CHARLOTTE, NC :: A second generation racer and the series all-time wins leader have been added to an already impressive list of pre-entries for this weekend’s 9th Annual Orange Blossom Special at Orange County Speedway for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models. Harrison Burton, who has also filed an entry for the upcoming Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory, and Preston Peltier join a strong group of contenders looking to take the checkered flag in Saturday night’s third race of the 2014 season for North America’s most diverse Super Late Model series.
Burton will be making his PASS South Super Late Model debut this season in the Dex Imaging/Cessna/Morton Building’s #12 following a successful 2013 which saw him score a pair of PASS Pro Late Model victories at South Carolina’s Dillon Motor Speedway. But, this will not be his first foray into PASS South racing, having qualified for two of the biggest events on last year’s calendar, the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway and the Mason Dixon Meltdown at Southern National Motorsports Park.
Harrison’s father, Jeff, a 21-time Cup Series winner and former regular at Orange County Speedway in the Late Model Stock division, is excited for the opportunity to see his son race at one of the places he cut his racing teeth on. Orange County also happens to be near where he grew up at in nearby South Boston, VA.
“Harrison is excited to be running at Orange County this weekend for sure,” said Jeff Burton. “It’s a track that I raced on a lot during my time in Late Model Stocks. It will be fun for me to go back there to watch my son race on that track for the first time.”
Joining Burton as a recent entrant to the Orange Blossom Special will be a driver who is no stranger to victory lane in PASS South. Preston Peltier has a total of 10 career PASS South Super Late Model wins, more than any other driver in series history. And, Orange County Speedway definitely has to rank up there as one of Peltier’s favorite tracks since his first series win came there back in 2009.
“Chances are always good for a victory at Orange County,” said Peltier, who also plans to compete in the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory in a couple of weeks. “I love the next two tracks. There’s always good racing at Orange County and Hickory.”
Peltier’s influence in PASS South is at an all-time high with two of his proteges, Tyler Church and Cole Timm, currently leading the PASS South standings and contending for wins at nearly every stop on the schedule.
“It’s good that those guys are running well,” said Peltier, who will pilot the Sig’s Tire Centers #26 at Orange CountySaturday night. “Right now, all of our cars are set up the same. Those two are just outdriving me right now. I plan to get my focus back though at the Orange Blossom Special.”
PASS South points leaders Church, Timm, and Jared Irvan are among the contenders for victory at Orange County. Local favorite Tate Fogleman carries the banner for Bull City Race Cars following his dad, Jay’s, exciting PASS South win there last October. Defending PASS Pro Late Model champion Trevor Noles will be back as he looks to get his season on track, along with fellow Pro Late Model graduate Tyler Audie, who will be making his first start of the season. Veteran Randy Gentry returns after his third-place finish to start the season at Greenville along with fellow South Carolina driver Ted Mickelson. Fellow veterans Brandon Ward, Jody Measamer, John Batten, Joe Heigl and Jimmy Doyle have also filed entries as they look to build on strong runs in the past at Orange County this weekend. PASS North veteran Derek Ramstrom will make the tow down from Massachusetts, while Canadian Steve Halpin joins Kevin Powell behind the wheel of the Woodman Racing entries. Newcomers Trey Jarrell, Joey Padgett, Kiel Spaulding, and Brendon Bock will all be making their PASS South Super Late Model debuts at this weekend’s Orange Blossom Special. Rookies Brandon Setzer, Tyler Dippel, Matt Daley, and Tanner Rumburg fill out the slate of early entrants seeking a win at Orange County Speedway.
Entry forms and the weekend schedule for the Orange Blossom Special at Orange County Speedway can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
Action gets under way on Friday, April 4th at Orange County Speedway with rotating practice from 3 – 6:40 PM for the PASS South Super Late Models, PASS Pro Late Models, and Legends. On Saturday, April 5th, pit gates will open at 11 AM for the 9th Annual Orange Blossom Special, with rotating practice for all divisions from 1 – 3:10 PM. Qualifying will begin at 4 PM and racing will start at 6 PM, featuring 150 laps for the PASS South Super Late Models, 50 laps for the PASS Pro Late Models, and 25 laps for the Legends cars.
