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Hartline Awaits ASALMS Northern Division In His Backyard
By ASA Late Model Series
Lexington, Michigan (05/17/2006): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM
Performance Parts Northern Division is preparing for the second race of the
2006 season.
The cars and stars of the ASALMS Northern Division will head North and into
what is regarded as the short track capital of America, the state of
Wisconsin. The Lake Geneva (WI) Raceway is the site for race number two on
Saturday May 20th for the running of the Lake Geneva 100.
The ASALMS first ever event at the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin speed plant will
mark the first and last appearance by the series at the tricky 1/3 mile
progressively banked speed plant. This is because it was announced by track
owner and promoter Kevin Dawson, that this would be the final season for
competition after over 40 years of successful and continuous operation.
One driver who hopes the comforts of home will propel him to a strong finish
and a shot at the feature win in the one and only ASALMS appearance at the
speed plant located just across the Wisconsin/Illinois border is Mark Hartline.
The 2005 GM Performance Parts Shootout Champion in what is now the ASALMS
Challenge Division comes into the Lake Geneva 100 as one of the hometown
favorites for this event. Hartline, who lives just across the border about 45
minutes South of Lake Geneva in Gilberts, Illinois has enjoyed success at the
unique 1/3 mile progressively banked paved oval.
“It’s sad that the track is closing. It’s been a great place to race for
the last 16 years!” Stated Hartline as his Hartline Racing Enterprises team
prepares for its’ homecoming this weekend at the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
speed plant. “Our primary sponsor, Hobby Town USA out of Crystal Lake,
Illinois will be there since they are only 30 minutes away from the track.”
the 42-year-old added.
The closing of any race track is a sad proposition to any race fan. When the
closing Lake Geneva Raceway is brought up,, Hartline gets serious and saddened
at the same time. “Kevin Dawson’s heart has always been in the right place
when it came to the sport of Stock Car Racing in the area.” Hartline
continued.
“The staff at Lake Geneva is second to none and it’s going to be a sad day
in the racing world when the final checkered flag falls at the track at the
end of the season.” He remarked.
For the Lake Geneva 100, The Hartline Racing Enterprises team and their
primary sponsor, Hobby Town USA of Crystal Lake, Illinois will be giving away
a couple of gift cards on race day and the team will also have the track pick
out a couple of ticket numbers for the winners as well.
When thinking about the prospects of a feature win in ASALMS at his home
track, Hartline feels his team is as prepared as can be and thinks about what
a win at Lake Geneva would mean. “A top 10 finish for us would be great
especially when this will be the only ASALMS race ever held there.” Hartline
stated. “It will be history for the winner. Our team would just be ecstatic
if we won, no question about it.” He ended.
During the 2005 season, Hartline won the inaugural GM Performance Parts
Shootout Championship within the ASALMS. Overall, Hartline finished 25th in
the final points standings despite missing some events. In his ASALMS career,
Hartline has ran at least on a part-time basis since 2004 and ranks tied for
17th all-time in career appearances within the ASALMS.
The 2006 season marks the 25th anniversary of Late Model racing for the
Gilberts, Illinois veteran. He began his career back on the dirt tracks of
Wisconsin beginning at the Wilmot (WI) Speedway in 1982 in the Sportsman
division.
In 1984 he raced on the dirt at the Hales Corners (WI) Speedway before
switching over to pavement in 1986. Hartline began his asphalt career at the
Rockford (IL) Speedway. In 1990, Hartline started competing at, what is now,
his home track of the Lake Geneva (WI) Raceway.
Over the years, Hartline had been a regular fixture at the fast 1/3 mile
progressively banked paved oval in both the Super Late Models and the
Millenium Late Models divisions. Hartline has also spent time in the old ARTGO
Challenge Series and eventually its’ successor, the NASCAR Midwest
Series.
For the 2006 season, Hartline will compete in select events in both the ASALMS
Northern Division as well as the televised ASALMS Challenge Division.
The Prairie State veteran will carry sponsorship on the side of his Chevrolet
Monte Carlo from; Hobby Town USA of Crystal Lake, Illinois, In addition,
Cruisin Route 72 Bar and Eatery of Gilberts, Illinois and Cruisin State Street
of Marengo, Illinois, all have logos on the side of the Hartline Racing
Enterprises machine.
After the Lake Geneva event, the televised ASALMS Challenge Division returns
to action after almost two month off and will begin the Memorial Day Holiday
weekend. The Northern Division will also be in action once again giving the
ASALMS two events over a three day period.
Friday and Saturday May 26-27, the cars and stars of the crown jewel of the
ASALMS will take on the best the state of Wisconsin has to offer at the
Madison (WI) International Speedway outside of Madison, in Oregon, Wisconsin
in the running of the Miller Lite 200.
The Miller Lite 200 will kick off the holiday weekend that will also see the
teams pull double duty over the same weekend. After the Madison Challenge
Division event, the ASALMS Northern Division will complete the Memorial Day
holiday weekend on Memorial Day Monday May 29th at the Grundy County (IL)
Speedway in Morris, Illinois for the 8th annual George Appleton Memorial
125.
For more information about the 2006 seasons within all three divisions of the
ASALMS, you can call the ASALMS home offices during normal business hours
Monday through Friday (9am-5pm Eastern Standard Time) at: 1 (800) 385-2503.
You can also log onto any of the three websites for more information. For the
Challenge Division, go to: ASA Late
Model Series For the Northern Division, log in at: ASA
Late Model Series Northern Division and finally for the Southern Division
click on: ASA Late Model Series
Southern Division
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