GREENVILLE, S.C. – Audio and story by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman – Doiron Racing photo —

Spearheaded by reigning PASS South Super Late Model Series champion Tate Fogleman and Southeast Limited Late Model Series titlist Mack Little III, nearly 70 cars across four divisions took time in Friday’s open practice for the Winter Meltdown at Greenville Pickens Speedway.

Each division had four rounds of practice to setup their cars in advance of Saturday’s features.

Though only a limited number of transponders were used across the PASS sessions, the quickest lap of those who were timed in was turned by defending PASS National Champion and most recent GPS winner Joey Doiron – who posted a 20.153 second (89.317 mph) clip to lead the day over 38 super late models who were signed in.

“The track hasn’t changed all that much from the last time we were here,” Doiron said at the end of the day. “The car that got wrecked was junk, so we’ve brought a brand new car this time around. It’s only been five or six years since we last updated it, but it’s probably only been raced half-a-dozen times since then. Today was my first time with a crate motor in that car, so I really didn’t have a lot of expectations, but we came here to win and it’s been good since we unloaded. Today was faster than we went here in October, so hopefully it’ll be even better tomorrow.”

Doiron is looking to go back-to-back at Greenville on Saturday, and also looks to prove a point after he was crashed past the finish line by Californian Zane Smith in October’s event at the historic half-mile speedway.

“I felt like in October we had the best car, and the best car won the race despite the raw deal at the end there. When they announced we were coming back here [to start the National Championship], the goal was immediately set to come here and absolutely mop everybody. If we win, it’ll be good, but I want to really show everyone that you can come back here with a new piece and still wax them.”

Dylan Hall dominated the SELLM sessions; leading the final three sessions consecutively and posting the fastest lap of the day at 21.112 seconds, just ahead of Justin Hicks, Colby Howard, Luke Sorrow and Little on the overall speed charts.

Hall, the two-time defending Myrtle Beach 400 winner in SELLM competition, is looking to become the series’ first winner at Greenville Pickens on Saturday afternoon in his No. 4 entry.

“Our car has been really consistent all day, and I feel like we’ve learned a lot,” the 17-year-old said. “This is our first time here, but I like the track. I think it’s going to be a competitive race tomorrow as well, with the amount of cars we’ve got here, so we’ll see what happens in the race. I’m confident we’ll have a car that can contend for the victory.”

Only two entries from the Southeast Super Truck Series ran laps with a transponder on Friday, with Kenneth Headen (21.005) leading Jamie Altop (21.327) on the timesheets.

However, they will be joined on Saturday by names including Greenville track manager and former NASCAR Whelen All American Series national champion Anthony Anders, as well as young rising star and Richard Childress Racing development driver Ahnna Parkhurst.

Chuck Buffer led the way in the Mini-Stock division practice, edging out AJ Sanders for the top spot with his lap in round three of 23.670 seconds.

Gates open for Saturday’s Winter Meltdown at 8 a.m., with practice beginning at 10 a.m. Time trials kick off at 12:30 p.m. and feature racing follows at 2 – led by 150 laps for the PASS South super late models.

For more information on Greenville Pickens Speedway, visit the track website at www.greenvillepickens.com.

Audio with PASS South practice leader Joey Doiron:

RESULTS: Winter Meltdown Practice; Greenville Pickens Speedway; Feb. 5, 2016

Southeast Limited Late Models

1. #4H – Dylan Hall, 21.112
2. #61H – Justin Hicks, 21.209
3. #16H – Colby Howard, 21.211
4. #9S – Luke Sorrow, 21.287
5. #16L – Mack Little, 21.391
6. #35K – Tasha Kummer, 21.537
7. #5A – Anthony Alfredo, 21.571
8. #1P – Phil Petters, 21.642
9. #23G – Shan Gibson, 21.644
10. #28R – Bob Root, 21.659
11. #33C – Andrew Cordell, 21.700
12. #33A – Daniel Alvarez, 21.790
13. #41 – Chase Purdy, 22.029
14. #17B – Driver Unknown, 22.212

Southeast Super Truck Series

1. Kenneth Headen, 21.005
2. Jamie Altop, 21.327

Greenville Pickens Mini Stocks

1. #53B – Chuck Buffer, 23.670
2. #24S – AJ Sanders, 23.790
3. #7C – Brandon Clements, 23.849
4. #07M – Neil Meredith, 24.139
5. #23C – Ken CanDrotti, 24.780
6. #22M – Alan Mitchell, 25.472
7. #24A – Brad Teague, 26.414
8. #17 – BJ Thrasher, 38.616