CHARLOTTE, NC (September 16 2008) – It doesn't matter who they are or
where they are from; race car drivers want to win at Hickory. Nestled
in the foothills of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, the Hickory
Motor Speedway has played a huge part in the history of stock car
racing. It is fitting that on the inside wall of the speedway it
reads, "Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars." Names like Ralph Earnhardt,
Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Bobby Isaac, and Harry Gant have all
raced and won at the Hickory Motor Speedway. And, very little has
changed about the .363 mile oval since it first opened with a red clay
surface in 1951. Today's present configuration still resembles the
one that Curtis Turner and the like slung clay on adoring fans. If
you look at archival film of classic races at Hickory, nothing is
different with the exception of an asphalt surface and the outside
wall that encloses the speedway.
So, when looking at all of the great battles that have helped create
history at Hickory, you might wonder how the PASS South Series fits
in. Yes, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models have
only been around since 2006, but it all started at the Hickory Motor
Speedway. Maine legend Mike Rowe out dueled Kentucky's Chuck Barnes
to take the win in that first running of the Easter Bunny 150. The
following year Ryan Lawler marched to the win in the Easter Bunny.
Both Rowe and Lawler went on to win the PASS South Super Late Model
championship. This year's Easter Bunny 150 winner Corey Williams
hopes to continue that trend.
While the spring race at Hickory has gone on to produce champions,
September's Over the Mountain 150 has produced both history and
surprises. In the 2006 Over the Mountain 150, Lawler took his first
career PASS South win. It was not that easy, though. Earlier in the
day, Lawler and his Robert Hamke led team lost their primary engine in
practice. The team regrouped, put a lower horsepowered crate engine
in, and went on to take the victory in dominating fashion over Rowe
and Preston Peltier. Last year's Over the Mountain 150 started off
with a whopping field of over 40 cars attempting to qualify for the 28
car starting grid. Contenders like Williams, Cassius Clark, Lee
Tissot and others were eliminated through crashes and mechanical
problems. Meanwhile, Lawler appeared to be on the way to a third
straight win at Hickory. However, alternator problems late in the
race knocked Lawler from contention allowing Tennessee's Heath Hindman
to take his first career PASS South victory.
The 2008 Over the Mountain is sure to be another historic battle at
Hickory. Currently, the top five in points are separated by a mere 72
points. PASS South points leader Corey Williams hopes to get back to
victory lane for the first time since the Easter Bunny 150 in April.
Contenders Alex Haase, Hindman, John Batten, and John Stancill look to
get in good runs at this weekend's (Sept 20-21) PASS North PASS 400
Weekend before focusing on the Over the Mountain. It's the third race
of the four race PASS National Championship Series and they are all
making the trip to Maine to duke it out in the PASS 300 for the
$10,000 top prize.
PASS South Super Late Model action returns on Saturday, September 27th
for the 3rd Annual Over the Mountain 150 at the Hickory Motor
Speedway. Action starts on Friday, September 26th at Hickory for the
PASS South Super Late Models with practice from 4 PM to 7 PM. On
Saturday, September 27th, pit gates will open at 12:30 PM, qualifying
will be at 6 PM, with racing starting at 7 PM.
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