Derek Griffith Bounces Back for Third Easter Bunny 150 Win at Hickory

Derek Griffith returned to victory lane at Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday evening, scoring his third career win in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) Easter Bunny 150.

In some ways, it was a vintage performance for Griffith. In 2021, when Griffith swept the Easter Bunny weekend doubleheader, he led 212 of the weekend’s 300 laps of racing. On Saturday, he took the lead on lap 16 and pulled away to finish more than seven seconds ahead of Max Cookson, leaving just four drivers on the lead lap.

In other ways, it was a massive bounceback to what has been a frustrating run over recent years for the former PASS National Champion. Saturday even started with frustration, running just 70 laps in the St. Patrick’s Day 150 to open this year’s doubleheader.

“We just struggled so much earlier today,” said Griffith in victory lane. “We broke a heim joint in the lower pulling out to the second race. This thing’s been kicking our butt all day.

“I can’t thank my guys enough. We’ve had a tough couple of years here. To come out and run as well as we did, I’m pumped.”

Perhaps the biggest trophy of all is bringing the car back home in one piece. An incident in the ASA STARS National Tour opener at Five Flags Speedway was the latest in a series of vicious crashes for Griffith, a series that also includes a flip at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The car is intact, and it is fast to start the 2024 PASS season.

“It’s just momentum, you know. We get to go back home, and especially with how bad we were earlier today, to be as good as we were. We’ve got a good piece to go to Thompson, Loudon, Lee, we’ll be all over the place. It didn’t get wrecked by a knucklehead in Florida, so we’re in good shape.”

Ryan Moore, the winner of the first PASS race of the day, did not get the opportunity to sweep the doubleheader on Saturday. He was involved in a heat race incident with Jarrett Butcher, with neither car returning to competition for the feature race. Jarrett Butcher was driving the No. 53 his brother, Cole Butcher, raced in the St. Patrick's Day 150. Cole Butcher led the majority of that race but was involved in an incident with Mike Hopkins with two laps to go while battling for the win.

The next stop for the Pro All Stars Series will be the 50th Thompson Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. The PASS Super Late Models will race on Saturday, April 6 as part of the historic event.

-Photo credit: Will Bellamy, Racing America

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
PASS EASTER BUNNY 150