After a rainout of last Sunday’s events, the Pro All Star Series returned to Oxford Plains Speedway for the PASS Non-Winners 100, an open, non-points race where drivers are able to earn a provisional for this year’s Oxford 250. This year, the Oxford 250 will be taking place on Sunday, August 25th. Sunday’s racing events would also feature the PASS Modified division, as well as the track’s Bandits and Street Stocks.
Once again, the PASS Modified division continued to impress with their growing car counts, as 16 drivers showed up to compete on Sunday. Matty Sanborn took home the first heat victory while Spencer Morse powered to the lead in the second heat, scoring the heat victory.
28 Super Late Model drivers also showed up to compete in Sunday’s PASS Open 100. Although it was a non-points race, any driver was welcome to compete in the 100-lap feature. With that being said, only the top 3 finishers that have not scored a Pro All Star Series victory over the course of the last five years would be able to recieve a provisional for this year’s Oxford 250.
The racing action continued with 3 qualifying heats for the Super Late Model division. Nick Jenkins took a spin on the front stretch on lap 2 of the first heat, leading to an early-race caution. Ryan Robbins took off with the lead on the restart as Josh Childs quickly made his way into the runner-up spot. Trevor Sanborn was also on the move early, advancing to fourth on lap 8. Ryan Robbins took home the heat victory, followed by Josh Childs and Alan Tardiff.
Evan Hallstrom pulled into the early lead in the second qualifying heat, but Eddie MacDonald was right on his toes. MacDonald made his way to Hallstrom’s outside on lap 4, finally completing the pass on lap 8. While battling it out side-by-side for position, the two drivers made slight contact, leaving Hallstrom with some mild cosmetic damage to the righthand side of his car. Eddie MacDonald continued to pull away after clearing Hallstrom, securing the heat victory. Reid Lanpher rounded out the top 3.
TJ Brackett powered into the early lead in the third (and final) qualifying heat as Austin Teras quickly made his way into the runner-up spot. Ray Christian III was also on the move, advancing to third on lap 4, but DJ Shaw was quick to steal it away. Curt Gerry was also on a roll, breaking the top 5 on lap 5 and advancing to fourth just one lap later. DJ Shaw and Austin Teras made contact while battling it out for position on lap 7, allowing Curt Gerry to power right by the two drivers and advance into the runner-up spot. The incident left Teras descending through the field, falling to the back of the pack. Curt Gerry powered into the lead on lap 9 and never looked back, securing the heat victory. DJ Shaw and TJ Brackett rounded out the top 3.
Once the fields were set, it was time for the 40-lap PASS Mod’s feature. Mike Carignan took off with the early lead as Tyler KIng quickly advanced into third with Spencer Morse in tow. Spencer Vaughn took a spin on lap 6 in turn 4, leading to an early caution.
This incident was followed by Matty Sanborn facing troubles on lap 9, going around in turn 4. Sanborn’s spin led to other cars checking up, as the #14 of Mark Napolitano made hard contact with the #13 of Ryan Nelson in turn 1. After a solid day, Sanborn retired his #64 machine to the pits shortly after the restart.
Mike Carignan and Spencer Morse made hard contact on the restart in turn 1, causing Morse to take a detour through the infield to avoid any carnage. After the smooth move, Morse only lost 2 spots on the track and began his voyage back to the front of the field. Colby Benjamin took a spin on lap 11 in turn 1, leading to another caution.
Spencer Morse was on the move following the restart, advancing back up to third. Justin Larsen finally broke the top 5 on lap 14. Carignan and Tyler King had a two-car breakaway at the front of the field by lap 25, but Spencer Morse was still waiting in the wings behind them.
The #14 of Mark Napolitano got hard into Colby Benjamin on lap 27, sending the #52 for yet another spin. The field remained green, but Benjamin headed down to the pits following the incident, retiring the #52 machine for the day.
Mike Carignan had distanced himself from Tyler King by lap 35 and never looked back, securing his first career PASS Modified victory after numerous runner-up finishes. This season, there has not been one repeat winner in the PASS Modified division, proving just how competitive the division is this season. Tyler King, Spencer Morse, Jairet Harrison and Kate Re rounded out the top five.
After the PASS Modified division took the checkered, Alex Mowatt took home the victory in the 25-lap Bandits feature and Jordan Russell scored the victory in the 50-lap Street Stocks feature.
The PASS Open 100 was the final feature of the night, with Ryan Robbins and Eddie MacDonald going head-to-head on the initial start for the lead before MacDonald finally pulled away with the lead on lap 5. Curt Gerry was on the move early once again, advancing into the runner-up spot over Ryan Robbins on lap 5. Austin Teras faced troubles early, retiring to the pits on lap 7.
Tim Brackett came to a slow on lap 9, heading down to the pits. By lap 12, Curt Gerry was challenging Eddie MacDonald for the lead, taking over the top spot that lap. Josh Childs was also making his way through the field, advancing to third over Ryan Robbins on lap 13. TJ Brackett headed back to the pits on lap 23 and the leaders were already catching lap traffic by lap 30. John Salemi took a spin on lap 30 in turn 2, leading to a caution.
Curt Gerry powered away with the lead once again on the restart. Eddie MacDonald and Josh Childs made contact on lap 36 in turn 2 while battling it out for the runner-up spot. Childs nearly lost control but miracuously saved it, only losing one spot on the race track in the process. Alan Tardiff went around on lap 44 in turn 4, leading to a mid-race caution.
Curt Gerry continued his dominance on the restart, pulling away from his competitors. Dave Farrington, Jr. was on the move mid-race, advancing to fourth over DJ Shaw on lap 52. He began challenging Ryan Robbins for third on lap 54, taking over the spot just one lap later. He wasn’t done just yet and began challenging Eddie MacDonald for the runner-up spot on lap 67, hopping to his outside.
The leaders began approaching heavy lap traffic once again on lap 70. After battling it out for a handful of laps, Farrington finally cleared MacDonald for the runner-up spot on lap 73. Dan Winter came to a slow, heading down to the pits on lap 77 and Derek Griffith, who had an uncharacteristic tough day, did the same just two laps later. Reid Lanpher’s season struggles continued on lap 89 as he went down a lap to the leaders.
Using lap traffic to his advantage, Curt Gerry was able to pull out to sizeable lead over Dave Farrington, Jr. in the closing laps of the feature. Curt Gerry took home the victory, which is surprisingly his first Pro All Star Series victory of the 2019 race season. But, it was not his first win at Oxford Plains Speedway this season, as he is the current points leader. Dave Farrington, Jr., Eddie MacDonald and Ryan Robbins rounded out the top 5.
With their top finishes, Dave Farrington, Jr., Ryan Robbins and Josh Childs earned themselves provisionals for this year’s Oxford 250. This earns these 3 drivers guaranteed starting spots in the 250 if they cannot make it into the big show via the qualifying rounds.
Congrats to Mike Carignan on his first career PASS Modified victory, Curt Gerry on making it back to PASS victory lane and Dave Farrington, Jr., Ryan Robbins and Josh Childs on their well-deserved and hard-earned provisionals for the Oxford 250!
You can catch both the PASS Modified division and the PASS Super Late Model division this coming Sunday, July 14th, at Oxford Plains Speedway. The racing action kicks off at 6:00 pm!
Get out there and support your local short track!
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