BEN ROWE TOPS PASS AT CANAAN
Ben Rowe combined patience, a fast racecar, and some
racing luck to earn his third consecutive Pro All Stars Series victory Sunday 8/5 at
Canaan USA Speedway.
The driver of the Mechanical Services/ Hi Tech
Insulation Chevrolet captured the Sunoco Pole Award with a lap of 14.115 seconds, with
Steve Knowlton, PASS newcomer Bobby Dragon, Adam Friend and Kenny Wright rounding out the
top five in time trials. Rowes luck continued on the re-draw, pulling the number one
spot and wiring the 10-lap Pole Dash.
Rowe led the twenty six car field to the green with
Dragon on the outside pole, Friend and Knowlton in row two and Andy Shaw and Racin
Ralph Nason making up row three.
Rowe jumped out to an early lead but soon faced a challenge from Steve Knowlton as the
S.A. Sting Camaro pilot appeared to have the fastest car in the early laps. Nason, Kenny
Wright and Andy Shaw had all moved around a fading Bobby Dragon who eventually retired the
Race Basics 71VT. Knowlton looked inside and outside on Rowe, and made the outside move
stick for the lead just as the caution flew on lap 72. Ralph Nason had made his way by
Rowe as well, but Knowlton had to pit for a punctured tire and the last green flag lap
scored rule placed Rowe on the point once again with Nason second, Wrights Newmarket
Sand and Gravel Monte Carlo third, Andy Shaw fourth and Larry Gelinas fifth. Knowlton
returned to the rear of the field after pitting to replace his flat.
On the restart, Nason bounced into the front stretch
wall and failed to come up to speed , sending the field scrambling to avoid the 10x. The
wreck ended the day for Larry Gelinas as well as Zig Geno.
Rowe maintained the point with Kenny Wright now up to
second, Shaws Currier RV/Matco Chevrolet in third and Jim McCallum fourth. Rowe
remained in front but Knowlton was working his way back to the point and looked like he
still had the car to mount a challenge. By lap 108 Knowlton was up to the second spot and
began to reel in the 00. Knowlton made the inside move work on lap 118 and took the lead
away, the two racing nose to tail as they worked lap traffic.
Knowlton attempted to lap a fading Andy Shaw on lap
131 and caught Shaws rear bumper. Both drivers spun and Shaw received the black
flag. The wreck ended Knowltons run as well, putting Rowe back on top. Kenny Wright
suffered driveline woes and finished his day in the pits with just seven to go;
Rowe held off a hard charge by series point leader
Sam Sessions to take down the checker, with Adam Friend driving a smart and patient race
to come home third. Pete Frappier earned his first PASS top five with a solid fourth and
Jim McCallum survived a last lap spin to earn fifth.
David Avery earned the Northern Race Tires Rookie of
the Race award for his eighth place finish. Heat winners were Gelinas and McCallum.
In Street Stock 100
action, Robert Hagan and Pat Floyd dueled lap after lap before Floyd found his way around
Hagan on lap 72 and cruised to victory after Hagans 91 experienced rear end
problems. Mark "Sparky" McGiver put on a show for the fans, coming back from an
early wreck to earn the second spot. Steve Bennett Jr. was third, Terry Merrill fourth and
Bobby Allen fifth. |