Ben Rowe: PASS North Series – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Race Preview
Ben Rowe of Turner, Maine, rides the hot hand as the PASS North Series heads back to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine, for the PASS 150 on Saturday, July 10. Rowe snapped a winless streak dating back more than a year to June of 2009 by finding victory lane at Canaan Fair Speedway last weekend. It was Rowe’s first win for Mulkern Racing, and it also marked his fifth top-5 in as many races this season. Rowe, who finished third at Beech Ridge back in May and has a win on his resume at the track in 2006, sits second in the series standings — just eight points behind Johnny Clark — as he vies for a record fifth PASS North title.
WHO: Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine
TEAM: No. 48 Community Pharmacies Chevrolet
BEST CAREER BEECH RIDGE MOTOR SPEEDWAY FINISH: 1st (September 2006)
LAST RACE AT BEECH RIDGE MOTOR SPEEDWAY: 3rd (May 2010)
WHAT: PASS North Series PASS 150
WHERE: Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, Maine. (.333-mile oval)
WHEN: 6 p.m., Saturday, July 10
PASS North Series
LAST RACE: July 3, Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, N.H. (1st-place)
NEXT RACE: July 13, Bastille 200, Lee USA Speedway, Lee, N.H.
POINTS POSITION: 2nd
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BEN, WHAT KIND OF MOMENTUM DID YOUR TEAM TAKE FROM WINNING AT CANAAN LAST WEEK?
Well, right now momentum is definitely in our corner, and we’re planning on riding it as long as we can. I think momentum is a week-to-week thing in this sport. Look at what Johnny (Clark) did — he won that first race (at White Mountain in mid-May) and then they went off and won a couple more right after that. When you get on a run like that, you know that your cars are good and if you just go and do your job, you’re going to win.
That’s where we’re at right now. We know we can beat the best teams out there. Everybody’s upbeat, everybody’s positive and everybody wants to work hard to keep winning. Ninety percent of this team is volunteer — and a win just boosts their spirits and everybody wants to get involved and do stuff to help the team. I’ll tell you what, this is going to be a fun weekend.
HOW DO YOU FIND SUCCESS AT BEECH RIDGE?
I’m not really sure. It seems to be a real hit or miss place for me. Trevor (Sanborn) goes really good every time he races there, and it’s the same for my father (Mike Rowe). But even my father, as good as he was there last year he’s struggled some there this year.
I don’t know what it is. I wish I did.
IS THIS THE HARDEST TRACK THE SERIES VISITS TO GET A FIRM HANDLE ON?
Yeah, it’s probably the worst of all of them. Oxford’s getting to be a little like it, but we don’t race there, so this is probably the worst for the PASS tour.
It’s so flat and round. It’s very, very easy to overdrive Beech Ridge and get yourself in trouble. Maybe that’s what we all want to do there — too much. You look at the guys that have had success there — guys like Adam Bates — and they all seem to be guys that came from go-karts and learned not to overdrive the track.
Forum – http://www.maineracer.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=144042#144042