PASS Flies into WMMP This Saturday for National Championship Event

Alan Ward photo

Weekly Racing Season Opens Second Half of Action

N. Woodstock, NH — The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models return to North Woodstock, NH’s White Mountain Motorsports Park this Saturday, July 10. The 150-lap National Championship Series event is drawing the top Super Late Model racers in the region for some “Thunder in the Mountains”.

PASS North point leader Johnny Clark, 10-time PASS Champion Ben Rowe, rising star Kate Re, and veteran Dan Winter are just a few of the drivers who have committed to Saturday’s showdown. As the middle leg of a three-race residency at White Mountain this year, drivers are ready to put lessons learned from the first event to work. They’ll do so at a special 7:00pm post time so fans can attend the White Mountain event following the NASCAR festivities at Loudon’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS).

There is a lot on the line for the PASS contingent this Saturday. The event awards PASS National, PASS North, PASS New England North, and PASS New England South points. With four different championship battles in the balance, drivers must be on their game, as even one slip-up could put a hurt on their chances across the board.

In the PASS North and PASS New England North brackets, everyone is chasing Hallowell, ME’s Johnny Clark. The six-time PASS champion is in the middle of a career renaissance that began last August when he finally captured the famed Oxford 250. Clark followed it up with an April victory in the Northeast Classic at NHMS. In May, he was running second to eventual winner Joey Polewarczyk Jr. before cutting a tire. Clark still recovered to finish fifth, showing he has the speed to get another victory at the tight quarter mile.

On the PASS National tier, it is a flat-footed tie between Center Conway, NH’s D.J. Shaw and Hermon, ME’s Mike Hopkins. Both have 650 points after finishing in the top-five of every event. Shaw is the five-time and reigning PASS North Champion but still seeks a national title that would be the cherry on his career. Hopkins won the most recent PASS National championship and wants two in a row.

Both Shaw and Hopkins, along with PASS New England South point leader Ben Rowe, have also entered the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Midsummer Classic 250 at White Mountain on July 31. Although the events use two different types of cars, every lap on the track helps as they prepare to go after the $10,000 Midsummer winner’s prize.

There are several other racers to look out for this Saturday. Despite an early crash at Oxford, Harrison, ME’s Kate Re is still having a breakout season. Going into that event, Re was third in PASS North points and second in PASS New England North points. She’ll look for a bounce-back at a track where she finished eighth last time out.

Berlin, NH’s Cody LeBlanc is returning to the Super Late Model wars on Saturday. The former White Mountain Late Model weekly competitor and recent newlywed is taking over the car normally driven by Gabe Brown. Ryan Robbins, Dan Winter, Scott McDaniel, Brian Whaley, and Michael Scorzelli are among the other drivers officially in for Saturday’s 150-lap main event.

John Raper photo

The July 17 program also has a full card for the Foley Oil & Propane Late Models, Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers, and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s. With the weekly racing season officially halfway home, the championship picture has taken shape for all three divisions.

A strong effort last Saturday has given Candia, NH’s Jimmy Renfrew Jr. some breathing room in the Foley Oil & Propane Late Model ranks. The 18-year-old is now 28 points ahead of Groveton, NH’s Quinny Welch, who is trying to win his ninth White Mountain title.

Raymond, NH’s Alby Ovitt, who leads the Late Models with six podium finishes is third in points followed by Oren Remick, Midseason winner Jeff Marshall, and Mike “Beetle” Bailey. Drivers can earn up to 70 points at each event, meaning plenty of shuffling can still happen among the top-six.

In the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers, everyone is chasing Waterbury Center, VT’s Jason Woodard. The four-time Thunder Road Flying Tiger champion won his fourth straight feature on Saturday and six of the year, which includes a Street Stock Open victory. He has also finished on the podium in every start. Those results give him a 35-point lead over reigning champion Shane Sicard of Barton, VT. Ryan Ware, Jason’s son Tanner Woodard, and Matthew Potter complete the top-five.

Rookie Luke Shannon of Groveton, NH has taken the Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s by storm. The 15-year-old now has five wins to hold a 26-point lead over fellow teen Tyler Thompson. Littleton, NH’s Thompson has kept things interesting thanks to six podium finishes and strong qualifying efforts. Another rookie, hometown racer Donnie Baumgardner, is third in points with newcomer Michael Smith and Donnie’s daughter Jillian next in line.

White Mountain Motorsports Park welcomes the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models this Saturday, July 17 at 7:00pm. The PASS National Championship 150 headlines a card that includes championship action for the Foley Oil & Propane Late Models, Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers, and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s. Admission is $20 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12, and $40 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).

For more information, contact the White Mountain Motorsports Park offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.whitemountainmotorsports.com. You can also follow us on Facebook at @WhiteMtnMotorsports.