Griffith Holds Of Benjamin & Rowe For PASS 150 Win At White Mountain

Column By: STEPHEN DURHAM / RPW – NORTH WOODSTOCK, NH – Derek Griffith of Hudson, New Hampshire was able to come from mid-field to battle with some of the best in business and hold off late race charges to capture the PASS 150 win at White Mountain Motorsports Park in Woodstock, New Hampshire and his second win of the season.

Griffith looked strong early in the night winning his heat race and then was slated to start eleventh for the PASS 150. The Hudson driver had to battle with some of the top guys in the series of Travis Benjamin and Ben Rowe to get to the front, but captured the lead around the midway point of the 150 lapper. The young gun was able to hold off late charges from Rowe and Benjamin on restarts to capture his second win of the season. Derek also tributes this win to the late great Ted Christopher who passed last weekend tragically.

Travis Benjamin, the PASS North points leader was able to come home second after battling with Ben Rowe for dozens of laps and multiple attempts at the lead. Travis came from 14th , but came up a bit short to Griffith. Benjamin thought he wouldn’t have much for the hot shoe of Griffith, but was right there at the end, just a bit shy.

Finishing third was another top contender in Ben Rowe of Turner, Maine. Rowe started pole of the PASS 150 and battled third of the race with defending winner of the event Johnny Clark. Ben thought he had a great car on long runs, but the late restarts didn’t help in strategy. The Turner, Maine driver commented that it was a pleasure to run with Griffith as a very respectful and clean driver for the top spot.

Three of the top five guys in points did struggle on the night. Johnny Clark who looked strong early, pitted lap 63 trying to make some adjustments on the car and battled back up from the back for a fifth place finish. DJ Shaw who was third in points, broke on lap 68 and retired from the event early, resulting in a eighteenth place finish. Trailing Travis Benjamin going into second to last event for the PASS North Series was Glen Luce who dealt with handling issues and some close calls came home with a thirteenth place finish.

On the program with the PASS North Series was the Bandits, Legends, Street Stocks, and PASS Mods. The winner of Bandits feature was Jamie Heath of Waterford, Maine. Legends winner Austin Teras of Windham, Maine, who is heading to Las Vegas to compete for a championship in the legends tour series. Street stocks feature winner was David Whittier of West Poland Maine, , and the PASS Mod feature winner was Bruce Helmuth of Wales, Maine.