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Lorain Speedway Gearing Up For ASALM Northern Division In 2006
By Matt Prieur-ASA Late Model Series
Lexington, Michigan (01/05/2006): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM
Performance Parts continues to prepare for a much anticipated 2006 season. The
televised ASALMS Challenge Division is geared up for it's first event of the
2006 season, as is the ASALMS Southern Division, both of which their 2006
seasons start in March 2006.
The ASALMS Northern Division will jump start its 2006 season in May,
looking down the road at the 2006 schedule, a date in the great state of Ohio
has many drivers circling their calendars and eager with anticipation in the
ASALMS only appearance of the 2006 in the Buckeye State. The Lorain Speedway,
outside of Cleveland in Elyria, Ohio will host the ASALMS Northern Division on
Saturday June 24, 2006 in the inaugural running of the Lorain 100.
"We expect that the ASA Late Model Series race will become a signature
event at Lorain Speedway," Said Tim Stephens, Vice President and General
Manager. "The ASA name has great strength in our area. Local fans still
talk about the time the late Dale Earnhardt raced an ASA car at Sandusky
Speedway and how Butch Miller won the 1994 ASA National Tour championship
racing for a team based in Lorain County." Stephen continued. "We're
adding a new chapter to that history this summer by bringing the ASA Late
Model Series to Lorain Speedway." He added.
This will be the ASALMS first ever appearance at the fast 3/8s mile
semi-banked paved oval. Over the years, the ASALMS has boasted strong support
from teams based in the Buckeye State. "Our Ohio based drivers have
always been huge supporters of the series and this event will give those teams
a little hometown incentive." Added ASALMS Founder/President, Ron Varney.
"We expect to put on a great show for the great fans in the area, plus
with Sandusky, Ohio not that far away, we'll continue with our tradition of
having a fun day for the ASALMS at Cedar Point the day after the race!"
Varney added.
"It will be great to show how the ASA Late Model Series car adapts to our
track," Stephens added. "We're looking at several options for our
own Late Model division in 2006 and the ASALMS rules formula is certainly on
our radar screen." He continued. "Plus there are at least three
drivers from Ohio who have experience at Lorain Speedway who we expect to be
in this field; Scott Baker, Jack Smith and Ryan Tedesco," Stephens noted.
"It will be thrilling to see those "locals" race against all
the other stars of the ASA Late Model Series."
"I can't wait for this show." Added ASALMS pilot, Jack Smith, who
calls near-by Medina, Ohio home. "It's going to be a lot of fun to go
back home. I won the last time I was there in 2002! It's going to be a great
race, there's definitely two lanes to race and the fans there are just
awesome." Smith continued. "The fans of Lorain Speedway are in for a
treat and after the show, I sincerely hope that the Tim (Stephens) takes a
good look at the whole idea of the ASALMS and adds a division to his regular
show in the future." Smith ended.
"This will be a homecoming for me, I have a lot of history at Lorain and
I've won quite a few shows there!" Added Akron, Ohio veteran, Scott
Baker. "It's a great idea to bring the ASALMS cars to Lorain, fans can
identify with template cars so much more so than anything else. When the fans
of the Cleveland/Akron area see 40 plus haulers pull in and every one of them
are beautiful race cars and professional as can be, plus the close racing that
they will see all race long, the fans are going to want the ASALMS type cars
there on a regular basis." Added Baker.
The 2006 season marks the 56th consecutive season of competition at the Lorain
Speedway. Originally operated as a dirt track, the facility was converted to
asphalt in 1959. The 3/8th-mile oval has a long history of open wheel and
stock car racing, a tradition that continues in 2006 as the facility hosts
weekly events from April-September along with special events featuring the ASA
Late Model Series, the Midwest Supermodified Association, the USAC Ford Focus
Midget Series, the Main Event Racing Series and the Short Track Trucks.com
Challenge Series.
