COPPER HILL, VA :: We continue our look back at the best of 2013 with a look back at the best of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS). PASS is the most diverse Super Late Model series in America with races all across the United States East Coast, the Pacific Northwest and in Canada.
The PASS North tour saw eight different winners in 12 races and the PASS South tour saw eight different winners in 16 races. Some of the races in the tours were part of the PASS National Championship series in which the six races that counted for national points saw six different winners.
The racing in PASS once again featured some of the best Super Late Model racing has to offer. We take a look back at all the best things in PASS.
Best Race: Orange Blossom Special (Orange County Speedway – October 19, 2013)
The Orange Blossom Special was an exceptional race which saw incredible racing up front all night long. Kyle Grissom, John Hunter Nemecheck, Tyler Church and Jody Measamer all battled for the race lead through the early and middle stages of the race. The first major incident occurred on lap 40 when Brandon Ward wrecked off the front bumper of Randy Gentry. Gentry was parked by series officials for rough driving as tempers flared between the two teams. As the race progressed, eventual series champion Jay Fogleman found himself up front and contending for the win. Preston Peltier, who had looped his car around 360° on two occasions, rebounded and also saw himself towards the front late in the race. The second of the two incidents came after contact from Fogleman leaving Peltier miffed at the reigning national champion.
As the laps wound down, the intensity picked up and the action got wild. Nemecheck ended up being the race’s ninth caution after bouncing off the wall racing Grissom for the lead and then making contact with Fogleman. After the next restart, Church made contact with Grissom while racing for the lead sending Grissom to the wall and Church to the rear of the field after being penalized by PASS officials. On the final restart of the race, Fogleman got the best of Measamer and went on to score the victory at his hometown track over Peltier and Church.
Best Moment: TD Bank 250 (Oxford Plains Speedway – July 21, 2013)
The Oxford 250, now known as the TD Bank 250, returned as a Super Late Model race for the first time since 2007. 67 cars attempted to qualify for the race making it the largest field in all of Super Late Model racing in 2013. Several southern Super Late Model teams attempted to make the race rekindling the magic of years’ past. Popular Maine driver Travis Benjamin scored the victory in the race, his first Oxford 250 win.
Honorable mention: Tyler Church’s first career victory as an underdog at Hickory Motor Speedway on September 22nd.
Best Finish: South Carolina Clash (Dillon Motor Speedway – March 9, 2013)
Preston Peltier started the South Carolina Clash in 10th in the South Carolina Clash at Dillon Motor Speedway. Heworked his way up through the field through the course of the race and took the lead on lap 101. After losing the lead on a restart, he got back up front on lap 116 and stayed there through much of the remainder of the race. Coming to the white flag, Peltier was leading and looked to have the victory in hand. Behind him was Austin Theriault who was waiting for the opportunity to have a shot to take the lead. The two cars entered turn three with lapped traffic ahead. Peltier had to check up behind the lapped car of John Hunter Nemecheck which gave Theriault the opportunity to get to the inside. Theriault got around Peltier in turn four as the two drivers slammed doors. Theriault held on coming to the checkered flag to score his first career PASS South victory by a margin of .120 seconds, the closest finish in series history.
Honorable mention: Fogleman wins at Southern National on April 13th after race leader Preston Peltier slips in oil laid down by Brandon Ward’s car on the final lap of the race. Peltier managed to salvage a second place finish.
Best Rivalry: Jay Fogleman vs. Preston Peltier
The two winningest drivers in PASS South history saw a rivalry reach its climax in 2013. Preston Peltier has 10 wins in PASS South competition and Jay Fogleman has nine wins. The two drivers have been the top two drivers in the series over the last five seasons. Their rivalry began heating up at the Mason Dixon Meltdown in Concord back in 2012. What started out as a competitive rivalry turned in to a feud at Orange County after the two drivers made contact which sent Peltier around. Fogleman went on to win the race while Peltier stewed. Peltier went to victory lane after the race to confront Fogleman and a brawl ensued.
Best Driver: Jay Fogleman
Jay Fogleman became the first repeat PASS National Champion in series history while also winning the PASS South championship. Fogleman scored two victories in the PASS South tour (Southern National in April, Orange County in October) and finished third in PASS’ premier event, the TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. Fogleman also scored a second place finish at Autodrome Chaudière in Canada. Fogleman had 11 top 10 finishes in 14 starts on the PASS South tour and recorded four top 10s in five starts in National Championship races.
All in all, PASS racing proved to be the most versatile Super Late Model tour once again in 2013 with races all across the region. PASS will expand its presence in 2014 beginning with the season opener at New Smyrna Speedway on February 8th. PASS will visit new tracks this year and return to old tracks as well with dates announced at Franklin County Speedway, Star Speedway in New Hampshire, Montmagny Speedway in Canada, Greenville-Pickens Speedway and Ace Speedway among other tracks that have been added to the 2014 calendar.
In 2013, PASS saw 14 different drivers visit victory lane in the PASS North and South touring races. All six national events were won by different racers. Those winners were Joey Doiron (Auburndale), Preston Peltier (Hickory), Travis Benjamin (Oxford), Ross Kenseth (Autodrome Chaudière ), Austin Theriault (Beech Ridge) and Tyler Church (Southern National). PASS North winners included Cassius Clark, DJ Shaw, Patrick Paperle, Travis Benjamin, Kyle Busch, Joey Doiron, Ross Kenseth and Austin Theriault. PASS South winners included Austin Theriault, Kyle Grissom, Preston Peltier, Jay Fogleman, Ross Kenseth, Daniel Hemric, Tyler Church and Ben Rowe.
RACE22.com will continue to provide Live Coverage of PASS racing in 2014. Our look back at the best of the 2013 racing season will continue throughout the week and month.
