA — Kasey Kahne saved his best for last Sunday night and won the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
A huge crowd, well over 100,000 and what most were calling the biggest crowd in many years at this track, was treated to great racing on a Labor Day Weekend.
In the last 50 laps alone, Juan Pablo Montoya led as did Kevin Harvick. A caution with less than 20 laps remaining set the stage for a final shootout.
Kahne, who figured he had a faster car on short runs, took the lead when the race was restarted with 11 laps to go and ran away from Harvick, who was second, and Montoya, who finished third. It was Kahne’s second win this season. He put the Petty Enterprises/Gillette Budweiser Dodge in Victory Lane this summer at Infineon Raceway.
Rounding out the top 15 spots were David Reutimann, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, Brian Vickers, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, David Stremme, Paul Menard and Robbie Gordon. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., was 17th.
This race started with some of the drivers a little more nervous than normal for the start of the race. Just two races stood between them and the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup,auto racing’s 10-race playoff for the championship.
The top 12 drivers qualify for The Chase after 26 races, and points are recalibrated amongst the qualifiers to separate them from the rest of the starting fields.
Martin, Vickers, Montoya, Kahne, Kenseth and Biffle were a few of the drivers who had to finish well to stay in the running for one of the 12 spots.
Pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr., streaked ahead throwing caution to the wind as he was not a contender for The Chase. Truex just wanted a win.
While Truex had a comfortable lead, others were racing hard, side-by-side and bumper-to-bumper back in the field. Waltrip slid against the third turn wall racing for position and Montoya was squeezing in and out of traffic like he was late for work.
At 20 laps, Truex held a one-and-a-half-second lead over Kahne. Gordon was third, Johnson fourth and Kyle Busch fifth.
They were followed by Hamlin, Vickers, Kurt Busch, Martin and Montoya in 10th, after starting back in 22nd spot.
Sam Hornish brought out the night’s first caution when he spun off turn four on the 37th lap. He did not make contact with anybody or anything and was able to continue.
On the double-file shootout-style restart at lap 41, Kahne was out front in lieu of his pit crew’s stellar work. Truex was second, followed by Gordon, Johnson, Kyle Busch, Hamlin, Vickers, Martin, Kurt Busch and Montoya in 10th. Truex quickly regained the lead, and Gordon moved into second. Kahne, however, dusted Gordon for second one lap later.
Hornish went two for two in the caution category when a tire flew off his car on lap 61 in the tri-oval bringing out another caution.
Gordon probably welcomed this caution as his Chevy had dropped from third to 22nd during this run.
Kyle Busch took the lead on the restart this time with Truex and Johnson in tow.
Max Pappis punched the wall on lap 105 bringing out the caution again. After the restart on lap
Kyle Busch still had the lead on the restart at lap 108. Another caution on lap 131 for debris slowed the field once again.
Gordon took the lead on the 135th lap restart, trailed by Hamlin, Johnson, Kyle Busch, Montoya, Stewart, Logano, Kurt Busch, Martin and Vickers.
At the halfway point, Gordon was leading. Hamlin was second, followed by Harvick, Vickers, Earnhardt, Johnson, Martin, Montoya, Kahne and Reutimann. Stremme was was 11th and Kyle Busch 12th.
