Points Leaders Try To Stay On Top For PASS North Return To Beech Ridge
NAPLES, ME — Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, ME has long been one of the stalwarts on the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Super Late Model schedule. The facility has hosted PASS events since 2006 and provides some of the closest action seen anywhere on the circuit. And, much like the first event of the season at Oxford Plains Speedway, this weekend’s Southern Maine Motors 150 will serve as a precursor to one of the biggest races of the season, the PASS 400 weekend at Beech Ridge in September. In fact, the racing has been so competitive that in the last five PASS events at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, five different drivers have gone to victory lane. Among those drivers is Joey Doiron, who scored his first career PASS North victory in last year’s Southern Maine Motors 150. And, if last year’s races are any indication, Doiron believes there will be no substitution for a good setup.
“Well Beech Ridge over the last two years has become a one groove racetrack and the key to success there is to make sure your car can pass on the bottom because everyone else usually lines up on the outside,” said Doiron.
Doiron comes to Beech Ridge in 2013 riding a wave of momentum. He started the season off in February with a big PASS National Series win in the Florida Winter Meltdown and heads into Saturday’s Southern Maine Motors 150 second in points after a runner-up finish at Oxford Plains. Doiron hopes that knowledge gained in previous events at Beech Ridge can produce another win this weekend.
“Like all PASS races, you’re going to need to conserve your tires the best you can because grip will be at a premium in the last 20 laps,” said Doiron. “Besides that, you need to have a fairly balanced car because the track can change a lot between the practice sessions at 1 in the afternoon and when the race ends around 6.”
Doiron’s biggest challenge could come from the driver who outlasted him at Oxford, PASS North points leader Cassius Clark. Clark has raced at Beech Ridge on numerous occasions scoring a win in the inaugural PASS event there in 2006. He will come into the Southern Maine Motors 150 with a bull’s eye on his back as his fellow PASS North Super Late Model competitors hope to contain his early season success. But it is a challenge the veteran welcomes and uses as motivation.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Beech Ridge, it’s a great facility and puts on some great racing,” said Clark. “We finished in the top five in all three races there last year and would like to be able to get back into victory lane. Brian (Burgess) and the crew worked hard all off season and it paid off at Oxford. Hopefully with a little luck we can build on our strong start to the season.
Another strong field of PASS North Super Late Models is expected to challenge Clark and Doiron led by former Beech Ridge winners Mike and Ben Rowe, Johnny Clark, Bill Rodgers, and Scott Dragon. The Southern Maine Motors sponsored machines of teammates Bobby Timmons and Scott Mulkern have also filed early entries. DJ Shaw, Derek Ramstrom, and Austin Theriault will represent the ever growing PASS youth movement and Trevor Sanborn returns looking to rebound after a tough weekend at Oxford. Defending PASS North champion Travis Benjamin joins fellow Maine drivers Bradley Babb, Corey Bubar, Dan Colpritt, Jr., Curtis Gerry, Dave Farrington, Jr., Michael Landrey, Reid Lanpher, David Oliver, and Tony Ricci. Veterans Richie Dearborn, Gary Smith, and Kelly Moore return looking for past magic. Matt Harris and Matt Matheson will make the trip down from Canada to Beech Ridge. Kirk Thibeau hopes to parlay a top 10 finish at Oxford into another good run this weekend. New Hampshire’s Bryan Kruczek and Pennsylvania’s Francis Gross, III also hope for good runs in the Southern Maine Motors 150 along with many more drivers expected to compete.
Action gets under way for the Southern Maine Motors 150 with rotating practice on Thursday and Friday for all divisions from 2 – 6 PM. On Saturday, pit gates open at 9 AM, with rotating practice for the PASS North Super Late Models, PASS Modifieds, PASS Sportsman, and Amsoil NELCAR Legends beginning at 11:30 AM, and main event racing slated to begin at 3 PM.
PASS North Super Late Model entry forms for Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Autodrome Chaudiere, and White Mountain Motorsports Park, PASS South Super Late Model entry forms for South Boston Speedway and Caraway Speedway and the 40th Annual TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
The Pro All Stars Series is recognized as North America’s premier sanctioning body for asphalt Super Late Models and boasts such marquee events as the PASS Northwest Triple Crown at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, PASS South’s Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway, the Autobus La Qubecoise Triple Crown at Autodrome Chaudiere, and the legendary TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. For technical information concerning all PASS divisions please contact Scott Reed at 207-625-3230 or scottreedpass@yahoo.com. For media or marketing questions, please contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or alandietzpass@live.com. Don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook to keep up with breaking news as it happens.
Sources: PASS PR