Irvan And Noles Among Latest Entrants for PASS Winter Meltdown

CHARLOTTE, NC :: Interest continues to grow as teams prepare for the first major Super Late Model points race of 2014.  The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) National Championship Series and South Super Late Model season kicks off in just over two weeks with the 3^rd Running of the Florida Winter Meltdown on February 8 at New Smyrna Speedway.  Leading the latest group of contenders to enter will be two rookies who have high hopes for wins and championships in the New Year.  Both Jared Irvan and Trevor Noles hope to build on partial schedules from 2013 that saw them up front and challenging the veterans.

From his first time racing a PASS Pro Late Model for Coulter Motorsports in late 2012, Noles has been a threat for victory everywhere he goes.  Noles dominated the PASS Pro Late Model division last year winning seven races en route to the championship.  But, it was in the Coulter Motorsports PASS South Super Late Model entry that many began to take notice of the young driver from Fuquay-Varina, NC.  In eight starts, Noles finished in the top 10 five times, capped off by a runner up finish at Southern National Motorsports Park.  Thanks to his strong season in 2013, Noles will step into the Coulter Super Late Model full-time with an eye towards the PASS National and PASS South titles.

Like Noles, third generation racer Jared Irvan made the most of his opportunities in 2013 racing a limited schedule.  Irvan drove to his first top 5 finish of the season finishing third in May at Caraway Speedway.  It was at South Boston Speedway in August, though, that Irvan truly showed his potential as a PASS South Super Late Model driver.  He went toe-to-toe with perennial front runner Ross Kenseth, leading with less than 10 laps to go, before finishing a close second.  In 2014, Irvan and new sponsor Auramist will make their first run for the PASS South title.  Irvan’s will also make his first trip to New Smyrna Speedway for the Winter Meltdown, racing mere miles away from where his father, Ernie, won the Daytona 500 in 1991.

Fellow North Carolina racers Bill Catania and Matt Daley have also filed entries for the Winter Meltdown.  Catania, who is originally from Westfield, NY, is one of a few PASS regulars of have raced at New Smyrna Speedway.  Catania raced in the World Series of Asphalt racing at New Smyrna last year.  Daley made his PASS South Super Late Model debut last November at Southern National and will be making his first ever start at New Smyrna.

Interest from local Florida standouts is growing too.  Umatilla’s Anthony Cataldi and SW Ranches’ TJ Duke hope to fall back on their experience at New Smyrna Speedway, looking to come out on top after 125 laps of competition against some of the best short track racing has to offer.  While Duke will be making his first career PASS start, Cataldi returns to the series after finishing sixth in last year’s Meltdown at Auburndale Speedway.

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 3^rd Running of the Florida Winter Meltdown 125 can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.

Action gets under way on Friday, February 7^th at New Smyrna Speedway with practice for all divisions from 1:30-5 PM.  On Saturday, February 8^th, pit gates will open at 10 AM, with practice from Noon- 3 PM. Qualifying will begin at 4 PM and racing will start at 6 PM, featuring 125 laps for the PASS Super Late Models, 30 laps for the E Modifieds and 30 laps for the Outlaw Sportsman.

The Florida Winter Meltdown will also be available on PASS TV for online pay-per-view purchase through ProAllStarsSeries.com