15-Year-Old Zach Stroupe Is First Teen to Win – Claims PASS South Mom 150 at Motor Mile
CONCORD, NC (May 12, 2008) – The Pro All Stars Series has been the home to many short track stars in the northern and southern world of Super Late Model racing. Most PASS winners have been veterans, such as Ben Rowe, Mike Rowe, Freddie Query, Dale Shaw, Sam Sessions and more. Recently an influx of newcomers have graced victory lane. Johnny Clark led the charge in the North a couple years ago; then came Cassius Clark, Ryan Lawler and Corey Williams. Now PASS is entering new territory with its youngest ever victor.
Zach Stroupe’s triumph Saturday in the “Mom 150” at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA, will be recorded in PASS history books in more than just one place. At 15, he became the youngest winner ever in either of PASS’ Super Late Model Tours. The previous record was held by Corey Williams’ victory last year at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC, when he was 21 years old. Stroupe, coincidentally, also then becomes the first teenager to win in PASS Super Late Model action. Derrick Ramstrom, now a competitor on PASS’ North circuit won a PASS Outlaws Late Model event as a teenager.
The PASS South “Mom 150” at Motor Mile will also be remembered as a feverish fight between some of the current top young prospects in Super Late Model racing. In fact, Williams grabbed his second-straight fast-time award in qualifying by circling the .416 mile oval in 15.328 seconds. Stroupe and Cassius Clark were second and third with identical times of 15.350.
After the redraw, former NASCAR Elite Series winner Justin Wakefield jumped to the lead from his pole starting spot at the start of the 150-lap event. On lap 23, Clark’s number-8 caught on fire, and when he tried to pull onto the apron from the outside groove, he and Stroupe’s #51 made contact. Stroupe was able to continue, but Clark’s car was done for the day with engine difficulties and other damage as a result of the conflict.
After several other cautions, Stroupe was able to put his car out front on a lap-25 restart. While Stroupe battled Wakefield and then pulled away from the field, several cautions slowed the race, including one between series regulars Dean Clattenburg and rookie John Stancill.
During a restart on lap 86, another youngster made his mark in the race. Trevor Sanborn, driving a Richard Moody team car to Ben Rowe, pulled ahead of Stroupe before another caution flew for an incident between Ginny Quinones and Brian Johnson.
Stroupe fell back to third on the ensuing restart when Kyle Busch Motorsports (team owned by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor) driver Alex Haase moved by. Stroupe stayed glued to the battle that Sanborn and Haase put on. The youngster had the fans on their feet until contact between the two sent Sanborn spinning on lap 101. Haase was penalized for the contact by PASS officials and put to the rear of the field.
Stroupe, who was directly behind the two when the incident happened, took over the lead and then lost it to Corey Williams during the ensuing restart. Stroupe would continue to hound the winner of the season opening Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Then on a lap-119 restart, Stroupe charged on Motor Mile’s outside groove to take over the lead for what would prove to be the final time. Despite challenges from Williams, the Bob Dillner Inc. Racing (team for the SPEED NASCAR television commentator) driver would lead the final 31 laps for his first-ever Super Late Model victory.
“We knew that we had a car that could survive on the outside, but we didn’t want to risk it early since we knew it would burn the right front up,” said Stroupe of Iron Station, NC. “We went down there and held it tight. We held it as close to the bottom and next to Corey’s door. It ate off that corner and down the backstretch to clear him.
“We needed this; the crew deserved it. Bond Suss (crew chief of BEC) has been working hard. This is only his fourth race with us, but it is pretty cool to win it for him. I’m happy for Bob (Dillner); it is his first Super Late Model race win. It is real cool finally getting the one that we have been needing; we have been close many times. We have finished fourth and sixth and have knocked on the door. It held together and we finally won one, and it’s pretty exciting. Plus, it’s exciting to win a PASS race. This is a good series and a tough one with a lot of good competitors. Ben Rowe was here and so was Cassius; the 44 (Sanborn) ran really well, and Haase was up front, too, so I’m happy to say I was able to beat them here tonight.”
But, of course, for Stroupe as a teenager, winning one for Mom in the “Mom 150” was probably the best gift he could have hoped for his mother.
“It is pretty cool,” added Stroupe. “My mother has been there since the beginning, from Go-Karts to Bandos to Legends, Pro Challenge and now. For the last 11 years she has been going to my races, which is pretty cool for me. This one is for her, too.”
The PASS South Super Late Models return to action with the third-annual “Orange Blossom Special,” Saturday, June 7th, at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC. Please stay tuned to racewithpass.com for more details, and be sure to contact PASS through the contact page on the website for marketing opportunities.
This race also serves as a tune-up for the next PASS National Super Late Model Series race on Saturday, July 19th, which is also at Orange County Speedway. It is the second race of a four-race Super Late Model Tour. Corey Williams won the first event in Hickory, NC, in March. The third event is September 21st at Beech Ridge Speedway in Scarborough, ME, and the finale is at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, SC. A driver’s best three finishes will count toward determining a champion.
UNOFFICIAL FINISH
“Mom 150”
Motor Mile Speedway, Radford, VA
150-laps
1) #51 Zach Stroupe
2) #47 Corey Williams
3) #51H Alex Haase
4) #91 Heath Hindman
5) #44 Trevor Sanborn
6) #09 Kevin Barrett
7) #98 Justin Wakefield
8) #30 Rodney Brooks
9) #5 Spencer Wauters
10) #22 Perry Brown
11) #26 Brian Johnson
12) #39 Dean Clattenburg
13) #62 Mark Gibson
14) #24 Brian Royalty
15) #20 John Stancill
16) #00 Ginny Quinones
17) #05 Alex Fleming
18) #18 Bradley McCaskill
19) #42 Tim Pinion
20) #4 Ben Rowe
21) #8 Cassius Clark