Derek Ramstrom rumbles to PASS North SLM win at Thompson

[NickHolt]

Derek Ramstrom rumbles to PASS North SLM win at Thompson

 

Thompson, CT (7/12/12) - Derek Ramstrom inherited the race lead on lap 62 of Thursday night's Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North California Paints 75 at Thompson (CT.) International Speedway and the home track hero kept DJ Shaw and Travis Benjamin in his mirror to the checkers. Thompson regular Mike O'Sullivan raced home fourth and Cassius Clark survived a wild ride down the front stretch to finish fifth.

 

Derek Ramstrom won the PASS North Carolina Paints 75 at Thompson. Norm Marx photo.

 

Ramstrom put himself in position to win early on, racing in the top five at the fastest track that PASS North visits. At the green it looked like Ben Rowe would finally toss that Gorilla off his back, racing past the all Thompson front row of Larry Gelinas and O'Sullivan. The RMR 4 was flying and the three time Thompson PASS winner was able to hold both Gelinas and Ted Christopher at bay. But on lap 47 the dreaded off song sound of a cylinder heading south suddenly appeared , drop kicking Rowe through the field until his engine finally gave up the ghost on lap 67.

 

Rowe's misfortune handed Larry Gelinas the lead and the former PASS regular who's found a home at Thompson in Rollie Lindblad's 48 led a ton of Thompson experience in the form of Christopher and Ramstrom. The top three staged a battle royal until it all went sour on lap 62 when contact from Christopher sent Gelinas sliding through the infield grass. Gelinas didn't hit a thing and continued, while race control sent Christopher to the back of the pack for his role in the skirmish..

 

That left Ramstrom on the point and despite Shaw's best efforts it was the two time Thompson super late model champ on top at the checkers. The victory was Ramstrom's fourth in a PASS super late model and his second at Thompson.

 

Ramstrom crossed the stripe 2.096 seconds in front of Shaw. Three caution flags slowed the pace to an average speed of 69.433 miles an hour and eleven cars completed all 75 green flag laps. Heat race wins went to Johnny Clark and Gelinas.

 

PASS North takes a weekend off before heading to Oxford Plains Speedway on Saturday July 21 for 150 laps.

 

Plenty of pics, points and more at www.proallstarsseries.com .

 

Unofficial order of finish – PASS North California Paints 75 – Thompson International Speedway – Thompson, CT. - 7/12/12

 

1 35 Derek Ramstrom

2 60 DJ Shaw

3 17 Travis Benjamin

4 08 Mike O'Sullivan

5 77 Cassius Clark

6 48 Lonnie Sommerville

7 54 Johnny Clark

8 73 Joey Doiron

9 44 Austin Brehio

10 48G Larry Gelinas

11 18 Ted Christopher

12 87 Matt Harris

13 88 and Kyle DeSouza

14 4 Ben Rowe

15 2 Matt Matheson

16 13 Jim Banfield

17 46 Jake Vanada