“The Howler” Won’t Forget the Local Racers with $2,000-To-Win Late Model Stock Event
CONCORD, NC (October 11, 2007) – One thing Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, South Carolina is used to is tradition. Tradition is something the track was built on. In fact, the entire outside wall at Greenville-Pickens Speedway tells of its rich tradition, with names such as Pearson, Earnhardt, Pressley and Lindley emblazoned on it as former track champions. Tradition is something that racing fans stick with and love to abide by.
One tradition that has been missing from Greenville-Pickens Speedway for years is the power of true Super Late Model racing. That tradition, however, will reemerge in October however, as full-blown Super Late Models will return to the half-mile speedway, when the PASS South tour makes its inaugural visit to the historic track. “The Howler” event will feature a 150-lap event for PASS Super Late Models on Saturday, October 27 th.
“This is an event that I’ve been personally looking forward to ever since we announced it as an addition to our 2007 scheduled,” said Tom Mayberry, owner and promoter of PASS South. “I’ve heard so many good things about Greenville and the fans at the track. I know they love their racing down there and they used to give the old NASCAR Elite Division a great following. So when they see PASS South come to the track, they are in for a great show. I really have high hopes for the event and the car count. I think we can pull in at least 40 to 45, if not more, cars for this show.”
Greenville’s fans are plenty familiar with Super Late Model-style cars. The NASCAR Elite Division (also known as the former All Pro Series) raced at Greenville-Pickens Speedway for years in Super Late Model-style cars. Although the Elite Division cars eventually morphed into their own series-specific car, they were still a basic Super Late Model with just a few modifications.
When the Elite Division was abolished at the end of the 2006 season, Super Late Model-style racing left Greenville-Pickens for a period of time. The fans who loved the power and sheer “awe” of Super Late Models were left searching for something to fill its place.
Now the PASS South Super Late Model Tour has stepped up and filled that void. PASS South burst onto the scene in 2006 to fill the void of a touring Super Late Model Series in the South after PASS North developed into one of the most successful touring Super Late Model campaigns in the Northeast.
The series quickly attracted some of the biggest names in Southern Super Late Model racing, including several of the same drivers that raced in the former NASCAR Elite Divisions. Guys like Jason Hogan, JR Norris, the late Charlie Bradberry, Randy Gentry and former Greenville winner Justin Wakefield all began competing with PASS South.
“We’ve always welcomed anyone that wanted to come race with us, including guys from the old All Pro days,” added Mayberry. “We even allow them to use their All Pro cars to race with us. Justin Wakefield was one of the first to race with us using his old Elite Division car. And Joe Mattress has done the same, and he’s found himself in the top-12 in points. So there will be some familiar names racing for the fans.”
While the PASS South Super Late Models will be the headliners at “The Howler,” the local divisions will not be forgotten. The race weekend will also feature a 75-lap, $2,000-to-win event for Late Model Stock Cars, the top division during the track’s weekly shows.
“Greenville has also had a strong following of Late Model Stock drivers during the years and we wanted them to be a part of our race weekend,” added Mayberry. “We figured adding a big paying event to support the PASS South race would get the fans even more excited.
“We are also going to have the local divisions for the Sportsman, Chargers and Renegades race with us during the weekend, so there will be plenty of local drivers the fans know before getting to watch the big PASS South event.”
There will be an open practice session on Friday, the 26th. On Saturday, gates open for the 150-lap event on at 9am, with practice beginning at noon. Qualifying is set to begin at 2:30pm with heat races beginning at 6pm. The PASS South feature event is scheduled to go off approximately at 8:30pm.
For more information on the PASS South Series, contact Jeremy Troiano at (704) 788–2134 and be sure to visit www.racewithpass.com for all your PASS South news. For technical and rules information on the entire PASS tours, contact Scott Reed at (207) 625-3230.