Farrington Poised to Continue PASS Title Run at Orange County
CHARLOTTE, NC (March 15) – In his young career, Maine’s Dave Farrington, Jr. has found quite a bit of success racing locally in his home state. The 24-year-old is a race winner and champion at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Maine and has been a consistent front-runner competing in a limited schedule of ACT Late Model events in recent years. But now, thanks in part to an offseason shoulder surgery for former series champion, Jay Fogleman, and an unfortunate snowmobile accident for Trevor Sanborn, Farrington will team with the Woodman Racing team to compete for both the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) National and South Super Late Model championships. The duo’s next race together will be the upcoming Orange Blossom Special at Orange County Speedway on Saturday, March 25.
“We watched Dave race last year with PASS at Concord and again this season at Dillon in his own car and we were impressed with how he gets the most out of his equipment,” said car owner, Dick Woodman. “We contacted Dave and tested at Hickory a few weeks ago and that went real well. We have always been fortunate to have real good drivers in our cars, blue collar guys, who grew up racing and want to race until they are old and gray, and Dave fits that mold.”
For Farrington, it is the opportunity of a lifetime. A chance to still compete in his family-owned cars in New England, while joining the Woodmans and sponsors Energy Dynamics, Cribbs Creek Outfitters and Plants Seafood, for a chance at two of the biggest titles in Super Late Model racing.
“I can’t thank Dickie and Becky [Woodman] enough for giving me a shot,” says Farrington. “I’ve never really had a chance to just show up at a race track and just drive. It’s a new experience to not be turning the wrenches and making all the adjustments. I believe it’ll lead to great communication and a solid team effort with the Woodman Racing team. We anticipate running about 30 races this season between our car and the Woodman Racing car and I can’t thank them enough for their support.”
While it is a great chance to showcase his talent, Farrington knows it will not be easy competing in the south on tracks he has never even seen before. At Dillon in his own machine, he finished sixth against some of the best talent Super Late Model racing has to offer. But a mechanical problem at Southern National in his first effort with the Woodman team did not produce the result they feel was deserved. Now, Farrington heads to Orange County, again against the best of the best in Super Late Model racing, for a race that is doubly important to both the PASS National Championship and PASS South Super Late Model title.
“It’s a positive feeling knowing that Woodman Racing has had prior success at Orange County and we will certainly make every effort to win there,” says Farrington. “I make it a priority to familiarize myself with these tracks by watching both on board cameras and from a fan’s perspective. We hope to put the bad luck behind us from Southern National and have a very good run at Orange County and then continue on to Hickory.”
In addition to the PASS South championship, the Orange Blossom Special will serve as the first race on the “Road To The Oxford 250,” with the winner receiving a guaranteed starting spot in the $25,000 to win race coming up in August. 4-time PASS National champion, Ben Rowe, is in contention once again, along with former PASS South champions, Matt Craig, Tate Fogleman and Tyler Church. Other National Championship contenders that have entered so far include Spencer Davis, Kodie Conner, Sarah Cornett-Ching, Derek Griffith, Tanner Thorson, and JP Josiasse.
Action gets under way on Friday, March 24 for the “Original” Orange Blossom Special with rotating practice from 3 – 6 PM for the PASS Super Late Models, Southern Modified Racing Series Tour Mods, and USAC Eastern Midgets. On Saturday, March 25, pit gates open at 11 AM, with rotating practice for from 1 – 3:30 PM, qualifying at 4 PM, the Pit Party at 5:45 PM and feature racing set to begin at 7 PM.
Entry forms for the Orange Blossom Special, along with the 44th Annual Oxford 250 and upcoming events at Thompson Speedway, Hickory Motor Speedway, Oxford Plains Speedway and Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com. The 2017 license forms for the PASS Super Late Models are also available at ProAllStarsSeries.com. Drivers purchasing licenses for the 2017 season will receive bonus points for each race they are pre-registered for and will also save money towards any events that they enter early.
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 Easter Bunny 150 and the Mason-Dixon MegaMeltdown 300 at Hickory Motor Speedway and the legendary Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway. For media or marketing questions, please contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or alandietzpass@live.com. Please visit ProAllStarsSeries.com for more information and don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @PASSSLM14 to keep up with breaking news as it happens.
Sources: Alan Dietz/PASS PR