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Justin Wakefield &
Carswell Motorsports
Ready to Launch 2008
at the PASS Easter Bunny 150 |
Justin Wakefield and his team are
looking forward to getting back to Super Late Model Racing for the 2008
season by running for both the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South and
National Championships.
After four successful seasons in the NASCAR Autozone Elite Division that
included a win in the final race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, the
team spent 2007 racing the heavier stock cars of the ultra competitive
Hooters Pro Cup Series.
Team owner Jake Carswell explains, "When NASCAR ended our series, there
was no other series to race our type of cars so we went to Hooters.
Later on, we raced with PASS between our Hooters schedule, and we really
felt at home. With the great schedule that they have put together for
2008 we decided to come over to PASS full time." There will be one big
difference for the team this year; they spent the winter building a new
Port City straight rail chassis. Justin Wakefield is excited about the
new car "To race with PASS before, we converted our NASCAR car to fit
their rules. It was always competitive in the race but was at a
disadvantage weight wise. This year we put together a new offset chassis
and I really love the way it drives. We tested at Hickory this week and
the car really felt great, I can't wait to see what it will do in a
race." The team will be consulted again this year by legendary short
track driver, Jody Ridley. Justin says, "Having Jody in our pits is such
an advantage, he picks up on so many little things that we miss."
Look for Justin and the team driving the familiar blue #98 Ford at
Hickory and other PASS races throughout 2008. |
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Countdown to the
3rd Annual Easter Bunny 150:
Lawler Started 2007 South Championship Charge with Easter Bunny
Triumph |
Charlotte NC (March 13, 21008) After
a successful debut season, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super
Late Models were ready to kick off 2007 where it all started, the
Hickory Motor Speedway. What greeted the crews and drivers was the
coldest day in North Carolina in over 80 years. While 20 degree
temperatures might be the norm for the contingent of drivers making the
trek down from New England, it was anything but normal for those who are
used to celebrating Easter in short sleeves. Despite the cold weather,
37 of the best Super Late Model drivers in the country were set to
battle it out in the South�s first major race of the season.
| Several contenders fell out
early due to various problems. Fast qualifier Preston Peltier
led early, but dropped out with a mechanical problem. Defending
Easter Bunny 150 winner Mike Rowe soon fell off the pace and his
#2 PT Watts machine was smashed by another competitor, knocking
him from contention. That left 2006 rookie sensation Ryan Lawler
and former PASS North Champions Ben Rowe and Johnny Clark to
duke it out for the checkered flag. Lawler had a trick up his
sleeve though. In the 2006 Over the Mountain 150 at Hickory,
Lawler had motor problems and had to fall back on a crate engine
with less horsepower. Thanks to the reduced horsepower, Lawler
was able to conserve his tires and take the win in that race.
Lawler and his Robert Hamke led team elected to bring that motor
back for the Easter Bunny. |
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"I can't get enough of this place,"
said Lawler prior to the race. "It's my kind of racetrack. It's worn
out, it's fun, and you've got to get up on the wheel. I like that."
A back-and-forth battle would wage between Lawler, Rowe, and Clark, but
both Rowe and Clark would be plagued by flat American Racer tires. They
both had plans on how to deal with Lawler when it came down to the
checkered flag, but a long stretch of green flag racing late in the race
ended their chances to try out those plans.
"It was pretty early on when we had our flat tire, so there were still a
lot of cars on the track," said Ben Rowe. "I knew that I could get to
him [Lawler] on a restart, so I just backed off and saved my stuff, but
that yellow never came."
"I honestly thought that we would have been able to beat Lawler," said
Clark afterwards. "I was just trying to keep him in my sights. That tire
didn't help the situation, but hey, that's racing."
Lawler would hold on to take the victory in the 2nd Annual Easter Bunny
150 over Ben Rowe, Tim Nooner, Clark, and Dean Clattenburg.
�I knew that we were going to win some races, but I didn�t know we�d be
this good here,� said the jubilant Texan in victory lane. �We qualified
sixth and it was a little bit tough in qualifying, but at the end of the
race I don�t think you can beat a crate motor when it comes to saving
tires.�
In 2007, as it happened in 2006, the winner of the Easter Bunny 150
would go on to win the PASS South Super Late Model championship. Over 50
drivers are expected to make their way to �America�s Most Famous Short
Track� to see if they can take the Easter Bunny and make a run for the
championship.
The 3rd Annual Easter Bunny 150 is Saturday, March 22nd at the legendary
Hickory Motor Speedway. Qualifying is at 1:30pm, racing at 3:00pm, and
the Easter Bunny 150 is slated to begin at 6:00pm. The Easter Bunny 150
will be the first of the four race Champions Series for 2008. PASS
Champions Series races will also be held July 19th at Orange County
Speedway, September 21st at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, and October 18th
at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway. |
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Canadian Shawn Turple
Enters Easter Bunny 150
SLM Standout Will Make Long Tow
From Canadian Maritimes to Hickory
|
Shawn Turple's 2008 race season will
start early this year and it won't be in the snow-covered Maritimes - or
anywhere else in Canada for that matter. Turple, along with car owner
Stephen Henderson and five crew members, will make the trek to North
Carolina next week to compete in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super
Late Model South season opener on March 22nd at the well-known Hickory
Motor Speedway.
