NAPLES, ME (May 11) – After a rain out last weekend at Star Speedway, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Super Late Models and PASS Modifieds will be back on track this Sunday afternoon at Maine’s Speedway 95. New England’s top short track stars will help kickoff the 50th Anniversary season of racing at the track in Hermon dubbed as “Maine’s Family Fun Track.”
Through the first three PASS North races of the 2016 season, there have been three different winners. Beech Ridge winner DJ Shaw currently leads the standings by four points over Oxford winner Ben Rowe and is just 13 markers ahead of Thompson winner Garrett Hall.
Speedway 95 favorite, Mike Hopkins, who also hails from Hermon, sits fourth in the standings just 23 points behind Shaw. Hopkins has had a fast start to the year with two top 10s to begin the PASS North campaign and a runner-up finish in the PASS National Championship opener at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina. Hopkins feels he and his team are primed for their first PASS North Super Late Model victory this Sunday afternoon at Speedway 95.
The bright lights of Wiscasset Speedway illuminated the track at the first evening race of the season. Despite the cool weather, fans lined the grandstands to watch group one division racing which included Super Streets, Thunder Four Mini’s, ServePro of Biddeford Saco Prostocks, New England Four Cylinder Prostocks, and the flex race of the week, Wicked Good Vintage Racers.
The Spotlighted race of the evening was a twenty-five lap Super Street presentation. Starting on the pole was the #27 of Barry Poulin. To his right was the #38 of Cody Buzzell. Starting in third was Bernie Dinsmore of the #3. When green flag racing began, Tasha Dyer of the #32 advanced quickly from fifth, passing Dinsmore for third by lap two. Ahead, Poulin was setting a fast pace for the pack, but Buzzell was tailing him looking for his chance to pass. His chance came during lap fifteen when Poulin went high, opening the door for Buzzell. During lap sixteen, Buzzell and Poulin raced head to head, until Buzzell accelerated and passed Poulin on the inside coming out of turn two for the lead. Dyer, sticking close to Buzzell, also passed Poulin for second.
Oxford, Maine — Shawn Martin of Turner charged around the outside of his Budweiser Super Late Model rivals, including reigning champion Timmy Brackett of Buckfield at the scheduled halfway point, and five laps later crossed under yellow and checkered flags to claim victory in a 30-lap headline race at Oxford Plains Speedway on Sunday afternoon.
Martin, who started sixth, was pulling away from all rivals when the race was cut short. Brackett and fellow Buckfield competitor Kyle Treadwell were second and third-place finishers, respectively. Rookie Super Late Model driver Josh Childs of Oxford posted an impressive fourth-place finish, and was gaining on frontrunners when the race was cut short.
Opening Day Budweiser Championship Series Super Late Model winner Glen Luce of Turner rounded out the top five after lining up behind three-quarters of his rivals on the starting grid for the 30-lapper. Dennis Spencer, Jr., of Oxford, led much of the early half of the race before finishing seventh.
It was a beautiful Spring day last Saturday, and fans flocked to Wiscasset Speedway for Group two opening day. On the schedule were the Strictly Streets, Late Model Sportsman, Kennebec Equipment Rental Outlaw Mini’s, Amsoil Nelcar Legends, and the Spotlighted race of the week, Napa Modifieds.
A forty lap Napa Modified feature race started off the action. Starting at the pole was 2015 Modified champion, Mark Lucas. Lucas set a grueling pace for the pack, running speeds in excess of 85 miles per hour. The #1 of Adam Chadbourne dogged Lucas’s heels throughout the beginning of the race, presenting a constant challenge for Lucas. Nick Reno of the #7 ran a close third, looking for his opportunity to pass. Reno’s chance came in lap fifteen. A race caution resulted in a restart. Reno started on the inside, and sped under Chadbourne, taking second. There was another caution during lap twenty-three. Reno tried to get a jump on Lucas at the start, but Lucas was able to power ahead and put a five car length lead between them within five laps. Lucas took the win. Reno placed second. Chadbourne finished in third.
Scarborough, Maine — DJ Shaw of Center Conway, New Hampshire drove from third position to first on a restart with four laps remaining in Saturday’s Southern Maine Chrysler Jeep Dodge 150 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway to nail down his first Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model win of the season.
Shaw, the 2014 PASS North Super Late Model champion, watched Doiron blast on by earlier in the race after the Berwick, Maine driver, and eventual runner-up, charged from his 14th starting position into a lead threatened only by hometown racer Garrett Hall – the opening day PASS Super Late Model winner at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway until the final pair of restarts took place, with six and four laps remaining, respectively.
Shaw had been a healthy distance behind Doiron aboard his Dale Shaw Race Cars / HK Powersports 60, but the once-dominant JBJ Machine 73 didn’t have the handles on cold tires. That opened the door for Shaw, who stepped through and into victory lane.
By Lisa and Rich Maguire
Oxford, Maine — Shawn Martin of Turner charged around the outside of his Budweiser Super Late Model rivals, including reigning champion Timmy Brackett of Buckfield at the scheduled halfway point, and five laps later crossed under yellow and checkered flags to claim victory in a 30-lap headline race at Oxford Plains Speedway 
