SAT. NOV. 24TH
THE THANKSGIVING CLASSIC /
THE MASON-DIXON MELTDOWN

Concord Top Three: L to R - 3rd Colt James #15, 3rd;
Winner Preston Peltier #26; & Kyle Grissom #31, 2nd.
Kyle Grissom celebrates his 2012 PASS South Series championship in his rookie season behind the wheel of a super late model machine.
Preston Peltier did all he could to win his second PASS South Series championship by winning the Mason Dixon 200 at the Concord Speedway. Fellow competitor Kyle Grissom finished second to Peltier clinching the 2012 championship by four points over Peltier.
Peltier Wins Meltdown at Concord; Fogleman & Grissom
Snare PASS Titles
CHARLOTTE, NC (November 25) – Preston Peltier took the lead from Landon Cling on a lap 136 restart and pulled away for his first win in the Thanksgiving Classic/Mason Dixon Meltdown at Concord Speedway. The win was Peltier’s third of 2012 and pushes his Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model win total to a series best of nine. Peltier’s first PASS South win at his home track propelled him to second in points, just four points shy of capturing the series championship from Kyle Grissom who finished second.

“This car was just awesome right there at the end, we just missed the championship there by a few points, but I just really enjoy racing these guys and we’ll be back even better next year,” said Peltier, after his fourth top 5 finish in five PASS South races at Concord. “I was a little bit scared because I thought we pitted a too early and I wasn’t sure we would have enough tire left at the end. Luckily, everything played in our favor and we were able to get the win.”

Earlier in the day, Texas driver Trey Mitchell scorched the half-mile triangle in qualifying with a lap of 15.575 seconds for his first career PASS South pole. But, after the top 10 qualifiers re-drew for their starting positions in the Thanksgiving Classic/Mason Dixon Meltdown, Mitchell would start back in 10th. PASS South championship contender Brandon Ward and Landon Cling led the field down for the start with Ward jumping out to an early lead. The first caution flag flew on lap 14 as Mitchell and Peltier were battling for sixth position and made contact. Mitchell went for a spin in turn one and was narrowly missed by several drivers who had to take evasive action.

In the early going, PASS South points leader Kyle Grissom struggled mightily with the handling on his Harrison’s Workwear Chevrolet, falling out of the top ten just 34 laps into the 200 lap race. While Grissom struggled, Landon Cling appeared to be in a league of his own. Cling took the lead from Ward on lap 48 and set sail, leading the field by up to two seconds at times during the race. By lap 94, Ward had fallen out of the top ten as he struggled with an ill handling car.

Local Concord favorite and former PASS South winner Roger Lee Newton ran as high as second, but stopped on the track with a mechanical problem to bring out the fifth caution of the race with 82 laps to go. Under this caution period, Cling led all but three of the lead lap cars onto pit road for four fresh Hoosier tires and fuel. Nate Caruth, Mark Reedy and Cole Timm pitted on a lap 78 caution and would inherit the lead on the ensuing restart. It only took Cling two laps to dispense of Caruth and retake the lead. But, as the field entered turn three on lap 121, Reedy slowed after contact from another car resulting in a melee behind him. Ward and Ben Rowe spun collecting Bill Catania, Timm, and Steve Laking in a cloud of smoke and fluid. With the track blocked, the red flag waved as clean-up crews rolled to out clear the track of cars and debris.

On the next restart, the lead pack encountered more problems with Caruth and Gray Gaulding going for a spin in turn one resulting in major damage to the machines of PASS South championship contender Jay Fogleman and Brandon Jones. Fogleman continued on although his car had suffered significant body and suspension damage, while Jones went behind the wall and finished 18th.

Cling continued to have the dominant car, but gave up the lead to Peltier on a lap 135 caution to pit for an engine problem. Despite the setback, Cling’s Brad Keselowski Racing Dodge made its way back into the top five and appeared to still have a shot at the win. With less than 20 laps to go, Cling’s machine almost spun exiting turn three due to a broken axle, ending his chances for victory. Cling still managed to finish ninth though due to high attrition in the second half of the event.

Peltier was able to stretch his lead in the waning laps as a spirited battle for second waged between Grissom, defending race winner Colt James, and Trey Mitchell. Although he appeared to have a faster car, James showed great respect in racing Grissom, who was on the verge of his first PASS South championship.

Peltier proved to have the dominant car in the late going and cruised to the win finishing two seconds ahead of Grissom. James finished third, ahead of a spinning Mitchell, and Fogleman. Although he came up short in his bid to win the PASS South championship, Fogleman held on to win his first PASS National championship, the first touring championship in the storied career of the North Carolina veteran.

“It’s great to win the PASS National Championship, we really have worked hard the last few years to win it,” said Fogleman, who ended the year with wins at Motor Mile Speedway and in the North South Shootout at Caraway Speedway. “We really, really, really were hunting that PASS South Championship though and it’s just a bad disappointment to not get a chance to race for it.”

