by Jay | Feb 16, 2010 | Maine, New England, PASS
PASS teams out in full force for Racin’ Preview 2010
Naples ME – Florida racing has come and gone and that means it’s time to kick off the 2010 northern New England racing season in earnest at Racin’ Preview 2010, scheduled for Friday and Saturday February 19-20 at the Portland (ME) Expo. The popular show always fills every square inch of the floor with every sort of race car imaginable, and the Pro All Stars Series will once again be well represented.
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by Jay | Feb 7, 2010 | PASS
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — Ben Rowe could have left Florida in a bad mood. Instead, he left encouraged.
A twice-wrecked race car during the 4-time PASS North Series champion’s first voyage with Mulkern Racing did cast a mild pall over the trip to New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway last week, but Rowe saw the silver lining.
“I’m really happy, and I can tell you I’m excited about the season,” Rowe said after finishing 14th in the Winterfest 150, the first of five races in the PASS National Series for 2010. “We had a good run going, the entire team worked really hard and we’re going to be ready for the start (of the PASS North season).”
Rowe was fastest in the final practice, qualified eighth in the 22-car field and was the leader of the race at the halfway break — all in his first race with his new team and in his first race at New Smyrna’s fast half-mile track.
He took the lead in the No. 48 Community Pharmacies Chevrolet on lap 65 and held it until a lap 76 restart.
Rowe, of Turner, Maine, watched as leaders Johnny Clark and Brad Leighton moved ahead early in the second half of the event, planning to let them burn through their equipment while waiting to make a late-race run for the lead. Instead, he was caught up in a wreck on lap 104 that was a harbinger of things to come.
Rowe saw Leighton wave his hand out the window to indicate he was slowing down for an apparent caution flag — but as Rowe checked up, he was hit from behind and ended up in the turn one wall.
“It was just miscommunication between (Leighton) and his spotter,” Rowe said, noting that the race director never called for a caution. “I talked to Brad after the race, and he felt bad. He thought he’d been told there was a caution out.”
Just three laps later, after restarting at the rear of the field with what was largely cosmetic damage, Rowe was involved in a second incident — this time a much harder hit into the frontstretch wall that ended the No. 48’s day.
“I was just racing with guys I should never have been back there racing with,” Rowe said.
Still, after the disappointment of seeing a possible winning car sidelined, Rowe was excited.
“I was real happy,” said the reigning PASS National and PASS South champion. “The entire team — Tony Ricci, Scott Chubbuck, Mark Lyden, Shawn Plowman, every single one of the guys — all worked their tails off… There wasn’t anything anyone could have done different, it was just one of those deals that happens.
“But I’m really, really looking forward to going to the track again with those guys.”
When that will be exactly Rowe isn’t sure.
“There’s some things we want to do to the car,” he said. “It was my first time in a Junior Hanley car. My first time with bump stops like that. Maybe we can get to another (National or South) race before the North season starts, but we’ll just have to see how much we can get done.”
by Jay | Feb 1, 2010 | PASS
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — Johnny Clark Motorsports got its 2010 racing season off to a great start on Sunday, with a dominating effort en route to a 2nd-place finish in the PASS Winterfest 150 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
The race was originally scheduled for Saturday evening, but bad weather forced its postponement until Sunday afternoon.
Clark enjoyed a full straightaway lead with just five laps remaining and appeared to have a win in hand. But a late caution flag bunched the field to set up a race restart with just five laps remaining.
“I was pretty bad on restarts all day,” said Clark, of Farmingdale, Maine. “I was just a sitting duck.”
Brad Leighton of Center Harbor, N.H., capitalized by taking the lead and then the victory.
“It would take me four or five laps to catch the guy in front of me (on restarts),” said Clark, noting that the outside lane was the preferred groove on the fast, half-mile track. “I just didn’t have enough time at the end to get the lead back.”
