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ASCS News and Events
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 Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 30, 2008) – The American Sprint Car Series put the wraps on the month of April with an unpredictable weekend of action that featured from some fresh faces in victory lane.
Only Nick Smith had graced an ASCS victory lane before, as fellow ASCoT victor Skip Wilson and Canyon Region conqueror R.J. Johnson both posted first career wins in ASCS competition.
The weekend of O'Reilly ASCoT action opened on Friday at Paris Motor Speedway, marking the series first Parisian outing since 2005. But wicked storms throughout the area made the likelihood of the event actually happening seem quite remote.
Paris proper was hit hard by storms, as was Blossom. Actually located a few miles south of Blossom, the track received just a few drops around 5:00 p.m. as menacing clouds swirled overhead before moving off to the east.
A 20-year veteran of the Sprint Car wars, everything fell into place for Skip Wilson on this night. And he took full advantage, making no mistakes to cash in on his first ASCS triumph over a stacked field that included a half dozen past ASCS National champions.
One night later at Little Rock's I-30 Speedway, Nick Smith added his first National win of the year to a Sooner Region victory at Oklahoma City on April 11. It was Smith's first ASCoT score since his 2005 Rookie of the Year campaign when he took top honors at Missouri's Poplar Bluff Speedway and then Virginia Motor Speedway.
Meanwhile, R.J. Johnson became the fourth different driver to top an ASCS Canyon Region feature with a late move around Charles Davis, Jr., at Manzanita Speedway, in the process denying Davis a third consecutive win.
Throwing his hat into the mix for the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region championship, it is easy to forget that R.J. is just 21 years old. Already carrying the battle scars of seven Chili Bowls, R.J. became legal just ten days earlier.
---Sixteen drivers took in both nights of O'Reilly ASCoT National action at Paris and Little Rock. The 13 full-time ASCoT travelers (Eric Baldaccini, Zach Chappell, Don Droud, Jr., Jason Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Garry Lee Maier, Kathryne Minter, Travis Rilat, Nick Smith, Chris Tarrant, Gary Taylor, Kenneth Walker and Gary Wright) were bolstered on both nights by three-time ASCS National champ Tim Crawley, I-30 Speedway regular Justin Sturch and Memphis racer Don Young.
Skip Wilson and Sooner shoe John Ricketts joined in at Paris to bring the field to 18 cars, with a half dozen or so shying away because of nasty weather.
After missing his first ASCoT event of the year the night before, Jason Sides swapped engines again in time for I-30, with Sooner Region title contender Matt Covington joining in as well. Nine more I-30 Speedway regulars took part (Cody Gardner, Jerry Kamer, Lewis Jenkins, Jr., Jeremy Newkirk, Rick Pringle, Zach Pringle, Tommy Snellgrove, Dave Speer and Joe Young) with seven Memphis-area reps (Brad Bowden, Derek Hagar, Andy McElhannon, Wade Oliver, Marshall Skinner, Lee Sowell and Chris Williams) bringing the I-30 count to 34.
---Friday's 25-lap feature at Paris Motor Speedway ran off in non-stop fashion. It's a good thing too, since a snake had commandeered one of the tow trucks in the infield. What kind, you ask? Nobody determined the make and model, only describing it as, "A big one." Apparently big enough that everyone kept his distance until the snake left the vehicle of its own accord. Welcome to Texas.
---John Ricketts got upside down in the second heat race at Paris. He returned for the feature minus the right side panel on his wing, making a few laps before pulling to the infield. Without a complete wing, a possible journey up the road to Little Rock was ruled out.
---Friday night got off to a rough start for Don Droud, Jr., when a brake caliper was spit out of the Sparks 91. After scrambling to change out the rear end, a u-joint exploded in the heat race, prompting the team to load up for the night. Droud bounced back to finish eleventh at Little Rock.
---Skip Wilson nearly won last year's ASCS Gulf South championship, falling just ten points short of Brandon Berryman at season's end. No point chases for Skip this year, as he'll mix it up in Sooner, Gulf South and National action.
---Don Young ranked as the top earner in passing points at Paris and started fourth row outside in the feature after pulling the eight in the redraw. But after bicycling off the top of turn one, he was forced pitside. Currently leading ASCS Coastal Region points, the 19-year-old Bartlett, TN, racer is set to chase down the Coastal title this year and then pursue ASCoT Rookie of the Year honors in 2009.
