Pass Series Racing News
PASS Labor Day Classic at North Wilkesboro to Celebrate Short Track Racing.
Aug 25, 2010 - updated Aug 25th, 2010 9:10pm
Web posted by Alan Deitz

Charlotte, NC. --

(August 20)

Ever since Pro All Stars Series (PASS) officials announced their intentions to bring racing back to the Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway earlier this year it has created quite a buzz in the racing world. After all, the upcoming Labor Day Classic to be held September 3-4 will mark the return of racing to North Wilkesboro after a 14 year hiatus. And, if that was not enough, PASS President Tom Mayberry shocked the short track racing community when he announced that the 63-year-old facility will host a 300 lap Super Late Model event paying at least $75, 000 to the winner April 7-9, 2011.



“It’s a great honor for everyone associated with PASS, from the teams to the officials to the fans, to join Speedway Associates in bringing true short track action back to North Wilkesboro,” said Mayberry. “North Wilkesboro Speedway presents many unique challenges to our competitors and we think the fans that attend our races this year and in 2011 will see some of the most unbelievable racing they’ve ever witnessed.”



In addition PASS officials recently announced that the Limited Late Models, Stadium Stocks/Four Cylinders, and Allison Legacy will also join the PASS South Super Late Models September 3-4 to celebrate the return of short track racing to North Wilkesboro Speedway.



“When you look back at the origins of stock car racing, you don’t have to look any further than Wilkes County and the cat-and-mouse game that went on between bootleggers and revenuers,” said Mayberry. “Short track racing came from those roots and we couldn’t be more pleased to have the Limited Late Models, Stadium Stocks, and Allison Legacy cars join PASS in reviving short track racing at North Wilkesboro. You can’t have short track racing without those blue collar racers who do it purely because they love it and we’re glad to have them as part of the Labor Day Classic.”



Veteran driver Brandon Ward and his New Day Motorsports team have tested extensively at North Wilkesboro in recent months to prepare for the Labor Day Classic. Ward was pleasantly surprised at the condition of the track, especially considering how long it had sat dormant.



“The racetrack is in relatively good shape. I was surprised how good the surface was for as long as it’s been sitting idle,” said Ward, driver of the #62 Yarbrough Transfer/Miller Welders Chevrolet. “The track doesn’t have a lot of grip, but it didn’t have grip the last time there was a race there in 1996. The driver that wins is going to have to save tires and have something left late in the run.”



And, with both team and driver hailing from just down the road in Winston-Salem, NC, the Labor Day Classic has been a race Ward and his teammates have had on their radar all year long.



“It’s huge to win a race in PASS South because the competition is the absolute toughest you will find in the Southeast,” said Ward. “It would be huge to win at a track that is just coming back. Also, it’s relatively close to home and we’ll have a lot of friends and family there so it would be great for New Day Motorsports to get a win at North Wilkesboro.”



Another driver who has tested at the legendary race track is 20-year-old Texas native Trey Mitchell. In his first full season racing in PASS South, Mitchell has scored four top ten finishes and sits eighth in points. And, he would love nothing more than to put his name in the record books alongside the notable list of winners at North Wilkesboro Speedway.



“I’m excited about the opportunity to be the next winner at North Wilkesboro since Jeff Gordon was the guy who won the last race there,” said Mitchell, driver of the #47 Mangum’s Oilfield Service/SponsorTrey.com Ford. “It’s going to be all about tire management. The place fits my driving style and I think it’s pretty sweet because it still looks a lot like it did when they ran the last race there.”



The Labor Day Classic weekend will kickoff on Friday, September 3rd with gates opening at 11 AM. There will be a rotating practice for the PASS South Super Late Models, Allison Legacy, Limited Late Models, and Stadium Stocks beginning at 2 PM. Practice will run until 7 PM and gates will close at 8 PM. On Saturday, gates will open at 7 AM with rotating practice from 9:30 AM to 11:25 AM. Qualifying will begin at 11:30 AM for the Allison Legacy cars, Limited Late Models, and PASS South Super Late Models. The Stadium Stocks will draw for their feature starting positions if there are less than 36 cars and will run heat races if there are more than 36 cars in attendance. Racing will begin at 2 PM with a 25 lap main event for the Stadium Stocks, to be followed by the last chance race for the PASS South Super Late Models, a 35 lap event for the Allison Legacy cars, and a 50 lap event for the Limited Late Models. The PASS South Super Late Models will compete in the final event of the weekend racing for 200 laps in the Inaugural Labor Day Classic. The complete weekend schedule can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com.



The PASS South Super Late Models will utilize the Labor Day Classic as a tune-up for next year’s North Wilkesboro 300, which will pay $75,000 to the winner. PASS eligible drivers could take home $100,000 if they are the first to reach the checkered flag. The North Wilkesboro 300 promises to be one of the biggest events in Super Late Model history and will take place April 7-9, 2011.

For more information please visit our website at proallstarsseries.com or historicnws.com or contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or at alandietzpass@live.com.

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