PASS Pro Late Model Racers Ready for Doubleheader Weekend at Hickory
CHARLOTTE, NC (March 26) – In just over three years, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Pro Late Model division has produced some of the top talent in short track. Seen as a proving ground for racers looking to eventually make the move up to the PASS Super Late Models, drivers like Tate Fogleman, Jody Measamer, Trevor Noles, and Jeff Batten credit their time in PASS Pro Late Models with helping ease their transition to the much faster Supers.
For the first time in PASS Pro Late Model history, the division will have two complete 50 lap races on the same weekend as part of the 10th Annual Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway April 3-4. This will be a huge upside for PASS Pro Late Model racers who will get to compete for more prize money in a single weekend and get more track time as well, including being the feature division on Friday night, April 3 along with Legend car racing and heat races for the Must See Racing Sprint Cars. Kodie Conner, a 6-time PASS Pro Late Model winner, is looking forward to returning to his roots with the Easter Bunny doubleheader.
“It’s very exciting, I haven’t raced a doubleheader like that since the Bandolero days,” said Conner, driver of the Jerry Conner Insurance/Wheel Chill Toyota #45. “We’re very excited. We’ve got both cars ready to run just in case something does happen Friday night, but I’m pumped up…I can’t wait.”
Third year PASS Pro Late Model racer Matt Murphy is also excited about the opportunity the Easter Bunny doubleheader provides. Murphy’s Matt Murphy Motorsports/Cool Shirt Systems Ford started the season off with a strong run at Dillon and followed that up with the best outing of his career at Anderson Motor Speedway. Murphy led until a problem on a late race restart sent him for a spin. Even with the problem Murphy still charged back to record a career best second place finish.
“Our luck at Hickory hasn’t been that good, but we look to change that around because we’ve got a new car that’s really made a big difference this year,” says Murphy. “We’ve had a good car this year and probably could have won a race, but we’ve got a new look at Hickory and hopefully can come out with a victory.”
Like Conner and Murphy, Matthews, NC’s Zachary Dabbs is a graduate of Bandolero racing. And, like Conner, Dabbs has already gone to victory lane, scoring his only PASS Pro Late Model win at Dillon in his series debut last year. Dabbs has been in contention in both races so far this year and is excited to have two opportunities to race close to home in front of family and friends.
“Yeah, it’s going to be fun, so far this year we’ve been used to racing every 2-3 weeks,” said Dabbs, driver of the Truck Service of Charlotte #23. “It’ll be good to get in the car and get some more seat time and it should be fun for the team and everybody. Hickory is where I first started my racing career and we’ve got some good memories there. I think we’re going to be able to drive hard and possibly get the win.”
For the first time ever, the Easter Bunny 150 weekend will expand to two days, beginning on Friday afternoon, April 3 with practice for the PASS Super Late Models, Must See Racing Sprint Cars and support divisions and will be followed by twin 25 lap qualifying races for the Must See Racing Sprint Cars and features for the PASS Pro Late Models and Legends cars. Then, on Saturday, April 4, the PASS Super Late Models will compete in the 10th Annual Easter Bunny 150 along with the 40 lap “Southern Showdown” for the Must See Racing Sprint Cars and features for the USAC HPD Eastern Midgets, PASS Pro Late Models, and Legends.
Also, look for more details to be released in the coming days on an Easter Bunny 150 Racers Welcome Party featuring food, fun, show cars, autographs, and a live band on Thursday, April 2 at Iron Thunder Saloon and Grill in Hickory.
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 legendary AIM Recycling Oxford 250 Presented by Kenny U-Pull at Oxford Plains Speedway and PASS South’s Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway. For technical information concerning all PASS divisions please send questions to passracing@roadrunner.com. For media or marketing questions, please contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or alandietzpass@live.com. And, don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.
Sources: Alan Dietz/PASS PR