CHARLOTTE, NC :: A star studded field of North America’s top short track drivers are just days away from taking to the legendary Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina for race one of the 2014 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) National Championship Series. The Fox Carolina 150 will double as the first PASS South Super Late Model race of the season and will also feature 50 laps for the PASS Pro Late Models and 75 laps for the Southeast Super Trucks.
The field of drivers pre-entered is stacked with champion drivers including former PASS National and PASS North Champion Ben Rowe, 2013 PASS Pro Late Model Champion Trevor Noles and Super Late Model touring champions Daniel Hemric and Travis Braden. But, those are not the only drivers racing at Greenville-Pickens Speedway this Saturday night who have achieved championship status.
Short track veteran Jay Fogleman enters the 2014 racing season at a crossroads. The Durham, NC driver is coming off one of the best seasons of his 30 year career. A season that included winning his second straight PASS National Championship, finally winning the elusive PASS South title, and a podium finish in the Oxford 250. But, despite his success, Fogleman will trim back his schedule substantially, competing in only the PASS National Championship Series events in order to spend more time fostering the budding career of his son, Tate.
That will wait at least one more week, though, as Fogleman focuses his attention on this weekend’s action behind the wheel at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. He won a thrilling PASS South race there in the summer of 2009 with conditions much different than what is expected for the Fox Carolina 150.
“The racetrack should have more grip this time of year and it should be a different type of race than what we’ve seen there in the summer,” said Fogleman. “It’s all about momentum and timing because the track is so flat and so line sensitive, it’s a driver’s race track. I’m looking forward to getting through this one and then getting to Dillon and getting on the pit box to help Tate.”
Like Fogleman, Farmington, ME’s Cassius Clark also captured an elusive championship in 2014, finally winning the PASS North title in a tight three way battle with Joey Doiron and DJ Shaw. But, Clark is not new to winning PASS championships or to winning races at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Clark won the first ever PASS South race held at the historic speedway in 2007. A year later, he was able to take home the first PASS National Championship, again at Greenville. Clark returns this year hoping, that with similar conditions to those of the fall, it will play into his hands once again.
“I think the track is very weather sensitive,” said Clark. “It’s a lot like Hickory in that there can be grip early in the year, but later in the year it’s a lot slicker. We went back there a few years ago and tried the top side, we moved up to the middle of the racetrack and found grip. But the next time we went, there was no grip up top. We probably won’t have a good idea of what the track will do until practice on Friday.”
Anthony Anders comes to Saturday night’s Fox Carolina 150 as a sort of wildcard. Over the last five years, Anders has been one of the Palmetto State’s most successful drivers. He won a track championship at Myrtle Beach Speedway in 2012 and followed that up by winning the championship at Greenville-Pickens last year, his first title at his hometrack. But those championships came behind the wheel of a Late Model Stock car. The Easley, SC driver has only raced his straight rail chassis sporadically, with a few starts at the now closed Lanier National Speedway and last year on the short track at Daytona International Speedway. This weekend Anders plans to compete in both the PASS South Super Late Model and PASS Pro Late Model features. Anders hopes his vast experience at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, along with some help from local PASS South veteran Randy Gentry, will pay off with a victory in the Fox Carolina 150.
“Tire management is definitely going to be key,” said Anders. “Greenville is always tough on tires and hard to get around with its flat turns. I think we’re gonna be at a slight disadvantage to the PASS regulars, but I’ve won a lot of races at Greenville in Late Model Stocks, including some 150 lappers. These cars are racier than what I’m used to and I’m looking forward to it. The PASS cars are just built to race.”
Among those pre-entered for the Fox Carolina 150 are two-time PASS South winner in 2013, Tyler Church, third generation racers Jared Irvan and Tate Fogleman, veterans Randy Gentry, Joey Doiron, Jimmy Doyle, Jody Measamer, and John Batten, and rookie contenders Brandon Setzer and Matt Daley.
Entries are continuing to come in daily for what looks to be one of the biggest Super Late Model races of the Winter. Entry forms for the Fox Carolina 150 can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
Action gets under way on Friday, February 28th at Greenville-Pickens Speedway with practice for all divisions from 2-6 PM. On Saturday, March 1st, pit gates will open at 10 AM for the Fox Carolina 150, with practice from Noon- 3 PM. Qualifying will begin at 4 PM and racing will start at 6 PM, featuring 150 laps for the PASS Super Late Models, 50 laps for the PASS Pro Late Models and 75 laps for the Southeast Super Trucks.
The Fox Carolina 150 will also be available on PASS TV for online pay-per-view purchase through ProAllStarsSeries.com.
