BEN
ROWE CAPTURES PASS ATLANTIC CAT 250 |
Halifax, Nova Scotia - Turner, Maine's Ben Rowe
continued his dominant season Saturday night with another convincing win - his sixth of
the season on the Pro All Star Series - in the Atlantic Cat 250 at Scotia Speedworld,
outside of Halifax.Rowe, driving the Tom Estes-owned Mechanical Services Chevrolet, led
170 laps in the event, pushing his winnings for the weekend to well over $9000 US.
It was a bittersweet victory for the defending Pro All Star Series champion and
current points leader, who learned just prior to the command to start engines for the
250-lap grind that his father-in-law, Duane Burgess, was killed in a highway accident
earlier in the weekend. Rowe, his wife Melissa and crew chief Brian Burgess - nephew of
Rowe's father-in-law - quickly departed the raceway following the triumph to fly home.
Larry Gelinas of Scarborough, Maine
finished second aboard the Watts Racing Enterprises/Digby's Variety Chevrolet. Gelinas led
thirteen laps after Rowe gave up the lead to pit for tires, then prevailed in a race long
war
with Johnny Clark for the runner-up position in the closing laps. Clark, in the Clark's
Cars & Parts/DNK Select Used Cars Chevrolet, ended up third followed by Dale Shaw of
Center Conway, New Hampshire in the American Air Systems Chevrolet and Scott Mulkern of
Falmouth, Maine in the Community Pharmacy Dodge.
Five cars finished on the lead lap with Rowe. Rounding out the top ten were Gordie Ryan,
John Flemming, Scott Chubbuck, Scott Fraser and Dave Gorveatt.
Rowe blasted from his outside pole starting position to lead the first lap over Fraser,
opening up a healthy advantage over the balance of the field before making his pit stop
after leading the first 94 circuits. Fraser and
several other contenders joined Rowe in the pits, handing the lead to Gelinas, who set the
pace for thirteen laps before Flemming - the reigning Maritime Pro Stock Series champion -
went by.
Flemming looked strong and had things gone his way he may have had enough to hold off Rowe
and the invading PASS stars, fending off challengers like Clark and Gelinas for 67 laps
until a caution flew for Marty Prevost's turn one wreck, and the resultant action saw
Flemming get turned around as the field tried to check up. Flemming made several pits
stops to repair damage, managing to remain on the lead lap for the time being, but his
shot at victory went by the boards.
Rowe reassumed the lead at that point and managed to easily maintain the lead until the
checkered flag.
Friday night Atlantic Cat 250 qualifying action saw Ben Rowe set fast time in Sunoco Race
Fuels Pole qualifying.
Scott Fraser led wire-to-wire in the PASS Fast Car Dash, earning the pole for Saturday's
main event. Fraser was chased under the checkered by Ben Rowe, Mike Rowe, Larry Gelinas
and Johnny Clark.
Sudn Sam Sessions and Scott Alexander won the heat races. Travis Kheil earned the
Northern Race Tires Rookie Challenge for his eleventh place finish. |