---Kenneth Walker and Nick Smith were racing for more than the win at I-30 Speedway on Saturday night, where they exchanged the lead several times over the first half of the race. They were racing to stay in the top ten in ASCoT points after leaving Paris tied for tenth. Following a tenth-place run at Paris for Walker, a sure top-five Little Rock run went up in smoke just four laps short of the checkered flag when a spinning Wayne Johnson left him no place to hide.
---Wayne Johnson started the night at Paris with a new Fisher powerplant. But after some broken rocker arms in his heat race, it was back to the Wesmar. Johnson closed in on Wilson a couple of times in traffic, but was busier fending off Tim Crawley for the runner-up spot most of the race.
At I-30, Johnson got around Walker for second in the latter stages and was trying to set up Smith for a shot at the lead. But it was Crawley on the move in Mike Ward's No. 88 from the fifth row. Getting a scent of the leader after getting by Walker for third, Crawley got underneath Johnson on the 27th lap with Johnson spinning in turn four after contact.
"He tried to cut down on me the same way he did last night," Crawley explained. "I wasn't up for that again."
---With car owners Mike and Megan Eubanks unable to take in the weekend festivities, Gary Taylor brought in his father from Washington along with former Conklin wrench Mark Matejka from Colorado. Taylor netted eleventh in his first visit to Paris and then made a late charge at I-30 to capture a career best ASCoT finish of third.
---I-30 regular Joe Young captured his first career ASCoT heat race win on Saturday night. And this time, there was no "DQ", as was the case for Mighty Joe during ASCS Speedweek last July at Creek County Speedway where his nose wing was too far forward.
---Four-time series champ Gary Wright found himself at the back of a well-loaded I-30 heat race, leaving "The Texan" to wonder if he may have to work through a "B" Main just to make the show. But when Jason Johnson stopped after a near-spin on the initial heat race start, Wright moved up a row and found the path he needed to earn a position in the redraw along with son-in-law Nick Smith.
The Lauren Smith formerly known as Lauren Wright, not to be confused with Nick's sister Lauren who has carried the Smith name since birth, teased her husband that, "Daddy says he's gonna blow by you real quick if you don't get faster."
Whether that was intended to get Nick's elbows up or not, it did. He took to a narrow topside of the ¼-mile oval and rode it to near perfection for 30 laps. The only miscue was a slight detour off of turn two on the tenth lap that put Kenneth Walker back in front for a few rounds. It was a route similar to the one that Crawley took several times on the way to winning the spectacular Speedweek finale of 2005.
---Falling into the "Strange but True" category, Crawley hasn't won an ASCS National feature event since that memorable Speedweek victory of 2005.
---Hernando, Mississippi's Brad Bowden cracked the top ten at I-30 as he made his first ASCoT appearance of 2008.
---Matt Covington was in the hot seat during hot laps at I-30 Speedway when a fuel line came loose. The 18-year-old bailed out before things became too serious, getting enough heat on his posterior to make for an uncomfortable four-plus hour ride back to the Tulsa area. Covington worked his way past former I-30 Speedway track champ Rick Pringle for the fourth and final transfer from the second "B" Main.
---Until Wayne Johnson's lap 27 spin at I-30, Tommy Snellgrove was the only one of the 24 starters to make an early exit. Kenneth Walker then left on the hook, while Zach Pringle opted to watch the final four-lap dash to the stripe rather than restart as a lapped car separating Smith from Crawley.
---Max Jantz of Max Jantz Excavating was on hand to watch Garry Lee Maier drive to a strong fourth place finish at I-30 Speedway. Jantz is a sponsor on the familiar No. 11x, which has climbed to fourth in points.
---The dilemma: To pursue Brodix Rookie of the Year honors with the O'Reilly ASCoT National series or to chase the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region championship? That is the choice the Eric Baldaccini team is faced with this week.
We'll know the answer on Saturday when the No. B4 pulls into either Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, MO, for National action or Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, OK, for Sooner competition.
---Baldaccini is currently ranked eighth in National points, tops amongst a stout rookie crop that includes Don Droud, Jr., (ninth), Kenneth Walker (11th), Gary Taylor (12th), Kathryne Minter (13th) and Chris Tarrant (16th).