Clark led a total of nearly 90 laps in the first of five PASS National Series races scheduled for 2010. The 4-time PASS North Series champion was the quickest of 24 cars in time trials earlier in the afternoon and lined up fourth on the starting grid following a re-draw of the fastest qualifiers.
He was disappointed not to have won after leading on a number of different occasions Sunday, but he conceded it was a great start to the new year.
“Absolutely,” Clark said. “We were awesome all weekend. Considering we didn’t even have a race car together two weeks ago, I think this said a lot about our team. We didn’t even know we were coming to Florida until the last-minute, but we proved that we’re ready to go.”
Clark anticipates that his next start will come in round No. 2 of the PASS National Series — in the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway on April 3.
by Jay | Jan 27, 2010 | PASS
PASS South returns to Concord Speedway during Charlotte Speedweeks 2010
CHARLOTTE, NC (January 27) – After a nearly three year absence, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models will return to the Concord (NC) Speedway this coming Memorial Day weekend. The PASS South Super Late Models will race on the unique half-mile tri-oval on Saturday, May 29th, on the eve of the Coca-Cola 600 just up the road at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“We’re really excited to have the PASS South Super Late Models back at the Concord Speedway in 2010,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry. “The 2010 PASS South schedule is the best we’ve ever had and we feel Concord will add even more flavor to the diverse group of tracks we’re slated to race at this year. A lot of fans travel to the Charlotte area in May for the festivities at Charlotte Motor Speedway and we look forward to having them at Concord on May 29th for some great short track action. I’d also like to thank Dwight Davies and the entire staff at Concord for helping make this race possible.”
Concord Speedway has a rich history of Super Late Model racing. The legendary Big 10 Series attracted many of the nation’s top drivers and made short track superstars of drivers such as Rich Bickle, Freddie Query, Jack Sprague, and Hal Goodson.
“Concord Speedway is proud to welcome back the PASS South series in 2010,” said Concord Speedway’s Dwight Davies. “We hope short track fans from across the country come to Concord in May to see the fastest cars on America’s Fastest Half-Mile Tri-Oval.”
For more information please visit our website at proallstarsseries.com.
by Jay | Jan 23, 2010 | PASS
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (January 19) – Jeff and Jane Day’s New Day Motorsports LLC are proud to announce that veteran driver Brandon Ward will be the new driver of their #62 for the 2010 racing season. The New Day Motorsports team, along with Ward’s personal race team, Brandon Ward Racing (BWR), will join together to compete in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model division and will make a run at both the PASS South and PASS National Championships. Previously, BWR joined with the Cline Brothers’ team to win the 2006 UARA-STARS Late Model Championship. The BWR personnel bring extensive racing knowledge and experience that will only help strengthen New Day Motorsports. Ward’s 2010 Chevrolet Impala will be equipped with a Hamke Chassis and Five Star Bodies and powered by B & R Automotive. While primary sponsorship is still available, several fine associate sponsors will be returning including: Yarbrough Transfer Company, Rayco Safety Inc., Miller Welders, Old Town Jewelry & Pawn, Texas Pete Sauces, Hank Thomas Performance, Precision Built Spindle, and Oakley Paint.
Ward will also return to Mac Hill Motorsports for the 2010 USAR Pro Cup Series after a successful season that saw him win two races and finish fourth in points. Despite the challenge of competing in two different series in one season, Ward is excited about his chances with the PASS South Super Late Models. And, why shouldn’t he be? In his first start with New Day Motorsports at last year’s Howler 125 at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Ward finished 10th in a stellar field of Super Late Models.
“I’m really pumped to have this opportunity to drive the New Day Motorsports Chevrolet for the entire 2010 season,” said Ward. “Jeff [Day] and I worked great together last year with my Pro Cup car and I’m glad we’ve been able to put this deal together. Of all the cars I’ve driven over the years, it’s just been a blast to drive these PASS Super Late Models. The yellow #62 of New Day Motorsports is one of the most recognizable cars in PASS South and I’m honored Jeff asked me to drive it. I think we’ve got a great shot at some championships and I can’t wait to get to New Smyrna in a couple of weeks to take that first PASS checkered flag for New Day Motorsports.”
