Florida racing season heats up with PASS Winterfest 150 at New Smyrna
NAPLES ME (1/13) Super Late Model racers from all over the eastern seaboard are ready to shake off the winter doldrums and take on the high banks of New Smyrna Speedway when the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models invade the sunshine state on January 30th for The PASS WInterfest 150.
The entry list is growing daily and all indications point to a battle royal between Florida’s fastest, the PASS super late model touring pros and a host of outlaws that seek out the biggest races and the toughest competition.
Tim Russell was first to file his entry for Winterfest and the Apopka driver has to be considered one of the favorites. He’s got plenty of extra distance event wins at the legendary short track, and it will be tough to beat the home track boys at their own game. Still, there’s a bunch of tough customers that are going to give it their best shot, including four time PASS North Super Late Model Champion Johnny Clark, who will make the trip from Maine to tackle New Smyrna. Lonnie Sommerville is a journeyman racer from the Canadian Maritimes, and he can’t wait to take on the challenge. Brandon Ward has taken over the wheel of Jeff and Jane Day’s potent New Day Motorsports entry, and you can expect this combination from Winston-Salem North Carolina to make some noise right out of the box. Dale Brackett is making a run at the PASS National Championship in 2010, and he will tow all the way from Strong Maine for round one of the five race PASS National Championship schedule.
Local racer Shane Snipes will be behind the wheel of a Mike Skinner owned super late model, and two of the best from the Carolinas, Jay Fogleman and Preston Peltier, have both committed to the January 30 race. Heath Hindman will make the trip from Tennessee and North Carolina’s Clay Jones has his race car prepared for the 150 green flag laps that are one of the signatures of the Pro All Stars. Since the series’ inception in 2001, all feature events race the advertised distance under green; all restarts are double file, so the action is guaranteed to be fast and furious for all 150 laps round the tough oval.
For the hardcore race fan it will be a double header weekend of diverse motorsport. Just up the road at Daytona International Speedway the Rolex 24 at Daytona gets the green at 3:30 on January 30 and the checkered won’t drop until 3:30 PM on Sunday January 31th. It’s one of the most grueling endurance racing around and short track and road racing fans alike have a rare and unique opportunity to see the best of two motorsport worlds on the weekend of January 30 and 31.
All teams will have the opportunity to practice on Friday January 29 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Pit gates will open at 12:00 Noon. On race day January 30 the pit area opens at 10:00 AM, practice runs from 12:00 to 2:30 PM and Super Late Model time trials get underway at 3:30 P.M.
For more information visit www.racewithpass.com or www.proallstarsseries.com. New Smyrna Speedway is on line at www.newsmyrnaspeedway.net . Address media and marketing questions to Norm Desjardins at (603) 539-3368. For technical information please contact PASS Technical Director Scott Reed at (207) 625-3230.