Naples ME (March 19, 2008) The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South super late models will kick off 2008 in a big way on Saturday March 22 when the third annual Easter Bunny 150 rolls off at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway.
The pre-entry list for the “Easter Bunny” looks like a who’s who of super late model racing, a healthy mix of veterans and young guns from Colorado to Canada.
Naturally, there’s a strong contingent of North Carolina’s fastest Super Late Model shoes entered. Blake Lehr, Spencer Wauters, Tom McCann Jr., and Dean Clattenburg are all on the list. So are Brandon Johnson, Zach Stroupe, Jimmy Doyle and Mark Gibson.Three time 2007 PASS South winner Corey Williams is a transplanted Mainer that now calls North Carolina home.
There’s more championships represented than one can count. Standouts include both 2006 and 2007 PASS South Champions, Mike Rowe and Ryan Lawler; both drivers earned Easter Bunny wins in their championship seasons. Butch Miller is a three time ASA Champion, and Floridian Jeff Choquette is the reigning ASA LMS South title holder. >From north of the border comes three-time Carquest Tour champion John Fleming. Ben Rowe has four PASS North titles under his belt and he’s a threat to visit victory lane whenever he’s in the field.
PASS North regulars Cassius Clark, Travis Benjamin, and Derek Ranstrom will try to crack the starting field. Vermont’s Eric Chase and New Yorker Joe Burns will both be attempting their first PASS South points starts.
From the west, there’s Colorado’s Mitch Cobb in the Bill Elliott Racing entry and Oklahoman Keaton Feller. Las Vegas native Alex Haase will attempt to qualify a Kyle Busch-owned super late model. All told, drivers from sixteen states and Canada are now on the entry list. There will be a host of teams that simply show up on race day and PASS officials expect this third edition of the Easter Bunny 150 to be the biggest ever, with some surprise entrants that will add even more depth to the talent-laden field.
The Easter Bunny is also round one of the inaugural PASS National Championship Series, four races that will crown the first Pro All Stars Series National Champion. The Southern Sizzler 200 at Orange County Speedway on July 19, the 2nd Annual Howler 150 at Greenville-Pickens Speedway on October 18 and the PASS 400 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on September 21, 2008 complete the National Championship slate.
Rolling Thunder Mods, the Pro Challenge Series and the Allison Legacy Series round out the Easter Bunny card. The kids will be treated to a visit from the Easter Bunny and an Easter egg hunt, plus kids of all ages will have an opportunity to wish good luck to their favorite drivers during the trackside autograph session. Time trials are set for 1:30 PM, with racing scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM. The PASS Super Late Models will be lined up on the front stretch for the driver’s autograph session and the Easter egg hunt at 5:15 PM, and the 3rd Annual PASS South Easter Bunny 150 is scheduled to take the green flag at 6:15 PM (all times approximate and subject to change).