Concord, NC — It goes without saying that Hickory Motor Speedway, located just East of the Blue Ridge Mountains in scenic North Carolina, is one of the most historic short tracks in all of racing. NASCAR’s current Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series both raced at the track for years before both moved on to bigger tracks.
But Hickory is still making history with a number of series. And in just two short years, the PASS South Super Late Model Series has started a history of its own at the .363-mile oval. That history writing will continue when the series visits Hickory for the fourth time in just its second year of running on Saturday night, September 29th, for a 150-lap event.
“Hickory has been one of the best tracks that we’ve visited ever since the PASS South cars started running in 2006,” said Tom Mayberry, owner and promoter of PASS South. “From our first-ever race at the track, the Easter Bunny 150, up to this most recent event, Hickory has provided some of the best racing and some of the most eager fans out there.
“Being that Hickory doesn’t run Super Late Models on a regular basis brings a lot of people out to see the race. And just the fact that it’s Hickory Motor Speedway brings the racers out too. They all want to win at that track and to say they have won at the same place as some of the best to have ever raced.”
PASS South’s first race at Hickory went to the inaugural PASS South champion, Mike Rowe. Rowe, from Turner, Maine, was quick to point out that winning at Hickory was one of the biggest wins of his career simply because it was Hickory Motor Speedway.
“When PASS said that they were going to Hickory, with the history of the people who have been here, I said ‘Man, I want to go down there,’ said Rowe after his win there. “The track is old, but there’s still good racing here. To come down here with the history of this track is awesome.”
Getting such a good report card from a short track legend like Mike Rowe was a great leap for Hickory and PASS South.
The next two PASS South events were each won by Ryan Lawler. In the second race at the track in 2006, Lawler picked up his first-career Super Late Model victory. Since then, Lawler has been on a tear in the Super Late Model world. He followed up with another PASS South win at Hickory to open the 2007 season. Add that win to another PASS South victory this season and Lawler leads the points after five events.
“I can’t get enough of the place,” said Lawler. “It’s my kind of racetrack. It’s worn out, it’s fun and you’ve got to get up on the wheel. I like that.”
Gates open for the 150-lap event on Saturday, September 29th, at 10am, with tech beginning at 10:30am. Qualifying is set to begin at 4pm with heat races beginning at 6pm.
The Allison Legacy Series and Hickory Motor Speedway Street Stocks will be support divisions.
For more information on the PASS South Series, contact Jeremy Troiano at (704) 788–2134 and be sure to visit www.racewithpass.com for all your PASS South news. For technical and rules information on the entire PASS tours, contact Scott Reed at (207) 625-3230.
Sources: Jeremy Trojano/PASS South PR