CHARLOTTE, NC :: As the thermometer rises, so does the excitement level of Eastern North Carolina race fans as the “Big Boys With The Bad Fast Toys” head back to Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, NC. This weekend’s Dogwood Blossom 150 marks the return of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models to Southern National for the first time since 2009. It will only be the third time PASS South has ever raced at Kenly. To show how tough the high-banked, 4/10 mile speedway is look no further than the record books and who came away with those checkered flags, Freddie Query in 2006 and Ben Rowe in 2009, two of the best to ever race Super Late Models.
In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Nashville, NC’s John Batten was the man to beat when it came to Super Late Model racing at Southern National. Race wins were commonplace to the driver of the #48 Batten Ceramic Tile/Digital Repair/Hutson Insurance Chevrolet, who also won back-to-back Southern National titles in 2004 and 2005. Batten has been a regular with PASS South since the series started in 2006, finishing in the top 10 in points each of the last six seasons. But, despite being one of PASS South’s most consistent drivers, Batten has yet to go to victory lane. And, 2013 has not started the way the veteran had hoped, finishing no better than 14th at Dillon and failing to make the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory due to a blown engine in practice. The veteran hopes his luck can change this weekend at the site of much of his early racing success.
“Really looking forward to going back to Southern National,” said Batten. “It’s a place where we have been successful in the past and it’s a great place to hopefully turn our season around. We would really like to get a great finish in front of the hometown fans.”
When Southern National Raceway Park reopened in 2012 after being shuttered for nearly four years, it was a priority to keep Super Late Model racing alive at the track. A Super Late Model “mini-series” was held with goal of once again snagging valuable PASS South dates in 2013. Two drivers that competed in Southern National’s “mini-series” were Karl Weber and Bobby Measmer, Jr.
While competing in the PASS Pro Late Model division last year, Weber got his feet wet racing in Super Late Models at Southern National. As a PASS South rookie this year, Weber is seeing many tracks for the first time behind the wheel of the #50 Farm Logic/Silveus Insurance Ford, a decided disadvantage compared to his competitors. But coming to Kenly, Weber feels he will be on an even playing field, perhaps with an advantage.
“We’re really excited about Southern National coming up,” said Weber, nicknamed the ‘Flying Farmer’ thanks to his family business. “We ran the local series there last season and got Rookie-Of-The-Year. It definitely gives me an advantage knowing what the car’s going to feel like which brings the whole team confidence for the Dogwood Blossom 150.”
For Measmer, this weekend’s action at Southern National gives him a sense of confidence. There is no other track on the circuit which Measmer has more experience racing on. And, he feels Southern National’s track configuration plays right in to his team’s hands.
“We ran the series at Kenly last year and ended the season really well, so I’m pumped to be going back,” said Measmer. “I’m looking forward to going to a big motor track like Southern Nationnal with nice high banks, a lot of room to race, a lot of speed. It’s a place I really enjoy running.”
Another full field of the South’s top Super Late Model drivers is expected led by PASS South championship contenders Kyle Grissom, Jay Fogleman, and Brandon Ward. Easter Bunny 150 winner Preston Peltier circles Southern National as one of his favorite tracks and will be returning along with teammate, Tyler Church. PASS North veteran Derek Ramstrom will make the trip down I-95 from Massachusetts to race at Kenly along with PASS South veterans Justin Allison, Bill Catania, Jody Measamer and Kevin Powell, returning to the driver’s seat of Dicky Woodman’s potent Q104 machine. Rookie contenders Brandon Lynn, Tate Fogleman, Bobby Gower, and Cole Timm will be joined at Southern National by a stellar group of talented youngsters including Jared Irvan and Joe Ryan Osborne. Trevor Noles steps into the Coulter Motorsports #2 as he and Tyler Audie make the move up from the PASS Pro Late Model division. And, longtime Southern National competitor Shelton McNair, Jr. hopes to take the M3 to victory lane for the first time in PASS South competition.
Action gets under way on Friday, April 12th for the Dogwood Blossom 420 with rotating practice from 1 – 6:30 PM for the PASS South Super Late Models, PASS Pro Late Models, Limited Late Models, Chargers, Mini Mod Mayhem and Bandoleros. On Saturday, April 13th, pit gates open at 10 AM, with rotating practice for all divisions from 12:45 PM – 4:20 PM, qualifying at 4:45 PM, the pit party at 6:30 PM and feature racing at 7 PM.
PASS North Super Late Model entry forms for the season opener at Oxford Plains Speedway on April 21st, plus entry forms the Apple Blossom 200 at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval and the TD Bank 250 at Oxford 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 at Autodrome Chaudiere, and the legendary TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. For technical information concerning all PASS divisions 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.
