CHARLOTTE, NC (September 1) – Few motorsports events have generated as much buzz as the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) plan to bring racing back to the Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway slated for this weekend. The PASS South Super Late Models will race for 200 laps and will be the featured division in this weekend’s Inaugural Labor Day Classic. In addition to the PASS South Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Stadium Stocks, and the Allison Legacy cars will also be competing on a weekend celebrating the history of short track racing. It is only fitting that racing legends Bobby and Donnie Allison have been named Grand Marshals of short track racing’s newest tradition.
“I can’t think of a better way to get this great event started than to have the Allison brothers as Grand Marshals of the Labor Day Classic,” said Mayberry. “Both Bobby and Donnie are known around the country for their ability on short tracks and I think it is wonderful that they can share racing’s return to North Wilkesboro with all of our racers and fans.”
Bobby Allison has four wins at North Wilkesboro, 24 top five’s, and 29 top ten’s in 41 starts from 1966 through 1988. Donnie Allison is well known for his versatility behind the wheel finishing fourth in the 1971 Indianapolis 500 and for his part in making the 1979 Daytona 500 one of the most memorable in racing history. In 1988, Donnie, along with his sons Donald, Ronald, and Kenny founded the Allison Legacy Series and helped jump start the careers of drivers such as Joey Logano, David Ragan, and Brian Vickers. One of the newest stars to come from the Allison Legacy Series is Donnie’s grandson, Justin Allison. Justin began racing in the Allison Legacy Series in 2006. He is the current series point leader and has won six races so far in 2010. In July, Justin began his climb up the racing ladder by stepping into Robert Hamke’s powerful PASS South Super Late Model at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway finishing 17th in the Firecracker 125. Allison followed that up at PASS South’s Daniel Boone Classic at the Newport Speedway by running in the top ten much of the race eventually finishing 11th. This weekend Allison faces his toughest challenge yet …200 green flag laps at the .625 mile North Wilkesboro Speedway.
While the support divisions will have single-file restarts, fans can expect the same exciting brand of PASS racing on Saturday afternoon when they will once again be treated to the nation’s best Super Late Model drivers bumping and gouging on double-file restarts and making live pit stops throughout the race.
“By having live pit stops, teams will have the opportunity to make their own strategy throughout the course of the race,” said Mayberry. “Some teams will pit early, some will pit late and try to charge hard for the win, all of these scenarios will play out and it should be great for fans to see how it will all turn out.”
Fans can look forward to a perfect day for racing Saturday with mostly sunny skies and a forecasted high temperature of 79 degrees
The Labor Day Classic weekend will kick off on Friday, September 3rd with gates opening at 11 AM. There will be a rotating practice for the PASS South Super Late Models, Allison Legacy, Limited Late Models, and Stadium Stocks beginning at 2 PM. Practice will run until 7 PM and gates will close at 8 PM. On Saturday, gates will open at 7 AM with rotating practice from 9:30 AM to 11:25 AM. Qualifying will begin at 11:30 AM for the Allison Legacy cars, Limited Late Models, and PASS South Super Late Models. The Stadium Stocks will draw for their feature starting positions if there are less than 36 cars and will run heat races if there are more than 36 cars in attendance. Racing will begin at 2 PM with a 25 lap main event for the Stadium Stocks, to be followed by the last chance race for the PASS South Super Late Models, a 35 lap event for the Allison Legacy cars, and a 50 lap event for the Limited Late Models. The PASS South Super Late Models will compete in the final event of the weekend racing for 200 laps in the Inaugural Labor Day Classic. The complete weekend schedule can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
The PASS South Super Late Models will utilize the Labor Day Classic as a tune-up for next year’s North Wilkesboro 300, which will pay $75,000 to the winner. PASS eligible drivers could take home $100,000 if they are the first to reach the checkered flag. The North Wilkesboro 300 promises to be one of the biggest events in Super Late Model history and will take place April 7-9, 2011.