The "Old Man" still has it! Congrats Mike! Now heres the report on how he did it!

(Naples, ME – June 25, 2005)  Before the biggest crowd of the year, Ben Rowe set fast time in time trials for the IBG-PASS Forbes Chevy-Olds 200 at Scotia Speedworld in Halifax, Nova Scotia Saturday night June 25th., but he drew 8th and finished 10th in the Dash in an ill-handling race car.

Travis Benjamin won the Dash, followed by Cassius Clark, Scott Alexander of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Walt Hammond, Mike Rowe, Johnny Clark, Corey Williams, Shawn Turple from Enfield, Nova Scotia, and Ben Rowe rounding out the top ten.

Travis and Cassius moved out to a side-by-side battle until Travis pulled ahead on lap eight only to have Cassius take the point two laps later with the rest of the field falling in line for the long 200 lap grind, except for local favorite John Flemming of Halifax who was hung out on the outside for the first 12 laps and quickly faded to 20th.

At the 50 lap mark, it was still Cassius and Travis clicking off the laps and lapping a number of cars. Johnny Clark, Mike Rowe, and Corey Williams made up the rest of the top five.

At lap 83, a yellow for a spin in turn one by Donnie Lashua with help from behind brought Travis Benjamin to the pits with Mike Rowe. Ten laps later, another yellow brought Cassius Clark, Johnny Clark, and Ben Row to the pits for two tires and adjustments. On the restart it was Corey Williams and Dave Gorveatt from Charlottetown PEI, with Travis Benjamin closing quickly with new tires.

At the 100 lap mark, it was Gorveatt, Benjamin, Williams, Johnny Clark, Mike Rowe and Cassius Clark, and at lap 109 Benjamin took the lead back, with Johnny Clark, Mike Rowe, and Cassius Clark following him through. Mike Rowe was starting to assert himself and took the lead 20 laps later with Cassius into second.

The top pack of Mike, Cassius, Johnny Clark, Scott Mulkern, Ben Rowe, Shawn Turple,  Gorveatt, and Scott Alexander of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia continued the blistering pace as they closed in on the final 25 laps.

After a tangle between Gorveatt and Lashua on lap 182, both Cassius and Mike tried to get an advantage on the restart, but two restarts were called back. The third try was the charm after some finger waving and warnings on the radio by the PASS officials. Johnny Clark jumped inside Cassius off the restart, but Cassius took it back a few laps later.

Mike watched the Clarks going at it and pulled out to a three car length lead, but Cassius closed it back up with ten to go. Mike said in Victory Lane that he was concerned that his car was bottoming out in turn three allowing Cassius to close up to his bumper, but with five to go he said he went for it as he held Cassius off for his first win of the year.

Johnny Clark was third, Travis Benjamin fourth in his best race of the year, Scott Alexander fifth, and Shawn Turple sixth and the last car on the lead lap, Dave Gorveatt seventh, Ben Rowe eighth after handling problems haunted the #00 all night, Alan Wilson ninth, and Walt Hammond tenth.