ASA Southern Super Series
Viewer's Guide to the Southern Super Series
Mar 9, 2022
For Dylan Fetcho to claim his second ever Pro Late Model victory, it would have to come by outrunning one of the craftiest racers in the discipline in Casey Roderick.
On the final restart with 40 laps to go, Roderick restarted sixth but started cutting through the top-five like no one had done throughout the afternoon. It was by design. Roderick had been conserving his tires just outside of the top-five and decided 40 laps was enough time to get it done.
Fetcho was told of the approaching Roderick 10 laps to go but had also been saving. Roderick was able to close the gap from two seconds to one, but essentially ran out of time. The win was his first since his breakthrough achievement on October 3, 2020 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
"They told me he was coming with about 30 to go, so I knew," Fetcho said. "I was still trying to save until he got closer because I knew I had used up my right front a little bit. I was getting tight by 10 to go so thank God he didn't get to me."
Making his first Pro Late Model start in three years, Roderick was adamant that he just timed his run too late in his debut for Tyler Porter’s race team and with crew chief Matt Drake.
"No, the timing was off," Roderick said. "When I was able to go, it was too late. He got a little gap on us when I was working through traffic. I ended up too far back because I restarted on the outside line a couple of times and it didn't go."
Since Roderick was last in a Pro Late Model, the rules have decreased power and the short track veteran underestimated how much time he would need to cut through the field on better managed tires.
"Just really hard to pass and keep your momentum up," Roderick said. "You drive up underneath someone and it really kills your momentum compared to what I'm used to. All in all, a good effort. Thanks to Tyler for calling me and letting me drive the car and for Matt Drake for giving us a really good car."
Fetcho took the lead off the first restart of the race on Lap 6 and led the rest of the way. That pass was a daring three-wide gambit. From there, it was just a matter of conserving while managing the gap.
"All the restarts are hectic," Fetcho said. "It's tough to hold the bottom and keep them off you. It's definitely not easy."
Michael Hinde didn’t win but continued an impressive start to his 2022 that featured a Pro Late Model victory at Speedfest and the World Series of Asphalt Pro Late Model championship last month at New Smyrna.
Hinde wanted to follow the example of Roderick but probably didn’t have the car or track position at the end.
"We needed a little more drive at the end," Hinde said. "We had a really fast car at the beginning and tried to get around (Christopher Tullis) but was also trying to ride. I didn’t want to use my stuff up just to get stuck on the outside again, but I probably waited too long and I think our left rear snout is bent so I lost a lot of our drive at the end."
Fetcho is routinely racing near the front in marquee Pro Late Model races and this victory is something he is going to cherish for a while.
"We’ve only been here once, and we finished fourth, so to come back and win against this field, it’s a dream come true," Fetcho added.
Grasshopper Baby Rattler Pro 125
Official Results
1. Dylan Fetcho
2. Casey Roderick
3. Michael Hinde
4. Gio Ruggiero
5. Dustin Smith
6. Colin Allman
7. Jake Garcia
8. Timothy Watson
9. Jim Wall
10. Christopher Tullis
11. Evan Shotko
12. Hudson Halder
13. Jolynn Wilkinson
14. Johanna Long Robbins
15. Grant Thompson
16. Steve Dorer
17. Jeff Dawkins
18. Holt Halder
19. Harrison Halder
20. Dylan Courtney
21. Josh Adkins
22. Jake Daniels
23. Brian Reeves