---Baldaccini is currently fifth in Sooner points, although two of those ahead of him are National regulars (Travis Rilat and Garry Lee Maier). Thus, the 20-year-old is effectively third in Sooner points behind Kolt Walker and defending Sooner champ Brian McClelland.
---David Chappell serves as crew chief for Baldaccini. David's son, Zach, reeled off another pair of top-tens over the weekend to climb to fifth in points, just eight points behind Maier.
---With his ASCS Canyon Region win on Saturday, R.J. Johnson jumped from eighth to fourth in points behind Jeremy Sherman, Charles Davis, Jr., and Nathan High. The lead trio in points have each finished among the top five in five of six feature events thus far in 2008.
---DNF's dropped Jeremy Reagles and Thomas Ogle three positions each in Canyon Region points, from fourth and fifth down to seventh and eighth, respectively.
---Jeff Henry picked up his first top-ten of the year with a sixth-place run at Manzanita.
---Yuma's Mike Martin has reeled off four top-ten finishes in a row, including a fifth-place showing Saturday at Manzanita, to climb to fifth in points.
---Saturday's ASCS Canyon Region card at Manzanita Speedway is a Tribute to Kole Kaskey, departed son of Micro racer Ken Caskey and Andrea Caskey.
A 50/50 drawing, raffle, auction and more that includes a Tony Stewart autographed helmet and Jimmie Johnson autographed jacket among other items will benefit the Phoenix Children's Hospital as well as the Driver's Fund of Arizona.
---When the ASCS Sprints on Dirt open the season Saturday night, it will mark the 100th time that Crystal Motor Speedway has hosted a SOD event. Gerry Lippert won the first event in SOD history at Crystal Motor Speedway on May 24, 1980.
Since that time, 40 different drivers have won at least one of the 99 SOD features at Crystal, with all-time series win leader Hank Lower and Dustin Daggett knotted atop the Crystal charts with ten wins apiece. Daggett, the series champion in 2003 and 2004, has enjoyed recent Crystal domination by winning ten of the series most recent 19 events atop the 3/8-mile oval.
---The ASCS Patriots also fire to life on Saturday with the lidlifter at Fulton (NY) Speedway. Two-time and reigning Patriot king Chuck Hebing won last year's Patriot opener at Fulton, with Justin Barger a Patriot winner at Fulton last September.
---The ASCS Southwest Region is in action over three of the next four Saturday nights at Tucson's USA Race Park beginning this weekend. Ensuing USA cards in May are on the 10th and 24th, with the Southwest Region also taking to Show Low's Thunder Raceway on the 25th.
---Through the month of April, there have been 19 different winners in 28 overall ASCS feature events, with 305 different drivers competing in at least one event so far.
The pace quickens in May with a total of 35 ASCS events slated for the next month.
The nation's most prominent Sprint Car sanctioning body with a dozen different Regions throughout the United States in addition to the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series, the American Sprint Car Series' (ASCS) 17th year of activity will include approximately 250 nights of racing at more than 100 different race tracks throughout 28 different states and Canada.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com. |
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| ASCS 2007 - Another Banner Year |
 Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 1, 2008) – With another year now in the rear view mirror, racing fans can look back on the year of 2007 as yet another stellar season for the American Sprint Car Series as the Tulsa-based Sprint Car sanctioning body continues to grow in stature and gain prominence throughout the nation.
From its fledgling season in 1992, the ASCS has evolved into the nation's most predominant Sprint Car sanctioning body with a 2007 season that included 189 nights of racing action at 90 different tracks throughout 25 different states and Canada, with 866 different drivers competing in at least one event. More than 40 nights of competition were lost to inclement weather.
The 2007 season dawned with the addition of four new Regions (Canyon, Coastal, Mid-Atlantic and Rebel), brining the number of ASCS Regions to a dozen to bolster the popular O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series.
By season's end, with 13 ASCS champions crowned, another pair of Regions had already been announced to expand the series National reach with new territories including the Northwest and Southwest Regions, making it likely that the series will sanction in excess of 250 nights of racing in 2008.
