Johnny Clark rolls on, claims third PASS North win of 2011 at L'Autodrome Chaudiere

For Immediate Release: Media, contact Norm Desjardins   Mother Nature loses one to the racers in the PASS North Habitations Dany Lagace 150   Naples ME (6/27) Defending Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Champion Johnny Clark earned his third super late model win of the young PASS North season Sunday in the PASS Habitations Dany Lagace 150 at L'Autodrome Chaudiere . Ben Rowe and Patrick Laperle chased Clark to the stripe.   PASS North's first trip to Quebec since 2004 was marred by rain. A bleak forecast delayed the event until Sunday, then it was a battle between mother nature, the tenacious Chaudiere track crew and PASS officials to get and keep a raceable track surface. In the end their efforts paid off and the hardy Quebec fans were treated to the kind of racing only super late models can provide.

 

Travis Benjamin led early on from the front row, eventually surrendering the lead to Ben Rowe.. Benjamin lost a tire and suffered a bone jarring crash that led to a red flag at lap sixty.The wreck ended a promising evening for the Morrill Maine racer.   When the field took flag man Mike Mayberry's green Clark was next to Ben Rowe up front, moving up from eleventh on the grid. Laperle lookedvlike Clark's serious challenger, taking over the second spot and trying to use the bottom to get by the leader. Laperle could get to Clark's numbers but couldn't take away the lead. Those challenges took their toll on the Quebec star's equipment and Clark was able to build a formidable lead. Ben Rowe took the second spot from Laperle at lap 125 and that's the way they raced to the finish.   Scott Chubbuck had an up and down day, surviving contact to race back fourth. Alex Gingras had yet another sold run in fifth despite mechanical issues and a spin.Points contender Lonnie Sommerville lost some ground, falling out on lap 58 with mechanical problems.   Clark and Ben Rowe each earned a heat race win. Eight of the twnety starters completed all 150 green flag laps.   The PASS North super late model trail moves to New Hampshire's Canaan Fair Speedway on Saturday July 2 for the Firecracker 150. They'll be joined by the PASS Mods for a spectacular night of racing that includes monster trucks and firworks. All the details can be found at www.proallstarsseries.com and www.canaanspeedways.com .   Unofficial Results: PASS North Habitations Dany Lagace 150 – Autodrome Chaudiere, QC 6/26   1) 54 - Johnny Clark - 150 2) 4 - Ben Rowe – 150 3) 91 - Patrick Laperle – 150 4) 77 - Scott Chubbuck – 150 5) 27qc - Alex Gingras – 150 6) 24 - Mike Rowe – 150 7) 28 - Kirk Thibeau – 150 8) 61 - Mario Gosselin – 150 9) 21 - Jean Dery – 149 10) 60 - DJ Shaw – 149 11) 12 - John Dabrowski – 149 12) 75 - Gary Smith – 148 13) 88 - Kyle Dessouza – 148 14) 2 - Matt Matheson – 145 15) 84 - Martin Latulippe – 145 16) 16 - Kevin Roberge – 103 17) 17a - Scott Alexander – 64 18) 17 - Travis Benjamin – 60 19) 48 - Lonnie Sommerville – 58 20) 73 - Joey Doiron - 46

 

ÉCLATANTE VICTOIRE DE JOHNNY CLARK EN PASS

Communiqué pour diffusion  2011-06-26   Du jamais vu à l'Autodrome Chaudière   Les vingt voitures présentent de la Série Pass ont donné tout un spectacle aux amateurs de son, d'habilité et de vitesse, dans le cadre du «HABITATIONS DANY LAGACÉ PASS 150. Spectateurs patients pour tout dire, car le programme a été retardé à huit reprises suite aux caprices de dame nature. Avec tous ces délais, la finale a débuté vers les 19h00 devant un ciel presque bleu.   Pendant les trente-huit premiers tours, Travis Benjamin #17 et Benji Rowe #4 s'échangent la position de tête. Au 39ième passage, Rowe prend les commandes et Johnny Clark #54 le suit. Vingt-deux tours plus tard, Benjamin suite à une crevaison frappe le mur entre la courbe 3 et 4 et sa soirée de travail est terminée.