In recent years, the facility has been expanded to host motocross and go-kart
racing. Lorain Speedway races weekly on Saturday nights with a three-division
program of Open Wheeled Modifieds, Grand Nationals and Spectator Stocks. The
2006 season opens on Saturday April 9, 2006. The 23-week season concludes
September 9, 2006. For more information about the Lorain Speedway, visit their
website at: www.lorainspeedway.com
The next scheduled event for the ASA Late Model Series will be the 2005 Awards
Banquet to be held at the Quality Hotel and Banquet Center in Fort Wayne,
Indiana on Saturday January 14, 2006, beginning with Happy Hour at
5:30pm.
The ASALMS will honor the 2005 ASA Late Model Series Champion, Stephen Leicht,
as well as the 2005 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Brian Campbell
and the top twenty drivers in the final points standings. In addition, the GM
Performance Parts Winner's Circle participants will be awarded as will the GM
Performance Parts Shootout Points Champion, Mark Hartline. Also Special
Awards, as voted on by the teams of the ASALMS will be handed out along-with
special appreciation awards.
The banquet is a semi-formal event and the ASALMS encourages everyone to put
on their best. The ASALMS will continue with the tradition that started with
the first annual banquet to begin the awards presentation first followed by
dinner and dancing. Everyone is welcome to attend and to celebrate the 2005
season. Attendance is mandatory for all teams receiving awards. Tickets for
the banquet must be purchased in advance through the ASALMS Office. All
tickets MUST BE ORDERED by Saturday January 7, 2006!
In addition, there are some rooms that are blocked off for the ASALMS and some
of those hotel rooms are still available at the Quality Inn by calling 1 (877)
240-2929 and using the ASALMS Member code #00802174 to get a 15% discount.
Once all of those rooms are gone, you can call the hotel direct and get a room
for $59 by letting them know you are part of the ASALMS. Please Call 1 (260)
484-7711. Pricing is discounted for both Friday and Saturday January 13-14,
2006.
Also on that same day, the 2006 ASALMS Owner/Drivers meeting will also be held
at the Quality Hotel and Banquet Center from 9am-Noon. This meeting will be
open for all three divisions and its' participants and the ASALMS management
and staff encourages all teams that plan on running with any of the three
traveling series in 2006 to attend or send a representative to the
meeting.
The 2006 ASALMS Southern Division Owner/Drivers meeting is set for Saturday
January 21, 2006 at the Quality Inn/Marietta Room in Marietta, Georgia from
10am-1pm. Just a reminder to all teams that plan to attend the January 21st
Informational meeting in Marietta Georgia. This meeting is in addition to the
ASALMS Owner/Drivers Meeting to be held the weekend before on Saturday January
14, 2006 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
It is very important that you register your attendees with the ASALMS South
Office as soon as possible. There is no charge to attend the meeting but we
will need an accurate head count to ensure that we are properly prepared.
Please register via e-mail or call the Southern Division office at: (770)
630-4571 or you can e-mail Southern Division Director, Randy Rabinowitch at: randyr@asalatemodels.com
The ASALMS Southern Division will open the 2006 season on Saturday March 4,
2006 at the Bronson (FL) Motor Speedway near Gainesville in Bronson, Florida
for the inaugural Florida 100. The televised ASALMS Challenge Division will
open the doors on their 2006 season two weeks later at the famed Music City
(TN) Motorplex in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday March 18, 2006 for the
Music City 200.
Finally the ASALMS Northern Division will hold its inaugural event on Saturday
May 6, 2006 at the wicked fast = mile of the I-70 (MO) Speedway outside of
Kansas City in Odessa, Missouri for the inaugural Show-Me 100.
For more information about the 2005 ASALMS Awards Banquet as well as the
approaching 2006 season with the ASALMS Challenge Division, and the ASALMS
Northern and Southern Divisions; check out the websites at: www.asalatemodelsnorth.com
and www.asalatemodelssouth.com
You can also call the ASALMS home offices during normal business hours
(9am-5pm Eastern Standard Time) at 1 (800) 385-2503 or log onto the main
ASALMS website anytime at: www.asalatemodels.com
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