Dearborn Dominates PASS North Finale
Johnny Clark finishes fifth, earns fourth PASS North Super Late Model Championship
N. Woodstock, NH — Richie Dearborn started on pole in Friday’s Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Night of Champions 150 at White Mountain Motorsports Park and never looked back to win the PASS super late model feature. Dearborn led every lap and was never really challenged, despite the best efforts of Ben Rowe (second) and Kelly Moore (third). The victory was the fourth Pro All Stars Series win for Dick and Deb Dearborn’s family race team, moving the Hollis Maine veteran up to sixth in the career win column. His last feature win came during the 2007 season at Hermon Maine’s’ Speedway 95. Dearborn is the tenth different PASS North feature winner of 2009.
Travis Benjamin crossed the finish line fourth and Johnny Clark claimed fifth, enough to earn the Farmingdale Maine speed merchant a fourth (and second consecutive) PASS North Championship. Clark topped the ultra-completive super late model series stats with three wins, eight top fives and twelve top tens in thirteen starts. His unofficial margin of victory over Rowe for the title is 32 points. Kelly Moore will finish the season third in the standings, while Dearborn will move ahead of Adam Bates for the fourth spot with Bates fifth in the final tally.
Clark led 199 laps on his way to the championship. With the 2009 title Clark moves into a tie with Ben Rowe at four for most PASS championships earned.
Thirty cars attempted to qualify for the 25 car field, with a number of invaders on hand to challenge the series regulars. Tracy Gordon was back in the saddle, driving DJ Howard’s ride. The Strong Maine veteran parked early, finishing 24th. Former White Mountain late model ace Mark Patten ran second early on until his race car gave up. Mike Rowe was back, this time behind the wheel of his familiar PT Watts ride, but the PASS 300 winner didn’t have enough car to challenge for the win and crossed the line eighth. Alan Wilson (11th) and Unity PASS winner Randy Turner (12th) both had solid runs.
Matt Frahm earned his 3rd top ten finish of 2009 with a strong sixth and PASS rookie Steve Legendre returned to the track where his stock racing career began to finish seventh.
The race pace was fast and furious. Super late models tour the banked quarter mile in the low twelve second range and just two minor cautions slowed the field. Eleven cars finished on the lead lap; twenty of the twenty-five starters were running at the finish.
Mike Rowe, Cassius Clark and Johnny Clark each claimed a qualifying race; Scott Alexander won the consolation round.
There’s plenty of PASS Super Late Model racing left in 2009 as the PASS South and Nation al Championship series head down the home stretch. Saturday September 26 is round two of the PASS National series at Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly North Carolina, and then it’s on to South Boston on Saturday October 17 for the Mason-Dixon Meltdown, the final round in the PASS National Championship. One week later the PASS South Champion will be crowned at Greenville-Pickens Speedway when the PASS South season wraps up with “The Howler”.
All the latest Pro All Stars Series news and stats are on line at www.proallstarsseries.com or www.racewithpass.com.
Unofficial Results – PASS North super late model 150 – White Mountain Motorsports Park – North Woodstock NH – 9/18/2009
1) 33 Richie Dearborn, Hollis ME 2) 4N Ben Rowe, Turner ME 3) 47 Kelly Moore, Scarborough ME 4) 17 Travis Benjamin, Morrill ME 5) 54 Johnny Clark, Farmingdale ME 6) 14M Matt Frahm, N Salem NH 7) 20 Steve Legendre, St. Johnsbury Vermont 8) 2 Mike Rowe, Turner ME 9) 98 Adam Bates, Warner NH 10) 21 Donnie Lashua, Meredith NH 11) 53 Alan Wilson, Hebron ME 12) 1 Randy Turner, Readfield ME 13) Nick Ribbe, Kingston MA 14) 17A Scott Alexander, Orrington ME 15) 7 Donnie Whitten, Biddeford ME 16) 12 John Dabrowski, West Bridgewater MA 17) 4X Bradley Babb, Windham ME 18) 71 Corey Robert , Canaan NH 19) 09 Jeremy Davis, Tamworth NH 20) 0 Bill Whorff Jr. Topsham ME 21) 97 Walt Hammond Orange NH 22) 8 Cassius Clark, Farmington ME 23)01 Joe Decker, Chesterville ME 24) 14 Tracy Gordon, Strong ME 25) 07 Mark Patten, Belmont NH
Sources: PASS North PR