Mulkenr Helps Out a Fellow Racer and Becomes
a Team Owner For Ben Rowe in PASS North
His Own Return to the Driver's Seat and a Rowe
Running at the Snowball Derby Are Possibilities
By Mike Twist
Racers can be a generous and helpful bunch on occasion. When one competitor needs tools, a spare part or an extra hand in the pits, it isn't unusual to see another competitor pitch in with what is needed.
Scott Mulkern might have raised the bar a little bit when it comes to helping out though. Earlier this winter, Mulkern heard through the grapevine that fellow PASS Super Late Model driver Ben Rowe was had parted ways with Richard Moody Racing and was now without a ride. The two men had raced against each other for years and enjoyed an already-strong friendship.
So Mulkern gave Rowe a call and offered more than just advice - he offered him the seat of his own Super Late Model. More details were worked out and starting with this weekend's PASS South WinterFest at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) and continuing through the 2010 PASS North season, Rowe will drive the #48 Mulkern Racing entry owned by Scott and his wife Vicki..
“Moody told me that I was out on Tuesday and Scott called me on Wednesday,” said Rowe. “He said that he wanted to do it, so I asked him two or three times and he still said that he was sure.”
“He was wondering who he could hook with and I gave him a call,” said Mulkern. “It didn't take long. We just started about doing it and I said, we'd do it. I haven't been racing much, so all of my stuff was all together. I have a ton of motors - I've got a crate engine, two Chevy nine to ones, a Dodge 9-1 and two others all running. Then there is another one that the short block is done on, so I've got plenty. Over the years, I just picked away at motors. I'd buy stuff down South cheap and have them put it together up here.”
Although expectations for the Rowe/Mulkern pairing are high, the new deal isn't a pressure-packed one either. Driver and owner are together because they want to be - and they sure plan on enjoying their upcoming season.
“I've always liked Ben,” said Mulkern. “He's a great guy. I love talking to him at the races and have always got along with him….and he's a damn good driver.”
I think that we are going to have a lot of fun together,” said Mulkern. “He's a smart racer. In all of the years that I raced with him, I've seen that from inside the car. One time, a few years ago up in Halifax, I dropped out of the race and then I really watched him and I was amazed at just how smart he was.”
“It's going to be a lot of fun,” said Rowe. “ Anything new is fun. This is a blast for me. I can't wait to get going. Hanging out with Scott and Vicki has been crazy fun and I'm looking forward to it.”
Mulkern is assembling an accomplished team around Rowe. Modified racer Tony Ricci will prepare the #48 Super Late Models in the shop, while Seth Holbrook will serve as crew chief at the track. The list of drivers who Holbrook has won with a long one and includes, Ben Rowe, Mike Rowe, Kyle Busch and Chris Staples.
“I think we should do good,” said Mulkern. “We've got Seth. That's a big key. He's going to go to the track every week with Ben. That will be pretty neat. He's got a good following and we won't have any trouble getting a good crew together.”
In recent years, Mulkern has only run a limited schedule of PASS North events, but don't let that fool you. Mulkern is quite an accomplished driver himself - running Super Late Model events all across the Eastern United States at tracks like Nashville, Hickory and Five Flags Speedway. Will Mulkern step out of the driver's seat completely now that he is a team owner?
Not likely.
“He'll be there, don't let him kid you,” said Rowe.
Mulkern on the other hand isn't quite sure what he's going to do. When he was directly asked if he would drive a racecar this season, he stumbled a bit before answering.
“Probably….ah….well…yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe?” said Mulkern with a smile. “My main concern is with Ben. So we'll go to Bangor and hopefully do well. I might race at Beech Ridge because it's close to home and it's where I started racing. If it's not going to interfere, I'll probably go to that first one at Beech Ridge. Maybe Unity. But, he can have everything. I can do it with one guy, like I've always done. The focus is going to be on him.”
And that focus could even include Rowe's first trip to the biggest Super Late Model race of them all - the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway. Mulkern has raced at Five Flags on Derby week before and he's willing to provide Rowe that same opportunity.
“Yeah. I'm not ruling anything out,” said Mulkern. “I told him I would do it. I told him to let's see how It goes. I'll commit to a year up North and take it from there. I don't really want to commit to much down South. But it's wide open. If he wants to go to Pensacola, that would be cool. That is a fun place. It was kind of worn out when I went there, but they've ground it since then. Ben should shine in races like that.”
Scott Mulkern behind the wheel of the #84. In 2010, Ben Rowe will drive a #48 entry for Mulkern in PASS North. (Jamie Williams Photo)
Ben Rowe (51 Photo)
Mulkern has worked as a team owner before - here Scott Chubbuck drives his #15 car at Speedway 95 a few years ago.
Back in 2007, Mulkern's #84 was displayed right next to the #4 Richard Moody Racing machine that Ben Rowe drove at the time in a PASS show. A few years later, they've join forces.