While 75 different drivers enjoyed ASCS feature victory honors on at least one occasion over the course of 2007, the biggest winner in the series was veteran shoe Gary Wright of Hooks, TX, who snared a fourth consecutive ASCS National title on the strength of 13 feature wins. In addition to the $50,000 championship, "The Texan" also picked up a Wesmar Racing Engine valued at approximately $32,000 by winning the ASCS/Wesmar Challenge at the Devil's Bowl Speedway Winter Nationals in October, a unique invitational event that pitted two drivers from each Region against the top National Tour contenders in a three-segment "ASCS All-Star Race" of sorts. Toss in a $10,000 score in the season opener at East Bay along with all of Wright's other winnings, Wright can enjoy a nice off-season before finalizing 2008 plans.
Regional honors were spread around the country to Jeremy Sherman (Canyon), Michael Dupuy (Coastal), Brandon Berryman (Gulf South), Tim Hogue (Mid-Atlantic), Natalie Sather (Midwest), Lee Grosz (Northern Plains), Chuck Hebing (Patriots), T.J. Winegardner (Rebel), C.J. Johnson (Rocky Mountain), Brian McClelland (Sooner), Brian Smith (Southern Tour) and Tim Norman (Sprints on Dirt).
O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National Series
Gary Wright opened up the season on a strong note by topping two of three nights at East Bay Raceway Park's Winter Nationals in Tampa, FL, including a $10,000 victory in the Ronald Laney Memorial. Wright stretched his lead to as much as 101 points before a swing through the Northeast in May nearly proved disastrous.
Jason Johnson and Wayne Johnson were to quick to close the gap when Wright flipped at Susquehanna Speedway Park and was forced to utilize a provisional for the feature, with Wright limping back to Texas with his lead cut back to 28 markers as Travis Rilat took the final two East Coast wins.
The unrelated Johnson & Johnson duo continued to shave Wright's lead on the series swing through the Northern Plains, with Wayne just six points back as the series left Huron, SD.
And after Wright appeared to right the ship with a Sedalia win, a "DNF" a night later in the inaugural Daniel McMillin Memorial found Wayne Johnson 20 points ahead of Wright with McMillin winner Jason Johnson moving one marker ahead of Wright.
Now in command, Wayne Johnson flipped the next time out in the series debut at Kansas City's Lakeside Speedway as Wright rebounded for another win, sending the duo into Speedweek tied for the lead with "The Ragin' Cajun" just three points off the lead pace.
And, as is often the case, the series season title was ultimately decided during Speedweek, as Wright was dominant throughout the week with four victories and a runner-up showing to stretch his lead to 56 points.
Wright finished out the season in strong fashion, finishing third in Knoxville's ASCS Nationals, adding his 13th win of the year with a West Plains triumph, podium finishes in both nights of Devil's Bowl Speedway Winter Nationals action and then a fifth-place run in I-30 Speedway's Short Track Nationals to claim his fourth consecutive crown by 102 points.
Crippled by missing the feature cut in the Speedweek finale at Lawton, Jason Johnson swept the Devil's Bowl Winter Nationals and then took advantage of a Wayne Johnson miscue at the Short Track Nationals to sneak into the runner-up spot in points with a fourth-place STN showing, edging out Oklahoma's Wayne Johnson by just six points.
Texan Travis Rilat was strong throughout the season to finish fourth, with Foster Landon putting the clamps on Brodix Rookie of the Year honors by claiming fifth in points. Darren Stewart put Bobby Sparks' No. 91 sixth in points despite missing several events with engine issues, while Nick Smith rebounded from a slow start to finish seventh. Eric Baldaccini climbed to eighth for his first top-ten points finish in National competition, with Kenneth Walker and Johnny Miller doing likewise with ninth and tenth-place finishes.
O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National Feature Winners (12 winners in 37 features): Gary Wright 13, Jason Johnson 9, Wayne Johnson 3, Shane Stewart 3, Travis Rilat 2, Kaley Gharst 1, Chuck Hebing 1, Terry McCarl 1, Jason Meyers 1, Jake Peters 1, Tim Shaffer 1, Darren Stewart 1.
O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National Points (Top Ten): 1. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 4,420, 2. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 4,318, 3. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 4,312, 4. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 4,104, 5. Foster Landon (Collinsville, OK) 3,477, 6. Darren Stewart (Bixby, OK) 2,819, 7. Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) 2,402, 8. Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX) 1,951, 9. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 1,823, 10. Johnny Miller (Burleson, TX) 1,744.
