April 20, 2014 — Audio, photo and report by Managing Editor Jacob Seelman for Speed77 Radio and Race Chaser Online — HICKORY, N.C. — Preston Peltier knows Hickory better than anyone else.

On Sunday afternoon, the Harrisburg, North Carolina and perennial PASS South contender added one more accolade to his long list of triumphs at the venerable 0.363 mile facility. Peltier scored his third-career Easter Bunny 150 fast time award, and fifth overall fast time award at Hickory in PASS South competition, with a quick lap of 14.847 seconds (88.018 mph), just a shade off of the all-time PASS South track record at the track.

The time was Peltier’s 13th career qualifying award in PASS South Super Late Model competition.

“We got a lot of experience in these cars here at Hickory, and I’m just honored to have a shot to drive this thing here again,” Peltier said after his qualifying run. “I wasn’t sure if the lap was going to hold up, but it did. It’s really special to get any type of accolade here for this race in particular, and hopefully we can translate it into a third win today.”

Behind Peltier, hometown hero and defending PASS South Hickory winner Tyler Church clocked in second-quick with a lap of 14.863 seconds (87.923 mph). Two-time PASS South winner in 2014, Daniel Hemric, came in third-fastest with a best lap of 14.868 seconds (87.893 mph).

Leading PASS South rookie contender Jared Irvan clocked in fourth with a lap of record of 14.899 seconds (87.711 mph) and perennial PASS North contender D.J. Shaw (14.927; 87.546 mph) rounded out the top five qualifiers.

14-year-old rookie Tyler Dippel, former PASS South and PASS North tour winner Austin Theriault, Roger Lee Newton, the most recent PASS South winner, Randy Gentry and Trevor Sanborn rounded out the top ten on the time charts.

The top ten will redraw for their feature starting positions, while the top 20 cars will be locked into the Easter Bunny 150 based on their qualifying times. All other drivers will have to race their way in via the last chance race, which begins at 3 PM Eastern.

The 9th annual Easter Bunny 150 is scheduled to get the green flag at approximately 4:15 PM Eastern time.

Audio with fast qualifier Preston Peltier:

QUALIFYING RESULTS: PASS South Super Late Model Series Easter Bunny 150

1. #74x – Preston Peltier 14.847
2. #7 – Tyler Church 14.863
3. #98 – Daniel Hemric 14.868
4. #28 – Jared Irvan 14.899
5. #60 – D.J. Shaw 14.927
6. #1 – Tyler Dippel 14.965
7. #4T – Austin Theriault 14.996
8. #33 – Roger Lee Newton 15.002
9. #09 – Randy Gentry 15.010
10. #29 – Trevor Sanborn 15.024
11. #14 – Clete Caywood 15.046
12. #4N – Ben Rowe 15.053
13. #54 – Jake Griffin 15.059
14. #12 – Harrison Burton 15.078
15. #2 – Trevor Noles 15.081
16. #70 – Nick Tucker 15.090
17. #74 – Ryan Moore 15.093
18. #57 – Cole Timm 15.101
19. #62 – Brandon Ward 15.131
20. #8F – Tate Fogleman 15.143
21. #71 – Patrick Staropoli 15.144
22. #12J – Trey Jarrell 15.220
23. #7k – Ted Mickelson 15.234
24. #68 – Clay Rogers 15.234
25. #41 – Jody Measamer 15.290
26. #88 – Lee Tissot 15.310
27. #83 – Joey Padgett 15.331
28. #6 – Brandon Setzer 15.332
29. #4F – Jay Fogleman 15.348
30. #48 – John Batten 15.453
31. #9 – Matt Daley 15.644