Kaz Grala took the lead from Jared Fryar for the final time with 32 laps to go and pulled away to score his first career Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model win Saturday night at South Boston Speedway. Grala joins Kyle Busch, Alex Haase, and Christopher Bell as drivers who have been able to take Kyle Busch-owned Toyotas to victory lane in PASS competition.
“Man, that was a blast, first PASS race ever and it definitely got hectic on those restarts,” said Grala afterwards in victory lane. “On the short run we were pretty snug on corner entry and free on exit, but it only took a couple of laps before it came back in. As soon as the car came back in we were able to hunt him [Fryar] back down and get under him. To sit on the pole and win my first PASS race is just awesome, I would have never imagined that.”
Grala paced qualifying with a lap of 93.288 miles per hour around the 4/10 mile speedway and would slot in second for the start following the top 10 qualifiers redraw alongside Fryar.
Fryar jumped into the lead at the drop of the green flag followed by Grala and PASS South points leader, Zane Smith, who was seeking his third straight series win. By lap 18, Grala had erased Fryar’s lead and moved into the top spot exiting turn four.
The car on the move in the early going belonged to Martinsville, VA driver Trey Jarrell. After starting 13th, Jarrell moved by Tate Fogleman and into the top 10 on lap 21. Jarrell continued to steadily make his way through the field moving by Spencer Davis into the top five on lap 86.
The first caution of the night would not wave until lap 103 when the last car on the lead lap driven by Robby Lyons spun in turn two right in front of Grala. Following the restart, Grala continued to lead, but all eyes were focused on a furious battle for fourth between Nick Robinson, Jarrell, and 2012 South Boston Speedway champion Matt Bowling, who was making his first career PASS South Super Late Model start. With 37 laps to go, Bowling and Jarrell made contact entering turn one sending both cars hard in to the outside wall and out of the race.
While under caution, Smith pitted from the third position due to an overheating problem, but would return to the race prior to the next restart. Back under green, Fryar made an impressive move on the high side to move around Grala for the lead on lap 116. But, just two laps later, Grala once again powered by Fryar to retake the lead. Veteran Clay Rogers, making his first start this season for the Coulter Motorsports team, took second from Fryar with an aggressive move with 29 laps to go. Grala maintained his advantage over Rogers to take his first career PASS South Super Late Model win. Smith bounced back to finish third over Fryar in fourth and Brandon Ward in fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Robinson, Matt Craig, Fogleman, Jody Measamer, and Lyons.
Jr. Motorsports teammates Josh Berry and William Byron took checkered flags in two wild Twin 75s for the NASCAR Late Model Stocks. Jessica Bean captured a thrilling win in the USAC Eastern Midget feature over Chris Lamb and Scott Hunter, while Dillon Spain led every lap for the Legends car win.