 

Du 62ième tour au 76ième tour Rowe et Clark tourne côte à côte et c'est au 77ième passage que Clark prend la pôle devant Patrick Laperle #91 et Benji Rowe. Toute une bataille entre Clark, Laperle et Rowe jusqu'à la fin de l'épreuve. Laperle et Rowe s'échange la deuxième position à tour de rôle.   Au 125ième tour, Clark domine toujours, mais Rowe a le meilleur sur Laperle. Et c'est ainsi que ce termine cette finale de 150 tours avec Johnny Clark comme grand vainqueur, suivi  de Mike Rowe et de Patrick Laperle. Scott Chubbuck # 77 et Alexandre Gingras #27 complète le «Big Five».Belle performance de Jean-François Déry et de Kevin Roberge.   Sport compacte Coupe BESYBUY Pièces d'Autos Trente-deux voitures pour cette finale de 100 tours sans aucun drapeau jaune. Les honneurs de cette 1er tranche de la Coupe Bestbuy revient à Dominic Jacques, VOITURE # 7 de Vallée-Jonction, suivi de Philippe Poulin, voiture #33 de St-Georges et de Steeve Godbout, voiture #100,9 de St-Lambert. Domination complète de ces trois pilotes qui ont mené la course dans l'ordre du début à la fin. Steeve Ladouceur de Mirabel, Dominic Jacques de Vallée-Jonction et Ian Phaneuf de St-Charles-Sur-Richelieu ont remporté leur qualification respective. Kamikaze et Limité En Kamikaze la victoire finale revient à Martin Bisson de Saints-Anges, suivi de Martin Gagnon de St-Agapit et de Jessy Bolduc de St-Georges. En Limité, Stéphane Lecours remporte la semi finale. La finale a été remise au 1er juillet.   PROGRAMME À VENIR :   C'est VENDREDI, 1er Juillet à 19H30 que se tiendra le prochain programme avec la deuxième visite de la Série Sportsman Québec dans le cadre du MIX 99.7 Sportsman 100. Trente voitures d'inscrites dont Pier-Luc Labbé #25 de St-Joseph et Karl Drouin #39 de Vallée-Jonction, deuxième et troisième au classement qui mettront tout en œuvre pour déloger Sylvain Labbé #40 de St-Joseph, le meneur au championnat.   La Série Vintage en sera à leur seule visite de la saison avec Langis Caron et plus de vingt-cinq voitures en piste. Les LIMITÉ et KAMIKAZE également de la partie. Un rendez-vous du vendredi soir 19h30 à ne pas manquer.   André Gagnon, Relationniste Autodrome Chaudière, Vallée-Jonction

 

MULKERN PR - Sommerville Ready To Join Forces In 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 4.27.11 For more information, visit www.MulkernRacing.com or email TBarrettGWC@hotmail.com     Mulkern, Sommerville Ready To Join Forces In 2011   FALMOUTH, Maine – They take two different approaches to their racing, but in the end they have a common goal. Mulkern Racing's drivers just want to win.   “Obviously, in my mind I want to win the championship,” said the latest addition to the Mulkern Racing lineup, Canadian driver Lonnie Sommerville. “But I'm not going to finish sixth when I could have won the race because I'm worrying just about points. If you win races, points will take care of themselves.

 

“But at the same time, you have to be smart about it – but that's what makes good race car drivers.”   Sommerville, from St. John, New Brunswick, will run the entire 2011 PASS North Series season in the Mulkern Racing No. 48 A.E. McKay Builders Chevrolet – marking his first full-time foray into PASS North competition after several seasons of part-time efforts coupled with a full-time run at the CARQUEST Tour north of the border.   The team finished second in the final PASS North standings last season with Ben Rowe behind the wheel of the No. 48. This season, they've brough Sommerville into the mix and added crew chief Gary Crooks of Crooks Racing in Mooresville, N.C.   “When we had the open ride (last fall), we were talking with Gary about working withus even before we were talking to Lonnie,” said Scott Mulkern, team owner and driver of the No. 84 Community Pharmacies/Southern Maine Motors Chevrolet. “Gary has a lot of confidence in Lonnie. Obviously, I've seen him race, and as far as the Canadian drivers, he's one of the top dogs. He's in that league – Scott Fraser, Patrick Laperle, those guys – and I'd put Lonnie right there.”   Despite competing right down until the final event of the 2010 season for the PASS championship, Mulkern said that the team won't base success this season around the title hunt.   “Lonnie and Gary – the whole team – I know they do want to win it,” Mulkern said. “That's what they're shooting for, and more power to them. But as far as any pressure from me to win the championship, that's not going to come from me. They're racers, and that's what it's about to a lot of them, I know that. But for me, I just want to show up every week and be right there trying to win.   “If you look at my style and the way I sometimes shoot myself in the foot (in the race car), I don't care about that championship stuff. Not at all. That's just the way I am. But we also have seen what Lonnie can do. We know what he can do. If he's got a good car, and things are going his way, he can win any race.”   Sommerville said the opportunity to drive for Mulkern Racing, and no longer have to maintain his own equipment, made it the right time to make the jump to PASS.   “This is the next level, the next step in my career,” Sommerville said. “There are racing goals you want to accomplish in life, and the the northeast, the PASS Tour has the best teams and best drivers onit. Aside from winning a CARQUEST championship, I've done everything I've wanted to do so far. This is where I wanted to take my career.”   And Sommerville believes that the pieces are in place to accomplish both of the team's goals – winning races and winning the PASS North Series title in 2011.   “The team they've put together, as far as I'm concerned, is as good or better than any as we're going to run against,” he said. “I don't feel a lot of pressure, but having been given this opportnity, I'm confident I can go and beat (five-time PASS champion) Johnny Clark and those guys. Maybe not every week, but as much as they're going to beat us – and that's really exciting.”   --30--