The 3rd Annual Easter Bunny 150 will mark the third year the PASS South
Series has been underway and will be Turple's first PASS South series
race. 2008 is scheduled to be Turple's fourth full-time pro-stock season
and he can't wait to get it started.
"It's very exciting to be able to go racing in March and to have the
opportunity to race at such a historic track," said Turple.
Turple joined the Dexter Construction Pro Stock team in 2007 and is
happy with the outcome.
"Stevie and the guys were great with welcoming me to the team and I
think we really meshed well last season, we really had a great year and
I just can't wait to get a head start on 2008."
Turple led the Maritime Pro Stock Tour points race for the majority of
2007,and ended up with a solid 2nd place finish. However, Turple's
thoughts are not focused on the Maritimes for the time being - as he
understands the competition he is heading into next week.
"The competition at Hickory is definitely going to be the toughest I've
faced yet on a track I've never even seen. We hear it's a mix between
New Brunswick International Speedway in Fredericton and the Centre for
Speed in Shediac, New Brunswick, so I'm prepared for some banking on a
tight track where you're constantly turning."
The Dexter Construction team has a brand new car for the race; a 2008
Distance Racing Chassis Impala SS. The team is ready to go with plans to
head down on Wednesday, March 19th and arrive just in time for open
practice on Friday, followed by qualifying and the main feature on
Saturday, March 22nd. |
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Butch
Miller
Enters
PASS South
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NAPLES ME (March 10, 2008) A spokesperson
for SS- Green Light Racing has confirmed that short track racing legend
Butch Miller will enter the March 22nd Pro All Stars Series (PASS)
South Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway.
Miller is well known as one of the most successful drivers to ever grace
the short track racing scene. A three time ASA National Champion ,
Miller ranks third on the all-time ASA wins list (50), first on the
all-time poles list (51) and second on the all-time laps led list (over
10,000). He has made a gradual move from the driver�s seat to the top
of the pit box as a key leader of SS-Green Light Racing. His role
consists of coach and crew chief to SS-Green Lights� young talent. He
also supports the team as a competition advisor. A rare off weekend from
the teams� extensive racing schedule will allow Miller to challenge a
deep field of PASS South entrants that hail from twelve states and
Canada.
PASS officials are anticipating a record field for the third annual
south season opener, and the Saturday schedule has been revised to
reflect this. Be sure to click on
www.racewithpass.com to view the revised race day schedule, as well
as a regularly updated entry list for the PASS South Easter Bunny 150. |
|
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Countdown to the
3rd Annual Easter Bunny 150:
Maine Racing Legend Mike Rowe Wins Inaugural PASS South Easter
Bunny 150 |
CHARLOTTE NC (March 6, 2008) The
birth of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model division
came about in a very unconventional way. While the PASS North Super Late
Models were enjoying success, Super Late Model racing in the Carolinas
was all but dead. Only three tracks were running the division full-time
and Concord Motorsport Park was struggling to revitalize the Big 10
Series. Through a series of chance conversations, PASS President Tom
Mayberry decided to give it a go in January of 2006 and created PASS
South. With only a few weeks before the first series race at Hickory
Motor Speedway, the odds were against everybody involved.
| On a warm spring day in
North Carolina, 33 Super Late Models from across the country
came together and people began to take notice that Super Late
Model racing still had a pulse. Fans were treated to qualifying
and heat races for all the competitors. In the Dash to determine
the top eight starting positions, Maine�s Mike Rowe and
Florida�s Travis Kittleson raced wheel-to-wheel and banged
fenders on occasion with Rowe coming out on top.
�Mike Rowe is a tough racer,�
said Kittleson. �He didn�t do anything I wouldn�t have done. The
thing that I like about him is that after that happened and
after watching him, I know I can race hard with him.� |
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When the green flag dropped on the
Inaugural Easter Bunny 150, Rowe jumped out into the lead ahead of
Kittleson. Kittleson would run strong, but eventually fell out with
mechanical problems. Rowe�s first major challenger came from a foe he
knew well from Maine, Cassius Clark. Clark took the lead and quickly
established himself as the car to beat. Just as quickly, though, he was
out of the race due to mechanical problems.
�The car was flying. It was hooked up,� said Clark afterward. �I started
to feel a vibration, and then the left rear axle came apart and killed
our night.�
Throughout the field drivers were battling each other hard, while trying
to learn one another at the same time. Add that to the fact, many
drivers in the field had never been in races that incorporated
double-file restarts and only counted green flag laps. After Clark�s
departure, Georgia�s Jason Hogan and Maine�s Scott Mulkern were waging a
war for the lead. Back and forth the two went until contact on the front
straightaway. The result: Hogan hard into the wall, while Mulkern would
go on to finish fourth.