ASCS Canyon Region
The American Sprint Car Series broke new ground in 2007 with its first Region west of the Rocky Mountains. And this new Region also marked the first non-wing Region for the American Sprint Car Series.
The new look in Arizona was a successful one, with the ASCS Canyon Region averaging nearly 30 cars per event in 2007. There was a familiar face to the local fans gracing victory lane as well, as Jeremy Sherman claimed a dozen wins in 20 events to garner the inaugural ASCS Canyon Region title by 159 points over Charles Davis, Jr.
The points margin was deceptive however, as "Chargin'" Charles missed one early season event that gave Sherman a 150-point advantage. Davis came on strong over the final portion of the season, climbing through the top ten to ultimately finish second after making a six trips to victory lane.
Mike Leslie and Josh Pelkey both posted 14 top-ten finishes to rank third and fourth in points respectively, while Bob Ream, Jr., rounded out the top five despite missing the final event of the season.
In addition to Sherman Leslie and Pelkey, Seainn Hendricsen (6th), Shon Deskins (7th) and Mike Martin (9th) competed in all 20 events.
Jeremy Reagles finished tops amongst the Rookie crop, ranking tenth in points with seven top-ten feature finishes.
ASCS Canyon Region Feature Winners (4 winners in 20 features): Jeremy Sherman 12, Charles Davis, Jr. 6, Chad Boat 1, Cory Kruseman 1.
ASCS Canyon Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Jeremy Sherman (Surprise, AZ) 2,883, 2. Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) 2,774, 3. Mike Leslie (Litchfield Park, AZ) 2,630, 4. Josh Pelkey (Peoria, AZ) 2,578, 5. Bob Ream, Jr. (Glendale, AZ) 2,450, 6. Seainn Hendricsen (Mesa, AZ), 7. Shon Deskins (Waddell, AZ) 2,419, 8. Andrew Reinbold (Chandler, AZ) 2,385, 9. Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ), 10. Jeremy Reagles (Mesa, AZ) 2,261.
ASCS Coastal Region
Another new Region for the 2007 season was the Coastal Region. But it was a familiar face that assumed a dominant role, as 2002 ASCS National Tour runner-up Michael Dupuy returned on a full-time basis, much to the chagrin of his Coastal competitors.
Dupuy piled up a half dozen wins in 16 events throughout Mississippi and the surrounding areas to outdistance fellow Louisiana racer Michael Herrington by 106 points for the inaugural ASCS Coastal Region crown with Shane Morgan, Todd Fayard and Robert Casada rounding out the top five in points.
Dupuy found the Regional showdown events to his liking, topping four of seven events combined with either the Rebel or Gulf South Regions during the 2007 season.
ASCS Coastal Region * (8 winners in 16 features): Michael Dupuy 6, Jason Johnson 4, Derek Hagar 1, Shane Morgan 1, Travis Rilat 1, Marshall Skinner 1, Lane Whittington 1, Gary Wright 1.
* - Includes 1 event co-sanctioned with ASCoT National series (won by Gary Wright), 4 events co-sanctioned with Rebel Region (2 won by Michael Dupuy, 1 won by Jason Johnson and 1 won by Marshall Skinner) and 3 events co-sanctioned with Gulf South Region (2 won by Michael Dupuy and 1 won by Jason Johnson).
ASCS Coastal Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Michael Dupuy (Amite, LA) 2,300, 2. Michael Herrington (Gonzales, LA) 2,194, 3. Shane Morgan (Biloxi, MS) 2,032, 4. Todd Fayard (Saucier, MS) 2,024, 5. Robert Casada (Petal, MS) 1,873, 6. Hunter Phillips (Gulfport, MS) 1,702, 7. Lane Whittington (Denham Springs, LA) 1,1617, 8. Chris Sweeney (Channelview, TX) 1,560, 9. Timmy Thrash 1,518, 10. David Kountz 1,101.
ASCS Gulf South Region
In its sixth year of competition, the ASCS Gulf South Region crowned its fifth different champion in as many years as 27-year-old Brandon Berryman of Missouri City, TX, emerged atop another tight Gulf South points battle.
Berryman forged a tie for the points lead with Skip Wilson following his third win of the year on September 22 at Corpus Christi. A fourth win two events later at Houston Raceway Park allowed Berryman to take the title by just ten points over Wilson, with 2006 Gulf South champ Gary Watson just another 20 points back in third.
