Naples, ME 8/4/09– With the month of August comes the hottest part of the summer for much of the North Carolina region. Kids will quickly begin preparing to go back to school as the summer months come to a close. But before that time approaches there will be a different “schooling” of sorts that will take place at the Orange County Speedway when the super late model cars and stars of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South make their second and final stop of 2009 at the 3/8th mile Rougemont, NC facility on Saturday August 8th.for the “Southern Sizzler”.
Since the series last visited the North Carolina speed plant just three different drivers have earned wins over the last seven events. Preston Peltier captured his first career PASS South series win, piloting Harold Johnson’s #26 machine to victory in the “Orange Blossom Special”. That win at Orange County laid the groundwork for Peltier to win two of the next three races and finish fourth in the one race where he didn’t manage to take home the hardware at night’s end.
The one driver who interrupted Peltier’s rhythm of wins is Jay Fogleman. He lives just down the road a piece in Durham NC and he’s familiar with the OC Speedway; he has to be considered one of the favorites to win the Southern Sizzler. Fogleman has racked up three wins this season including the most recent PASS South event at Newport Speedway just a few weeks ago. Fogleman is now tied with Corey Williams as the all time leader in PASS South series victories. Look for Fogleman in his usual calm and cool demeanor to be there at the end with a shot to win.
Georgia native Justin Wakefield, who picked up his first win of the year in the Independence 150 at Hickory on July 5th, along with Ben Rowe, the current points leader and winner of the first two events of the season, are the only other drivers to visit victory lane this season. While Ryan Blaney has not yet been able to “seal the deal” this season and get his first win, he along with his Dave Blaney Racing team have produced some of the quickest cars week in and week out. With a third place finish earlier in the year at the Orange Blossom Special it’s a good chance that Blaney could break through with a win in Rougemont.
PASS South regulars Heath Hindman, John Batten Floridian Joey Coulter, Texan Trey Mitchell, Brad McCaskill, South Carolinians Clete Caywood and Jeff Bolen are but a few of those that will be trying to score at Orange County. There is as good chance that a part time competitor will steal a win from the series regulars, just as PASS North competitor and Maine native Trevor Sanborn did a year ago winning both Orange County Speedway events.
Who will be the teacher and who will be the students? Only 150 laps of green flag racing with double file restarts each and every time will tell.
PASS Late Model trucks, The Allison Legacy Series, OC Limiteds, Pro Challenge, Legends and Bandeleros share Saturday night’s card with the PASS s Super Late Models. Time trials go under the green at 5:30 PM and feature racing is scheduled for a 7:00 PM start. For more information and directions to Orange County Speedway, visit www.ocstrack.com .