Horsepower On Display This Weekend In PASS/Modified Doubleheader At Caraway
CHARLOTTE, NC (April 12) – Southeast race fans will get a rare treat this weekend at Caraway Speedway when the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour compete together in a rare doubleheader. The Dogwood 325 will see the two most powerful asphalt series in the South compete together for the first time ever on Saturday night at Caraway, along with the Mid-Atlantic Limited Late Models, Chargers, Mini Stocks, and Hornets.
Sanford, NC’s Jody Measamer is a driver that knows Caraway Speedway well. Measamer grew up helping on the crew of legendary short tracker racer, Tom Usry, at Caraway and other tracks throughout the Carolinas. Eventually, Measamer took his place behind the wheel and Caraway Speedway has been very good to him throughout his racing career. Measamer won his first 4-Cylinder Modified race at Caraway and then went on to score his first Late Model Supertruck win there before going on to capture the track championship.
“Caraway is one of the toughest tracks on the tour, it is a very technical track where you must hit your marks each and every lap,” says Measamer, driver of the Aquavapor Electronic Cigarettes/Solid Rock Carriers #98 Chevrolet. “It is a challenge to get the car to respond at both ends of the track. Turns 1 and 2 are totally different than 3 and 4. Based on previous PASS South Races at Caraway, first and foremost, you have to keep the fenders on it and all 4 tires heading in the same direction. You also have to keep from using your tires too early so you have something left to go with at the end.”
Measamer came to Caraway Speedway last year with high expectations too, but was involved in an incident on lap one that saw him get into the wall. Despite heavy damage, Measamer’s crew worked on the car through multiple pit stops and the team soldiered home to a third place finish. This year, Measamer battled hard at Dillon with eventual race winner Brandon Setzer and set a new Super Late Model track record at Hickory for the prestigious Easter Bunny 150. Needless to say, hopes are high this weekend as Measamer seeks his first career PASS South Super Late Model victory.
“Honestly, there is not just one single item, but a combination of several little things I believe that has helped with our start this year,” says Measamer. “We struggled at the end of 2015 for speed and were just not happy with the car. During the off season, we completely rebuilt the car, but the frustrating part is we didn’t really find anything wrong that would explain what was going on. We unloaded at Dillon pretty good and hit on a few things with shocks and bump stops that’s made it even better which we were able to show at Hickory. I feel like we have a good piece going into Caraway and hope we can finally break into victory lane.”
While Measamer will be seeking victory, rookie Kodie Conner and second-year driver Matt Craig are embroiled in a fierce fight for the points lead which has them separated by only six points. As a matter of fact, the top eight drivers in points are only 100 points, including New England driver Kyle Desouza and Ontario’s JP Josiasse. Last year’s winner Jared Fryar is entered, along with former North-South Shootout winner, Ryan Moore, and Caraway frontrunner Trey Jarrell, who has increased support from sponsor Kaytech, Inc. Veteran Jimmy Doyle and second-year racer Kyle McCallum have also filed pre-entries for Saturday’s Dogwood 325.
All the action gets under way on Friday at Caraway Speedway with open practice for all competing divisions from 3 – 6 PM. On Saturday, practice will begin at 1 PM with qualifying starting at 5 PM for the PASS South Super Late Models, Mid-Atlantic Limited Late Models and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modifieds, followed by main events starting at approximately 6:30 PM.
PASS South Super Late Model entry forms for Caraway Speedway and the complete weekend schedule can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.
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 HP Hood Oxford 250 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 topassracing@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