 

Pro All Stars Series news - Mason Dixon Meltdown race report

Justin Wakefield wins PASS Mason-Dixon Meltdown; Preston Peltier captures  South and National Titles   Newport TN (10/16) The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) headed to Newport Speedway (TN) on Saturday, October 16th, for the “Mason-Dixon Meltdown” to close out the 2010 Super Late Model South and National championship series with both titles up for grabs.  Heading into the night’s action, Ryan Blaney led Preston Peltier by a mere four points, while Peltier led Johnny Clark by 11 in the National Championship standings.  Andy Loden set fast time, but it was Justin Wakefield taking the checkered flag first while Peltier took advantage of Blaney’s misfortune to win the South title as well as the National title.

 

“I don’t have any words for it,” said Peltier, the only South regular in series history to win the National title.  “It is cool.”   31 drivers took to the track for qualifying.  While many drivers wanted to claim the final fast time of the season, it was once again Loden on top of the charts with yet another track record, a 12.362 second lap around the Newport Speedway.   “The car is just really fast,” said Loden.  “I have never really been good at qualifying until this year.  I don’t know really what happened.  We haven’t done anything different.  We just have a fast car for qualifying now.”   Wakefield, Clark, Blaney, Trey Mitchell, Jay Fogleman, Ben Rowe, Heath Hindman, Kyle Bonsignore and Dylan Presnell rounded out the top-10 qualifiers.   11 cars lined up for the six transfer spots in the 15-lap last-chance race.  Bradley McCaskill and PASS newcomer Blake Jones started side by side with Jones getting the jump on the start.  On lap 10, a car spun in front of the leaders, collecting McCaskill and Scott Patton, taking them out of transfer positions.  On the restart, Jimmy Weller and Trevor Sanborn, who were disqualified in post-qualifying inspection, rocketed to the top-two positions and held on up front to transfer into the feature, along with Jones, Kenzie Ruston, Ed Surette and Tim Pinion.   The top-10 redraw placed Mitchell and Loden on the front row, leading Wakefield, Clark, Fogleman, Blaney, Bonsignore, Hindman, Rowe, Presnell and the rest of the field to the green flag for 200 laps of racing.  When the green flag dropped, Loden jumped out to the lead with Clark making his way to the second position.   As Wakefield passed Clark for the second position, the first yellow flew with an incident involving Jake Crum, Jody Lavender and Surette in turns one and two.  All were able to continue.   On the restart, Wakefield jumped to the lead in front of Loden and Mitchell.  As they looked to settle in, the second yellow came out on lap 25 as Jimmy Doyle and Ruston got together, which also involved Jones.  Ruston and Jones were able to continue, but Doyle’s car suffered front end damage, ending his night.   After a lap on the track, Loden went back into the lead, but the third yellow came out on lap 28 for debris after Surette’s car appeared to lose power in front of Lavender, who made contact with Surette’s machine, dispersing debris on the track.   On the outside, Wakefield powered back to the lead when the field went back to green, bringing Blaney with him around Loden.  At lap 58, Wakefield appeared to slip up in turn four, which put Blaney and Loden up in the top-two spots.  A few laps later, at lap 65, Loden passed Blaney to reassume the top spot, and Mitchell went to third as Wakefield’s car started to drop off the pace a bit.  Eventually Wakefield had to pit and lost a lap, but later would get the “lucky dog” and get back on the lead lap.   Shortly after, South points leader Blaney started showing sparks under the right side of his race car.  He stayed on the track, but dropped back through the field, finally pitting on lap 84.  He came back on the track a few laps later, but was a few laps off the lead lap, ending his bid for the South title.   “The right front went flat,” said Blaney.  “We tried to ride it out as long as we could, but we couldn’t get a break.   “We had a good year.  Hopefully we can come back next year and beat them.”   The fourth yellow flag flew on lap 93 for debris.   Loden held the lead on the restart until the competition caution, which came out on lap 115 so drivers could opt to change the two right side tires and make adjustments.  Mitchell, Clark, Rowe and Peltier rounded out the top five at the break.   When the field  went back green Loden held the lead with a hard-charging Clark on his back bumper until the yellow flew on lap 119 for a spin in turn three involving David Flynn and Weller.  Both were able to continue.   Clark decided it was his time to lead, taking  the top spot from Loden on the restart.  Loden didn’t appear satisfied with running second though as he kept the pressure on Clark, retaking the lead at lap 126.  Rowe was running third, but a few laps later, Peltier worked his way around Rowe for the third position.   The caution came out on lap 144 as Presnell appeared to have spun on his own down the backstretch, also collecting Tim Pinion.  Both drivers were ok, but their machines were not as they both had to head to the pits.   The following restart once again had Clark leading the field as Loden and Peltier battled hard for the second spot, trading the position a few times until the yellow flew for debris at lap 158.  During this yellow, Mitchell, who was running in the top five, pitted for adjustments, moving Wakefield back into the top five behind Clark, Loden, Peltier and Rowe.   Clark and Loden held the top-two spots when they restarted, but Wakefield made a bold move, moving up to the third spot before the yellow flew at lap 166 when Steve Legendre and Derek Kneeland got together in turn two.   Loden was able to snag the top spot once again when they went green, but the yellow flew on lap 178 for a single-car spin back in the pack.   Wakefield, who moved to second before that last yellow, worked his way to the lead shortly after the restart by Loden and held on to win the event.   “It was a hard-fought battle tonight,” said Wakefield.  “We had a car to win this race, and I didn’t care what anyone else thought.  We were going to win this and I wouldn’t let anyone get in my way.   “The bleeder came out of the left front caliper and I had no front brakes,” said Wakefield about his early-race issues.  “We tried to stay on the lead lap as best we could.  We got that break at the right time and were able to get it taken care of.  We got back on the lead lap and started picking them off one at a time.   “I am glad to get a Georgia boy on that thing,” said Wakefield about the trophy.  “We are in the South and that is the way it is supposed to be.”   Loden, Rowe, Peltier and Clark rounded out the top five.  Peltier’s fourth-place finish earned him the PASS South Super Late Model and National Super Late Model titles.    “I can’t thank these guys on the crew enough,” said Peltier.  “This Johnson Motorsports team was a big underdog coming into this year.  That was our goal to win this championship, and we did it.   “Earlier in the season one of my car owners told me I was racing like a girl out there and that I needed to go back to the way I was driving, so I went out and got it done tonight.   “It means a lot.  We are a low-buck team and struggle week in and week out.  To get this is really special.”   For more information on the Pro All Stars Series, visit www.proallstarsseries.com.   Unofficial Results – Mason-Dixon Meltdown 200 – Newport (TN) Speedway – October 16 2010   1 Justin Wakefield 2 Andy Loden 3 Ben Rowe 4 Preston Peltier 5 Trevor Sanborn 6 Johnny Clark 7 Trey Mitchell 8 Heath Hindman 9 Jay Fogleman 10 John Batten 11 Jimmy Weller 12 Kenzie Ruston 13 Mart Nesbitt 14 Jake Crum 15 Jeff Myers 16 Ryan Blaney 17 Derek Kneeland 18 Steve Legendre 19 Kyle Bonsignore 20 Dylan Presnell 21 David Flynn 22 Tim Pinion 23 Jody Lavender 24 Lee Tissot 25 Blake Jones 26 Jimmy Doyle 27 Mike Slone 28 Ed Surrette 29 Terry Smith