Naples ME – (July 31, 2008) There was a gap of thirty three days between qualifying and the rain delayed Pro All Stars Series (PASS) All-Stars 200 feature at All Star Speedway Wednesday night, but for Derek Ramstrom the wait was worthwhile. The 16 year old PASS super late model sophomore capitalized on Johnny Clark’s misfortune to take over the lead on lap 174, and he kept some of the toughest super late model drivers in the country in his rear view mirror to capture his first PASS North super late model feature win. Ramstrom withstood the pressure of several restarts with Mike Rowe alongside and Ben Rowe on his back bumper to seal the victory. Mike and Ben came home second and third respectively and Johnny Clark recovered from a flat tire that took him out of the race lead to salvage a fourth place finish. Travis Benjamin continued to build on his most consistent PASS season to date, finishing fifth.
Richie Dearborn and Steve Berry brought the field to the green ad Dearborn wasted little time taking command; Dearborn, Berry, Kelly Moore and Travis Benjamin battled up front early on and Berry wrestled the lead from Dearborn briefly before Dearborn took command again on lap 49.
PASS permitted teams to change two tires in the extra distance event, and pit strategy began to come into play during a lap eighty-one caution. Dearborn hit pit road and was joined by D.J. Shaw, Scott Chubbuck, Johnny Clark, Mike Rowe, Ben Rowe and Cassius Clark. Moore assumed the top spot, with Berry, Adam Bates, Travis Benjamin, Trevor Sanborn and Ramstrom lined up behind. Moore took the lead on the restart but a bump and run from Berry gave him a lane to get under Moore and Bates, Sanborn and Ramstrom followed suit, dropping Moore to fifth.
Eighteen laps later Berry pitted from the lead, handing it over to Trevor Sanborn. Sanborn led at the half way mark but Johnny Clark had taken advantage of his fresh rubber to race all the way back to second. Rich Eaton and Adam Bates got together right after the crossed flags, a wreck that ended Bates night. Ramstrom joined the queue on pit Road at lap 102, one of the last front runners to make his stop. Twenty three of the twenty five starters were still in action at the half-way mark.
Up front it was all Johnny Clark from laps 102 to lap 174. He had plenty of challengers though, as Ramstrom, both Rowes and Benjamin were all giving chase. Saturday nights’ Riverside Speedway winner looked like he was in line to chalk up two PASS features in five nights. But Clark’s racing luck ran out and his flat right front handed Ramstrom a lead he’d never give up. A fast car, great pit strategy and a heaping helping of talent all combined to give the Ramstrom family team a well deserved and hard earned PASS North Super Late Model victory.
The PASS North super late models head north of the border on Friday and Saturday, August 8th and 9th for the 8th annual Atlantic CAT 250 at Scotia Speedworld in Halifax Nova Scotia. Keep up with the latest PASS news at www.racewithpass.com and www.proallstarsseries.com . Scotia Speedworld is on line at www.scotiaspeedworld.ca .
Unofficial order of finish – PASS North Super Late Model 200 – All Star Speedway – Epping NH – 7/30/2008
1) 35-Derek Ramstrom, W. Boylston MA W. Boylston Auto Parts Chev 2) 2- Mike Rowe Turner ME,P.T. Watts Chev 3) 4 – Ben Rowe, Turner ME Hancock Lumber Ford 4) 54 – Johnny Clark, Hallowell ME Clark’s Cars Crushing Chev 5) 17 – Travis Benjamin, Morrill ME Irving/Blue Canoe Variety Ford 6) 60-DJ Shaw (R), Center Conway NH Precision JLM Ford 7) 8 – Cassius Clark, Farmington ME E.J. Prescott Ford 8) 7W – Donnie Whitten, Wells ME Monster Energy Chev 9) 97 – Walt Hammond, Orange NH Enfield Plumbing and Heating Dodge 10) 44 – Trevor Sanborn, Parsonsfield ME Richard Moody and Sons Ford 11) 15 – Steve Berry, Gorham ME Gorham Sand and Gravel Chev 12) 10 – Steve Knowlton, Ipswich MA Ciotti Racing Products Chev 13) 14M – Matt Frahm, Salem NH WDW/Lambert Roofing Chev 14) 22 – Harry Olson (R), Salisbury MA Olson Heating and Cooling Ford 15) 47 – Kelly Moore, Scarborough ME NAPA Auto Parts Chev 16) 4E-Ruch Eaton, Seabrook NH Jones Financial Network Chev
17) 04 – Jamie Swallow Jr, Stark NH IBEW Local 104 Dodge 18) 1C-Sam Sessions, W Paris ME CAT Scales/Crete Carriers Chev 19) 33 – Richie Dearborn, Hollis ME Chadwick BaRoss Chev 20) 77 – Scott Chubbuck, Dresden ME Hight Chevrolet Chev 21) O9 – Jeremy Davis, Tamworth NH Cotton Trucking Chev 22) 00Q-Ginny Quinones, Penn Argyl PA APS Powder Coating Chev 23) 98 – Adam Bates, Warner NH Weaver Bros Construction Chev 24) 88-Bobby Tripp, Westport MA D&R Enterprises Chev 25) 7C – Jimmy Chambers(R),Atkinson NH Dieselland Chev