PASS SLM 150 A Big Part of Next Weekend’s North-South Shootout
SOPHIA, NC — When race fans think of the 11th annual John Blewett Memorial North-South Shootout, it’s the tour-type Modifieds that come to mind first. However, with the PASS South Super Late Model Tour also at NC’s Caraway Speedway for the November 7-9 event, racing enthusiasts will be treated to a second major event next Saturday afternoon.
The PASS event will be 150 laps, and with close to 30 race teams expected to compete, this event will be every bit as competitive as the headlining Modified race. PASS National Champion Jay Fogelman (Durham, NC) is on the verge of a first career PASS South Championship, and obviously the veteran of three decades of success will be among the favorites.
Though not yet confirmed, north driver Ben Rowe is expected to travel from Maine to compete, as he did last season. Rowe, along with northern natives Rodney Brooks and Bill Catania bring a northern presence to this event for the PASS event at well. Midwest native Ross Kenseth (Mooresville, NC) is another potential entrant as well.
The PASS South Tour has been a steppingstone to bigger things for some drivers, such as 2011 Champion Ryan Blaney, who has gone on to the big three of NASCAR since then. Jared Irvan (Midland, NC), son of former NASCAR star Ernie Irvan is a confirmed entrant in the PASS 150 at Caraway, which is scheduled to go green at 2:00 PM next Saturday.
“Last year in the North-South Shootout we had Ben Rowe, Matt Matheson from Canada and Ross Kenseth finished second,” PASS announcer Alan Deitz recalls. “We have some veteran drivers, but we also have had a lot of young drivers like Irvan, Kenseth, Trevor Noles (Charlotte, NC) and some guys that are looking to run the full series next year.
“The thing that is special to me about the PASS being a part of the North-South Shootout is you know this is Late Model stock country. When you look at these Super Late Models from the naked eye they look more like a Late Model Stock car, but in reality if you take the skin off and look at the engine, the car, chassis and motor, they are a lot more similar to a Modified.”
The Modified portion of the John Blewett Memorial North-South Shootout is filling the field with early entries quite nicely now, led by past NSS winners Matt Hirschman and Burt Myers. With more than a week before the $60,000 NSS Shootout purse is to be paid, 23 drivers have already entered.
This 2013 version of the North-South Shootout is shaping up to become one of the best days of racing all season long. Beginning with the PASS 150 at 2:00 PM and headlined by the tour-type Modifieds going 125 all out green flag laps for $6,000 to win later in the afternoon, next Saturday is sure to be a full day of racing excitement.
For more information including a full event schedule and the early entry list for the Modifieds, log onto: www.carawayspeedway.com, and/or www.northsouthshootout.com, or call the track office at: (336) 629-5803.
Sources: Kevin Rice/North-South Shootout PR