Benjamin Wins Atlantic CAT 250
HALIFAX, NS (August 9, 2008) - Maine's Travis Benjamin broke into the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) winner's circle Saturday night at Scotia Speedworld with a victory in one of the series biggest events: the Atlantic CAT 250. It was the eighth year in a row the CAT crown has gone to the U.S. Former Atlantic CAT 250 winners Ben Rowe (Maine) and John Flemming (Halifax) finished second and third, respectively. Mike Rowe (Maine), another former CAT 250 winner, and young Adam Bates (Maine), rounded out the top five.
Benjamin started the race from the pole and led on four occasions, including the final 45 laps after getting together with leader Johnny Clark, who spun and restarted at the rear of the field to finish seventh. Twenty-two cars took the green flag.
Close to 4,000 fans gathered to watch an exciting ninth edition of the race, an event that saw 14 lead changes among five drivers, including: Benjamin, Trevor Sanborn (Maine), Johnny Clark (Maine), Ben Rowe and Mike Rowe. Unofficially, Clark led the most laps - showing the way for 86 circuits around the 3/10-mile asphalt oval.
The win is Benjamin's first career PASS win - coming as he and Ben Rowe are battling for the series point lead with Rowe holding a slim six-point advantage coming into the Atlantic CAT 250.
The race took only one hour 20 minutes to complete with eight cautions - the most serious of which came at lap 115 when the lapped car of Chad Dow (New Hampshire) spun directly in front of local favourites Shawn Turple (Enfield) and Rollie MacDonald (Pictou) who were battling for the sixth position. While Dow was able to continue, Turple and MacDonald were done for the night.
Benjamin, Flemming and Sanborn won the PASS qualifying heat races.
Other racing action at Scotia Speedworld Saturday night saw the Sojourn Signs Bandoleros in a 12-lap feature won by Dylan Blenkhorn, followed in second by Brandon Niles and third by Brad Eddy.
The Maritime Legends Tour saw 27 cars start the 30-lap feature with Cy Harvey getting the win. Justin MacNeill was second and Ed Hayden was third.
Scotia Speedworld is back in action today (Sunday) to run the C&R Auto Supply Sportsman 100 that was rained out Friday evening. Today's show will also feature the Wallace Equipment Hobby Stock and the Miller Tire/BFGoodrich Thunder & Lighting Cars. Racing starts at 2 p.m.; the grandstand gates open at Noon.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - THE ATLANTIC CAT 250
1. Travis Benjamin - Morrill, Maine
2. Ben Rowe - Turner, Maine
3. John Flemming - Halifax, NS
4. Mike Rowe - Turner, Maine
5. Adam Bates - Atkinson, NH
6. Marty Prevost - Fall River, NS
7. Johnny Clark - Hallowell, Maine
8. Trevor Sanborn - Parsonfield, Maine
9. D.J. Shaw - Center Conway, New Hampshire
10. Mike MacKenzie - Dartmouth, NS
11. Cassius Clark - Farmington, Maine
12. Derek Ramstrom - Worcester, Mass.
13. Graham Spinney - Lower Argyle, NS
14. Scott Alexander - Orrington, Maine
15. David Heino - Shelburne, NS
16. Donald Chisholm - Antigonish, NS
17. Greg Proude - N. Wiltshire, PE
18. Shawn Turple - Enfield, NS
19. Rollie MacDonald - Pictou, NS
20. Chad Dowe - Fairfield, Maine
21. Pete Miller - Kennetcook, NS
22. Craig Slaunwhite - Terence Bay, NS
About Atlantic CAT
Atlantic Tractors & Equipment Ltd. (Atlantic CAT) is a full-line Caterpillar Equipment and Engine Dealership serving the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. The dealership meets the business needs of its customers by providing superior products backed by excellent parts and service capabilities. Atlantic Cat operates from eight locations. The company is engaged in the sale, lease, rental and service of the full-line of Caterpillar Earthmoving and Engine Products. These include machines for use in a variety of industries - Mining, Forestry, Agriculture, Road Building, Road Maintenance, General Construction and Light Construction operations. The company sells and services the full-line of Caterpillar diesel Engines and Power Generation products for use in applications requiring Stand-by or Prime Power diesel generating products, Marine Power for commercial vessels, Truck Power for the on-highway trucking industry and time-saving Harvesters for the agricultural industry.
About C&R Auto Supply
Do it yourself and save with C&R Auto Supply. They carry new and remanufactured goods, as well as both import and domestic. C&R Auto Supply specializes in Brake Parts, Rotors, Clutches, CV Shaft Assemblies, Chassis Parts and Shocks. C&R Auto Supply is located at 2513 Agricola Street in Halifax; call them at 423.7127.
About Scotia Speedworld
Scotia Speedworld is a 3/10-mile asphalt oval stock car racing track featuring the Lockhart Truck Center Weekly Racing Series for six divisions and several special events during the race season, which runs from May to September. Scotia Speedworld is located at Exit 6 on Highway 102, across from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. For more information please click on ScotiaSpeedworld.ca or call our Event Hotline at (902) 873-2277 or our office at (902) 481-2514.
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