PASS Contenders Ready to Race for National Title

CHARLOTTE, NC :: After a long season that has seen championship races contested in both the United States and Canada, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Model National Championship will be decided on Saturday at Southern National Motorsports Park.  The 9^th Annual Mason Dixon Meltdown will determine the 2014 champion and the contenders could not have come from more varied backgrounds than points leader Ben Rowe and rookie upstart Tyler Dippel.

Turner, Maine’s Ben Rowe has grown to become a true short track legend over the last decade, winning more PASS Super Late Model races than any driver in history.  Not only has Rowe won 4 PASS North Super Late Model championships, but he also claimed the PASS South Super Late Model title in 2009.  And he is no stranger to success in the Mason Dixon Meltdown, as the only driver to win the race twice, taking the checkered flag in 2007 at Concord Speedway and again in 2009 at South Boston Speedway.

Despite his accolades, which also include 2 previous PASS National Championship title reigns in 2009 and 2011, Rowe has been impressed with his young counterpart.

“You know I didn’t know a lot about Tyler [Dippel] coming into this year, but he’s really been impressive,” said Rowe.  “The thing that surprised me the most was that he came to the tracks up North, tracks that he had never seen before, and not only held his own, but ran really well.  We’ll definitely have our work cut out for us when we get down to Kenly this weekend.”

Despite being a teenager, Dippel has had quite extensive career, especially for a driver of his age.  Dippel cut his teeth racing powerful Dirt Modifieds, primarily in his home state of New York.  And the young driver has stayed busy in 2014, not only racing PASS Super Late Models on asphalt from South Carolina to Quebec, but continuing to race on dirt when his schedule has permitted.  Dippel recently opened eyes competing in his Modified at the Dirt Track At Charlotte during the World Finals.  But, now the focus returns to PASS for Dippel and trying to win a National Championship at Southern National.

“Basically, it’s just four points, so whoever finishes in front of the other driver is going to win the championship,” says Dippel, who has finished strong in his PASS National outings this year, including a sixth place effort in his first try at the Oxford 250 .  “Our experience at Southern National hopefully will work out for us.  It’s been an amazing year and I’m really happy at how our first year on asphalt has gone and to have a shot at the championship is really cool.”

Unlike the previous two PASS South events at Southern National Motorsports Park this year, the Meltdown will have an added element of strategy.  At 200 green flag laps, the Meltdown will be 50 laps longer than the earlier races held at Southern National.  Teams will be allowed to change two tires at lap 125, setting up a 75 lap dash for cash and the championship.

“You’re definitely gonna have to save a little more and have something left for the end,” said Dippel.  “But, being able to get two tires, I think you will see some guys be able to push it and race hard the final 75 laps.  We might have to race a little differently though with the championship on the line.”

While Rowe and Dippel battle for the PASS National Championship, Tyler Church, Cole Timm, and Jared Irvan will be competing for the PASS South Super Late Model title.  In addition to Rowe, fellow New Englanders Joey Doiron, Derek Ramstrom, Steve Legendre, and Wayne Helliwell, Jr. and Quebec’s Eric St. Gelais will be making the trip to Southern National.  Christopher Bell is hoping to continue his streak of finishing no worse than second in the last two events and will be joined by Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Karl Weber.  Tate Fogleman, Trevor Noles, Brandon Setzer, Tanner Rumburg, Jody Measamer, and Lucas Jones will each be seeking their first career PASS South wins.

Action at Southern National Motorsports Park for the 9^th Annual Mason Dixon Meltdown kicks off practice for all divisions on Friday, November 14 from 1 – 4:20 PM.  On Saturday, November 15, practice will start at 10 AM, with qualifying at 1:15 PM, and racing slated to start at 3 PM.  The PASS South Super Late Models will race for 200 laps, along with main events for the PASS Pro Late Models, Pee Dee/Coastal Supertrucks, and USAC Eastern Midgets.

PASS South Super Late Model entry forms as well as the complete weekend schedule for the 9^thAnnual Mason Dixon Meltdown at Southern National Motorsports Park can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.