PASS South Drivers Look for Opportunities at South Boston
CHARLOTTE, NC — With a quarter of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model schedule in the history books, 2013 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons on record. Through the first four races of the year there have been four different winners and the driver who has led the most laps in each of those events has failed to go on and capture the checkered flag. Additionally, the top five in points are separated by less than 50 markers and feature a great mix of veterans and rookies. One would expect to see Jay Fogleman, Kyle Grissom, and Brandon Ward in the mix for the championship, but upstarts Brandon Lynn and Spencer Davis have fared well early in the season.
With the racing as competitive as it is, one can’t be sure from race to race as to who might have the best odds in going to victory lane on a given weekend. One of the hottest drivers as of late in PASS South has been Sanford, NC’s Jody Measamer. Measamer has found great success in the region racing Late Model Trucks and has made the move to full-time PASS South Super Late Model competitor this year. Despite missing the first two races of the season at Dillon and Myrtle Beach due to engine problems, Measamer has stormed back finishing fifth at both Hickory and Southern National.
“The way Hickory went, we ran good all weekend and had a real good finish against some of the best drivers in the country and at Kenly we ran good again and were up at the top of the time sheets all weekend,” said Measamer.
Measamer began the last season competing in the PASS Pro Late Model division before finishing the year out with the PASS South Super Late Models. He followed up an eighth place finish at Orange County Speedway with another strong run at South Boston until falling from contention late in the going due to an accident. Despite competing with a limited budget, those experiences, coupled with the strong start to 2013, have Measamer optimistic heading back to the commonwealth of Virginia.
“At South Boston, you can run the top to the bottom and you can pass a lot of cars on the top when everybody else is down on the bottom,” said Measamer. “You kinda have to go where the car wants to at South Boston. The last time we were there we were set up to run the bottom, but when everybody else got pinned down low we went to the top and made up a ton of ground.”
South Boston Speedway has a well-earned reputation for staging great short track racing thanks to families such as the Burtons and Sadlers. So fittingly another young racer with a famous last name is looking to turn his season around there. Justin Allison has been competing in PASS South sporadically since 2010, but is making his first run at the series’ title and currently sits 12th in points. And, his car is definitely hard to miss, sporting the uniquely designed #1 made famous by his grandfather Donnie. For Justin Allison, winning is important, but the nearly month long break leading up to PASS South’s visit to South Boston Speedway is certainly welcome to him and his fellow competitors.
“This time is giving everybody a chance to regroup and get there stuff straightened out,” said Allison. “We’re testing and taking everything apart to make sure it’s working right and maybe I’ll be able to get a little turkey hunting in too.”
Allison has been fast all year long, but like Measamer, has struggled to find luck consistently. With a season’s best performance of 13th at Dillon Motor Speedway in the South Carolina Clash, Allison believes he and the Rush Racing Products team could have the right combination at South Boston to contend for a win.
“These tracks like South Boston where we can use all the engine’s power are good for us, we’re just trying to get it hooked up so we can go fast,” said Allison. “South Boston’s been pretty good to me so far and I’m looking forward to running all these races coming up. The car is the best it’s been since we’ve had it and we’ve had a lot of fun so far. We just need to get a little luck on our side.”
Action gets under way on Friday, May 10th at South Boston Speedway with rotating practice from 10 AM – 4 PM. On Saturday, May 11th, pit gates open at Noon, with rotating practice for the PASS South Super Late Models, Late Model Stocks and Legends from 2 PM – 4 PM, qualifying at 4:30 PM, the pit party at 5:45 PM, and feature racing at 7 PM.
The Pro All Stars Series is recognized as North America’s premier sanctioning body for asphalt Super Late Models and boasts such marquee events as the PASS Northwest Triple Crown at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, PASS South’s Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway, the Autobus La Qubecoise Triple Crown at Autodrome Chaudiere, and the legendary TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. For technical information concerning all PASS divisions please contact Scott Reed at 207-625-3230 or scottreedpass@yahoo.com. For media or marketing questions, please contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or alandietzpass@live.com.
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Sources: PASS PR