Ben Rowe has never been to Caraway Speedway. But, just like the competitors in the PASS National Series, the multi-time champion is eager to take his first shot at the half-mile high-banked speedway.
Rowe leads the 2012 PASS National standings with two races remaining as the tour heads to the 10th annual Colors Edge John Blewett III North-South Shootout presented by PPG on November 8-10. The Turner, Maine, driver has more than 30 career victories in PASS competition and is a multi-time PASS North Series and PASS South Series champion.
“I’ve never been to Caraway, but I hear it’s a pretty cool place,” said Rowe, driver of the Richard Moody Racing No. 4 MEP Ford. “It’s always fun to go to new places, and the North-South Shootout should be a lot of fun.”
The PASS Super Late Models share top billing at this year’s North-South Shootout with a 150-lap feature event. The Tour Modifieds, a staple of the North-South Shootout since its inception, will also compete in a 125-lap event, while the SK Modifieds race in a 50-lap event. Practice and qualifying will be held on Friday, November 9, with consolation rounds and feature racing slated for Saturday, November 10.
In total, seven different divisions will compete in feature races at the Colors Edge John Blewett III North-South Shootout presented by PPG. Legends, Lite Modifieds, Sportsman and Super Trucks will tour the half-mile banked Caraway Speedway as part of over 600 laps of feature racing.
“We’re looking forward to having Tom Mayberry’s PASS National Series involved with us this year,” said North-South Shootout promoter Renee Hackett of Caraway Speedway. “Adding the top Super Late Model racers from around the country to this year’s Shootout is something that we’re really excited about for our fans.”
Rowe holds a 15-point lead over Durham, N.C., driver Jay Fogelman as the series heads to Caraway. Fogelman finished second to Kyle Grissom when the PASS South Series competed in the Labor Day Classic 125 at the track early last month.
Rowe, the four-time PASS North champion, was last year’s PASS National champion.
“We didn’t have the year up north that we wanted to, so I really want to win this championship for the whole RMR team,” said Rowe, who won the SouthernMaineMotors.com 300 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine, on September 16. “We obviously need to have a good run at Caraway in a couple of weeks to stay up front.”
Continued improvements to Caraway Speedway’s infield pit area are continuing, allowing PASS Super Late Model teams to pit in the infield this year as opposed to having to pit outside the race track as they have in the past.