0
1
Norm Marx photo
N. Woodstock, NH —White Mountain Motorsports Park gets the two-to-go signal on the 2021 racing season this Saturday, September 18. The Foley Oil & Propane Late Models crown the “King of the Mountain” at an event that also includes the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Late Models, PASS Modifieds, and Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks.
In effect, Northeast racing fans get two main events on Saturday. The night’s penultimate feature is the 50-lap Late Model season finale, which could have four drivers still mathematically alive for the championship. This is followed by the Foley Oil & Propane PASS 150 for the region’s biggest Super Late Model stars. The PASS event counts for New England North, New England South, and overall PASS North points, meaning anyone who has even a sniff of a championship shot will be there.
The early entry list is full of names familiar to Super Late Model followers. PASS point leader Johnny Clark of Hallowell, ME is looking for vengeance after a flat tire derailed his bid at White Mountain back in May. A win would further boost Clark as he guns for his seventh PASS championship — but his first since 2011.
The man who stood in Victory Late at that May event, Hudson, NH’s Joey Polewarczyk, returns to go for the season sweep. He’ll be challenged by five-time PASS champion and New England South point leader D.J. Shaw, 10-time PASS champion Ben Rowe, number-two point driver Dan Winter, sophomore standout Kate Re, and multi-time PASS winner Derek Ramstrom among others. New Sharon, ME’s Dillon Moltz and Winthrop, ME’s Jeff White, who are winners at White Mountain in American-Canadian Tour competition, have both entered the event.
The Late Model championship bout that precedes the PASS showdown is sure to bring the heat. Gilman, VT’s Jeff Marshall carries the point lead into the final round thanks to his third win of the season last Saturday. Eight-time champion Quinny Welch of Groveton, NH is nine points back in second, making him very much alive for a ninth title. Candia, NH’s Jimmy Renfrew, who had led the points for the past two months, is now third with a 23-point gap to Marshall.
Thanks to the Late Model format at White Mountain, Renfrew still has a shot, as does Oren Remick despite his 44-point deficit. Drivers can earn up to 20 points between their heat race and the semi-feature. If Renfrew and Remick qualify for the semi-feature while Marshall and Welch do not, the margin would close considerably.
This wrinkle also means Marshall — or anyone else, for that matter — can’t save anything for later in qualifying. Every position counts, meaning fans get to see all four drivers going full-bore every lap. As they battle with each other, less-heralded racers such as Matthew Morrill, Kasey Beattie, and Mike Jurkowski will do their best to steal the show.
The PASS Modifieds also are ready for action. The rebirth of the Modifieds has culminated in 2021 with some events drawing more than 30 cars — and producing great racing to match.
Windham, ME’s Garrett Lamb holds the point lead enter Saturday’s 50-lap feature. He’s closely pursued by Lyman, ME’s A.J. Cates, three-time winner Max Cookson of Pittsfield, ME, Auburn, ME’s Brandon Varney, and former champion Spencer Morse of Pittsfield, ME. When you add in sixth-place Shawn Knight, the top half-dozen drivers are separated by 65 points, meaning any of them can still end up the champion.
The Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks complete the Saturday card. While Gilmanton, NH’s Thomas Smithers VI has been his usual impressive self with seven victories this year, Waterford, VT’s McKenna Merchant has emerged as his biggest challenger. Merchant has three wins while Logan Farnsworth, Damion Sicard, Owen Rogers, and Kyle Goodbout are among the other talented youth racers.
Foley Oil & Propane presents a superstar program at White Mountain Motorsports Park this Saturday, September 18 at 6:00pm. The PASS Super Late Models go 150 green-flag laps while the Foley Oil & Propane Late Models crown the 2021 “King of the Mountain”. The PASS Modifieds and Dads 4 By Tool & Supply Kids Trucks also have a full card of racing.
The pits open at 1:30pm and the grandstands open at 4:00pm. Admission is $20 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12, and $40 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).
For more information, contact the White Mountain Motorsports Park offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.whitemountainmotorsports.com. You can also follow us on Facebook at @WhiteMtnMotorsports.