�It was a little too early to be racing that hard,� said Hogan. �I�m not
saying that I�m upset�but you try not to right-rear somebody because
that has the potential to really hurt them.�
�I just fell horrible for Jason,� said Mulkern of the incident. �He
didn�t know I was there and he came over. I just couldn�t slow up
enough. He came over and that turned him into the wall.�
In the end, the race came down to a battle between Rowe and CRA standout
Chuck Barnes. Barnes took the lead from Rowe late only to have Rowe come
back on the final restart and retake the lead. Rowe held on to etch his
name in the record books as the first ever PASS South winner.
�To beat Jason Hogan, Travis Kittleson�I know that he had some bad luck,
but he was fast�Freddie Query and guys like them. To be in the class of
guys like that is just awesome,� said Rowe of his win.
�I am really impressed with PASS,� said Barnes. �I had fun, the tech is
fair and everybody is really nice. I think that will go real far for
them.�
Following Rowe and Barnes to the checkered flag were Clay Rogers,
Mulkern, and Ryan Lawler in his first ever Super Late Model start.
Fittingly, Rowe would go on to become the first PASS South Series
champion. In 2008, again starting at Hickory, Rowe and many more hope to
become the first PASS National Champion. The 3rd Annual Easter Bunny 150
comes up on March 22nd at Hickory Motor Speedway. |
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To Sponsor "Best Appearing Car" Award |
|
The Pro All Stars Series (PASS)
South Super Late Model Series is pleased to announce that
Pro Photo Productions will return in 2008
as sponsor of the �Best Appearing Car� Award.
Pro Photo Productions came on late in the 2007 season and is glad to be
back in 2008.
�We�re really glad to have Pro Photo Productions back with the PASS
South Series in 2008,� said Tom Mayberry, President of PASS. �I think
most of our competitors take pride in the way their cars look and this
is a way to give back to them for their creativity.�
By sponsoring the �Best Appearing Car� Award, Pro Photo Productions will
present the winner at each of the 14 PASS South Series races a plaque
featuring the winning paint scheme.
Pro Photo Productions will be at each PASS South Series event with a
variety of photographs available for purchase for competitors and fans
alike. In addition, Pro Photo Productions will also be taping and
producing each event for purchase. These productions will feature racing
action as well as interviews with the competitors.
To sample their work please go to
prophotoproductions.com.
For information on the PASS South Series, go to
racewithpass.com. If you need
more information contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or technical
director Scott Reed at 207-625-3230. |
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New Names Abound in Early
PASS South Registration |
Charlotte, NC
(March 3, 2008) � With the 2008 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super
Late Model season opener just around the corner, many are wondering who
might show up at the pit gates come March 22nd at Hickory
(NC) Motor Speedway.
While names such as Lawler, Rowe, and Clark are all expected to be
favorites for the PASS National Series crown, it�s the new names already
showing up on the roster that have a lot of people interested.
And, with 2007 PASS South Series Champion Ryan Lawler and leading
race winner Corey Williams running limited schedules, those new names
have an even better shot at showing up in the record books.
Tayla Orleans looks to be the first woman
to ever qualify for a PASS South Series event at
Hickory. The 15-year-old
driver originally from
Wrentham,
Massachusetts began her racing career at the
tender age of 7. Out of 120 races, Tayla scored 92
top 5�s with 31 of those being wins. Since 2006,
Tayla has been competing in the Allison Legacy Series and in 2007 she
went to victory lane four times at four different
New England speedways. Tayla now resides
in Randleman,
NC with her family and will compete in select
PASS South Series races while racing full-time in the Allison Legacy
National Touring Series.
Strom Altman comes to the PASS South Series
after a long and successful career racing in his home state of
South Carolina. Strom began
racing in the NASCAR Late Model Stock division in the early 1990�s at
the now defunct Summerville Speedway. In 1997, the
North Charleston, SC
native moved into the newly created Late Model Supertruck division.
Since then, he has become one of the most successful Supertruck
drivers in South Carolina
winning numerous races at the Florence Motor Speedway and the Myrtle
Beach Speedway. Altman will be behind the wheel of
Jesse Lynch�s Dodge Charger as they look to be consistent PASS South
contenders.
Late in 2007 Riverview,
Florida driver Perry Brown
ventured into the PASS South Series and competed in the final three
races. Brown wasted little time asserting himself,
finishing in the top 10 twice. Prior to coming to
PASS South, Perry raced in the ultra competitive Sunbelt Super Late
Model division in Florida�s
FASCAR. With top tens already achieved, Perry hopes
to break into the top five, or better yet, PASS South victory lane.
