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PASS Super Late Models to sanction championship race at Lanier

One of the nearly forgotten homes of stock car racing will return to life this fall.

After sitting dormant for nearly a decade and having been gutted of everything that traditionally would deem it a race track, the Lanier Raceplex will host Super Late Model racing with the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) National Championship season finale on November 15-16.

This is the 0.375-mile track directly across from Road Atlanta that used to be known as Lanier National Speedway.

Details regarding the race, along with support divisions, will be announced in the coming days.  A practice day for all divisions competing is scheduled for Friday, November 15, while additional practice, qualifying, and all features will take place on Saturday, November 16.  Sunday, November 17 will be reserved as a rain date if needed.

“This is something we have been working on for a very long time,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry.  “We plan to announce more details soon but wanted to let drivers and fans know as soon as possible that stock car racing will be returning to Lanier in 2019 so they can make their plans to join us.”

The track was gutted of its infrastructure after it was sold to Road America owner Jim Downing, with buildings in its infield torn down. That led to a total repave of the entire infield, turning the track into a drifting, autocross and karting facility.

The track still retains its banking and may or may not need jersey barriers on the inside of the racing surface.

The track opened in 1982 as a dirt track, and was paved in the mid-1980s. The track was under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner and even hosted ARCA and NASCAR Xfinity Series races in the late 80s and 90s once it was paved.

The PASS National Championship marks a return of the series to Lanier.

When PASS began sanctioning Super Late Model races in the south, Lanier was one of the first tracks to come on board to host an event.  Georgia native Jason Hogan won the first PASS race there in 2006, while Maine’s Corey Williams took the checkered flag the final time PASS held a race at Lanier in 2007.

The 2019 PASS National Championship Super Late Model season continues this weekend at Hickory Motor Speedway with the 14th Annual Easter Bunny 150.

An impressive list of drivers from across the country is entered including Preston Peltier, Bubba Pollard, Matt Craig, Ben Rowe, Travis Benjamin, and many more. Also, PASS is continuing to work towards a makeup date in the Fall for the postponed National event that was scheduled at Dillon Motor Speedway in February.

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Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Donald

    April 16, 2019 at 9:48 am

    Tell us more. Went to Lanier for Slim Jim All Pro Series in July 98. 30 car field won by Freddy Query. Seemed at the time Lanier had strong lasting traditions in the area. What happened?

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