Hermon ME ( April 19) The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Mods and Sportsman kicked off their 2009 campaigns at Speedway 95 Sunday, and when the dust cleared there was a new winner and a familiar face in victory lane.
Andy Shaw and Steve Bennett Jr. lined up on the front row of the 40 lap PASS Mod feature and Shaw jumped out front for seven laps before Bennett Jr. took over. Shaw battled back but the 66 headed for the pits a short time later when drive train problems ended his day. Early on it was Bennett Jr., Jerry Harrison and Scott Grant up front and the racing was tight. The PASS Mods were making their first start on 10 inch tires, and there were yellows galore marring the action. At the halfway mark it was still Bennett Jr., Harrison and Grant in the top three with Greg Ellis fourth. Harrisons challenge ended after a spin with Bill Dixon and Glenn Bradbury took over the third spot from Grant.
The top four raced nose to tail between bouts of yellow fever but Bennett held off all the challenges to win his first PASS Mod feature event. Scott Grant and Glenn Bradbury finished second and third; Bill Dixon and Jerry Harrison rounded out the top five. Shaw and Bennett Jr. captured the heat race wins.
There were 75 laps of PASS Sportsman action on tap and a strong field of the popular class lined up for their first feature of the new season. Mike Lynch and Lyman McKeage led the field to the green and McKeage took the top spot for five laps before sliding high and handing the lead to Chris Watson.Meanwhile Carey Martin had worked his way up to the second spot from sixth on the grid, ready to challenge for the lead. Martin took the lead on a lap nine restart and Dan McKeage followed Martin through for second and the battle was on. McKeage took over the top spot three laps later. McKeage, Martin and Mike Landry were the top three at the half way, and the red flag came out for Bobby Nadeau’s flip a lap later.
When the green flew the top three remained the same but with ten to go the racing got serious. Landry took a shot at the lead and made it stick on lap sixty five, only to fall victim to a flat right front two laps later. With two to go Dan McKeage took the top spot away from Martin, but his dad Lyman sailed off turn three and brought out the final caution. The yellow set up a green-white-checker with McKeage on the pole and Martin outside. The top groove is usually the place to be on a restart at Speedway 95, and Martin took advantage to edge McKeage for the victory. 2008 PASS Sportsman Champ Richie Morse managed to work his way up to third; Duane Seekins and Mike Lynch finished fourth and fifth.
The PASS Mods and Sportsman are back on track Saturday May 2nd at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough Maine. Post time is 3:00 PM. Visit www.racewithpass.com or www.proallstarsseries.com for the latest news, results and point standings for all five PASS divisions. Beech Ridge is on line at www.beechridge.com .
PASS MOD FEATURE FINISH (40 laps) – Speedway 95, Hermon ME – April 19 2009
1) 12 Steve Bennett Jr. , Buckfield ME 2) 27 Scott Grant, Waterboro ME 3) 85 Glenn Bradbury, Hollis Center ME 4) 29 Greg Ellis, Hermon ME 5) 33 Bill Dixon 6) 5 Jerry Harrison, Yarmouth ME 7) 14 Scott McDaniel, Livermore ME 8) 21 Sulo Burbank, Gorham ME 9) 01 Ronald Gooden Jr.. Whitefield NH 10) 50 Sumner Sessions, Norway ME 11) 66 Andy Shaw. Center Conway NH DNS Gary Norris, West Gardiner ME
PASS SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (75 laps) – Speedway 95,Hermon ME – April 19, 2009
1) 18 Carey Martin, Denmark ME 2) 38 Dan McKeage, Gorham ME 3) 34 Richie Morse, Waterford ME 4) 19S Duane Seekins, Stockton Springs ME 5) 02 Charlie Small, Gray, ME 6) 40 Mike Landry, Oakland ME 7) 48L Mike Lynch Winterport ME 8) 56 Mike Short 9) 60 Kyle Hart, Fryeburg ME 10) 5 John Kalel ll, Orrington ME 11) 22 Steve Bennett Sr., Buckfield ME 12) 02F David Fowler, Barnstead NH 13) 58 Lyman McKeage, Gorham ME 14) 80 Dana Reed, Shapleigh ME 15) 47 Nate Weston, Madison ME 16) 7 Shane Tatro, Levant ME 17) 35W Kris Watson 18) 35 Bobby Nadeau, Hollis ME 19) 48A Meagan Allen, Winterport ME 20) 22T Todd Goodness, E Concord VT