Blake Lehr, like Perry Brown, also competed
in the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series. In 1999, at
the age of 8, Blake began his racing career driving a 345-pound, 11
horsepower Ultramax Go-Kart. By 2005, he finished
second nationally on the dirt tracks of the World Karting Association,
taking 4 state championships in
Florida. In 2006, it was off
to the Open Wheel Modifieds of the Gulf Coast Modified division.
By 2007, Blake was racing full-time driving Super Late Models in
Florida�s Sunbelt Series taking a win, a pole, and
eight top five�s on the way to finishing fifth in points.
And now, Blake Lehr and has family have moved from Florida to
Waxhaw, NC ready to challenge for the 2008 PASS South Super Late Model
championship.
Michael Pope comes to the PASS South Super Late Models having gained
valuable experience in the Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS).
18-year-old Michael started his racing career in 1997 driving
Go-Karts. From Go-Karts it was on to INEX Bandeleros
and INEX Legends cars. He took 12 Semi-Pro Legends
features wins in 2004 and decided it was time to move to GAS.
By 2007, the Dubin, GA speedster was a threat every week taking a
win at Peach State Speedway and finishing third in the season ending
points. As of now, Michael plans to compete in seven
PASS South Series events with a possibility of more.
Although Justin Wakefield has made several starts with the PASS South
Series, 2008 will be different. Different because he
plans on running all 14 events and challenging for the 2008
championship. It�s a goal the
Woodstock, Georgia
driver feels is achievable. Under the tutelage of
Super Late Model legend Jody Ridley,
Wakefield contended for the 2005 NASCAR Southeast
Series championship, even taking the win in the final series event at
Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
Wakefield
and his team hope their familiar #98 can find PASS South victory lane
for the first time in 2008.
Without a doubt, one of the toughest Super Late Models to race anywhere
in the country is the #5 Victor Ford owned by Richie Wauters.
Wauters cars have gone to victory lane with a number of drivers,
including J.R. Norris who won the NASCAR Southeast Series Championship
for Wauters in 2005. This year, the #5 will be back
on track with a Wauters behind the wheel.
Spencer Wauters of
Concord, North Carolina
hopes to learn and at the same time take his dad�s #5 back to victory
lane in the PASS South Series.
At
14 years of age, Ayden,
North Carolina's John
Stancill is one of the youngest competitors to join the PASS
South Super Late Models. Like so many others, John
began racing Go-Karts at the age of 5 and then made the move up to
Bandeleros. John�s real success though came in the
INEX Legends cars. In just his sixth race, John
finished fourth in the 2006 Legends Nationals at Lanier National
Speedway in Georgia.
The 2007 season was the breakout year, though, winning 27 races
en route to becoming the 2007 INEX Legends Semi-Pro National Champion.
This year, John joins Mark Huff to compete on the full PASS South
schedule as well as select Hooter�s Pro Cup events.
The final driver we profile is
Altus,
Oklahoma driver Keaton
Feller. Keaton won numerous Bandelero and
Legends events from 2002 to 2006. In 2007, Keaton
raced in the ASA Challenge Series and was the GM Performance Parts
Shootout winner at Cedar Rapids,
Iowa. Keaton will no doubt
keep a busy schedule in 2008. He will split his
season racing Super Late Models and Trucks throughout the American
Southwest. However, Keaton plans on racing in all
three PASS South events that make up the PASS National Championship
Series. Those races will be at Hickory Motor
Speedway on March 22nd, Orange County Speedway on July 19th,
and Greenville-Pickens Speedway on October 18th.
The fourth PASS National Championship Series event will be held
on September 21st at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in
Scarborough,
ME.
These are just a few of the new faces set to join the PASS South Series
in 2008, but who else will join them at
Hickory?
You�ll just have to come and see for yourself!
For
information on PASS, go to
racewithpass.com. For more information contact
Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or technical director Scott Reed at
207-625-3230. |
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New Tracks Mean New Challenges
for PASS South Teams |
NAPLES
ME
(February 23, 2008) New venues abound on the 2008 Pro All Stars Series
(PASS) South schedule, and the addition of these speedways to the mix
creates an X factor in the chase for the 2008 PASS South Super Late
Model Championship.
PASS South will
kick off 2008 on familiar ground at Hickory (NC)
Motor Speedway on March 22nd. The Easter Bunny 150
enters its third season as the South opener, and serves as round one of
the inaugural four race PASS National Championship series. Look for a
host of PASS North invaders to join their Southern brethren for this
one.
Once the Easter
Bunny is in the records books, PASS South teams will journey to the
first of three new venues in a row. Dillon (SC)
Motor Speedway will host the South Carolina Clash on Saturday
April 5th, and the 4/10 mile egg shaped speedway will
present a new challenge to the PASS touring pros. Then it�s off to South
Georgia on Saturday April 26th for a first time visit to
Cordele�s Watermelon Capital Speedway. The
D-shaped 3/8 mile at Watermelon has plenty of racing room, with no walls
off the corners and the long curved backstretch. It�s another track that
will test the touring teams� setup skills and should produce the kind of
fast, close racing that PASS Super Late Models are so well known for.
