After a rain-out washed away Saturday’s PASS events at Oxford Plains Speedway, drivers and teams returned to the track early Sunday Morning to resume the full schedule of events.
The day’s events included the PASS Modified season finale, where 2017 Modified champion, Ben Tinker, came into the day with the points lead once again.
Kate Re took off with the early lead in the first 10-lap qualifying heat. Jairet Harrison and Matty Sanborn were both on her heels, making it a 3-way battle for the top spot on lap 2.
Sanborn took over the lead on lap 3, pulling away from the competition.
Wayne Allard had troubles early in the heat, taking a spin on lap 4 in turn 1. The incident led to the first caution of the heat.
Matty Sanborn was able to hold off his competitors after the field went green once again, taking home the heat victory.
Bruce Helmuth pulled away with the early lead in the second 10-lap qualifying heat.
Ben Tinker was on the move, stealing the third spot away from Spencer Morse on lap 5.
Morse wasn’t backing down without a fight, pulling alongside Tinker to challenge him for the spot once again on lap 7. He successfully cleared Tinker the following lap, pulling away with the position.
Bruce Helmuth held onto his lead, sailing into the heat victory.
With the field set, it was time for the final 40-lap feature of the 2018 season.
Mark Napolitano faced troubles before the feature even began, with the right front of his #14 machine igniting in flames before any green flag laps were made.
Napolitano pulled to the pits, retiring from the competition far earlier than anticipated.
Kate Re took off with the early lead in the feature, but trouble was brewing a little further back in the field.
Bruce Helmuth cut down a tire on lap 3, taking a spin through turn 2 before heading down to the pits. Spencer Morse also took a spin in the same turn. The incident led to the first caution of the feature.
Gary Shackford advanced into the runner-up spot over Jairet Harrison on lap 7.
By lap 12, Shackford was all over Kate Re for the race lead.
Re was unaffected by the pressure at her back bumper, still controlling the lead at the halfway mark of the feature.
After his previous incident earlier in the feature, Spencer Morse slowly began to make his way back to the front of the pack, breaking into the top 4 on lap 7.
A handful of laps down, Bruce Helmuth rejoined the field on lap 7.
Matty Sanborn was on a mission late-race, breaking into the top 3 on lap 30.
Kate Re was able to hold off her hungry competitors, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as she crossed the finish line.
At just 14 years old, Re is unable to compete at a handful of tracks on the PASS schedule. While out of the #10, she is able to learn and take notes from fellow drivers, like Derek Kneeland and Trevor Sanborn, who take control of the wheel in her absence.
Those notes paid off, as Kate Re pulled into Victory Lane with the first place trophy and Rookie Of the Year honors in the division.
While Gary Shackford and Matty Sanborn joined Kate Re in the winner’s circle, Ben Tinker had a celebration of his own.
After another successful season, Ben Tinker took home his second consecutive PASS Modified championship.
The past few weeks haven’t been the easiest for Tinker and the #19 team, as a rough crash at Beech Ridge just a few short weeks ago left the team with a torn-up machine.
Fellow competitor, Patrick Sullivan, allowed Tinker to borrow his machine to finish out the season strong.
Tinker thanked Patrick as well as his friends and family in his championship speech, sharing the news that 2018 is likely his last season in the division.
Tinker he has plans to move into a Super Late Model in 2019.
As one seasoned racer in the division has plans to move on to bigger and better things in 2019, young drivers like Kate Re are just beginning to make their mark in the series.
One thing’s for sure, 2019 is sure to be exciting and full of many changes.
Until then, you can catch the PASS North series finale on Saturday, October 27th at Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Massachusetts.
Will you be there?
Thank you again to Drown Excavation and Four Season Synthetic for their endless support for Chasing the Checkered. Contact Drown Excavation for all of your demolition and excavation needs and Four Season Synthetic for all of your oil, lube and filter needs!
