CHARLOTTE, NC (September 2) – Just when you think the run for the Pro
All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model championship could not
get any tighter it does. Prior to last Saturday's Piedmont Pride 125
at Caraway Speedway, PASS South points leader Corey Williams had a 50
point lead over then, third place driver in points Alex Haase. At
Caraway, Williams was involved in a late race accident with Dean
Clattenburg while racing for second and finished back in twelfth.
Haase managed to come back and finish second after being involved in a
spin while battling race long leader Mark Gibson for the top spot.
That second place finish by Haase has allowed him and the Kyle Busch
owned Toyota team to move in to second in PASS South points just 30
points behind Williams. Perry Brown, who was second in points
entering the Piedmont Pride 125, was involved in a wall grinding crash
in turn two early in the race resulting in a disappointing 22nd place
finish. Brown's early departure has dropped him to third in points
leaving him with a lot of work to do to prepare for this weekend's
Daniel Boone Classic at the Newport Speedway.
Perhaps the two sleepers for the PASS South championship are fourth in
points Mark Gibson and fifth in points Heath Hindman. Gibson and his
Yarborough Transfer Company #62 have been one of the hottest cars on
the circuit as of late. Gibson has recorded top five finishes in
three of the last five races and led all but 25 laps of the Piedmont
Pride 125. Car owner Jeff Day says the team has worked hard on few
areas of the car that were lacking and the difference in performance
has been stark with Gibson moving up to fourth in the PASS South
standings just 58 points out of the lead. For Hindman, the last few
weeks have been just the opposite of Gibson. Since 2007, Hindman has
been consistently won of the fastest cars at each and every PASS South
event and that has carried over to 2008. However, where there has
been speed for Hindman in 2008, there has not been any luck. Through
the first six races, Hindman finished in the top ten in every race but
one. In the last three races, though, Hindman has struggled through a
combination of crashes and mechanical problems to only average an 18th
place finish and fall to fifth in points. But, luck looks to turn
around for the native of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, first by racing
this weekend in his home state at the Newport Speedway's Daniel Boone
Classic. Then, Hindman heads to the Hickory Motor Speedway as the
defending winner of the Over the Mountain 150.
Newport Speedway will not be an easy adversary for the drivers of the
PASS South Series. At 3/8 of a mile and with corners banked at 24
degrees, regulars of the Newport Speedway like to brag that it is a
miniature version of the Bristol Motor Speedway. And, with laps
expected at less than 13 seconds in qualifying, many drivers say that
by the time you see an accident happen, it's already too late because
you are already in it.
Hooter's Pro Cup North veteran Jay Fogleman, fresh off a third place
finish in that series first Championship Race held at Mansfield, Ohio,
will join a strong group of Newport Speedway Super Late Model drivers
in the hopes of taking the coon skin cap away from the PASS South
regulars.
Action gets kicked off on Friday, September 5th at the Newport
Speedway with practice for the PASS South Super Late Models from 3 PM
to 7 PM. On Saturday, September 6th, pit gates open at 2 PM with
practice starting at 4PM, and qualifying for the Daniel Boone Classic
at 6:30 PM. In addition to the PASS South Super Late Models on the
racing card will be the Limited Late Models, Street Stock, Road Rage,
and Front Wheel Drive.
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