If you haven�t been
to Radford Virginia's Motor Mile Speedway,
you�ve missed out on one of the east�s fastest and most attractive short
tracks. On Saturday May 10th you�ll have the opportunity to
see the fastest full fendered race cars in the east take on this super
fast oval for the first time. With 55 feet of racing room all the way
around and plenty of banking, this beautiful 10,000 seat oval can be
counted on for some fast, exciting action.
Saturday June 23rd
will see the first PASS South visit to Raleigh North Carolina�s
Wake County Speedway. This tight little
bullring measures just under a quarter mile in the racing groove and
with walls all the way around, both inside and outside, racing room is
at a premium. Patience, a good set up, and perhaps home track experience
could easily produce a surprise winner at Wake County.
Asheboro North
Carolina�s historic Caraway Speedway will
host the PASS South traveling pros for the first time on Saturday August
30th, and the very next weekend will see the first PASS South
visit to the Volunteer State. Newport Tennessee�s
Newport Speedway is the last of six new ovals on the 2008
schedule and the September 6th show down will play a major
role in deciding the PASS South Championship as the season begins its
stretch run to the finale, the Mason Dixon 500 at South Boston (VA)
Speedway on Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th.
A diverse, expanded
schedule awaits PASS South racers and race fans for 2008. The
competition will be fast, tough, and wide open. One things for certain,
though. The driver and team that can best adapt to these six new
speedways will have a great shot at taking down the 2008 PASS South
title.
Visit the
PASS
Master Schedule HERE, featuring links to
every speedway that the sanctioning body visits. |
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PASS South
Rookie
Blake Lehr
Has Lofty Goals
for 2008 |
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CHARLOTTE NC (February 7 2008) Blake
Lehr has never been one to back down from a challenge. For 2008 that
challenge will be a lofty one, competing in the ultra-competitive Pro
All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model division. At just 17
years of age Blake has already accomplished a lot in his young career.
In 1999 at the age of 8, Blake began his racing career driving a
345-pound, 11 horsepower Ultramax Go-Kart. In 2005 he finished second
nationally on the dirt tracks of the World Karting Association, taking
four state championships in Florida. In 2006 it was off to the Open
Wheel Modifieds of the Gulf Coast Modified division. 2007 saw Blake
racing full-time driving Super Late Models in Florida�s Sunbelt Series,
earning one win and eight top five finishes on the way to fifth in the
point standings. And now, Blake Lehr and has family have moved from
Florida to Waxhaw, NC, ready to challenge for the 2008 PASS South Super
Late Model championship.
lehrjetracing.com
�We first heard about the PASS Series in 2006 when some of their drivers
came down to Florida to race in SpeedFest,� said Lehr. �I was really
impressed by how competitive the PASS drivers were and that made us
think that we needed to begin traveling ourselves.�
While racing in the Sunbelt Series, Lehr was able to travel to a few
different race tracks racing drivers predominantly from Florida. Blake
and his team are very aware that the 2008 season with the PASS South
Series will be tough, racing at a variety of different tracks on the 14
race schedule with drivers from all across the country.
�I like the diversity of the different tracks we�ll be going to and
trying to figure out the best way to get around them,� said Lehr. �I
think it�s cool when you race at a quarter-mile like Wake County and
then go to a big, flat half-mile like Greenville-Pickens, racing on old
asphalt versus new. It�s fun.�
Lehr is already scouting out some of the venues that will be new to him,
having recently visited the Hickory Motor Speedway for the first time.
Blake thinks he will be well prepared when the 2008 PASS South season
kicks off on March 22nd with the 3rd Annual Easter Bunny 150.
�I�ve never raced at Hickory, but it looks like a really fun track and
I�m excited to go there,� said Lehr.
At Hickory, Lehr will have former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Glenn
Allen, Jr. in his pits offering advice gained through three Nationwide
Series starts there as a driver. �Having Glenn with us at Hickory will
be huge since he�s raced there before and he knows some of the tricks
that Hickory can throw at you,� said Lehr.
The PASS South Series isn�t all that Blake will be gunning for in 2008.
He has plans to race in the PASS Champion�s Series as well. The
Champion�s Series begins at Hickory in March, and then it�s off to
Orange County for the Southern Sizzler on July 19th, followed by the
PASS 400 weekend at Beech Ridge in Scarborough, ME on September 21st,
concluding at Greenville-Pickens with The Howler 150 on October 18th.
Blake also plans to attempt to qualify for the $30,000 to win, DNK
Select 250 at Wiscasset (ME) Raceway on August 17th.
�I think it�s exciting,� said Lehr. �It reminds me of the old go-kart
days when we used to travel to New York and all over the place. I love
to race and I think it�s going to be great racing at all of these tracks
and showing the Northern guys what us guys from the South can do on
their home turf.�
Besides Blake�s busy schedule, his goals are big. Just being there and
making races is not going to be good enough for the young Floridian.
