Johnny Clark Back On Track after Speedway 660 Victory
Geary, NB — Johnny Clark has been battling for a win all season long on the PASS North Series, as he has had numerous top three finishes, as well as being in contention for the win every time out, but the checkered flag had eluded him until this past Saturday night as he edged out DJ Shaw and Joey Doiron to carry the checkered flag at Speedway 660 in Fredericton, NB, Canada. Shaw, whom was trying to be the first PASS North driver to ever win four races in a row, fell short to Clark’s monumental victory. Ironically, it was Speedway 660 where Johnny Clark scored his last win in 2012.
Numerous early cautions kept the 150 lap event from gaining any rhythm, as Eric St. Gelais and Matt Matheson brought out a pair of early cautions for minor spins. Lap 10 saw Martin Latullipe leading the way, and was solidly out front until Matheson got up high on the backstretch, and flew into the bank just beyond the track exit, flipping his racecar onto its roof. Once they righted the car, Matheson got out on his own power, but was taken to the hospital for observation. Latulippe continues to lead until lap 84 when he went high on the frontstretch and lost the lead to Johnny Clark. At this point of the race Clark had his hands full with veteran Glen Luce as once again Luce was a contender for the win. DJ Shaw, Cassius Clark driving the Rollie MacDonald #13, and Matt Harris were all battling for contention.
A solid run by Joey Doiron saw the #73 now battling for the lead on lap 124. Doiron got the jump on Clark on the restart and brought DJ Shaw with him. Shaw, hungry for that fourth straight victory battles by Doiron as Clark races by as well and into the lead as Doiron’s motor starts to break down. Once Shaw was by the #73, he set sail to challenge race leader Clark. With five laps remaining Shaw dove to the inside of Clark, but Clark prevailed in the high line, capturing the victory. Shaw, Doiron, Luce, and Travis Benjamin completed the top five. Mike Rowe, Gary Smith, Cassius Clark, Matt Harris and Cole Boudreau rounded out the top ten. Heat checkers flew for Johnny Clark, Cassius Clark, and Travis Benjamin.
[Photo Gallery] by Lindsay Ellison
The next event for the Pro All Stars Series will be on Montmagny, Quebec on Saturday, June 28th. For more information on the PASS tour, visit their website at www.proallstarsseries.com.
1) 54 – Johnny Clark – 150 Laps
2) 60 – DJ Shaw – 150
3) 73 – Joey Doiron – 150
4) 7L – Glen Luce – 150
5) 17 – Travis Benjamin – 150
6) 24 – Mike Rowe – 150
7) 75 – Gary Smith – 150
8) 13 – Cassius Clark – 150
9) 87 – Matt Harris – 150
10) 00 – Cole Boudreau – 150
11) 4n – Ben Rowe – 150
12) 7 – Curtis Gerry – 150
13) 32 – Sarah McKay – 150
14) 2qc – Dany Poilin – 146
15) 52d – Dustin Tucker – 146
16) 28 – Kirk Thibeau – 71
17) 88 – Kevin Moore – 71
18) 10 – Michael Lavoie – 71
19) 84qc – Martin Latulippe – 33
20) 2n – Matt Matheson – 23
21) 42qc – Eric St. Gelais -9
Sources: Dick Therrien/PASS PR