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Ryan Very impressive In ASA Late Model Series Debut
By: ASA Late Model Series Staff
Lexington, Michigan (03/22/2006): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM
Performance Parts has prided itself as one of the premiere traveling series’
in the country. The moniker of “Where Champions Race” definitely holds
true especially after the first race of the 2006 season.
Since the ASALMS inception as the USPRO Cup Series in 2003, even the rookie
title contenders have faired well each season. In the series history, no
Rookie of the Year has finished worse than second overall in the final points
standings.
In that 2003 season, Rookie of the Year, Mike Carter took 2003 Series
Champion, Mark Kortz to the final event of the season at the now dormant
Tri-City (MI) Motor Speedway before settling for second in the final points
standings.
In 2004, the series changed over to the ASA Late Model Series and Rookie of
the Year, Bobby Stremme also won the overall series championship! Last season,
Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Brian Campbell also finished second
overall to 2005 ASALMS Champion, Stephen Leicht.
This season, the crop of Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title
contenders are widely considered the strongest in series history. Even after
the success of the 2005 freshman where five rookie pilots finished in the Top
10 overall in the final points standings.
At the conclusion of the Waffle House 200 Presented by Dollar General at the
Music City (TN) Motorplex, Kelly Bires was the highest finishing freshman in
fourth place, but the story of the race was the run by another rookie
contender who made the long haul from Minnesota worth writing home about!
Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title contender, Jake Ryan started the
weekend off by setting fast time over a stout 52-car field in Quick Car Racing
Products Qualifying! The Farmington, Minnesota freshman posted an 18.741 which
equals out to a fast 114.487 MPH
As for the Waffle House 200 Presented by Dollar General, Ryan was the most
talked about Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie title contender in the field! After
drawing a six for an inversion, Ryan quickly worked his way up through the
field and soon found himself in second spot with eventual winner, Eddie
Hoffman in his sights.
Looking in his rear view mirror however, he saw Michigan Motorsports Hall of
Famer, Butch Miller bearing down on him. After an epic battle, the situation
came to the forefront on lap 183 when the veteran and the rookie collided
coming out of turn two sending both around and Miller into the backstretch
wall.
Miller was done for the evening while Ryan continued with a damaged race car.
The freshman pilot managed to finish the 200-lap feature and posted a
respectable eighth place showing in the Waffle House 200 Presented by Dollar
General.
“Butch Miller is a legend! It was an honor just to be racing against him let
alone to be battling side by side with him, plus Eddie Hoffman was in front of
us! It just doesn’t get any better than that!” Stated Ryan as he reflected
on his first career appearance in the ASALMS. “It’s just awesome to even
be racing door-to-door with someone like Butch Miller! I’ve got some donuts
on my door from him. It was good racing.” Ryan added.
“These cars are so equal that when you get an inch, you take a mile.” Ryan
continued. “I guess we should’ve been a little more patient and let him go
and come back after him a couple of laps later, but hindsight is 20/20.”
Ryan offered. “I hate it for both of us, we both could’ve finished in the
top three at least and one of us maybe could’ve even won it! But we’ll
take what we got out of Nashville and learn from it.” He added.
For his efforts, Ryan picked up awards from Quick Car Racing Products for
setting fast time. For his eighth place finish, Ryan will receive awards from
Hyperco Suspension Springs and Powermaster Motorsports.
As the ASALMS Challenge Division heads to the Lone Star State and the San
Antonio (TX) Speedway on Friday and Saturday March 31st and April 1st. Ryan
sits second in the Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie title chase behind Bires. Ryan
also is shown eighth overall heading into the Alamo 200.
“We’re running the full deal in the Challenge Division for the Rookie
title and the overall championship too, so no matter what, Nashville was a
great start for us.” The 23-year-old added. “We were fast off the trailer
and obviously setting quick time was great! We’ll take what we learned in
Nashville and move on to Texas.” He ended.
During the 2005 season, Ryan ran primarily at the Elko (MN) Speedway south of
the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in Elko, Minnesota. The Farmington, Minnesota
freshman recorded eight feature wins, including six in a row to post an
impressive third place showing in the final points standings. He also won the
Most Popular Driver award at the fast 3/8s mile progressively banked paved
oval.
The Farmington, Minnesota pilot also competed in the Minnesota Super Late
Model Challenge Series where he picked up one feature win at Elko on August
13th enroute to finishing third in the Series’ final points standings
despite only making four starts in the six race series. He also finished
seventh in weekly Super Late Models competition at Raceway (MN) Park.
Ryan began his racing career in 1999 in the Sportsman division at Elko where
he won the Rookie of the Year title. He spent the 2000 and 2001 season also at
Elko in Sportsman where in 2001, he finished fourth in points while picking up
three feature wins.
In 2002, Ryan advances to the Mid-American Stock Car Series where he picked up
the Rookie of the Year award there while also finishing a solid third in the
final points standings. In 2003, Ryan finished in the runner-up spot in the
final Mid-Am points while recording six feature wins including one at the
famous Milwaukee (WI) Mile!
The 23-year-old made the move up into the Super Late Models in 2004 and back
at the Elko Speedway where he again won the Rookie of the Year award while
picking up fourth feature wins, 10 Fast Qualifier Awards and he finished third
overall in the points.
Also in 2004, Ryan ran in the AC Delco Summer Series and finished second in
the points there while also making his first appearance with the NASCAR
Autozone Midwest Series at the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway.
For the 2006 season, Ryan will compete for the Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of
the Year title in the ASALMS Challenge Division while also making appearances
in the ASALMS Northern Division.
The Gopher State driver will carry sponsorship on the side of his Ford Fusion
from Honeywell International as well as Lennox/Genz-Ryan Plumbing, Heating,
and Cooling, Southport Auto Body, Godfrey’s Custom Signs, St. Thomas
Creations, Tesar Engineering, Pathfinder Chassis, and DPR Motorsports.
To learn more about Jake Ryan and the DPR Motorsports team, please e-mail them
at: jacobryan@earthlink.net
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