With the addition of Brandon Ward to the New Day Motorsports team, car owner Jeff Day hopes this takes his team to the next level.
“Brandon and I are both from Winston-Salem and I’ve been impressed with him for a number of years,” said Day. “In everything Brandon’s ever driven, he’s been a winner. As soon as we got the chance to work together last year, our communication was right on target. I think Brandon will compliment the great roster of drivers PASS already has and I know he will give us the opportunity to join the elite teams and compete for wins and championships.”
Brandon Ward’s racing career started in Go-Karts in 1989 where he won multiple championships over the next ten years. Ward then moved to the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series finishing a career high third in points in 2004. Ward won three races in his NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series career at Bristol Motor Speedway, Motordrome Speedway, and Kentucky Speedway. From there, Ward moved on to the UARA-STARS Late Model Stock series where he won the championship in 2006. After winning Rookie-Of-The-Year honors and the Most Popular Driver Award in the 2007 USAR Pro Cup Series, Ward continues to be a threat for victory lane.
New Day Motorsports has been an integral part of the PASS South Series since 2006. With former driver Mark Gibson behind the wheel, the team scored its best finish with the series in the 2008 Piedmont Pride 125 at the Caraway Speedway, finishing fourth after leading the most laps. New Day Motorsports and Gibson finished in the top ten in PASS South points in 2007 and 2008 and finished second in the 2009 PASS National Series behind champion Ben Rowe.
New Day Motorsports first chance at a checkered flag in 2010 is right around the corner with the inaugural Florida Winterfest on January 29-30 at the New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, FL. For more information please visit newdaymotorsports.com or brandonwardracing.com.
The Pro All Stars Series is on line at www.proallstarsseries.com .
by Jay | Jan 14, 2010 | Maine, PASS
FARMINGDALE, Maine — With 10 championships between them, Maine racers Ben Rowe and Johnny Clark are teaming up for a winter road trip.
A long winter road trip — to Florida.
Rowe, who has four PASS North Series championships as well as PASS South and PASS National championships on his resume, and Clark will field a joint effort for the inaugural PASS Winterfest 150 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Jan. 29-30. The event is the first of five PASS National Championship races scheduled for the 2010 season.
“We wanted to go down and support this race, because we think it could grow into something really big in the future,” said Clark, a four-time PASS North champion, including the last two series titles. “If everything goes well, we should both have a chance to win this one.”
Clark’s race hauler will carry both his familiar Clark’s Car Crushing No. 54 and Rowe’s new Community Pharmacies No. 48. The deal to pool the resources of Johnny Clark Motorsports and Mulkern Racing was finalized at last weekend’s Northeast Motorsports Expo held at the Augusta Civic Center.
Rowe was named Touring Series Driver of the Year at the Expo.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Rowe, who will debut with his new team and new crew chief, Seth Holbrook, at New Smyrna. “Me and Johnny have never teamed up before, so it’s going to be a blast.”
Of the two drivers, only Clark has New Smyrna experience, having competed on multiple occasions in the annual New Smyrna World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing held each February.
He compared New Smyrna’s high-banked half-mile layout to Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway, a track familiar to PASS North Series competitors.
“It’s a lot like Thompson,” Clark said. “It’s big and fast, and it’s definitely a fun and challenging track. It’s extremely hard on brakes, and you need one of the biggest motors you can find there.”
Rowe said he’ll take Clark’s word for it, having never raced at New Smyrna himself. He has, however, watched a number of races there from the pit area.
“It does race a lot like Thompson — at least that’s what Johnny tells me,” Rowe said. “Hopefully he’ll help me out when we get there and we can go from there.
“We’re going to take a bunch of guys from the north down there and see what we can do together.”
Teams hit the track on Friday, Jan. 29 for an extended practice session. Qualifying and feature racing will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30. The Winterfest 150 is tentatively scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. green flag.
