Excitement Is the Name of the Game at Beech Ridge

NAPLES, ME :: Over the past number of years, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway has established itself as one of the top short tracks in New England.  And once again, the PASS 400 Weekend Presented by Southern Maine Motors will be one of the highlights as the 2014 season begins to wind down.  A stellar field of Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Super Late Models, along with a full complement of PASS support divisions will highlight an extended weekend of racing action that will go from Friday through Sunday.

Beside the action on the track at Beech Ridge, everyone will be focused on two tight PASS Super Late Model points battles this weekend.  New York rookie and PASS South regular Tyler Dippel holds a scant 15 point edge over two-time PASS National Champion, Ben Rowe.  Dippel has been impressive in several PASS National races this season, leading at Hickory Motor Speedway and finishing 6^th in his first try at Oxford Plains Speedway’s Oxford 250 and 5^th last weekend at Autodrome Chaudiere in Quebec.  Despite being in contention for the National Championship, Ben Rowe has endured one of the toughest years of his career and is hoping a win at Beech Ridge, where he has won twice before in the 300, can salvage an otherwise subpar season.

The race for the PASS North Super Late Model title is even tighter heading into the PASS 400 weekend, with only 49 points separating the top four drivers in points (DJ Shaw, Johnny Clark, Mike Rowe, and Joey Doiron).  Of the four championship contenders, the edge would seem to favor Johnny Clark and Mike Rowe at Beech Ridge.  Each driver has won the 300 lapper at Beech Ridge three times.  While Clark is seeking his record 7^th PASS North title, veteran Mike Rowe is looking for his first series title.  However, Rowe has won several track championships at Beech Ridge over the last few seasons.

After dominating three-quarters of the Thunder Valley National 200 last weekend at Autodrome Chaudiere, Joey Doiron comes to Beech Ridge as the most recent PASS North winner at the track.  Doiron took home the checkered flag at Beech Ridge on July 5 in the Southern Maine Motors 150 and has clawed his way back in to contention for the championship.

“Beech Ridge is such a finesse track,” said Doiron.  “You need such a good handling car and, with how much the track changes over the course of the day, you really need to stay on top of the setup.”

But Sunday’s 300 lapper presents a different challenge from the shorter PASS events held at Beech Ridge earlier in the year.  With twice the number of laps, adjustability and endurance are two of the keys Doiron believes will help get a driver to victory lane in the PASS 400 Weekend.

“The biggest difference with the 300 is making sure you’re there with 40-50 laps to go,” says Doiron.  “The race is so long that you can’t put yourself in a bad position and you just need to take care of your car so you will have something there at the end.”

The PASS 400 Weekend Presented by Southern Maine Motors kicks off at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Friday, September 12 with practice for all PASS divisions starting at 10:30 AM, followed by heat races later in the evening at 6:15 PM and features for the Bomber 305, Trucks, 4 Cylinders and Outlaws.  On Saturday, September 13, practice starts at 9 AM, with heat races, including the PASS North Super Late Models, at 12:30 PM, and followed by features for the Legends, PASS Modifieds, Strictlys, and a 100 lapper for the Dave’s Small Engine Repair PASS Northeast Late Models.  On Sunday, September 14, pit gates open at 8 AM, with practice at 10:30 AM, PASS North Super Late Model last chance race at 12:15 PM, and the main events for the PASS Sportsman, PASS Modifieds, and 300 laps for the PASS North Super Late Models.

Entry forms, the complete weekend schedule, and entry list for the PASS 400 Weekend Presented by Southern Maine Motors can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.