Differences Mark PASS South’s Return To Caraway Speedway For Labor Day Classic

Series PR Report

Asheboro, NC(August 28, 2012) — When the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models visited Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC for the first and only time in 2008 things were quite different compared to what fans will see at this Saturday night’s Labor Day Classic. In 2008, PASS South was still finding its way through a muddled short track racing landscape and proving that Super Late Models still had a following in the Southeast.

Today, PASS is regarded by many as one of the top asphalt series in the country. But, beyond that, the PASS South roster that made up the 22-car starting field in 2008 has almost entirely changed. The race featured a thrilling battle between Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Alex Haase and New Day Motorsports driver Mark Gibson. Gibson dominated the race and appeared to be on his way to his first PASS South win. But, Haase got the advantage over Gibson on a late race restart, the two made contact, and veteran Justin Wakefield came out of nowhere to score his second career win. Haase would go on to win the championship that year, Gibson and New Day Motorsports parted ways in 2009, and Wakefield eventually retired from racing last year.

That leaves a wide open field of drivers set to tackle the tough .455 mile Caraway Speedway for this weekend’s 125-lap Labor Day Classic. And, Brandon Ward definitely looks to be one of the favorites. With several starts at Caraway Speedway in various types of racing machines and driving the #62 New Day Motorsports machine that dominated in 2008, Ward hopes that is a combination that can help him find victory lane for the third time this year.

“It’s another new track for me in a PASS Super Late Model, but I have had a couple of good runs there this year in a Modified Tour car and we are looking for a another good run this weekend,” said Ward. “The team knows how to get around here fast and it’s close to home for everyone at Foothill Ford, Kevin Powell Motorsports and Piedmont Paint Warehouse.”

There are not many tracks that PASS South travels to that Preston Peltier does not have some type of experience on, but Caraway Speedway is one of the rare examples that falls into that category.

“Never seen the place,” said Peltier, who will enter Saturday night’s race trailing points leader Kyle Grissom by 26 points. “With that being said, my record at tracks for the first time is pretty good. The Johnson Motorsports team has a solid base line, so we’ll have it together when the time is right.”

Grissom comes to Caraway Speedway this weekend looking for his fifth win of 2012. Another win for Grissom will break a tie with Ben Rowe and set a new single season wins mark in PASS South. Peltier, Jay Fogleman, Ward, Landon Cling, and Ross Kenseth hope for strong finishes to close ground in the championship fight with only four races left after Caraway. Other drivers who have pre-entered include South Boston runner-up Nate Caruth, John Batten, Bill Catania, Jimmy Doyle, Gray Gaulding, Randy Gentry and Scott Hensley. Jordan Anderson returns for his first race of 2012 and Chrissy Wallace makes her PASS South debut behind the wheel of Robert Hamke’s potent number 74.

Action gets under way this Friday afternoon with rotating practice for the PASS South Super Late Models, Super Limiteds and Legends cars from 4-8 PM. On Saturday, rotating practice starts at 4 PM, with qualifying at 6:30 PM, and main event racing slated to go off at 8 PM. For more information, please go to ProAllStarsSeries.com. For technical information on any PASS division, please contact Scott Reed at 207-625-3230. For marketing or media related questions, please contact Alan Dietz at [email protected] or 704-231-2039. And, be sure to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook.