PR: Early Entries Continue To Pour In For PASS All American 400

Nashville, TN(August 26, 2012) — The 2012 version of the revitalized All American 400 at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, TN is shaping up to have one of the strongest field of cars in the 30 year history of the legendary race.  And, this year’s race will have a type of “retro” look to it.  In its first year of being sanctioned by the Pro All Stars Series (PASS), the All American 400 will be a true 400 lap test for the first time since 2000.  And, like the original concept behind the All American 400, drivers from all over the United States and Canada will come together to compete for a winner’s share approaching $30,000.

 With drivers coming from every corner of the country to race at Nashville, perhaps it will be hard to determine who traveled the farthest distance to race in this year’s All American 400.  Short track veterans Garrett Evans and Gary Lewis will make the trip cross country from Washington State.  Lewis received an invitation and an automatic qualifying spot for the race by virtue of his second place finish in the Apple Blossom 200 at Wenatchee (WA) Super Oval.  For Evans, it will be his second start with PASS after making last year’s history making THE RACE at North Wilkesboro Speedway.  Evans believes the partnership between PASS and the Fairgrounds Speedway is just what the All American 400 needs to return it to its proper place as the top short track event in asphalt racing.

“PASS brings a lot of clout because it has a series in the South and in the North and that’s what the All American 400 was all about when Bob Harmon first started it,” said Evans, a three-time qualifier for the All American 400 in 1992, 1996, and 1998.  “Tom [Mayberry] is doing the traditional thing by putting on this race.  Nashville has got a ton of history and it’s probably one of the top tracks I’ve ever raced on.  It being a 400 lap race with pit stops makes it that much better.”

Evans echoes the sentiments of many drivers around the country when it comes to the prestige of racing in the revitalized All American 400.  And it’s evidenced by the effort he is putting in to getting to Nashville.

“We race three days before we need to get to Nashville at Yakima, WA,” said Evans.   “I have two cars and we will have the Nashville car ready to go as soon as we get done with the race at Yakima.  We’ll come home that night, load up the car and fuel cans and drive non-stop all day Monday and Tuesday to make the 46 hour trip to Nashville.”

Also making the long trip to Nashville will be a strong contingent of PASS North Super Late Model drivers including last year’s PASS National Champion, Ben Rowe.  The native of Turner, ME is a 4-time PASS North Champion and also swept the PASS South and PASS National Championships in 2009.  Additionally, Rowe is the All-Time PASS wins leader with over 40 triumphs in PASS North and South.  Canadian Matt Matheson will travel over 20 hours from his home province of New Brunswick to compete at the famed Fairgrounds.  Other drivers making the trip down from New England will be Kyle Desouza, Scott Mulkern, and Derek Ramstrom as well as former 5-Time PASS North Champion Johnny Clark and 2008 PASS National Champion Cassius Clark.  Johnny Clark won last year’s PASS North title and is no stranger to winning big events, capturing $30,000 in a PASS North Series race at Wiscassett (ME) Raceway in 2009.  Cassius Clark is no slouch either with wins in both PASS North and South and looks to be on his way to his first PASS North championship this year.

Perhaps PASS South’s best chance to retain “Southern” honor will be from the drivers that currently top the points standings.  Points leader Kyle Grissom already has four wins this season and would love to add a triumph in the All American 400, a race which his father Steve raced in back in its earliest days.  Brandon Ward was awarded an automatic starting position by virtue of his win in the Firecracker 150 at Anderson (SC) Motor Speedway.  Ross Kenseth will be aided by crew chief and former two-time All American 400 winner Butch Miller.  Others PASS South regulars already entered include Jay Fogleman, John Batten, Preston Pelteir, Gray Gaulding, and the Brad Keselowski Racing duo of Landon Cling and Nate Caruth.

Home track honors will be well represented as well by a stout field of drivers from the Volunteer State including two-time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin, former track champion Mark Day, three-time Pro Late Model winner this year Willie Allen and second generation 400 competitor Clay Alexander.

As if that were not enough, two former All American 400 winners have filed entries.  Orchard Park, IL’s Eddie Hoffman won two 200 lap events as part of the All American and Michigan native Mike Garvey is twice a winner of the 400, including the last 400 lapper in 2000.

A big week of activities kicks off on Thursday, October 4th with PASS South Super Late Model practice for the All American 400 and racing for local divisions on the Fairgrounds Speedway quarter-mile.  On Friday, the PASS South Super Late Models and Hunter’s Sand & Gravel Pro Late Models will practice and qualify with feature division racing to follow starting at 8 PM for the O’Reilly Sportsman, SEC Limited Late Models, and Open Wheel Modifieds. .  On Saturday, grandstand gates open at 11:30 AM, with Last Chance Races for the PASS South Super Late Models at 1 PM, a 125 lap feature for the Hunter’s Sand & Gravel Pro Late Models at 2 PM, and then the green flag will drop at 6 PM for the legendary All American 400.  For a complete schedule of events or to purchase advanced tickets, please visit ProAllStarsSeries.com, fairgroundsspeedwaynashville.com, or allamerican400.com.