Trey Mitchell and Alex Fleming Race Their Way into PASS South “THE RACE” at North Wilkesboro Speedway
33 Drivers Raced for Two Transfer Spots in Last-Chance Races Saturday Afternoon
With 30 drivers already locking themselves in to the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South presented by JE Pistons and Roush Yates Performance Parts “THE RACE” on Friday, April 8th, 33 drivers raced in two last chance races for two more transfer positions on Saturday afternoon into the 300-lap race. Trey Mitchell and Alex Fleming took the checkered-flags first in their heat races, earning their spots into THE RACE.
Joey Coulter and Mitchell started side by side at the start of the first last chance race. Coulter got the edge going into turn one, clearing Mitchell for the top spot. Lonnie Sommerville settled in to the third position as the top-three drivers distanced themselves from the rest of the field.
A battle back for seventh between 62 year old Geoff Bodine and 13 year old Gray Gaulding was heated for a few laps, but Gaulding was able to work his way under Bodine to take the position just before lap 10.
Meanwhile, up front, Mitchell worked his way to the back bumper and inside Coulter for the top spot, officially taking the lead. Also, Joey Pole made his presence known, moving his way up from ninth to second, chasing Mitchell for the transfer spot.
With the rest of the race going green flag, Mitchell was able to hold off the late charge by Pole to take the victory and the coveted transfer spot into THE RACE.
“I’ve got to thank Joey (Coulter),” said Mitchell. “This is a do-or-die thing, and he didn’t have to race me clean. He did, and I appreciate that. I really do think we have a good piece. It rolls the center great and has great horsepower.”
Pole, Coulter, Sommerville and Gaulding rounded out the top five.
Jimmy Weller and Ryan Reed started on the front row of the second last chance race. Coming to take the green flag, both leaders seemed to have trouble coming up to speed, almost stacking up the field. Reed was able to get going and take the lead while Weller dropped back several positions.
The yellow flag flew early for Randy Gentry’s spin in turn one after contact with Dustin Hubbard. On the restart, Reed and Fleming headed to turn one with Fleming driving hard on the outside, taking the lead. Reed settled in second with Donnie Wilson in third.
Over the final handful of laps, Wilson put pressure on Reed for the second position, eventually moving his way into the runner-up spot as the racers took the white flag, but it was just a little too late as Fleming went to victory lane in the second last chance race.
“I have never been more excited to qualify into a race,” said Fleming. “We put ourselves in a hole working on long runs (yesterday). We didn’t realize we weren’t in the race yet. We started the heat race and they left us. This morning we changed every single thing on the car back to a normal set-up.”
Wilson, Reed, DJ Shaw and Brian Levant rounded out the top five.
The balance of the field will be determined by PASS officials with provisionals going to multiple drivers.
For more information on the Pro All Stars Series and “THE RACE” at North Wilkesboro Speedway, go to www.proallstarsseries.com.
PASS South presented by JE Pistons and Roush Yates Performance Products “THE RACE” Last Chance Race Results
Last Chance Race #1 Results
1st 47 Trey Mitchell
2nd 197 Joey Pole
3rd 16 Joey Coulter
4th 48n Lonnie Sommerville
5th 2 Gray Gaulding
6th 97 John Fleming
7th 4n Ben Rowe
8th 10b Geoff Bodine
9th 84qc Martin Latuilitte
10th 22 Aaron Ricker
11th 29k Allen Karnes
12th 8 Cassius Clark
13th 75 Gary Smith
14th 80s Mark Shaffer
15th 17a Scott Alexander
16th 1n Randy Turner
17th 42n Ronnie Hults
18th 80 Dean Clattenburg
Last Chance Race #2 Results
1st 05 Alex Fleming
2nd 82 Donnie Wilson
3rd 04 Ryan Reed
4th 60n DJ Shaw
5th 49 Brian Levant
6th 35 Devin Jones
7th 9p Tommy Pecaro
8th 73 Joey Doiron
9th 09 Randy Gentry
10th 40 Sterling Marlin
11th 20 Steve Legendre
12th 2m Matt Matheson
13th 48 John Batten
14th 23 Jimmy Weller
15th 21 Dustin Hubbard