Chris Sweeney claimed fourth to go along with his Coastal Region top-ten ranking, while Tommy Bryant climbed to fifth in points. Finishing among the top ten for the sixth time in as many years, Greg Rilat was sixth, with former champ Ray Allen Kulhanek slipping to seventh after engine woes during Gulf South vs. Sooner Region Showdown action. Sixteeen-year-old Kathryne Minter claimed eighth in points, with Brad Stokes and Jimmy Brooks completing the top ten.
ASCS Gulf South Region * (6 winners in 14 features): Jason Johnson 5, Brandon Berryman 4, Michael Dupuy 2, Scottie McDonald 1, Johnny Miller 1, Travis Rilat 1.
* - Includes 3 events co-sanctioned with Coastal Region (2 won by Michael Dupuy and 1 won by Jason Johnson) and 2 events co-sanctioned with Sooner Region (won by Brandon Berryman and Jason Johnson).
ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Brandon Berryman (Missouri City, TX) 1,930, 2. Skip Wilson (Mesquite, TX) 1,920, 3. Gary Watson (Beaumont, TX) 1,900, 4. Chris Sweeney (Channelview, TX) 1,862, 5. Tommy Bryant (Montgomery, TX) 1,826, 6. Greg Rilat (Texas City, TX) 1,804, 7. Ray Allen Kulhanek (Conroe, TX) 1,682, 8. Kathryne Minter (Bedford, TX) 1,550, 9. Brad Stokes (Kountze, TX) 1,416, 10. Jimmy Brooks (College Station, TX) 1,415.
ASCS Mid-Atlantic Region
New Jersey's Tim Hogue edged 14-year-old Coleman Gulick for the inaugural ASCS Mid-Atlantic Region championship.
Hogue broke into the early lead and then survived a late rush from the young New Yorker to claim the crown, with past Patriot champ George Suprick a close third in points.
ASCS Mid-Atlantic Region * (7 winners in 10 features): Chuck Hebing 3, Travis Rilat 2, Kenny Adams 1, Justin Barger 1, Pat Cannon 1, Lucas Wolfe 1, Jared Zimbardi 1.
* - Includes 4 events co-sanctioned with ASCoT National series (2 won by Travis Rilat, 1 won by Chuck Hebing and 1 won by Jason Johnson), 3 events co-sanctioned with Patriot Region (won by Justin Barger, Chuck Hebing and Jared Zimbardi) and 1 event co-sanctioned with Southern Tour (won by Kenny Adams).
ASCS Mid-Atlantic Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Tim Hogue (Lumberton, NJ) 1,074, 2. Coleman Gulick (Binghamton, NY) 1,062, 3. George Suprick (Clarks Summit, PA) 1,042, 4. Chuck Hebing (Ontario, NY) 811, 5. Geoff Quackenbush (Warwick, NY) 802, 6. Justin Barger (Montrose, NY) 753, 7. Bryan Howland (Auburn, NY) 686, 8. Jimmy Stitzel (Shoemakersville, PA) 520, 9. Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY) 495, 10. Scott Kreutter (Alden, NY) 491.
ASCS Midwest Region
There was some history made in the Midwest in 2007, as 22-year-old North Dakotan Natalie Sather became the first female champion in ASCS history by taking the ASCS Midwest Region title.
After a runner-up finish to Gary Wright in National Tour action at Oklahoma City in March, Natalie soon became a factor in the Midwest Region points race and climbed into the points lead with a top-five run when the Midwest Region squared off with the National shoes at Denison, IA, on July 20.
Natalie was stout the rest of the year and took the crown in the season finale at U.S. 36 Raceway in Cameron, MO, outdistancing 2006 series champion Toby Chapman by 64 points.
ASCS Midwest Region * (8 winners in 11 features): Brian Brown 3, Mike Boston 2, Jack Dover 1, Jesse Hockett 1, Jason Johnson 1, Garry Lee Maier 1, Chuck Swenson 1, Gary Wright 1.
* - Includes 2 events co-sanctioned with ASCoT National series (won by Jason Johnson and Gary Wright) and 4 events co-sanctioned with Northern Plains Region (2 won by Brian Brown, 1 won by Mike Boston and 1 won by Chuck Swenson).
