IPSC: Rowe dominates for first 2000 IPSC win

(August 26) - Ben Rowe of Turner, Maine led the Motor Home Vacations 150 wire to wire in dominating fashion to pick up his first win on the 2000 International Pro Stock Challenge (IPSC) season. Rowe, driver of the No. 00 Hi Tech Insulation Monte Carlo has been knocking on the door the last several IPSC events and was thrilled with the win. More than 3000 fans watched Rowe claim $5450 of the purse. "Finally," said Rowe, who finished second on the ‘99 IPSC season with two victories. "We needed this. We knew we had a winning car and team but we couldn't get that monkey off our back. The car was super." It was the first race at the 1/3-mile oval for Rowe, but he attributed his knowledge of the similar Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine to getting his car right. "The track is similar, but different, if that makes any sense," said Rowe. "It takes a lot of finesse to get through the corners." Maine's Ralph Nason, who chased Rowe the last half of the race and finished second, agreed with Rowe. "It can turn you around if you get in the corners too hard," said the veteran Nason, who has picked up the last three consecutive Oxford 250's. "The track is banked more but it is shaped the same." The Motor Home Vacations 150 podium was swept by Maine drivers with Detroit's Adam Friend third. Kirk Thibeau, also from Maine was fourth with Halifax, Nova Scotia's John Flemming fifth. Nason and Rowe were Motor Mart Heat Race winners, with Flemming establishing a new track record with a lap of 13.799-seconds around the oval. Flemming was relegated to a fourth-place finish by virtue of his finish in the Motor Mart Dash For Cash. Dan Eddy, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, accepted the Copenhagen Inc./Ultramar Corner Stores Pole Challenge, moving from his earned second-place start on the grid to the rear of the field for the start of the feature. Eddy had the opportunity to claim a $3000 bonus if he won the race or $100 per position gained. He finished 10th and collected a $1000 bonus for his efforts. The win for Rowe and fifth-place by Flemming, combined with points leader Andy Shaw's 11th-place finish tightened the season-long points standings to set a season finish second to none. With two races remaining, Shaw's lead has been chopped to just two markers over Flemming, who holds a four point advantage over Rowe. Shaw sits at 1663, Flemming 1661 and Rowe 1657. Just 61 points separate positions four through 10.

<pre> UNOFFICIAL RACE REPORT FROM THE MOTOR HOMES VACATIONS 150: Finish/Start/Name/Hometown/ Total Winnings (U.S. equivalent) 1. (1) Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine $5450.00 2. (10) Ralph Nason, Unity, Maine $2625.00 3. (3) Adam Friend, Detroit, Maine $1500.00 4. (5) Kirk Thibeau, Fort Fairfield, Maine $1000.00 5. (4) John Flemming, Halifax, Nova Scotia $1200.00 6. (8) Kenny Wright, Woolwich, Maine $800.00 7. (2) Gary Smith, Bangor, Maine $700.00 8. (12) Sam Sessions, S. Paris, Maine $600.00 9. (9) Mike MacKenzie, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia $550.00 10. (19) Dan Eddy, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia $1150.00 11. (7) Andy Shaw, Center Conway, New Hampshire $450.00 12. (6) Tom Mayberry, Naples, Maine $425.00 13. (14) Leo Cochrane, Halifax, Nova Scotia $400.00 14. (15) Mike Riley, Halifax, Nova Scotia $375.00 15. (16) Marty Prevost, Fall River, Nova Scotia $350.00 16. (17) Tim Rodgers, Upper Coverdale, New Brunswick $325.00 17. (11) Scott Alexander, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia $300.00 18. (18) Bobby Mitchell, Bar Harbor, Maine $275.00 19. (13) Rob Cowett, Presque Isle, Maine $250.00 TIME OF RACE (150 green flag laps): 50 minutes, 57 seconds MARGIN OF VICTORY: 2 car lengths LAP LEADERS: Ben Rowe (grid-150) CAUTION PERIODS: 4 SNAP-ON TOOLS TIME TRIAL AWARD ($300 USD): John Flemming, 13.799 seconds MOTOR MART DASH FOR CASH ($300 USD): Ben Rowe LINCO FISHERIES HALFWAY AWARD ($150 USD): Ben Rowe COPENHAGEN INC./ULTRAMAR CORNER STORES POLE CHALLENGE: Dan Eddy $1000 Cdn. SNAP-ON TOOLS TEAMWORK AWARD ($125 USD): Ralph Nason BASSETT RACING HARD LUCK AWARD: Tom Mayberry MOTOR MART HEAT RACE WINNER: Ralph Nason UNOFFICIAL DRIVER POINT STANDINGS - TOP 10 (after August 26th): 1. Andy Shaw 1663; 2. John Flemming 1661; 3. Ben Rowe 657; 4. Kirk Thibeau 1621; 5. Kenny Wright 1621; 6. Sam Sessions 1592; 7. Mike MacKenzie 1581; 8. Gary Smith 1580; 9. Adam Friend 1574; 10. Mike Riley 1560