NEWTON, N.C. — Audio, photo and report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman —

Call Saturday’s qualifying result an early birthday present for 15-year-old Derek Scott Jr.

Scott, who turns 16 later this month, stunned a 34-car Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model field during time trials for Saturday night’s 10th annual Easter Bunny 150 — setting the fastest lap around the 0.363-mile Hickory Motor Speedway with a time of 14.945 seconds (87.441 mph) to outrun all challengers.

The quick time effort is the first of the young gun’s PASS South career and comes in his first Easter Bunny 150 attempt.

“Through this past year I’ve gained so much confidence with my team and we’ve just been really successful,” Scott said. “This gives me a ton of confidence for the race — where it’s a completely different story. Tires go away and I just have to drive it like I did in practice on old tires and I think we’ll be real good.”

Veteran Jody Measmer, who held the top spot until Scott went out, hung on to set the second-fastest time in the field with a lap of 14.975 seconds — the only other sub-15-second lap of anyone who took time.

“It’s good [to qualify well], but it’s going to come down to who has it when it matters tonight,” Measamer said of his run. “I’ve had a good car here three or four times but just have never quite been able to put it together over the entire race. Hopefully we can change that tonight.”

All-time PASS South quick time leader Preston Peltier slotted in third-overall with a lap of 15.004 seconds.

Trevor Noles and defending PASS South champion Tyler Church rounded out the fast five.

Positions six through ten were filled by Brandon Setzer, Roger Lee Newton, current PASS South points leader Zane Smith, Bret Holmes and defending and three-time PASS National Champion Ben Rowe.

The top ten will redraw for their official starting positions prior to tonight’s 150-lap main event, while the top twenty cars were locked into the starting field on time.

The remainder of the 34 cars who attempted to qualify will have one more chance to race their way into the Easter Bunny 150 field via the 15-lap last chance race, which will take the green flag at approximately 6 p.m. Eastern time. The Easter Bunny 150 will follow at roughly 7:30 p.m. Eastern, with live coverage on 51 TV.

Audio with fast qualifier Derek Scott Jr.:

RESULTS: PASS South Time Trials; 10th annual Easter Bunny 150; Hickory Motor Speedway; April 4, 2015

Qualifying (two laps, all cars): 1) #01 – Derek Scott Jr., 14.945; 2) #98 – Jody Measamer, 14.975; 3) #74X – Preston Peltier, 15.004; 4) #2 – Trevor Noles, 15.020; 5) #7 – Tyler Church, 15.029; 6) #6 – Brandon Setzer, 15.034; 7) #33 – Roger Lee Newton, 15.069; 8) #77 – Zane Smith, 15.086; 9) #H2 – Bret Holmes, 15.090; 10) #4N – Ben Rowe, 15.117; 11) #12J – Trey Jarrell, 15.120; 12) #9 – Chris Dilbeck, 15.121; 13) #8S – Jason Stanley, 15.124; 14) #12 – Heath Hindman, 15.127; 15) #00 – Shane Lee, 15.134; 16) #9X – Jeff Fultz, 15.140; 17) #71R – Nick Robinson, 15.148; 18) #4D – Joey Doiron, 15.155; 19) #74 – Ryan Moore, 15.161; 20) #29 – Trevor Sanborn, 15.233; 21) #7R – Mike Rowe, 15.250; 22) #16 – Lucas Jones, 15.270; 23) #49 – Jeff Batten, 15.271; 24) #42QC – Eric St. Gelais, 15.277; 25) #89 – David Latour Jr., 15.291; 26) #8 – Tate Fogleman, 15.303; 27) #4X – Kyle McCallum, 15.328; 28) #13 – John Gibson, 15.336; 29) #24 – Steve Halpin, 15.341; 30) #54 – Matt Craig, 15.347; 31) #55 – Kevin Floars, 15.402; 32) #118 – Dave Mader III, 15.420; 33) #71 – Jimmy Doyle, 15.421; 34) #02 – Walker Yates, 15.445.