CHARLOTTE, NC (October 7) – Each and every year when the temperatures fall and the leaves begin to change color, racers around the country look forward to the major events that mark the end of another racing season. It is no different for the teams of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model division. Three races remain on the 2008 schedule and each of them carries plenty of money and their own share of prestige. Those races are the Howler 150 on October 18th at the Greenville-Pickens (SC) Speedway paying $5, 500 to win, the Mason Dixon 500 on October 25th at South Boston (VA) Speedway paying $10,000 to win, and the Thanksgiving Classic on November 29th at the Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, NC paying $5,000 to win. Over the coming weeks we will look at each of these races individually and at what makes each of them stand out in their own right.
The 2nd Annual Howler 150 will build on two very successful events held at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway by the PASS South Super Late Models. Last year’s, Howler 150 was dominated by the PASS North contingent as they took the top three positions with Farmington, ME’s Cassius Clark taking the win. It wasn’t easy though as Clark, 4-time PASS North champion Ben Rowe, and Greenville-Pickens dominator Jeff Fultz went back and forth, lap after lap, thrilling the fans as they duked it out for the lead.
The South faired much better in this year’s Firecracker 125 with Alex Haase taking the win in a slugfest with Corey Williams and Fultz. Williams mounted an unbelievable charge back in July’s race after starting from the rear due to a mechanical problem during qualifying. Not only did Williams pass cars using the high line, he used an extremely high line, just inches away from the wall that many long time Greenville-Pickens fans said reminded them of a line used by 1971 track champion Johnny Allen. Williams took the lead late in the race from Justin Wakefield and stretched his lead to what looked like a sure victory. However, late cautions, including one for Wakefield crashing hard in turn one, allowed Haase to drive around Williams for his second straight win of 2008 in the Kyle Busch Foundation Toyota.
The 2nd Annual Howler 150 looks to be bigger and badder with much more on the line heading back to Greenville-Pickens Speedway. This year’s race will not only be a points race for the PASS South championship, but it will also be the last race of the Inaugural PASS Champions Series, set up to crown the first ever PASS National Champion. The stakes coming to the Howler are just as tight as the points. Entering Greenville-Pickens, Cassius Clark holds a 15 point lead in PASS National points over 15-year-old phenom, John Stancill. In the first three PASS National races, both Clark and Stancill have finished in the top five twice. Should either of those drivers have problems, Ben Rowe sits third in points within striking distance. Clark should feel optimistic, though, having won the Howler 150 in 2007.
While all of that is going on, there is also a great battle for the PASS South championship. Williams holds a 24 point advantage over Haase and just 72 points separate the top five in the PASS South standings. One of the favorites to take the win has to be a driver not in the top five in points, Justin Wakefield. Wakefield led the most laps at Greenville-Pickens in July and has taken wins in the second half of the season at the Dillon (SC) Motor Speedway and the Caraway (NC) Speedway. Those drivers will be joined by other top PASS South contenders such as Alex Fleming, John Batten, Dean Clattenburg, and Brian Royalty. In addition to those drivers a strong contingent of other Super Late Model competitors are expected including Hal Goodson, Jeff Fultz, Logan Ruffin, Trey Mitchell, and John Wes Townley.
As if that were not enough, kids and parents will once again get to kick Halloween off a few days early. Kids of all ages are encouraged to wear there costumes to Greenville-Pickens for a Halloween costume contest and some trick-or-treating with the PASS South teams during the pit party. There will also be a production crew from NASCAR Media Group at Greenville-Pickens conducting interviews with drivers and shooting footage for an upcoming episode of SPEED’s NASCAR Confidential.
PASS South Super Late Model action returns for the 2nd Annual Howler 150 at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway with activities getting underway on Friday, October 17th with practice for the PASS South Super Late Models and support divisions from 4 PM through 7 PM. On Saturday, October 18th, pit gates will open 11 AM, practice will be from 1 PM to 3:10 PM, PASS South qualifying will be at 4 PM, the pit party will be at 6:15 PM, and main events will start at 7:15 PM. Joining the PASS South Super Late Models for the 2nd Annual Howler 150 will be the Allison Legacy Cars, Chargers, and Renegades.