�In PASS South, I�d love to win the championship and rookie of the year
award,� said a confident Lehr. �I think we can do it and I just want to
represent our marketing partners the best we can and have fun doing it.�
The key is fun. And if Blake Lehr and his family run team can say that
at the end of 2008, they just might be able to accomplish everything
they hope to.
For information about the PASS South Super Late Models please contact
Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039. For technical information contact Scott Reed
at 207-625-3230. |
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Big Bucks on the Line
for PASS South
Three
extra distance races will see
the
winner�s share double to $10,000 |
Naples ME - January 31 2008 �
Historically the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) has offered up some of the
best pay offs for super late model racers in the southeast, and the
series� expanded fourteen race 2008 schedule is dotted with extra
distance, big purse events.
While all PASS South 150 lap events pay a minimum of $5,000.00 to win
and $500.00 to start, three extra distance races will see the winner�s
share double to $10,000.00.
The July 18-19 PASS South weekend at Rougemont North Carolinas�
beautiful Orange County Speedway is set for 200 laps, and the victor
will head home from the high banked 3/8th mile speedway $10,000.00
richer. A total purse of over $48,000 will be up for grabs for the 32
car starting field. The Orange County 200
is the second leg of the four - race PASS National Championship Series,
and race fans will see the top guns from both PASS Super Late Model
series on hand for this big event.
Although it�s not a part of the PASS South championship chase, you can
expect a number of PASS South teams to make the drive up Interstate 95
for the PASS 400 Weekend at Scarborough
Maine�s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on September 20th and 21st. Already a
well established event on the PASS North schedule, the 300 lap Super
late Model race is stop number three for the PASS National Championship
Series and a tough contingent of PASS South teams are expected to
challenge the North series racers on their home turf. Again, it�s a
$10,000 check for the winner and the purse will crack the $50,000.00
mark in cash and contingency awards. It�s a can�t miss weekend for race
fans with the PASS Super Late Models, Outlaws, Mods and Sportsman all in
action.
The PASS South championship weekend returns to South Boston (VA)
Speedway for 2008 and the Mason-Dixon 500
promises to be a barnburner! The PASS South title will be decided in a
250 lap, $10,000.00 to win free for all on Saturday October 25th. Fans
will find the Mason-Dixon 500 twice as nice as an open competition, 250
lap, $10,000.00 to win Late Model Stock Car feature is also on Sunday's
card. Both series will practice and qualify on Friday, October 24th. |
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PASS South Licenses, Entry Forms Available Now |
NAPLES ME � The Pro All Stars Series
(PASS) South Super Late Model season is rapidly approaching and its time
for both new and returning PASS South competitors to file for their 2008
license and car number.
PASS
2008 South Licensed Drivers Here
PASS South has an ambitious fourteen race schedule on tap with five new
venues added to the southern series. In addition, the PASS South and
North Super Late Model divisions will square off in a four race National
Championship Series that will include several $10,000.00 to win events.
View the schedules
HERE.
PASS license holders receive 100 bonus points at all PASS sanctioned
events, are eligible for provisional starting positions based on their
position in the PASS SLM South point standings, and receive discounted
entry fees for most events. Only one PASS license is required for each
race team.
PASS
2008 South License Here
A combination North/South combo license is also available for a $400
fee.
Returning PASS South teams have already been mailed entry forms for the
first two events of 2008, The Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory (NC) Motor
Speedway on March 22nd and the April 5th 125 lapper at Dillon (SC) Motor
Speedway. Deadline for early entry is March 12th for Hickory and March
25th for Dillon. Entry forms may also be downloaded from the
yellow panel to the right of this story.
For membership and car number availability please contact Amanda
Mayberry at
(207)693-6497 or
passracing@roadrunner.com. Technical questions should be
directed to Scott Reed at 207-625-3230 between the hours of 6:00 PM and
9:00 PM. |
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PASS
South Champion Ryan Lawler Focuses on New Goals for 2008
- Craftsman Trucks
&
PASS
National Championship
SLM Campaign |
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Throughout Ryan Lawler�s young
career, he has lived by the motto that �bigger is better.� That�s only
fitting considering that he is a native of Colleyville, Texas. At only
20 years of age, Ryan has accomplished much in his young career. In
1999, he was the Texas state champion in the INEX Bandelero division. He
followed that up with three more state championships in INEX Semi-Pro
and Pro Legends classes. Lawler�s name quickly came to prominence when
he finished second to Mike Rowe for the Inaugural PASS South Super Late
Model championship in 2006. In 2007, with two wins, Ryan won the PASS
South championship and emerged as one of stock car racing�s drivers of
the future. In addition to his PASS South championship in 2007, Lawler
won one of the nation�s most prestigious short track events taking the
checkered flag in the legendary Winchester 400.
�Winchester was definitely the biggest win of my career,� said Lawler.