ASCS Midwest Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Natalie Sather (Fargo, ND) 1,450, 2. Toby Chapman (Lincoln, NE) 1,386, 3. Chuck Swenson (Watertown, SD) 1,179, 4. Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO) 1,088, 5. Jason Danley (Lincoln, NE) 1,065, 6. Lee Grosz (Harwood, ND) 910, 7. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 905, 8. Mike Boston (Crete, NE) 828, 9. Seth Brahmer (Wisner, NE) 827, 10. Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE) 810.
ASCS Northern Plains Region
Just 19 years old as the 2007 season unfolded, Lee Grosz of Harwood, ND, became the youngest American Sprint Car Series champion of 2007 by capturing the ASCS Northern Plains Regional title.
Grosz assumed the points lead at the Jackson (MN) Nationals and then outdistanced Dave Glennon and Eric Lutz to take the crown, picking up his first series win in what proved to be the series final race of the season at North Central Speedway's Mighty Axe Nationals when the scheduled season-finale in Watertown, SD, was cancelled duo to inclement weather.
ASCS Northern Plains Region * (10 winners in 13 features): Chuck Swenson 3, Brian Brown 2, Gregg Bakker 1, Billy Balog 1, Mike Boston 1, Jason Johnson 1, Lee Grosz 1, Jerry Richert, Jr. 1, Jody Rosenboom 1, Shane Stewart 1.
* - Includes 1 event co-sanctioned with ASCoT National series (won by Jason Johnson) and 2 events co-sanctioned with Midwest Region (2 won by Brian Brown, 1 won by Mike Boston and 1 won by Chuck Swenson).
ASCS Northern Plains Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Lee Grosz (Harwood, ND) 1,749, 2. Dave Glennon (Casselton, ND) 1,682, 3. Eric Lutz (Sioux Falls, SD) 1,602, 4. Chuck Swenson (Watertown, SD) 1,400, 5. Chris Graf (Glencoe, MN) 1,268, 6. Curt Lund (Redwood Falls, MN) 1,156, 7. Scott Winters (Butterfield, MN) 970, 8. Jody Rosenboom (Rock Rapids, IA) 897, 9. Clint Garner (Sioux Falls, SD) 848, 10. Chad Meyer (Brandon, SD) 812.
ASCS Patriots Region
The northeastern portion of the country was snake-bitten once again, as "The Cobra", Chuck Hebing, slithered to a second consecutive ASCS Patriots championship.
Racking up eleven series wins, including one versus the National Tour at Black Rock and then a five-race streak of victories late in the season to put away the title, Hebing took top Patriot honors by 120 points over Jared Zimbardi and then added a $3,000 Sprint Challenge win at Rolling Wheels on October 6 for good measure.
The 20-year-old Zimbardi took his first career series win on June 17 at Eriez (PA) Speedway and added two more afterward, keeping pace with Hebing much of the way before settling for runner-up honors.
Patriot staple Don Adamczyk claimed third in points, with veteran shoe Ray Preston and rookie contender Scott Kreutter rounding out the top five.
Some additional history made on the Patriots trail in 2007 was on June 2 at Ontario's Brockville Speedway when New Yorker Jessica Zemken became the first woman racer in ASCS history to win an "A" Feature event.
ASCS Patriots * (10 winners in 23 features): Chuck Hebing 11, Jared Zimbardi 3, Justin Barger 2, Jason Barney 1, Bobby Breen 1, Steve Poirier 1, Travis Rilat 1, George Suprick 1, Jeff Van Dusen 1, Jessica Zemken 1
* - Includes 2 events co-sanctioned with ASCoT National series (won by Chuck Hebing and Travis Rilat), 3 events co-sanctioned with Mid-Atlantic Region (won by Justin Barger, Chuck Hebing and Jared Zimbardi) and one event co-sanctioned with ASCS Sprints on Dirt (won by Steve Poirier).
ASCS Patriots Points (Top Ten): 1. Chuck Hebing (Ontario, NY) 2,924, 2. Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY) 2,804, 3. Don Adamczyk (Williamsville, NY) 2,662, 4. Ray Preston (Romulus, NY) 2,660, 5. Scott Kreutter (Alden, NY) 2,468, 6. Blake Breen (Savannah, NY) 2,222, 7. Bobby Breen (Savannah, NY) 2,048, 8. Geoff Quackenbush (Warwick, NY) 1,839, 9. Bryan Howland (Auburn, NY) 1,828, 10. Dave Wickham (Brewerton, NY) 1,765.
