Chris Staples has seen success in nearly every Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North division; he’s a two time Mod champ, he’s raced up front in the now dormant Outlaw division, and he has a Beech Ridge super late model win to his credit.
Saturday Staples returned to Beech Ridge one year after his first super late model victory, but this time he was back behind the wheel of his PASS Mod. After a year’s hiatus from the PASS Mod ranks, Staples returned to victory lane in the open wheel series lid lifter at the Scarborough Maine speed plant. Staples now has twelve wins in the fast, fun and affordable series.
Wayne Whitten Jr. charged through the field for second and John Brill started his season off right with a third place finish. Early leader Greg Ellis settled for fourth; Bill Dixon, Andy Shaw, Kevin Douglas, Scott McDaniel Sumner Sessions and Wanderson Oliviera claimed fifth through tenth.
A ten minute red flag for an incident that saw Ryan Morgan park his mod atop Andy Shaw ride was the only flag to slow the 40 lap feature. Shaw raced back to sixth at the checkers but the lack of caution flags hindered his forward progress. The entry list featured several teams making their PASS Mod debut including Kevin Douglas in seventh and Alan Wilson, who shook the gremlins out of his new ride to finish eleventh.
Shaw and Greg Ellis claimed heat race victories.
25 cars lined up for the first 75 lap PASS Sportsman feature of 2010. 2009 series champ Carey Martin took off from the pole to lead early on with series regulars Clyde Hennessey, Shane Tatro and Dan Mckeage hot on his heels. PASS newcomer Scott Dorr had his sharp new sportsman in the mix early, but contact with Craig Smith sent Dorr spinning. Clyde Hennessey took a turn up front until Shane Tatro powered on by for the lead. Tatro had his problems on a lap 63 restart and went for a spin, handing the lead to Hennessey with Dan Mckeage now second and Martin third. Mike Landry was all the way up to fourth after an early race tangle that sent him to the back of the pack.
Mckeage got the best of Hennessey on the next restart and Martin made his move under Hennessey on lap 65 to claim second. Three laps later Mckeage and Martin were in a dead heat at the finish line. Martin claimed the lead for good one lap later and Landry snatched the second spot away from Hennessey. Mckeage slipped back to fourth at the stripe and ageless Steve Bennett Sr. completed the top five.
It was Martin’s second visit to Beech Ridge victory lane in as many races, and his fourth win in the PASS Sportsman series .Martin and Dorr each earned a heat race win.
The PASS Mods take a spring break before returning to action at Unity Raceway on June 20. The raceway is on line at www.unityraceway.info.
Spud Speedway in Caribou Maine will host their first ever PASS Sportsman race on May 30. Check Spud out at www.spud-speedway.com .
For results, point standings, schedules and plenty of action photos from all four Pro All Stars racing series visit www.proallstarsseries.com .
Unofficial PASS Mod finish – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway – Scarborough ME – 5/1/2010
1) 5 Chris Staples, Brunswick ME 2) 2x Wayne Whitten Jr Arundel ME 3) 77 John Brill Bridgton, ME 4) 29 Greg Ellis, Hermon 5) 33 Bill Dixon, N Waterboro 6) 66 Andy Shaw, Ctr Conway 7) 18 Kevin Douglas, Sidney 8) 14 Scott McDaniel, Livermore 9) 50 Sumner Sessions, Norway 10) 53 Wanderson Olivera, Raynham, MA 11) 53w Alan Wilson, Hebron 12) 56 Dan Somes, Belgrade 13) 31 Ryan Morgan, Mystic, CT 14) 56x Richard Ferreith, Raynham, MA 15) 85 Mitch Miller, W Boylston, MA 16) 20 Charlie Smith, Buxton
Unofficial PASS Sportsman finish – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway – Scarborough ME – 5/1/2010
1) 18 Carey Martin, Denmark ME 2) 40 Mike Landry, Oakland ME 3) , 8 Clyde Hennessey, Windham ME 4) 38 Dan Mckeage, Gorham ME 5) 22 Steve Bennett Sr Buckfield ME 6) 60 Billy Childs, Jr, Peru ME 7) 18x J.T. Thurlow 8) 35x Kris Watson, Hermon ME 9) 15 Craig Smith, E Waterboro ME 10) 58 Lyman Mckeage, Gorham ME 11) 2 Bob Emery Jr Limington ME 12) 0 Shane Green S Paris ME 13) 32 Jeff Marshall, Jefferson. NH 14) 20 Frank Wear, Scarborough ME 15) 4 Allan Moeller, Dresden ME 16) 7 ShaneTatro Levant ME 17) 51) 60D Scott Dorr, Portland, ME 18) William Ahern, Billerica MA 19) 01 David Herrick, Gray ME 20) 36 Nate Leavitt, Buxton ME 21) 04 Matt Stewart, Pittston ME 22) 51A RJ Austin, Smithfield, ME 23) 58 Mark “Sparky” MacGiver, Sandown, NH 24) 00 David Vaughn, Naples 25) 10 Donny