CHARLOTTE, NC (March 10) – The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super
Late Models begin their biggest season yet with the 4th Annual South
Carolina Clash this weekend at the Dillon Motor Speedway in Dillon,
SC. In addition to the 150 lap main event for the PASS South cars the
nation's newest touring series, the PASS Late Model Trucks, will also
race for 75 laps on Saturday afternoon.
The South Carolina Clash joins other premier events such as the Easter
Bunny 150 and the Mason Dixon Meltdown as one of the most storied
races in PASS South history. The first South Carolina Clash was held
in 2006 at the Florence Motor Speedway. This race was the first PASS
South event for local hero Hal Goodson and would see an epic battle
between veterans Freddie Query and Mike Rowe and up and coming
superstar Charlie Bradberry. The three drivers traded the lead back
and forth while, at the same time, trading a little paint. The race
saw an extreme amount of attrition with only five cars running at the
checkered flag. Due to the number of caution laps that were run, fuel
became a concern and Bradberry would relinquish the lead late to pit
for fuel under caution. The move paid off after Rowe's car burped
while running low on fuel allowing Bradberry to move around and hold
off Query for the win. Sadly, this would be Bradberry's final Super
Late Model win as he would lose his life in a traffic accident just a
few months later.
The second South Carolina Clash would see the PASS South Super Late
Models move to the upstate of South Carolina and the Anderson Motor
Speedway in 2007. After being rained out on Saturday night, the Clash
would be contested under the hot South Carolina sun of a Sunday
afternoon in June. This, coupled with an abrasive track surface, made
for an extremely slippery track for the high horse powered cars of
PASS South. This played right into the hands of Ryan Lawler. Lawler
was coming off a win in the season opening Easter Bunny 150 and was
competing with a crate engine under the hood of his Ford. The crate
engine was down about 200 horsepower from its built counterparts and
was perfect for the conditions facing Lawler and his competitors.
Lawler held off former track champion Gary Greenwood and Alabama
standout Johnny Brazier for his second straight win. The phenom from
Texas would go on to win the 2007 PASS South championship. Perhaps
what is best remembered about the 2007 South Carolina Clash is the
battle between Jason Hogan and Ben Rowe. Both drivers had achieved
short track stardom, Hogan in the South and Rowe in New England, and
thanks to PASS they had a chance to compete against one another.
Hogan and Rowe waged a great late race battle for fourth that came
right down to bending some sheet metal at the checkered flag.
Although Hogan took the position, his car was a mangled mess against
the front stretch wall which led to a heated discussion at the finish
line. The two veterans still disagree today as to who was at fault
for the late race fireworks.
Last year's South Carolina Clash returned to the Pee Dee Region for a
first time visit to the Dillon Motor Speedway. In just its second
year of operation after being resurrected by former driver Ron
Barfield, Dillon had established itself as one of the South's premier
short tracks. It had also gained a reputation for being tough, with
progressive banking and turns three and four being quite a bit more
narrow than turns one and two. For the second year in-a-row, racing
was rained out on Saturday and would be held on a hot August
afternoon that saw track temperatures soar to well over 100 degrees.
Short track veteran Jay Fogleman was making his debut with the PASS
South Series and made his presence felt by taking the lead after
points contender Alex Haase had a tire problem on a restart.
Fogleman's lead was short lived, though, as fast qualifier Justin
Wakefield sped to the point and won handily over Alex Fleming, also
scoring his best career finish. Wakefield's win was his first in PASS
South competition.
This year's South Carolina Clash is unique for three reasons. First,
it is the first South Carolina Clash to be contested in the spring
instead of the summer. It is also the first time the race will be
returning to a speedway that has hosted the event before. And,
finally, this will mark the first time the PASS South season opener
has been held anywhere other than the Hickory Motor Speedway.
Drivers from Florida to Maine have filed entries for the 2009 South
Carolina Clash. Four-time PASS North champion Ben Rowe and PASS North
contender D.J. Shaw will both be making the long trek from Maine.
Floridian David Pollen, Jr. will be heading the opposite direction up
Interstate 95 to make his first PASS South start. Veteran Hal Goodson
returns to the series at Dillon, where he is the defending track
champion in the Seneca Supertruck division. 2008 PASS South Champion
Alex Haase will be back in the Kyle Busch Foundation Toyota along with
title contenders Justin Wakefield, Mark Gibson, and Heath Hindman.
North Carolina veterans will be well represented by Big Jim Kelley,
Preston Peltier, Bradley McCaskill, and Alex Fleming, along with
talented rookies Ryan Blaney and Devin Jones.
There has also been increased interest in this year's race thanks to
the debut of the PASS Late Model Truck division. The PASS Late Model
Trucks will join the PASS South Super Late Models a total of ten times
in 2009 starting this weekend with the South Carolina Clash. Hal
Goodson and Mark Brooks will be doing double duty racing both the
Super Late Models and the Trucks this weekend. Many of Dillon Motor
Speedway's Seneca Supertruck regulars are expected to try and defend
their home turf from the PASS Late Model Truck drivers. Among those
expected are defending Pro Challenge National Champion Clint King,
John Whaley, Jamie Turner, Marty Griggs and many, many more.
Action kicks off on Friday, March 13th with gates opening at 1 PM and
practice for both PASS divisions from 2 PM to 6PM. On Saturday, March
14th, practice will be from 11 AM to 1:30 PM, qualifying will be at
2:30 PM, and racing will start at 3 PM. Dillon Motor Speedway is
located on SC Highway 9 just off Interstate 95 exit 193. For more
information go to dillonmotorspeedway.com or racewithpass.com.
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