For Grissom, the PASS South Championship was certainly a goal at the start of the 2012 season, but he and his Greg Marlowe led team came into the year as unknowns. After all, both had made their names racing in the heavier Late Model Stock cars that compete predominantly in the Carolinas and Virginia. Prior to 2012, neither Grissom nor Marlowe had raced in more than five Super Late Model contests in total. But, after a dominating win in the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway, it was clear that Grissom and his team had what it took to be a factor for the rest of the year. And, that they were, winning a record tying five PASS South Series races in 2012. Despite some late season problems, Grissom had built up enough of a cushion to take his first championship.

“This Marlowe Racing Chassis has just been flawless all year long and it’s been incredible that we’ve been able to build a car and go out here in our first year and do all this…We’ve had a lot of fun this year and it’s just been awesome,” said Grissom. “I had always heard how competitive the PASS South Series was, there’s a lot of young guys and guys who’ve been doing it for a while, it’s just unbelievable that we were able to get off to the start that we did and even more amazing that we could hold on and win the championship.”

Although the 2012 season has ended, there is a lot of excitement about the 2013 season. Schedules for the PASS South and PASS North Super Late Models have been released and the schedules for the PASS National Series, PASS Pro Late Models, PASS Modifieds, and PASS Sportsman will be coming out soon.
OFFICIAL PASS SOUTH/NAT'L SLM RESULTS
200 Laps - Concord Speedway - 11/24/12
1. 26 – Preston Peltier  - 200 laps
2. 31 – Kyle Grissom  - 200 laps
3. 15 – Colt James - 200 laps
4. 47 – Trey Mitchell - 200 laps
5. 4 – Jay Fogleman - 200 laps
6. 14 – Clete Caywood - 200 laps
7. 48 – John Batten - 200 laps
8. 50 – Karl Weber - 196 laps
9. 29 – Landon Cling - 180 laps
10. 2 – Gray Gaulding - 178 laps
11. 2n – Matt Matheson - 172 laps
12. 84 – Kyle Beattie - 168 laps
13. 12 – Mark Reedy - 166 laps
14. 57 – Cole Timm - 158 laps
15. 44 – Steve Laking - 158 laps
16. 64 – Garrett Evans - 139 laps
17. 19 – Nate Caruth - 132 laps
18. 33j – Brandon Jones - 122 laps
19. 4n – Ben Rowe - 121 laps
20. 62 – Brandon Ward - 120 laps
21. 18 – Bill Catania - 120 laps
22. 33 – Roger Lee Newton - 118 laps
23. 73 – Joey Doiron - 92 laps
24. 51 – Bobby Measmer, Jr. - 37 laps
| Received Entries - Concord - 11/24 |
Trevor Noles took the win in the debut of the new PASS Pro Late Model division
Austin Leitner celebrates Super Limited/PASS Pro Late Model championship
Trevor Noles Dominates Debut Of PASS Pro Late Models at Concord Speedway
ACONCORD, NC (November 25) – Trevor Noles took the lead on lap 16 and led the rest of the way to win the first ever PASS Pro Late Model race on Saturday at Concord Speedway. Ironically, Noles won the final Super Limited race at Hickory Motor Speedway in September, the division the PASS Pro Late Models were derived from originally.

“I’ve just got to thank my whole Coulter Motorsports crew, they give me this great hotrod and we were able to take the Noles Cabinets Toyota to victory lane again,” said Noles. “This is definitely different from what I started out in Late Model Stocks and I love it.”

Pole sitter Adam Welch led the opening 16 laps until the first caution waved on lap 16 for a hard crash into the turn one wall by Kody Evans. On the restart, Welch’s car stumbled allowing Noles to take the lead. Noles would never surrender the lead for the remainder of the 75 lap event. Following Noles to the checkered flag were Kerry Lawrence, Hayes Goodson, Austin Leitner, and Jeff Batten.

On the strength of three wins and steadfast consistency, Leitner claimed the first ever Super Limited/PASS Pro Late Model championship. Leitner ‘s Theory Racing Chassis Chevrolet was a perimeter-style car like the Late Model Stocks that are so popular in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Despite racing a field stacked with strong straight railed chassis’ similar to the PASS Super Late Models, Leitner proved with hard work and talent that the perimeters are far from at a disadvantage.

“We had a great year in 2012 and to be with a perimeter car, I think we did excellent,” said Leitner. “We had this Late Model Stock sitting in the shop and we said instead of building a new car, let’s take this thing out there and beat those straight rail guys.”

After a very successful campaign this year, PASS Pro Late Model teams, new and old alike, are hard at work in preparation for the 2013 season. The 2013 PASS Pro Late Model schedule is nearing completion and will be released by December.
OFFICIAL PASS PRO LATE MODEL RESULTS
75 Laps - Concord Speedway - 11/24/12
1. 16 – Trevor Noles
2. 03 – Kerry Lawrence
3. 16g – Hayes Goodson
4. 5 – Austin Leitner
5. 49 – Jeff Batten
6. 36 – Tyler Dayton
7. 4 – Tate Fogleman
8. 71 – Adam Welch
9. 02 – Walker Yates
10. 4g – Kody Evans

 

Series Contact:  Tommy Mayberry - (207) 693-6497

email: passracing@roadrunner.com

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nmarx-dtp@comcast.net

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