PASS South Ready To Blast Off 2012 Season at Dillon Motor Speedway

Series PR

CHARLOTTE, NC (March 5) – Anticipation has been building all Winter for the start of the 2012 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models season to start. It all begins at Dillon Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 10th, a familiar setting for the nation’s top Super Late Model drivers. The 7th Annual South Carolina Clash marks the third time in the last four years that PASS South has began its season at Ron Barfield’s tough 4/10 mile oval, patterned after the legendary Darlington Raceway. And this year’s race is wide open with the retirement of former Dillon winner Justin Wakefield and two-time South Carolina Clash winner Ryan Blaney who is moving on to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.

“I was thinking that since Blaney and Wakefield won’t be there that it was gonna be a Peltier and Fogleman show, but there are a ton of new cars this year that should have a shot to win every week,” said 2010 PASS National and PASS South Champion Preston Peltier. “We’ve been working really hard over the Winter and hopefully all the hard work will pay off.”

Dillon Motor Speedway holds a special place in Peltier’s heart since it is the track where he joined the Harold Johnson-owned #26 team back in 2009. The combination has proved tough, winning championships and taking six checkered flags since joining forces. But, this year Dillon is important to Peltier for a different reason.

“This race is for little Angel Thompson, who has cancer on her brain stem,” said Peltier. “She’s a big race fan and we’re gonna try to raise some money to help her family pay for her medical bills.”

Ross Kenseth will be making only his second career PASS South start after an impressive 7th place finish in 2011 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in THE RACE. Kenseth will be balancing his studies at Clemson University with racing for the PASS South Championship in 2012. And, it all begins with the South Carolina Clash.

“I’m really excited to go to a new place and race against some different guys I haven’t raced with very often,” said Kenseth, who recently tested at Dillon Motor Speedway.

For veteran driver Steve Wallace, the 2012 PASS South season will mark a chance at redemption. Wallace returns to his short track roots in the #66 Leavitt Racing Components house car as he attempts to make his first ever PASS South start at Dillon.

“I’m excited to get back to my roots,” said Wallace, who has Late Model wins at Nashville, Bristol, and Pensacola. “I built a new car and hopefully we can win with it in PASS. It’s weird not racing a full Nationwide schedule this year, but for once racing is fun again!”

For whoever goes to Dillon Motor Speedway’s victory lane, it certainly will not be easy. The field is stacked with experienced veterans and young up-and-comers. Ben Rowe, the 2009 South Carolina Clash winner, makes the tow down from Maine to jump start his 2012 racing season. He’ll be joined by fellow New Englander Kyle Desouza, who will be attempting his first PASS South start at Dillon. Perenial championship contender Jay Fogleman returns to the site of his first ever PASS race with new teammate David Latour, Jr., ironically attempting his first PASS South green flag. Several duos of teammates will be at Dillon including Coulter Motorsports’ Gray Gaulding and Craig Goess, Jr., Eddie Sharp Racing’s Brandon Jones and William Gallagher, and Brad Keselowski Racing’s Landon Cling and Nate Caruth. Veteran Brandon Ward is back in a brand new car for New Day Motorsports and is not only looking for his first PASS South win, but hopes to be a serious contender for the championship. PASS South newcomer Kyle Grissom makes the leap from Late Model Stocks to Super Late Models and will be joined by veterans Tim Pinion, Tim Nooner, and Spencer Wauters. Wauters has two career best finishes of fifth at Dillon in 2009 and 2010. Lake Junalaska, NC’s James Holton looks to make his first PASS South race, but it will be tough with home state veterans Clete Caywood and RA Brown to compete against.

The 7th Annual South Carolina Clash roars into Dillon Motor Speedway March 9th and 10th. There will be rotating practice on Friday, March 9th for all divisions from 3 PM until dark. On Saturday, March 10th, gates open at 9 AM with rotating practice for the PASS South Super Late Models, PASS Super Limiteds, CCS Legends, CCS Bandoleros, and Mini Cups from 11 AM until 3 PM. Qualifying begins at 4 PM and will be followed by the feature division races. PASS South then heads to South Boston (VA) Speedway on Saturday, March 24th for 150 laps with Twin 75’s for the NASCAR Late Model Stocks and a main event for the CCS Legends.