|
Hoffman Wins 2006 GM Performance Parts Shootout Championship in the ASALMS Challenge Division
By: ASA Late Model Series
Lexington, Michigan (10/24/2006): Wheaton, Illinois veteran, Eddie Hoffman has
won the 2006 GM Performance Parts Shootout Points Championship in the crown
jewel of the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts, the
televised Challenge Division.
The Prairie State veteran joined the ASALMS full time in 2006 and in the crown
jewel of the ASALMS, the televised Challenge Division and was a stout
contender throughout the 2006 season. In addition, Hoffman was one of six
drivers in the ASALMS to win a feature in more than one division of the ASALMS
during the season.
Hoffman’s lone GMPP Shootout win came at the famed Oswego (NY) Speedway back
on June 10, 2006 during the Fleet Pride 200, Hoffman would come through the
field despite cosmetic damage in the main 200-lap Feature to pick up a fourth
place finish.
Also picking up GM Performance Parts Shootout wins during the 2006 season
were; Frank Kreyer (Music City), Eddy Wallace (San Antonio), Mark Kraus
(Madison), Jack Smith (Berlin), and Jeff VanOudenhoven (I-70).
GM Performance Parts Shootouts were not held at the following events;
Jennerstown (PA) Speedway (07/29/06), Adirondack (NY) International Speedway
(08/12/06), Milwaukee (WI) Mile (08/26/06), Elko (MN) Speedway (09/03/06), and
Iowa (IA) Speedway (10/14/06).
During the 2006 season, the crafty Prairie State veteran ran the full slate of
events in the televised ASALMS Challenge Division as well as select events
within the ASALMS Northern Division for Car Owner, Tom Kmak and the TK Racing
Team.
In addition to his ASALMS schedule, Hoffman ran as much as the schedule
allowed at his home track of the Grundy County (IL) Speedway, where he
finished second in points, as well as the Illiana (IN) Motor Speedway in
weekly Supers Late Models competition. Plus, Hoffman also made select
appearances in the CRA Super Series.
In addition to winning the 2006 GM Performance Parts Shootout Points
Championship in the crown jewel of the ASALMS, the televised Challenge
Division, as well as two Past Champions Provisionals for the upcoming 2007
season per division, Hoffman also finished a strong third in the final 2006
ASALMS Challenge Divisions Points Standings.
Hoffman picked up one feature win, during the 2006 Season Opener at the Music
City (TN) Motorplex in Nashville, Tennessee on March 18, 2006 during the
Waffle House 200 Presented by Dollar General.
Overall in Challenge Division competition, Hoffman recorded four Top Fives and
seven Top 10s in 11 starts to finish 21 points ahead of Chad Wood (1621-1600)
in the third position in the final 2006 ASALMS Challenge Division standings.
Hoffman also led a total of 190 laps during the season, with all of them
coming in Nashville.
In addition to the televised Challenge Division, Hoffman also competed part
time in the companion ASALMS Northern Division were he recorded two Feature
wins and both coming back to back.
His first win was during the rain delayed Lake Geneva 100 at the now closed
Lake Geneva (WI) Speedway back on May 20, 2006. The race was called at lap 55
when Mother Nature intervened and forced both ASALMS and Lake Geneva officials
to cancel the remainder of the event.
Hoffman’s second Feature win came at his home track of the Grundy County
(IL) Speedway on Memorial Day Monday, May 29, 2006 during the George Appleton
Memorial 125 after a thrilling dual with race long leader, Jack Smith.
In North competition and despite the limited appearances, Hoffman ended up
with three Top Fives and three Top 10s, to go with one Fast Qualifier Award
during the 37th annual Oktoberfest Weekend at the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds
Speedway to finish 16th in the final points chase!
During the 2005 season, Hoffman's TK Racing Team, won the 2005 CRA Super
Series Owner's Points Championship and finished fourth in the NASCAR Elite
Division Midwest Series Points chase.
Also in the 2005 season, Hoffman also won his second straight Elmer Musgrave
Memorial at the Illiana (IN) Motor Speedway back on June 25, 2005. In
addition, Hoffman won the CRA Series portion of the National Short Track
Championships at the Rockford (IL) Speedway.
Over his stellar career, Hoffman has won races on both super speedways and
short tracks over his career, Hoffman has won numerous Bud Pole awards in the
NASCAR Midwest Series. Hoffman was the highest finishing Midwest driver during
the 2005 Toyota All-Star Showdown, with a fourth place finish.
The 46-year-old began his racing career running Enduro events in 1986, and
then moved up to the Mid-American Stock Car Series where he won three straight
Mid-Am Championships from 1993-1995.
In 1996, he moved into the ARTGO Challenge Series where he easily won the
Rookie of the Year title and in 1997 Hoffman picked up the Series Championship
in what then became the NASCAR Midwest Series.
The 1998 season saw Hoffman won his first of three Oktoberfest’s at LaCrosse
on his way to a third place showing in the NASCAR Midwest Series. Hoffman
ranks only behind the late Joe Shear in career Oktoberfest wins!
In 1999, Hoffman ran a full schedule in the now defunct ASA National Tour
driving for famed car owner, Don Fanetti. During that season, he won one pole
award at the Memphis (TN) Motorsports Park and finished a season high third at
the Desoto (FL) Speedway.
The year 2000 saw Hoffman join forces with the TK Racing/Lisa Thomas Salon
Team led by Car Owner, Tom Kmak. In 2001, Hoffman picked up a fifth place
finish back once again in the NASCAR Midwest Tour as well as the Bud Pole
Champion. In 2003, Hoffman was voted Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Midwest
Series.
The Wheaton, Illinois standout is a two-time track champion at the Grundy
County (IL) Speedway with his most recent weekly racing title in 2004. He was
also the 1997 titlist, both in the tracks Late Model division.
Hoffman is also a three-time winner of the Tony Bettenhausen Memorial at the
Illiana (IN) Motor Speedway. His wins in the prestigious event came in 2003,
2000, and 1998. Finally, Hoffman is also a two-time winner of the George
Appleton Memorial, held traditionally at Grundy County.
Hoffman made his ASALMS debut during the 36th annual Oktoberfest Weekend at
the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway on October 7, 2005 driving a Tony
D'Ambrose owned Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Hoffman was the Fast Qualifier and
finished fourth in the feature.
During the 2006 season, Hoffman will carry primary sponsorship on the side of
his Ford Fusion from Lisa Thomas Salon as well as Redken/Fifth Avenue,
Appleton Rack and Pinion, M.R. Lee Building Materials, Thorsen Insurance,
Slightly Sinful Intimate Playthings, and TK Racing.
To learn more about Eddie Hoffman and the TK Racing Team, log onto their
website at: Lisa Thomas Racing
2006 GM Performance Parts Shootout FINAL Points Standings (Challenge Division)
1. 8 Eddie Hoffman (1) 133
2. 3 Bill Tomlinson 122
3. 08 Jeff VanOudenhoven 121
4. 25 Tony Rosebrugh 114
5. 98 Hunter Robbins 105
6. 93 Doug True 102
7. 5 Ken Wills 96
8. 28 Jack Smith (1) 73
9. 9 Mark Kraus (1) 73
10. 51 Eddy Wallace (1) 73
81 total teams received GMPP Shootout Points during the 2006 season
|