�It was funny at Lakeland [where he finished second] how much notice we
got in the garage area thanks to the Winchester win and the PASS South
championship.�
Like so much of his career thus far, Ryan hopes that bigger will once
again mean better. He will join veteran driver and crew chief Bobby
Dotter in at least seven NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driving the #07
Truck in 2008.
�As always we would like to win as many races as possible, but this year
I think I definitely need to learn more about saving equipment and
staying out of trouble in the longer Truck Series races,� said Lawler.
With an increased emphasis on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Ryan�s
time in the PASS South Super Late Model could be limited. Lawler and his
car owner Robert Hamke have sold all of last year�s Super Late Models
but one. You can rest assured, though, that Lawler and the entire #31
team will be at Hickory for the 3rd Annual Easter Bunny 150 looking for
their third win in five starts at �the birthplace of the NASCAR stars.�
�No doubt we would�ve had three-in-a-row at Hickory had we not had
alternator problems last fall,� said Lawler. �We�re going back for the
Easter Bunny to see if we can get a good start in the PASS Champions
Series.�
Although Ryan might not be at all the races as he has been over the
first two seasons of the PASS South Super Late Models, he hopes to be at
the four races that make up the PASS Champions Series. The Champions
Series starts at Hickory on March 22nd, followed by $10,000 to win shows
at Orange County on July 19th and Beech Ridge on September 21st. The
National Champion will be crowned at the final Champions Series race at
Greenville-Pickens on October 18th. Lawler thinks these races, along
with a $30,000 to win show at Wiscasset on August 17th and another
$10,000 to win race at South Boston on October 25th, will only help the
PASS Series continue to prosper.
�With the increased schedule and with Champions Series starting this
year, plus all the big races in the North and South, I think you will
continue to see more racers come on board to race with PASS,� said
Lawler.
As things continue to change in stock car racing, they also continue to
remain the same. And although Ryan Lawler will trade the familiar seat
of his PASS South Super Late Model for the pressure cooker of a NASCAR
Craftsman Truck, don�t be surprised to see him flash his winning smile
once again in 2008.
For information on the PASS South Super Late Models please contact Alan
Dietz at 704-231-2039. You can also find more information on PASS South
at racewithpass.com. For
technical information contact Scott Reed at 207-625-3230. |
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Super 2008 Schedule for
PASS North Super Late Models |
NAPLES ME - The 2008 Pro All Stars
Series (PASS) Super Late Model North schedule is complete and the
series� eighth season is highlighted by some big new races, a change in
the point format and a brand new series within a series.
The fastest full bodied race cars in the northeast will tackle a
fourteen race schedule with stops at eight of the top short track racing
venues in New England and Maritime Canada.
The season kicks off Saturday April 19th at Beech Ridge Speedway, and
the PASS SLM racers will return to the fan-friendly Scarborough Maine
oval on Saturday July 5th and Friday and Saturday September 20-21 for
the big PASS 400 weekend. Speedway 95 has been a part of the PASS
schedule since the series� inception and PASS will be back at the Hermon
ME oval on May 3rd.
FULL
STORY |
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PASS Announces
Champions Series
to Crown National Champion |
From the local Street Stock competitor to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
stars, it�s every driver�s goal to become a champion. Over the last
several years, PASS has crowned champions in its regional series�, the
PASS North and PASS South Super Late Model divisions. Beginning in 2008,
PASS will crown its first ever National Champion. Both the PASS North
and PASS South will have 14 race schedules that will award regional
championships in both divisions. Within those two schedules, there will
be a Champions Series that will determine who the PASS Super Late Model
National Champion will be.
All
Schedules HERE
�It has been our goal since we started the PASS South Series in 2006 to
eventually crown a National Champion,� said PASS President Tom Mayberry.
�We believe that with the strength of the PASS North and PASS South
Super Late Model divisions that 2008 is the right time to give back to
the drivers that support both our series.�
The PASS Super Late Model National Champion will be determined by the
driver with the most points compiled in four races; three PASS South
races and one PASS North race. The three PASS South events will be the
3rd Annual Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway on March 22, 2008,
the Southern Sizzler 200 at Orange County Speedway on July 19, 2008, and
the 2nd Annual Howler 150 at Greenville-Pickens Speedway on October 18,
2008. The PASS North event in the Champions Series will be the PASS 400
held at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on September 21, 2008.
Also, drivers will be able to drop their lowest finish so that only
their three best finishes will count towards the PASS National
Championship. A similar rule will also apply for the PASS North and PASS
South regional championships. Of the 14 races that comprise each of
those two regional schedules, drivers will be allowed to drop their two
lowest finishes.
�By dropping races in both the National Championship and Regional
Championships, we think that we can have an accurate view of who our
champions are,� said Mayberry. �If a driver has a problem or misses a
race, it�s not the end of the world. They still have a chance.�
Drivers that finish in the top 10 in PASS National points will receive
cash and awards to be announced at a later date.
PASS racing is not far away. PASS South Super Late Model action starts
with the first race of the Champions Series, the Easter Bunny 150 on
March 22nd at the Hickory Motor Speedway. The PASS North Super Late
Models begin their season at the Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on April 19,
2008.
