CHARLOTTE, NC (June 18) – After nearly a month off thanks to mother nature, the East Coast’s top Super Late Model drivers will have a chance to showcase their talents at two of the country’s top short tracks this weekend. On Saturday, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models and PASS Pro Late Models will return to Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, NC, while the PASS North Super Late Models and PASS Modifieds will be back in action on Sunday at Maine’s legendary Oxford Plains Speedway.
Fans and competitors around the Southeast are excited for PASS South’s trip back to Southern National for the Rumble In the Pines 150. In April, the series returned to the fast, high banked speedway for the first time since 2009 with a field of over 30 PASS South Super Late Models vying for top honors in the Dogwood Blossom 150. The race proved to be a grueling test of man and machine that came down to a late-race battle between rivals Preston Peltier and Jay Fogleman. Peltier passed Fogleman with less than 30 laps to go, but Fogleman followed closely in his tire tracks over the remaining laps. But, as the field took the white flag, rookie Brandon Lynn lost an engine which resulted in Peltier sliding through the oil and out of the lead. Fogleman was able to avoid the mayhem to take his sole victory this season. Now, with several local races having been run at the speedway over the last couple of months and high temperatures expected for this weekend’s race, there will be a premium on finding the ideal set-up.
Thanks in part to his win at Southern National back in April, Fogleman leads the PASS South Super Late Model standings heading back there this weekend. But, with just a scant four point advantage over defending PASS South Champion Kyle Grissom, Fogleman realizes the added importance of a good finish in the Rumble In The Pines 150.
Following the most recent PASS South event held at Caraway Speedway, a new contingent asserted themselves at the front of the field and served notice that they will be contenders for throughout the rest of the season. Brandon Ward brought a new car out at Caraway, leading a number of laps before being sidelined by mechanical problems. South Carolina veteran Randy Gentry also led laps before fading late and finishing tenth.
But the biggest surprises at Caraway came in the drivers that finished behind Grissom and Fogleman in the top five. Jared Irvan, the son of 1991 Daytona 500 winner Ernie Irvan, had a hard crash at Southern National in April, but is primed to rebound after a third place finish at Caraway. Likewise, John Batten and Justin Allison, who finished fourth and fifth last time out, seemed to have also turned the corner in recent weeks. And, perhaps Batten could be the dark horse favorite heading to the Rumble In The Pines 150 since he is a former two-time Super Late Model track champion at Southern National.
The best of the best in Super Late Model racing will once again headline the action at Southern National Motorsports Park led by PASS South points leader Jay Fogleman, defending series champion Kyle Grissom, along with Brandon Ward, John Batten, Bill Catania, Justin Allison, and Bobby Measmer, Jr. Dillon winner Austin Theriault returns to the seat of the Brad Keselowski Racing #29 along with teammate Zak Hausler. Veterans Randy Gentry and Jody Measamer return looking to back up their strong runs as of late along with talented upstarts Jared Irvan, Tate Fogleman, Cole Timm, and Karl Weber. Virginia driver Tanner Rumberg returns to the site of his PASS South debut a couple of months ago while rookies Bobby Gower and Joseph Mursuli try to build more momentum. Trevor Noles climbs back into the Coulter Motorsports #2 at what he considers a “home track.” Jerrick Johnson hopes to get his season turned around for Godfather Motorsports.
Action gets underway on Friday for all divisions at Southern National Motorsports Park with an optional practice with gates opening at 12:30 PM and practice until 6:30 PM. On Saturday, there will be rotating practice for the PASS South Super Late Models, PASS Pro Late Models, Chargers, and U-Cars from 12:30 – 4:15 PM, followed by qualifying at 4:50 PM and main event racing slated to begin at 7:00 PM.
Entry list and schedule for this weekend’s PASS South events at Southern National Motorsports Park and the PASS North events at Oxford Plains Speedway can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
PASS North Super Late Model entry forms for Oxford Plains Speedway, Canaan Speedway, and Beech Ridge Motor Speedway as well as PASS South Super Late Model entry forms for Southern National Motorsports Park and Anderson Motor Speedway and the 40th Annual TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
The Pro All Stars Series is recognized as North America’s premier sanctioning body for asphalt Super Late Models and boasts such marquee events as the PASS Northwest Triple Crown at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, PASS South’s Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway, the Autobus La Qubecoise Triple Crown at Autodrome Chaudiere, and the legendary TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway.