PASS South Opener, Easter Bunny 150, Only a Month Away
Hop On Down To Hickory Motor Speedway the First Weekend in April
CONCORD, NC (March 13, 2007) – One year ago, the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway was just coming together, as was the inaugural season for the Pro All Star Series South Super Late Models. Hickory came, and the series opened with a bang. A total of 34 of the best Super Late Model drivers from both the North and the South showed up to do battle, but the man who came out on top was eventual series champion Mike Rowe.
“When PASS said that they were going to Hickory last year, I knew that I had to go,” said Rowe. “We were able to come out of there with the win, which was great because of the history the track has and the kind of people who have raced there. We were able to win the race and eventually win the championship. You couldn’t have asked for a better year.”
Rowe beat the likes of Ryan Lawler, Freddie Query, Jason Hogan, Travis Kittleson, Clay Rogers, Chuck Barnes Jr. and others to capture the Easter Bunny 150 win. This year, the same type of field is expected.
“This is where it all started one year ago and the series has been strong since,” said Tom Mayberry, owner of the PASS South and PASS North Super Late Model tours. “We’ve had some growing pains, but that comes with any new series, and now we are really picking up momentum. The Easter Bunny 150 kicked off our series in style last year and we think it’s going to do the same this season. We’re expecting a lot of cars and some good racing. There will be several guys from the North series come down again and try to beat the guys from the South.”
Once again, several PASS North drivers are already planning to attend the Easter Bunny 150, including defending series champion and race winner Rowe. Rowe’s son, Ben, is another of the northerners planning to invade at Hickory, as well as Derek Ramstrom and Cassius Clark, who won the inaugural Mason-Dixon Meltdown at South Boston Speedway.
In fact, the event’s first official entry came from a veteran of the North; Center Conway, New Hampshire’s Dale Shaw, who is a former NASCAR Busch North champion.
“Dale Shaw is one of those cagey veterans who always puts on a great show up against the up-and-coming drivers of the sport,” said Bob Dillner, who assists Mayberry in the promotion of PASS South. “He’s cut from the same mold as Mike Rowe, and he’s won in everything he has ever driven.
“The exciting thing about both PASS South and North right now is that it is really looking strong. We’ve had a bunch of interest from all over. In the South, we’ve had new names pop up on the driver roster that have not competed with us before, like former Snowflake winner at Five Flags Speedway, Hunter Robbins.”
Once again, fans will see much more than just the PASS South Super Late Models at Hickory Motor Speedway. In addition to the 150-lap feature for the Super Late Models, the fans will also be treated with a 50-lap Aaron’s Pro Challenge Series event, a 25-lap Redneck Racing Series event and a 50-lap Allison Legacy Series race.
Fans will once again also be encouraged to bring their kids to Hickory Motor Speedway to see the Easter Bunny and participate in an Easter Egg Hunt.
Pit gates on Saturday, April 7th, will open for competitors at 11am. Practice for the PASS South Super Late Models will begin at 1, with qualifying going off at 4:15pm. Racing will start with the PASS South heats at 6pm. Spectator gates will open for fans at 4pm. The Easter Egg hunt and visit from the Easter Bunny will begin at 6:30pm on the track.