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Rowe Honored By Gov. Baldacci

Mike Rowe has nearly done it all throughout his career. But his NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Maine state championship in 2009 provided the 59-year-old Turner, Maine, driver with a first: a meeting at the State House.

Rowe received personal congratulations for his state championship from Gov. John E. Baldacci. The governor welcomed Rowe and his championship contingent on a recent trip to the State House Station office in Augusta.

Rowe won his first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series state championship while winning his first NASCAR Pro Series divisional championship at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine, in 2009.

“Gov. Baldacci is a big NASCAR fan,” Rowe said. “He’s been pulling for Mark Martin this year because he’s so competitive at his age.”

The Governor, Martin and Rowe were all born in the 1950s.

Rowe’s visit to Augusta was part of a whirlwind week of championship celebrations. He attended the series awards banquet in Concord, N.C., Nov. 13, before returning to his home state and a visit with Gov. Baldacci, followed by the Beech Ridge track awards banquet.

“I’ve been racing for 40 years and I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Rowe said. “When NASCAR called with the invitation from the Governor, I thought it was one of my pals pulling my leg. We called back and found out it was for real.

“We had our picture taken with the Governor and our championship trophy, and he liked the way the silhouette of Maine is on it. He said he wants to come out to see us race at Beech Ridge next year. That would be huge for all of us at Beech Ridge. (Promoter) Andy Cusack does such a great job at the track. Gov. Baldacci will have a great time.”

Joining Rowe in the Governor’s office were car owners Dick and Wendy Fowler and Karol Hill, along with Cusack.

It was a week of celebrations Rowe will long remember

“I’ve won 12 championships and they’re all special, but this one stands out,” Rowe said. “I’m so glad I was able to join the Fowlers and race for them weekly at Beech Ridge this year. They’ve won nine track championships there. The level of competition is so great at Beech Ridge. We’ve got some young guys coming up there who can really drive race cars.

“I’ll be 60 years old in 2010, but after all the things that have come with this championship, I’ve gotta come back for one more season before I retire.

“I wish everyone from our track could go to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series awards banquet in Concord,” Rowe continued. “We had a great time and NASCAR does things right. Hendrick Motorsports opened their shop for all of us, and it’s an amazing place. The whole weekend was an awesome experience.”

The NASCAR Maine champion was determined by the champion driver’s racing record at the NASCAR sanctioned track.

The crowning of champions in a U.S. state or Canadian province continues a tradition of honoring the best short-track racers which dates back to the earliest days of NASCAR.

Since its inception, NASCAR’s national short-track racing series has served as a springboard in the careers of many top drivers. NASCAR stars Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kurt and Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Elliott Sadler and Brian Vickers all began their careers racing their local short tracks.

Mike Rowe, the 2009 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Maine state champion, is greeted by Maine Gov. John E. Baldacci. Photo courtesy of Maine Governor's Office

Year	Driver	Hometown
2009	Mike Rowe	Turner, Maine
2008	Bub Bilodeau	Standish, Maine
2007	Bub Bilodeau	Standish, Maine

Late Model Sportsman

Year	Driver	Hometown
1978	Dave Dion	Hudson, N.H.
1976	Dave Darveau	Augusta, Md.
1975	Larry Pottle	Waterville, Md.
1969	Niles Gage	Milton, Md.

Hobby

Year	Driver	Hometown
1969	Stan Timberlake	Turner, Md.
1968	Niles Gage	Wilton, Md.