CHARLOTTE, NC (August 21) – As the 2008 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model season heads down the homestretch, new driver and team combinations continue to join the Nation’s top Super Late Model Series. Former three-time NASCAR All Pro Series Champion Jeff Fultz and up and coming driver Logan Ruffin are among the drivers who have already competed in more and more PASS South events as the season has gained momentum and it looks like they will be joined by some more impressive names.
Durham, North Carolina’s Jay Fogleman has long been regarded as one of the top short track drivers in the country. After winning numerous track championships and races in the Carolinas while driving NASCAR Late Model Stock cars, Fogleman decided it was time to move on to the USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup Series in 1997. Fogleman has found great success in the Hooter’s Pro Cup Series, winning races and challenging for titles. And, despite currently finding himself sixth in Hooter’s Pro Cup North points, Fogleman has decided to expand his racing resume by joining the PASS South Super Late Models. He recently purchased a Super Late Model from his Hooter’s Pro Cup teammate Gary St. Amant and quickly showed that he will be a contender wherever he goes by leading laps and finishing fourth in the South Carolina Clash at the Dillon Motor Speedway. Plans are for Fogleman to race in the Daniel Boone Classic at Tennessee’s Newport Speedway and return again for the Mason-Dixon 500 at the South Boston Speedway. The 2009 season should see Fogleman run even more PASS South events, with an eye possibly towards competing for the championship.
At the upcoming Piedmont Pride 125 at the Caraway Speedway, South Carolina veteran Hal Goodson comes back to PASS South Super Late Model racing. Despite only having one career start with PASS South back in 2006, Super Late Model racing is where Goodson cut his teeth. First, by racing near his Darlington, SC home, at the Florence and Myrtle Beach Speedways in the late 1980’s and then by racing in Concord Motorsport Park’s now defunct Big 10 Series. From there, Goodson’s career flourished. He won two NASCAR All Pro Series titles in 1995 and 1997 before having more success and wins in the USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup Series. In recent years, Goodson has been racing locally in the SuperTruck division at the Dillon Motor Speedway. Now, the 44-year-old veteran has another chance to rekindle the magic that made him one of the 1990’s top short track drivers in the country by joining car owner Jesse Lynch. Lynch started the 2008 PASS South season with Strom Altman behind the wheel. The combination struggled and did not manage a finish within the top 20. After another disappointing result with Jason Calhoun at Dillon, Lynch turns to Goodson in the hopes of improving the performance of his Dodges. The move could prove fruitful as Goodson has competed at a number of the tracks on the remainder of the 2008 PASS South schedule.
Unlike Fogleman and Goodson, Trey Mitchell comes to PASS minus the lofty resume of the two former champions. However, for Mitchell, he has age and a wise tutor to help mentor him in his first PASS South start coming up in the Piedmont Pride 125 at Caraway. Former PASS South winner Freddie Query is Mitchell’s crew chief and has been with him this year in other touring series as well as at South Alabama Speedway’s Viper Series. Mitchell hopes having Query back on familiar ground will enhance the learning process even more
“It’s going to be pretty cool to bring Freddie back to the PASS South Series,” said Mitchell. “I know he’s had some success in the series, so hopefully it will rub off on me. Unfortunately, Freddie won’t be able to be at Caraway, but Colt (James) will be just as good an asset come race day.”
The 19-year-old Texas native has relocated to North Carolina for college and is looking forward to his first start with the PASS South Super Late Models.
“It’s going to be awesome to run with the PASS South guys at Caraway, I have heard so many good things about the series and the competition level pretty much speaks for itself,” said Mitchell. “We plan to run as many races as we can with PASS between now and the end of the year just for the simple fact that I need as much seat time as possible and what better way to get it than going up against the best drivers in the Southeast and there’s no doubt that PASS can deliver that.”
In addition, to Fogleman, Goodson, and Mitchell word has it that several other new faces could join the PASS South regulars as they visit upcoming track in September and October.
PASS South is back in action with back to back races in the coming weeks. On Saturday, August 30th, PASS South makes their first trip to the Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC for the Piedmont Pride 125. Then, it’s another first time trip as PASS South heads into the Great Smokey Mountains for the Daniel Boone Classic on Saturday, September 6th and the Newport Speedway.
For information on any PASS division go to www. racewithpass.com . For marketing or media questions contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or for technical information contact Scott Reed at 207-625-3230