For more information on the PASS South Super Late Models call Alan Dietz
at 704-231-2039 or visit these websites, proallstarsseries.com or
racewithpass.com. For technical information on any PASS division contact
Scott Reed at 207-625-3230. |
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PASS South Finalizes
2008 Schedule
Schedule HERE includes
more races & five new venues |
In just its
third year of existence, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South
Super Late Models look to embark on its most ambitious season
yet in 2008. The schedule will be made up of a mix of venues
including familiar favorites and new, challenging tracks to the
already impressive list of speedways.
For the first time in PASS South Series history, the schedule
increases from eight races to 14 races. The season will once
again begin at the Hickory Motor Speedway (NC) with the third
running of the Easter Bunny 150 on March 22nd. The series will
make a return trip to Hickory for the Over The Mountain 150 on
September 27th. Greenville-Pickens Speedway (SC) and Orange
County Speedway (NC) join Hickory in hosting two events each in
2008. Both the Lanier National Speedway (GA) and South Boston
Speedway (VA) return once again to host major race weekends.
New for the PASS South cars in 2008 will be trips to the Dillon
Motor Speedway (SC) on April 5th , Motor Mile Speedway (VA) on
May 10th, Wake County Speedway (NC) on June 20th, and Caraway
Speedway (NC) on August 30th. The series will also make its
farthest trek south with a visit to the Watermelon Capital
Speedway in Cordele, GA on April 26th, a race already entered by
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver David Ragan. In addition, the
PASS South Super Late Models will make their first trip into
Tennessee when the series visit�s the ultra fast, high-banked
Newport Speedway on September 6th.
�We�re really excited about the 2008 schedule,� said PASS
President Tom Mayberry. �We can�t wait to go back to tracks like
Hickory, Orange County and Lanier that have been with us since
the series started, but we also look forward to the challenge
that our new speedways will bring us.�
In addition to the 2008 schedule, there will be a major
announcement regarding qualifying procedures for the PASS South
Super Late Models coming very soon.
For more information on the PASS South Super Late Models, please
contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039. If you have technical
questions regarding any PASS series, please contact Scott Reed
at 207-625-3230.
Also, please be sure to visit the PASS South website at
racewithpass.com and
the official website of PASS at proallstarsseries.com.
2008 South Schedule HERE |
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PASS SOUTH ANNOUNCES
NEW 2008 QUALIFYING PROCEDURE |
After much thought and discussion, PASS President Tom Mayberry announced
today that starting in 2008 there will be a new qualifying procedure for
all PASS South Super Late Model events. This announcement will not
effect the PASS North Super Late Models or any other PASS-sanctioned
event.
�In reviewing our qualifying procedures, we felt this decision to amend
the rules was best in order to sustain the PASS South�s continued rise
and popularity, not only with the drivers, but with the fans as well,�
said PASS President Tom Mayberry.
Starting in 2008, PASS South Super Late Model teams will no longer have
to concern themselves with preparing for both qualifying and heat races
if they qualify in the top 20. If the qualifying time is fast enough,
teams are locked into the feature and can prepare for the main event.
However, drivers that qualify in the top 10 will redraw for their
starting positions in the main event. Drivers in positions 11 though 20
will line up in the positions that they qualified. Drivers that qualify
outside of the top 20 will be required to race in a last chance race to
fill out the remainder of the field. There will be two provisional
starters to round out the field based on the highest licensed driver in
PASS South Series points. Those drivers have to race in the last chance
race, though, and complete the given distance in order to receive a
provisional.
�We anticipate that our competitors will like the changes we have made,�
continued Mayberry. �But, despite the changes we have made to our
qualifying procedures, nothing will change in our race procedure. We
will continue with the famous double-file restarts and we will continue
to only count green flag laps. It�s what the fans have grown to love
about the PASS South Series.�
2008 PASS South Super Late Model Qualifying Format
- The top 20 teams on speed through time trials will be locked in
to the feature event.
- The fastest 10 teams will redraw following time trials for their
starting positions in
the feature event.
- Time trial positions 11 through 20 will start straight up in those
respective
qualified positions for the feature event.
- The remaining feature event positions will be determined through a
last chance
qualifying event for all competitors that
fail to qualify through time trials.
- Teams that qualify through the last chance race will be permitted to
purchase two
new tires for the feature event. In the
event a team elects to purchase the allowed two tires, that team is required to start the
feature event on the four tires they intend to complete the entire event on unless
otherwise posted.
- Two PASS South Series provisionals are awarded to the two highest
registered point
teams that fail to qualify for the event
through time trials or the last chance race.
Teams are required to compete in the last chance
race and complete the given distance to be eligible for a provisional starting
position.
For more information on the PASS South Series contact Alan Dietz at
704-231-2039.
For technical information on any PASS division contact Scott Reed at
207-625-3230. |