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2007 ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division Season Preview
By: ASA Late Model Series
Lexington, Michigan (02/26/2007): The 2007 ASA Late Model Series Presented by
GM Performance Parts Challenge Division opener is upcoming this weekend as the
cars and stars of the crown jewel of the ASALMS are in the midst of final
preparations before making the long journey to San Antonio, Texas.
Highly regarded as one of the most anticipated season openers for any
traveling series in recent memory, the 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division Season
gets underway this Friday and Saturday March 2-3, 2007 at the fast 0.500 Mile
High-Banked Paved Oval of the San Antonio (TX) Speedway for the running of the
2nd annual Alamo 200 Presented by Express Lube and FLF Racecars.
Based on registrations and pre-entries received for the ASALMS Challenge
Division for the upcoming Fifth Anniversary 2007 Season, the premiere drivers
and teams in the country will call the Challenge Division home in 2007 as a
plethora of drivers have been touted as ones to watch for the upcoming season.
Here is a capsule look at some the top contenders as decided on by an expert
panel of media, newspaper and trade paper outlets as well as astute observers
of the ASALMS located throughout the United States;
Eddie Hoffman: Perhaps the hottest driver in the country heading to San
Antonio Speedway. Beginning with the ASALMS portion of the All-American 400
weekend last November, The Wheaton, Illinois veteran has raced four times and
won three of those shows; Nashville, DeVos Place Day Two, and Speedfest.
Hoffman comes into the 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division season as the favorite
amongst the majority of the media outlets for the 2007 Challenge Division
title.
Charlie Menard: With new Crew Chief, Chad Wood calling the shots, the Eau
Claire, Wisconsin veteran looks to have a solid 2007 season running for both
the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Division Championships. Like Hoffman, Menard
is widely considered one of the top contenders for the 2007 ASALMS Challenge
Division Championship and is expected to be one of the heavy hitters in 2007.
Brian Campbell: A new team and a renewed enthusiasm for the upcoming 2007
season. The 2005 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year will head to San
Antonio as the top driver of the Boyne Machine team and heads to Texas with
both barrels loaded and looks to contend for the ASALMS Challenge Division
title and many observers feel that the Grand Rapids, Michigan driver is one of
the favorites for the championship.
Travis Dassow: With new Crew Chief, Howie Lettow and the majority of the
former WalTom Racing Team behind him, the soon to be 20-year-old has his best
shot of his career to not only win that coveted first career ASALMS Feature,
but also to contend for the 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division Championship.
Expect big things out of Dassow in 2007.
Jesse Smith: The reigning 2006 ASALMS Northern Division Champion will once
again compete the full schedule of events in both the ASALMS Challenge and
Northern Divisions for the upcoming season. Smith looks to step up his game
even more so in 2007 and many observers feel that Smith could be the sleeper
pick in the Challenge Division this season and once he gets that taste of his
first feature win, he could potentially rattle off a few in a row!
Kris Stump: A new team for the Tipp City, Ohio driver for the 2007 season as
Stump is now the senior member of the up and coming 5K Motorsports Team. In
two seasons of ASALMS competition, he’s finished in the Top Five in the
final points standings both years and is still in search of his first career
win. He won’t have a better shot than in San Antonio, Texas where he
finished second a year ago.
Peter Cozzolino The crafty Indianapolis, Indiana veteran will once again run
the full schedules in both the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions and is
so close to his First ASALMS Feature win, he can taste it. Don’t be
surprised if that Feature win comes in the 2nd annual Alamo 200!
Keeton Hanks: A new team is in the cards for the Auburn, Kentucky driver as
the 17-year-old has joined Allen Hock Motorsports for the 2007 season and has
the potential to surprise everyone with a solid 2007 season. It’s time for
Hanks to step up to the challenge and with Glenn Allen Jr., in his corner, big
things are expected from Hanks!
Michael Annett: Another sleeper pick in the 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division
title chase. The Des Moines, Iowa sophomore is still riding on his impressive
third place finish in the 2006 ASALMS Challenge Division Season Championships
at the Iowa Speedway back on October 14, 2007. In only his second season of
driving any type of a race car, Annett could surprise everyone in 2007.
Ryan Lawler: A graduate of the PASS South Series and part-time competitor in
2006, the Colleyville, Texas driver is expected to make a lot of noise running
the full schedule in the ASALMS Challenge Division in 2007. He won two
Features in the ASALMS Southern Division in 2006 and a good start in his home
state in 2007 could go a long way for Lawler as the season progresses.
John Wes Townley: The 17-year-old Wood Brothers JTG Racing development driver
will run the full schedule in both the ASALMS Challenge and Southern Divisions
in 2007. An excellent qualifier, the Watkinsville, Georgia sophomore expects
to only get better and if he can match his feature finishes with his
qualifying efforts, Townley could surprise everyone in 2007.
