Johnny Clark is the Man of the Hour at Greenville-Pickens, Ben Rowe claims PASS South title
The 2009 season finale for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South super late models is officially in the books and for the second straight year, a driver by the name of Johnny Clark has closed out the southern schedule as the final event winner. Last year the 2008 PASS North champ took the win at the Mason Dixon Meltdown as the tour finished out at the South Boston Speedway while this year he duplicated the feat, claiming both the PASS North title and winning at the PASS South “Howler” finale at Greenville-Pickens Speedway to wrap up the 2009 season. Johnny held off another veteran in Jay Fogleman for the win. Fogleman showed true grit Saturday after starting the day at the hospital with symptoms of the flu. DJ Shaw was third followed by Ben Rowe in fourth and Randy Porter fifth.
The 125 lap “Howler” was only slowed for two cautions, allowing for tons of green flag racing. A pair of veterans in Porter and Fogleman led the field to green after the series’ mandatory redraw of the top ten qualifiers. Justin Wakefield, who was the quickest in qualifying, would start the race from the ninth position. Close racing between the pair provided the majority of the action for the first half of the event until the yellow flag waived for the first time on lap sixty. Many of the top ten took the opportunity to make adjustments to their cars including second place man Fogleman.
The pit stops gave Johnny Clark track position, allowing him to get around Preston Peltier on lap seventy-eight for the lead and he never looked back. Several hard charges by DJ Shaw were answered each and every time by Clark. Just as in the first half, Jay Fogleman stole the show in the second half as he was the highest finishing car who pitted during the lap sixty caution period.
The man of the hour might have been Johnny Clark but the man of the year was Ben Rowe. Rowe captured the PASS South super late model Championship in a way unheard of in all forms of auto racing. The Maine driver made sixteen round-trips south wheeling cars for four different race teams over the fourteen race schedule on his way to becoming the 2009 PASS South series champion. PASS South Rookie of the Year Ryan Blaney impressed with second in the final standings, and Preston Peltier parlayed three race wins to a strong third place in the points.
Rowe capped off a dream season with his second Pro All Stars Series title in as many weeks. Seven days prior he earned his fourth PASS South win of the season on his way to capturing the four race PASS National Championship series. Rowe chased Johnny Clark for the PASS North title all season long as well, eventually finishing second to Clark with two PASS North wins and twelve top ten finishes along the way.
While this weekend’s Howler 125 closed out the action for the Pro All Stars Series in 2009, fans won’t have to wait near as long as they have in the past to see the stars of the series back in action. On January 29th and 30th 2010 the first ever PASS Florida Winterfest will take place at New Smyrna, Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. Details of the event will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information including schedules, standings, and results for all PASS sanctioned touring series visit their home on the web at www.racewithpass.com. For marketing or media questions contact Norm Desjardins at 603-539-3368 or for technical information contact Scott Reed at 207-625-3230.