Lee, South Boston On Tap For Busy PASS Weekend Of Action

photo by Norm Marx

photo by Norm Marx

NAPLES, ME (August 11) – Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model racers up and down the East Coast will be busy at two of the premier circuits on the schedule this weekend.  New England’s best will go head-to-head on Friday night at Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire, while the PASS South stars will end their Summer break and return to action at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway on Saturday night.

The Granite State will be the host for the PASS North Super Late Models and PASS Modifieds on Friday night at Lee USA Speedway in their final test prior to the 43rd Annual HP Hood Oxford 250 at the end of the month.  Granite State favorite, DJ Shaw, comes to Lee as the defending race winner and with a 50-point advantage over his nearest competitor for the championship, Mike Hopkins.  Fellow New Hampshire driver Jeremy Davis, who finished third at Lee last year, will be seeking his first win this season, along with former series champions, Johnny Clark and Mike Rowe.  Former HP Hood Oxford 250 winners, Ben Rowe and Travis Benjamin, will each be seeking their second wins of the season, while Todd Stone, Derek Griffith, and last year’s runner-up, Derek Ramstrom, have also filed entries.

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43rd Annual HP Hood Oxford 250 Attracting Drivers From Across North America; Entry List Over 50

photo by Norm Marx

photo by Norm Marx

NAPLES, ME (August 9) – Ever since the first HP Hood Oxford 250 was held at Oxford Plains Speedway in 1974, it has attracted not only the best short track racers from New England, but from across North America. In that first event won by Joey Kourafas, the precedent was set that short track racing’s best would assemble at Oxford for the 250. In addition to the talented group of drivers from New England in the field that day, Southern aces Bosco Lowe and 1963 Daytona 500 winner Tiny Lund competed along with a strong group of Canadian drivers led by Jean Paul Cabana. In fact, the early years of the HP Hood Oxford 250 were dominated by Southern drivers such as Butch Lindley, Bob Pressley, and Tommy Ellis. The first Canadian to taste HP Hood Oxford 250 glory was Don Biederman in 1977.

This year, the tradition continues at the HP Hood Oxford 250 with drivers from outside the Northeast coming into challenge New England’s best on their “home” field. With several weeks remaining before the race, the entry list has grown to over 50. Among those who have already entered are Pacific Northwest legend Garrett Evans, who will be attempting the HP Hood Oxford 250 for the first time in his illustrious career. Since first competing with PASS in “The Race” at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2011, the Wenatchee, WA native has made several PASS South starts, but this will be only his second time ever competing at Oxford Plains. Defending PASS Pro Late Model champion and current PASS South Super Late Model championship contender, Kodie Conner, will make the trip from Kannapolis, NC for his first attempt at the 250.

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Luce Looks To Join Elite Company In Defense Of HP Hood Oxford 250 Title

PASSNAPLES, ME (August 3) – Since it’s inception in 1974, the HP Hood Oxford 250 has been an event that can make\ a racecar driver’s career.  Annually, one of the better attended races in asphalt short track racing, the HP Hood Oxford 250 will once again take place on August 26-28 at the legendary Oxford Plains Speedway, paying $25,000 to the winner.  With additional lap leader bonus money also on the line, this year’s HP Hood Oxford 250 winner could potentially take home up to $50,000.

With his win in the inaugural event, Joey Kourafas cemented his name in the record books.  Short track legend and South Carolina racer, Butch Lindley, became the first driver outside of New England to win when he took the checkered flag in 1976.  And the race took on international significance when Ontario’s Don Biederman claimed the win just one year later.  But, the HP Hood Oxford 250, has also seen surprise winners like Scott Robbins, Jeramie Whorff, and Roger Brown.  For many, that was the case when Turner, ME’s Glen Luce dominated to take the win last year.  But, Luce has quietly shown himself to be one of the strongest drivers in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Super Late Model division over the last couple of years.  And Luce has definitely noticed a difference since winning one of short track racing’s most challenging events.

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It’s Helliwell by inches in PASS Super Late Model HP Hood 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway

photo by Norm Marx

photo by Norm Marx

Oxford, Maine – Wayne Helliwell, Jr. of Dover, New Hampshire prevailed by inches in a thrilling HP Hood 150 Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model race Sunday night at Oxford Plains Speedway.  Helliwell just managed to edge out Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. of Hudson, New Hampshire after an epic battle over the last dozen circuits of the 150-lap race.

 

Polewarczyk led most of the event’s second half, looking for his second straight PASS Super Late Model win after his career-first score at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, New Hampshire seven days earlier.

 

But Helliwell had other ideas, methodically working his way into contention from an 18th starting position to set up the late-race showdown with 12th-place starter Polewarczyk.  They raced side-by-side for most of the last twelve laps, swapping lanes midway through the battle.

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Final Oxford 250 Prep Awaits PASS Stars At Oxford Plains Doubleheader This Weekend

photo by Norm Marx

photo by Norm Marx

NAPLES, ME (July 28) – With the 43rd Annual HP Hood Oxford 250 just a month away, Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model teams will have one more opportunity to prepare at Oxford Plains Speedway with this Sunday afternoon’s HP Hood 150.  Over 50 teams have pre-entered for the HP Hood Oxford 250 to date and, with over 70 teams expected for the biggest and most prestigious Super Late Model race in the North America, track time at Oxford Plains will be at a premium.  In addition, a full slate of local action will be on tap Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway, featuring the Budweiser Super Late Models, with an additional practice scheduled for the headline division to give teams as much track time as possible.   

Two-time HP Hood Oxford 250 winner, Travis Benjamin, is looking to take advantage of every opportunity available to get on track at Oxford Plains.  After getting caught up in an early crash last year, Benjamin hopes this weekend that he and the Petit Motorsports team can get the data that they need to help him get back to victory lane when they return in late August.

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Polewarczyk scores first-ever PASS Super Late Model win in Foley Oil 150 at White Mountain Motorsports Park

PASS-WM-NLM-5952

photo by Norm Marx

North Woodstock, New Hampshire – Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. of Hudson nailed down his first-ever Pro All Stars Super Late Model victory Sunday afternoon in the Foley Oil 150 at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, New Hampshire.

 

Polewarczyk certainly earned his trip to victory lane, working tirelessly in an effort to get by six-time PASS Super Late Model champion Johnny Clark of Farmingdale, Maine.  Clark, seeking his first victory of the year, led most of the race before Polewarczyk took command for good.

 

Polewarczyk and Clark waged a tremendous, extended battle that included the eventual winner ‘giving back’ the lead when he was adjudged to have jumped the gun on a restart versus Clark.  The six-time series titlist wouldn’t make it easy for Polewarczyk, as he seeks to snap an extended dry spell on the circuit.

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