PASS National Championship to Kickoff on Big Stage at Richmond
NAPLES, ME (March 16) – In two weeks, grassroots racers from across North America will finally be able to converge on Richmond Raceway for the long-awaited PASS Commonwealth Classic on Saturday, March 30. For many, it will be the chance of a lifetime to compete on one of the most historic short tracks in the country. But, for others, it will be the start of the 2019 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) National Championship Series.
Now in its 12th season, the PASS National Championship Series is the country’s only national title to be awarded in Super Late Model racing. With two national championship points-paying races for the PASS Super Late Models at Richmond, several drivers are looking to compete in both 75 lap races, each of which will pay $7,000 and $700 to start. One of those drivers is Uncasville, CT’s, Ray Christian, III, who will be competing in both races.
“I think being able to race at Richmond is awesome,” says Christian. “Any time weekly short track racers that are used to running on quarter-mile to half-mile ovals get the chance to run on the same track that the stars run on, you really feel like a superstar and I’m excited for it. It’s PASS’s first time at Richmond so I feel like that will make the competition really tight because no one knows what to expect. It’s definitely going to be a show.”
After competing locally in Connecticut and in sporadic ACT Late Model shows, Christian burst onto the national scene last year following a strong performance in Dillon, SC that saw him finish third behind PASS National Champions, Derek Griffith and Ben Rowe. Christian feels he and his team are ready to take the next step towards a championship beginning with Richmond.
“After our strong showing last year finishing second in national points as a rookie, we are definitely hungry to chase a national championship,” says Christian. “It’s definitely going to be a tough task. We came out of nowhere last year and nobody really knew who we were wherever we went. But I feel like now we’re definitely on people’s radar and they know that we are fast enough to compete for podium wins and a national title.”
The total number of PASS Super Late Models is almost at 40 with entries still coming in. PASS veterans Jody Measamer, Jared Irvan and Reid Lanpher are now entered, along with Virginia driver Collin Garrett and Brandon Watson. On the other end of the spectrum, Kyle Reid will be making the long tow from Alberta to compete, while Dan McKeage will be heading down from Maine and PASS National Championship rookie contender Devin O’Connell will be coming from Connecticut.
The ACT Late Models will be competing in a 65-lapper at Richmond Raceway and has 36 cars entered as of today with a host of heavy hitters. Former Milk Bowl winners, Patrick Laperle and Joey Polewarcyzk are now entered, along with former Thunder Road champion and ACT winner, Bobby Therrien. The Tour-Type Modifieds will be making their return to Richmond for the first time since 2002, utilizing the popular rules package used at New Smyrna Speedway during Florida Speedweeks. North Carolina’s Bryan Dauzat has filed an entry along with Connecticut’s Jim Dolan, and Kris Watson.
The grassroots racing action as part of the PASS Commonwealth Classic will be completed by events for the MASS Street Stocks and North East Mini Stocks (NEMST), and both divisions have shown great support from competitors around the country. Over 30 Street Stocks are now entered from Maine to Florida, including David Cameron and Joe Gerrard. Frankie Kimmel will be looking to follow up a strong second place finish at Dillon’s New Year’s Bash, while Virginia’s Justin Brown and Vermont’s Adam Maynard will be looking for good finishes as well.
The largest field in NEMST history have filed entries with over 40 Mini Stocks expected to assemble. Drivers range from Maine to as far south as South Carolina and as far west as Ohio. Competitors will be racing for a minimum $1000 to win plus bonus awards and a $100 to start purse.
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
Entry forms and 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 the inaugural PASS Commonwealth Classic at Richmond Raceway 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