Super Late Model & Modified Drivers Ready for their Shots at Richmond
NAPLES, ME (February 28) – In racing, there are rarely opportunities to do something new and different. But, for grassroots racers from across North America, they will get a chance to do something that covers both of those characteristics when they tackle the legendary Richmond Raceway for the inaugural PASS Commonwealth Classic on Saturday afternoon, March 30th. After many feared their dreams would not come true following a rainout at Richmond last fall, entrants from across the motorsports spectrum are making their Richmond intentions known from the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Super Late Models to the Tour-Type Modifieds, American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models, MASS Street Stocks, and Mini Stocks.
The PASS Super Late Models will be featured in two events at Richmond Raceway, with races for the Open motor cars and Crate motor cars. And, it will be the first chance to see the new Generation 6 body from FiveStar Race Car Bodies. With two national championship points-paying races for the PASS Super Late Models, several drivers are looking to compete in both 75 lap races, each of which will pay $7,000 and $700 to start. Former PASS champions and Oxford 250 winners, Ben Rowe and Travis Benjamin, are planning to compete in both races, along with national championship hopeful, Ray Christian, III. Like most of his fellow competitors, Benjamin relishes every chance he can get to race on the 3/4-mile speedway.
“Racing at Richmond will be an awesome experience,” says Benjamin, driver of the Petit Motorsports #7. “I think the racing will be great, with a ton of great teams. It should be a really good time.”
Among those entered for the PASS Crate race include defending Mason-Dixon MegaMeltdown winner, Derek Ramstrom, as well as Reid Lanpher, Jimmy Renfrew, Jr., Gabe Brown, Bryan Shipp, Garrett Hall, and Mike Hopkins.
The PASS Open race will feature defending PASS National champion, Derek Griffith, PASS North and South champions, DJ Shaw and Matt Craig, along with Eddie MacDonald, Corey Heim, Eddie Van Meter, JP Josiasse, Nicholas Naugle, Trevor Noles, Tate Fogleman, and Austin Reed, who will be making the trek east from California.
The ACT Late Models will be competing in a 65-lapper at Richmond Raceway and have 31 cars entered as of today. Jake Johnson and Bryan Kruczek will be competing in both the ACT Late Model and PASS Super Late Model races. Several big ACT names will be in competition at Richmond including Nick Sweet, Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Tommy Carey, and Joey Polewarcyzk.
The Tour-Type Modifieds will be making their return to Richmond for the first time since 2002, utilizing the popular rules package recently used at New Smyrna Speedway during Florida Speedweeks. Among those entered include Robbie Babb, Dan Clatterbuck, Richard Savary, and Anthony Sesely. New York’s Jimmy Zacharias has signed on and is excited to try and take home the $7,000 winner’s purse at Richmond Raceway.
“I’m looking forward to it,” says Zacharias, who will pilot his familiar Midstate Basement Authorities/Sunoco Race Fuels #71. “It’ll be a great experience to get to race a Modified at such a facility as Richmond Raceway. I’ve seen the place on TV, but that’s about it. I’ve never been on a track like Richmond that I can compare to so I’m really excited.”
The grassroots racing action as part of the PASS Commonwealth Classic will be completed by events for the MASS Street Stocks and Mini Stocks, and both divisions have shown great support from competitors around the country. Almost 30 MASS Street Stocks are entered including Ricky Locklair, Ron Flynn, Greg Barnette, Stephen Sharp, and Mark Lushes.
While the North East Mini Stock count has swelled to over 40 entries and it looks like it will truly be a border war with drivers from all along the East Coast entered so far. Multi-time North East Mini Stock Tour (NEMST) winner, Nick Anderson is entered, along with fellow New Englanders, Cory Plummer, Jake Rheaume, Zach Audet, and Devin Guyl. But, top southern runners like Michael Tucker, Patrick Arch, Adam Thomas and Virginia racers, Jessie Jones, IV, Jesse Yopp, Jarrett Milam, and Thomas Parmelee are signed up as they look to defend their region’s honor.
The PASS Commonwealth Classic weekend will begin on Thursday, March 28 with optional hauler parking and safety inspection from 12 – 4 PM. On Friday, March 29, rotating practice for all competing divisions will be from 11 AM – 5 PM. And then on Saturday, March 30, pit gates at Richmond Raceway will open at 7 AM, with practice from 9 AM – 12 PM, qualifying at 1 PM, and racing set to start at around 4 PM
Rules contacts for PASS Super Late Models, Tour-Type Modifieds, and MASS Street Stocks are also posted at ProAllStarsSeries.com. PASS Super Late Model entry forms and the complete weekend schedules for the inaugural PASS Commonwealth Classic at Richmond Raceway, along with entry forms for Thompson Speedway, Oxford Plains Speedway, Hickory Motor Speedway, and the 46th Annual Oxford 250, 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 Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway, the Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway, and the inaugural Commonwealth Classic at Richmond Raceway. 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.
Richmond Raceway is America’s Premier Short Track annually hosting two NASCAR race weekends, featuring the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, on a ¾-mile D-shaped oval. Richmond Raceway is a regional leader for events including sports, live music, and consumer trade shows. The Richmond Raceway Complex’s 1,100 plus acre multipurpose facility hosts more than 200 live events annually including concerts with top national recording artists at Virginia Credit Union LIVE! To learn more, visit richmondraceway.com, richmondracewaycomplex.com, or vaculive.com.
Sources: Alan Dietz/PASS PR