NAPLES, ME :: For Jay Fogleman, there’s not a whole lot he hasn’t seen when it comes to racing. He’s raced and won at most of the short tracks in the Carolinas and has made a name for himself in multiple series. But, 2012 proved to be a year of triumph and transition for the Durham, NC veteran. His young son, Tate, was bitten by the family racing bug long ago, winning first in Bandoleros and, most recently, in the new Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Pro Late Model division. And if that was not good enough for the proud father, Jay captured the PASS National Championship and accomplished something that has eluded him his entire career, a touring series title. In 2013, worlds continue to collide for the Foglemans as both Jay and Tate head down to Auburndale Speedway to compete in the Florida Winter Meltdown, the first PASS National Series Super Late Model race of the year.
“We did a lot of stuff during the offseason and it’s been a busy winter, starting the season off a month earlier than we usually do,” said Jay Fogleman as his team feverishly works behind him in their shop. “It’s been a little stressful, but we’ve got a new Progressive engine we’re taking to Auburndale. Tate’s gonna have his old car that we’ve done a lot of R&D on and we’ll have his new car ready for Dillon to run the PASS Pro Late Model series and 4-5 PASS South races during the year. Still behind as usual though.”
Jay Fogleman has raced on numerous race courses throughout the country, but as is the case for most of the PASS regulars heading down to Florida, Auburndale Speedway is an unknown entity. Despite the unknowns, Fogleman feels he and his Bull City Race Cars team can rise to the challenge and give the hometown Florida hotshoes a run for their money.
“I’ve never seen the racetrack, but I’ve raced on tracks similar to Auburndale,” said Fogleman. “We’ve got to have tires at the end and having the break at halfway will give us some time to regroup and figure out what we need to do in the last 100 laps. Practice being extended on Friday is great news too and should give us more time to spend on our car and fine tune Tate’s car, so it will help a lot.”
For all of us, life is like a race…they both have a beginning, a middle, and an end. And, Jay Fogleman knows that his racing life is nearing the checkered flag. Last year’s PASS National Championship and two PASS South wins shows that Fogleman is more than capable. But, as he fosters a new chapter in the Fogleman family racing story, time spent in the shop and now on the track with young Tate is what’s special.
“There will be time to reflect later, I’ll just be glad when we’ve got his [Tate] new car done,” said Fogleman. “We want to get him competitive by running big races like this PASS Florida Winter Meltdown so he can go out there and challenge for wins. When we full comfortable with where he is, I can eventually step aside and turn the reigns over to him and see what he can do.”
The Foglemans will be challenged by some of Florida’s best such as Anthony Sergi from Wauchula. Sergi and his Sunshine State counterparts could have a slight edge on the competition having competed at Auburndale in the past. But, hungry competitors like PASS South’s Bill Catania and New England’s 2-time PASS National Champion Ben Rowe, DJ Shaw, Joey Doiron and Kyle DeSousza should be up to the task. And, if that were not enough, a strong contingent of Canadians is making the long trip South including Quebec’s Alexandre Gingras, Jean Francois Dery, and Martin Latulippe.
Action gets under way on Friday, February 8 with rotating practice for ALL divisions from 3-9 PM. On Saturday, February 9 gates open at 10 AM with rotating practice for the PASS Super Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Legends, and Bandoleros, from 12-3:45 PM. The PASS Super Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds and Legends will qualify at 4:30 and racing will begin at 6 PM promptly. PASS Super Late Model entry forms for the Florida Winter Meltdown, the complete weekend schedule, and 2013 PASS license forms for all divisions can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
The Pro All Stars Series is recognized as North America’s premier sanctioning body for asphalt Super Late Models and boasts such marquee events as the PASS Northwest Triple Crown at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, PASS South’s Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway, the Autobus La Qubecoise Triple Crown, and the legendary TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. For technical information concerning the PASS National Championship Series please contact Scott Reed at 207-625-3230 or [email protected]. For media or marketing questions, please contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or [email protected]. Please visit ProAllStarsSeries.com for more information and don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook to keep up with breaking news as it happens.
