Joey Doiron, the Pro All Star Series’ top-ranked rookie driver, is looking forward to returning to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway to race in the regional tour’s 150-lap race for Super Late Models on Saturday night.

“I’m just excited to get to a track that I’ve seen before,” said Doiron, the 2009 American Canadian Tour’s rookie of the year who is in his first season on the PASS North tour. “I don’t think there are many tracks like Beech Ridge.”

Doiron, who graduated last month from Noble High in North Berwick, has spent most of his first season on the PASS North tour running at tracks that are new to him.

Despite his age, he knows the three-eighths mile track well.

Before going on tour, Doiron, 18, spent one full season racing in the Sports Series Division at the Ridge. That experience could give him an edge Saturday night.

“When different tours, new drivers, come in, they really have a hard time adjusting to it, even though it’s a smoother track to race around,” said the track owner, Andy Cusack. “They’re just so used to barrelling into a turn and having to really hang a hard left. (Here) it’s kind of a circular motion. It takes them a while to get used to that. Guys who have run Beech Ridge on a regular basis certainly have an advantage.”

On May 1, Doiron, who has finished in the top 10 in three of his first five PASS North starts, was fourth while making his tour debut at Beech Ridge.

“My mistake the first time is I waited too long before I went,” Doiron said. “When I did go it was too late, and I didn’t have enough time. I know the crew has given me a car that can win, and the rest is up to me.”

A number of drivers who regularly run on the PASS North tour have more than a passing acquaintance with the track.

Beech Ridge is the home track for Trevor Sanborn, who has three top-five finishes since joining Richard Moody Racing full time. While driving his own car May 1 during the tour’s first of three visits to Beech Ridge, the East Parsonsfield driver, fourth in PASS North’s SLM points, led 99 of 150 laps.

“(Sanborn has) led a lot of laps, and he always runs great with us,” Cusack said.

Sanborn also won two of the three Pro Series Division races he’s run at Beech Ridge this season.

The other PASS North SLM regulars who raced at least one full year at Beech Ridge are Aaron Ricker of Tamworth, N.H., Chuck Colby of Dresden, Richie Dearborn of Hollis and Donnie Whitten of Wells.

Mike Rowe of Turner, the reigning track champion, doesn’t race in every PASS North event but did win the May 1 race.

Saturday night also could be another showdown between the PASS North’s top two LSM drivers, Johnny Clark of Hallowell and Ben Rowe of Turner.

Last weekend, Rowe earned his first win of the season at Canaan Fair Speedway in New Hampshire.

At the same time, he snapped Clark’s winning streak at three races, ending his chance at a record-setting four straight.

The track’s Pro Series point leader, Dan McKeage of Gorham, also could be in the mix.

The PASS North’s Mods are also slated for a 40-lap feature Saturday night at Beech Ridge.

The speedway’s Sports Series, Wildcats and Road Runners also will be in action.

The post time is 6 p.m.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com