CHARLOTTE, NC :: Since 2006, Pro All Stars Series (PASS) competitors have been excited to cap off their racing season with the traditional fall running of the Mason Dixon Meltdown. Though the venue has shifted throughout the years, the one thing that has remained constant is the thrilling short track action that has gone on year in and year out.
This year’s 8th Annual Mason Dixon Meltdown will give the event a slight reboot as it moves to the Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, NC. The high-banked 4/10 mile oval has long been a favorite of Super Late Model competitors from all over the country and the 200 lap contest should provide quite a challenge for the Nation’s top short track stars. Both the PASS National and PASS South Super Late Model champions will be crowned at Southern National as will be the PASS Pro Late Model division’s top driver.
John Batten is a two-time Super Late Model track champion at Southern National and is enjoying his best season since starting with PASS in 2006. The Nashville, NC veteran currently sits fourth in points on the strength of fourth place finishes at Caraway Speedway in May and Orange County Speedway in October. With momentum clearly on his side, Batten would love nothing better than to score his first PASS South win at his home track in one of the biggest races of the season.
“The car’s been running really good and if it keeps going like it’s going, I’m really looking forward to going back to the house,” said Batten. “The Pro Late Model driven by my nephew Jeffrey has helped my Super Late Model. If we want to try something that’s not conventional, we’re able to put it on his car and if it works we put it on mine.”
Another driver with plenty of laps at Southern National through the years is Sanford, NC’s Jody Measamer. He first started at the track helping local legend Tom Usry before eventually taking to the driver’s seat himself. With wins in both stock cars and trucks at Southern National, it should not surprise anyone that Measamer finished in the top five in two of his three PASS South starts there this year, highlighted by a third place effort in August behind Daniel Hemric and Ross Kenseth.
“A win in the Meltdown would be huge in my little career,” said Measamer, driver of the #98 Aquavapor Electronic Cigarettes Ford. “Without our sponsor we couldn’t have been at Dillon or Caraway. We know we have the tools to go out and do what we need to at Kenly and hopefully things will come together so we can race for a championship next year.”
In addition to seeing the best in stock car racing, fans will have an added attraction that has a definitely created a buzz in racing circles. The Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Cars will tackle Southern National for the first time as part of the Meltdown. It will be the first time 410 Winged Sprint Cars have raced in North Carolina on asphalt in nearly 25 years and many believe the 900 horsepower machines will have a great opportunity to break Southern National’s overall track record.
Entry forms and the complete weekend schedule for the 8th Annual Mason Dixon Meltdown at Southern National Motorsports Park can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
Action gets under way on Friday, November 22nd at Southern National with practice for all divisions from 2-5 PM. On Saturday, November 23rd, pit gates will open at 9 AM, with practice from 10:45 AM – 1 PM. Qualifying will begin at 1:30 PM and racing will start at 3 PM, featuring 200 laps for the PASS South Super Late Models, 75 laps for the PASS Pro Late Models, 20 laps for the Mini Cups, and 30 fast and furious laps under the lights for the Must See Racing Xtreme Winged Sprint Cars.
