As race number two for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models approaches at Dillon Motor Speedway, a fresh new group of young talent anxiously awaits to hit the track this weekend. Several drivers new to the series hope to follow in the footsteps of such names as Blaney, Hemric, Theriault, Peltier, and Rowe as winners of the South Carolina Clash at Dillon.
One of those drivers is Spokane, WA’s Nicole Behar. The 18-year-old transplanted West Coast speedster will make her PASS South Super Late Model debut, along with her David Gilliland Racing teammate Raphel Lessard, at this weekend’s South Carolina Clash. Following a year which saw her finish 10th in K&N Pro Series West points and score the highest finish by a female in that series with a second place finish at Irwindale Speedway, Behar is excited to move east and shift her focus back to Super Late Model racing.
“Racing on the East Coast opens up more doors for opportunities and, with a much longer racing season, it offers up a lot more seat time and that’s the main focus for 2016,” says Behar. “I have raced and will continue to race Super Late Models in the Northwest as my schedule allows. Super Late Models have been some of my best and most favorite type of racing.”
Behar got a taste of PASS South Super Late Model racing recently when she attended the Winter Meltdown at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in support of Pacific Northwest racing legend, Garrett Evans. While Behar is new to PASS South, she hopes to adapt quickly to Dillon’s tough egg-shaped layout when cars take to the track for the first time for practice on Friday afternoon.
“I am really looking forward to racing at Dillon Motor Speedway this weekend,” said Behar. “I hope to take to the track quickly and to come home with a solid finish in my Toyota Racing Camry. It will also be a great chance to learn and bond with my DGR team.”
Behar will not be alone however in trying to learn Dillon Motor Speedway in the hopes of scoring a win in Saturday afternoon’s 125 lapper. New Mexico’s Tanner Gray will be making his first PASS South start, while Kyle Desouza, Christian Eckes, Riley Herbst, JP Josiasse, Vinnie Miller, and Derek Scott, Jr. will all be making their first starts at Dillon. Even PASS North veteran winner Kelly Moore will be making the trip from Maine for his first race at Dillon.
Those “rookies” will be joined by defending South Carolina Clash winner Tyler Church and 2015 PASS South Super Late Model champion, Tate Fogleman, who led 82 laps at Dillon last year. Gus Dean nearly won at Dillon in 2014 and returns for the first time this season along with local standout Hayes Goodson and 2015 PASS South winner Jared Irvan. Rookie Kodie Conner comes to Dillon for the first time in a Super Late Model and will be joined by veterans Jeff Batten, Matt Craig, Jimmy Doyle and Jody Measamer.
All the action gets under way on Friday, March 4 at Dillon Motor Speedway with open practice for all competing divisions from 3 – 6:05 PM. On Saturday, March 5, practice will begin at 12 Noon with qualifying starting at 3:30 PM for the PASS South Super Late Models, DMS Late Models, and Pro 4-Cylinders, followed by main events starting at approximately 5 PM with the 11th Annual South Carolina Clash.
PASS South Super Late Model entry forms for the upcoming events at Dillon, Concord, and Hickory can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com. Entry forms are also available for the 43rd Annual Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, which will once again pay $25,000 to the winner plus additional lap leader bonuses.
