Defending Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model national champion Joey Doiron stormed back from three laps down to take the lead from Derek Ramstrom with 25 laps to go and led the rest of the way to take the win in the PASS Winter Meltdown 150 Saturday afternoon at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.  The win matches his Winter Meltdown triumph at Florida’s Auburndale Speedway in 2013.  It was also his second straight PASS Super Late Model win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.

“I almost parked it on the pace laps because the clutch was slipping and wouldn’t work,” said Doiron afterwards.  “We took the green and I was wide open and couldn’t even keep up.  We lost three laps and I figured we would go until lap 50 and if I could keep up, we would keep racing.  Fortunately enough we got the laps back.  Nobody can say I didn’t pass the most cars.”

In qualifying, Preston Peltier set a new track record for PASS at the legendary half-mile speedway with a lap of 90.923 miles per hour.  Following the top 10 qualifiers redraw, Peltier would slot in to the sixth starting position, while Roger Lee Newton and Tyler Church would move up to the front row.

At the drop of the green flag, Newton jumped into the lead over Church and Matt Craig.  The first caution flag of the afternoon would wave on lap four when rookie Kodie Conner spun in turn one and collected RS Senter and JP Josiasse.  Back under green, Mike Hopkins would take the lead from Newton before being bypassed for the top spot by Michael Faulk on nine.

The car on the move early on was Jeremy Davis, who started in 13th.  Davis moved by Jay Fogleman for fifth on lap 24 and, just four laps later, passed Faulk for the lead.  The biggest incident of the day would occur on lap 38 when Trey Jarrell and Jeff Batten made hard contact on the back straightaway collecting Jimmy Doyle, Matt Matheson, and Conner.  Thanks to the early cautions, Doiron was able to recover from losing three laps with clutch problems and get back on the lead lap for the next restart.

Texas youngster Derek Scott, Jr. would take a turn up front when he moved by Davis for the lead. Davis would continue to slide back as both Peltier and Derek Ramstrom moved by to take second and third.  Following a caution for a spin into the turn three wall by Matheson, Peltier was able to work to the low side of Scott to take the lead on lap 53.  All the while, Doiron was marching his way to the front,moving around Faulk and into the top 10 on lap 57.

The lead would continue to change hands as Mike Hopkins passed Peltier on lap 60 and was then passed himself by Scott just nine laps later.  Just past halfway, Doiron was up to fifth and challenging the leaders.  Following a spin by Dabbs in turn two on lap 77, Ramstrom regained the lead as he moved byScott.  But Doiron was on a charge, moving into second and eventually passing Ramstrom for the lead on lap 94.

With 47 laps to go, a competition caution would wave to allow teams to change two tires and refuel.  On the restart, Ramstrom moved back by Doiron to take the lead.  But it would be short lived as Doiron would go back up front with 25 laps to go.  Ramstrom began to struggle with the handle of his machine losing two more spots to Peltier and Hopkins.  With less than 15 laps to go, Hopkins bypassed Peltier to take second place.

Following a spin by John-Michael Shenette with seven laps to go, Hopkins began a spirited charge to take the lead from Doiron.  Despite drawing alongside on a couple of occasions, Hopkins would have to settle for second as Doiron captured his second career PASS South Super Late Model victory.  Peltier, Ramstrom, and Davis would complete the top five.  Rounding out the top ten were Matt Craig, Ben Rowe, Randy Gentry, Conner, and Jay Fogleman.

The PASS South Super Late Models will be in action once again for 150 laps as part of the 11thAnnual South Carolina Clash on Saturday, March 5th at Dillon Motor Speedway.  Entry forms are available now at ProAllStarsSeries.com.  Be sure to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @PASSSLM14.

Results:
1 –  Joey Doiron
2 – Mike Hopkins
3 – Preston Peltier
4 – Derek Ramstrom
5  – Jeremy Davis
6 – Matt Craig
7 – Ben Rowe
8 – Randy Gentry
9 – Kodie Conner
10 – Jay Fogleman
11 – Roger Lee Newton
12 – Kaz Grala
13 – RS Senter
14 – Travis Stearns
15 – Tate Fogleman
16 – Tyler Church
17 – John Michael Shenette
18 – Zachary Dabbs
19 – Kyle Desouza
20 – Jimmy Doyle
21 – JP Josiasse
22 – Derek Scott, Jr.
23 – Brennan Poole
24 – Joey Padget
25 – Dustin Dunn
26 – Michael Faulk
27 – Matt Matheson
28 – Jody Lavender
29 – Trey Jarrell
30 – Jeff Batten
31 – Vinnie Miller
32 – Garrett Evans