Ben Rowe: PASS North Series – Riverside Speedway Race Preview
Ben Rowe of Turner, Maine, is the PASS North Series’ most recent winner as the series heads to the Summerfest 150 at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, N.H., on Saturday, July 31. Rowe took round three of the PASS National Championship Series by winning the PASS 75 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway last week for his second win of the season. He’s never won at Riverside Speedway — one of the few PASS tracks where he’s never visitied victory lane — but has closed to within 14 points of leader Johnny Clark atop the standings with five races to go. In eight starts this year, he’s yet to miss the top-10 and has seven top-five finishes.
WHO: Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine
TEAM: No. 48 Community Pharmacies Dodge
BEST CAREER RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY FINISH: 3rd (June 2005)
LAST RACE AT RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY: 4th (July 2009)
WHAT: PASS North Series Summerfest 150
WHERE: Riverside Speedway, Groveton, N.H. (.25-mile oval)
WHEN: 5 p.m., Saturday, July 31
PASS North Series
LAST RACE: July 22, Thompson International Speedway, Thompson, Conn. (1st)
NEXT RACE: August 14, Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, Mass. (.333-mile oval)
POINTS POSITION: 2nd
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BEN, YOU HAVE MOMENTUM ON YOUR SIDE HEADING TO RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY.
To win that first one (at Canaan Fair Speedway), and then to come back and win again a few weeks later — especially after running so bad at Beech Ridge — it really felt good. We’ve won with both of the cars we’ve raced this year, and as far as competing for a championship, that’s pretty good for the team. If we wreck one of the cars, we know we’ve got another good one ready to go the next week.
HOW DID YOU GUYS COME TO THE DECISION TO BRING YOUR THOMPSON CAR TO THE TIGHT QUARTER-MILE AT RIVERSIDE THIS WEEK?
Just because we won with it and want to try and ride the flow, basically. Last time out with the other one was at Beech Ridge, and obviously that didn’t go the way we wanted. That’s why we took this one. It’s totally different. This one is an old Junior Hanley car he had for himself 10 years ago. Once you get one that works, it’s hard to change.
WHAT’S THE KEY TO RACING AT RIVERSIDE?
Beat (three-time Riverside winner Johnny Clark) for one — he’s really good there.
It’s really tight, and you’ve got to stay out of trouble, basically. You can get some traffic, especially off of turn four with the way the wall is right there, but you can also really go there if you can get around lapped cars. It’s the kind of place where you can get up on the wheel and really drive it — but you’ve got to be there at the end to make a run for it.
Forum – http://www.maineracer.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=146070#146070