There is an overflow of contenders and wildcards who will play a significant
role in the outcome of the 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division Championship title
chase all season long. They include a wide variety of drivers with a wide
variety of backgrounds and they are headlined by Michigan Motorsports Hall of
Fame driver, Butch Miller, who has indicated he will once again be running a
limited schedule in both the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions.
Other noteworthy contenders and wildcards include; James Buescher, Greg
Davidson, Tommy Grimes, Matt Hawkins, Colt James, Derek Neville, Nick Neville,
Danny Ouderkirk, Alison Quick, Tony Rosebrugh, Jim Ross, Trevor Stewart, Greg
Taylor, Bill Tomlinson, and Travis Wilson.
The overabundance of contenders and wildcard drivers in the ASALMS Challenge
Division are some of the most intriguing group of drivers that are registered!
Various talented teams have registered for the Challenge Division, but some
may not run the entire 2007 Fifth Anniversary schedule!
As for the 2007 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title contenders, a
talented group of Freshman will be plentiful as well. A slew of rookie pilots
will be vying for the coveted Rookie title given to the series top finishing
rookie at the conclusion of the 2007 Championship title chase.
There are plenty of Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title contenders
that will be threats for not only the freshman crown, but the overall
championship as well and are definitely drivers to watch all season long. They
include;
Derek Thorn: Widely considered the pre season favorite to win the 2007 Pat
Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title. The Lakeport, California freshman,
who now calls Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin home impressed everyone with his two
strong runs in West Salem, Wisconsin and Nashville, Tennessee late in 2006.
Driving for Ken Wills and his budding 5K Motorsports team, Thorn has the
potential to pull off a Kelly Bires like season in 2007.
Michael Simko: A graduate of Outlaw Bodied Super Late Models competition in
Michigan and Ohio as well as a part-time competitor in the ARCA Re/Max Series,
the Clarkston, Michigan driver will run for the rookie titles in both the
ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions and brings a wealth of talent to the
ASALMS as his Crew Chief and Father is former ARCA Champion, Dave Simko. Both
will add another strong contender for the 2007 Rookie title.
Chris Fontaine: Driving the FLF Racecars (Formally Finish Line Fabricating)
house car, the Lakeland, Florida driver will run for both rookie championships
in the ASALMS Challenge and Southern Divisions and will challenge both Thorn
and Simko is what is considered a very potent rookie crop in 2007.
Andy Hanson: The 2006 I-94 (MN) Raceway Super Late Model Champion made three
appearances at the end of the 2006 season in both the ASALMS Challenge and
Northern Divisions and will compete for both Rookie titles in both divisions
in 2007. The Ramsay, Minnesota driver has the potential to make a lot of noise
in 2007 in the chase for the 2007 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year
title.
Austin Siebert: The I-70 (MO) Speedway Rookie of the Year in 2006 will move up
to the ASALMS Challenge Division full-time in 2007 and is amongst a strong
rookie class in 2007. The Lake Lotawana, Missouri freshman, like Hanson, has
the potential to surprise everyone this season and needs a fast start to the
year in Texas. If that happens, Siebert will challenge for the freshman title
in 2007.
Two rookies have gone on to win both the overall series championship! Kelly
Bires took both the ASALMS Challenge Division Championship and Pat Bourdow
Memorial Rookie of the Year title in 2006 while Bobby Stremme took both titles
in 2004! In 2003 and 2005, both Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookies of the Year
finished in the runner-up spot overall!
The first occasion occurred in the series inaugural season as the USPRO Cup
Series when top rookie, Mike Carter finished second to 2003 USPRO Cup Series
Champion, Mark Kortz. The second time was in 2005 when Brian Campbell finished
behind 2005 ASALMS Challenge Division Champion, Stephen Leicht
The rest of the talented crop of rookie pilots vying for the 2007 Pat Bourdow
Memorial Rookie of the Year Championship includes; Chris Archer, Bryan Clauson,
Ryan Durst, Jacob Goede, Bryant Goldsmith, Sean Murphy, Brent Seeley, Kyle
Sirizzotti, Zach Taylor, Terry VanHaitsma, and David Wilson.
There’s still time to place your Fuel and Tire Orders in time for the 2nd
annual Alamo 200. R.V. Performance is taking Hoosier Racing Tire and Torco
Racing Fuel orders for the upcoming 2007 season for all three divisions and
especially for the ASALMS Challenge Division Season Opener in San Antonio,
Texas. To place an order, please call R.V. Performance, during normal business
hours at: 1 (586) 615-8763 or you can also fax in your order at: 1 (586)
727-5237.
For more information about the approaching 2007 seasons within all three
divisions of the ASALMS, You can call the ASALMS home offices during normal
business hours Monday through Friday (9am-5pm) (EST) at: 1 (800) 385-2503.
Also of note, the ASALMS home offices are closed until Monday February 19,
2007. If needed, please call Ron and Sandy Varney at: 1 (810) 650-6617
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