ASCS Rebel Region
The Rebel Region fired to life in Georgia and the surrounding areas for 2007, but it was a Floridian taking the inaugural title as Pierson's T.J. Winegardner claimed the inaugural ASCS Rebel Region championship.
The 24-year-old Winegardner wrestled the early lead away from Tyler Godwin and then outlasted Georgia's Brian Thomas the rest of the way to take the crown by a slim 18-point margin, with the Florida trio of Godwin, Kenny Adams and Bryn Gohn rounding out the top five.
ASCS Rebel Region * (9 winners in 13 features): Kenny Adams 4, Michael Dupuy 2, Brad Bowden 1, Terry Gray 1, Jason Johnson 1, Wade Oliver 1, Marshall Skinner 1, Lee Sowell 1, Matt Tiffany 1.
* - Includes 4 events co-sanctioned with Coastal Region (2 won by Michael Dupuy, 1 won by Jason Johnson and 1 won by Marshall Skinner) and 2 events co-sanctioned with Southern Tour (won by Kenny Adams and Matt Tiffany).
ASCS Rebel Region Points (Top Ten): 1. T.J. Winegardner (Pierson, FL) 1,722, 2. Brian Thomas (Pendergrass, GA) 1,704, 3. Tyler Godwin (Lutz, FL) 1,396, 4. Kenny Adams (Malabar, FL) 1,388, 5. Bryn Gohn (Malabar, FL) 1,332, 6. Matt Linder (Hoschton, GA) 1,257, 7. Shane Morgan (Biloxi, MS) 800, 8. Michael Miller (Ocean Springs, MS) 732, 9. Matt Tiffany (Daytona Beach, FL) 720, 10. Todd Fayard (Saucier, MS) 707.
ASCS Rocky Mountain Region
The Rocky Mountain Region crowned its seventh different championship in as many years of competition as Quinter, KS, shoe C.J. Johnson notched the title.
With 13 top-tens in the series 17 events, Johnson picked off wins in Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas to take the crown by 50 markers over 2004 series champ Keith Rauch. Eighteen-year-old Chad Corken, 54-year-old Bob Schaeffer and 17-year-old Ricky Montgomery rounded out the top five.
ASCS Rocky Mountain Region (10 winners in 17 features): C.J. Johnson 3, Nick Haygood 2, Johnny Herrera 2, Bud Kaeding 2, Garry Lee Maier 2, Keith Rauch 2, Corey Brink 1, Darrell Brink 1, Don Droud, Jr. 1, Mike Peters 1.
ASCS Rocky Mountain Region Points (Top Ten): 1. C.J. Johnson (Quinter, KS) 2,182, 2. Keith Rauch (Thornton, CO) 2,132, 3. Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) 1,662, 4. Bob Schaeffer (New Castle, CO) 1,555, 5. Ricky Montgomery (Lakewood, CO) 1,522, 6. Patrick Bourke (Edwards, CO) 1,472, 7. Mark Sweet (Rock Springs, WY) 1,405, 8. Josh Flood (Arvada, CO), 9. Nick Haygood (Centennial, CO) 1,219, 10. John Jacob (Aurora, CO) 1,217.
American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region
A three-way duel for the title developed for the second year in a row for the ASCS Sooner Region, and this time it was Tulsa's Brian McClelland edging Fort Worth's Kevin Ramey and Sapulpa, OK, shoe Cody Branchcomb for the championship.
Branchcomb, a past ASCS National Tour Rookie of the Year, broke into the early lead and led most of the way before two-time series champ edged into the lead with a Lawton win on September 8.
With Brian McClelland winning two of the next three and Ramey taking the other, only nine points separated the top trio entering the series season-ending double at Mid-America Speedway. Contact between Ramey and McClelland while dicing for the lead sent Ramey tumbling as McClelland won the Mid-America prelim then secured the title with a runner-up finish the following night.
American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region * (8 winners in 14 features): Kevin Ramey 4, Brian McClelland 3, Garry Lee Maier 2, Brandon Berryman 1, Brian Brown 1, Danny Jennings 1, Jason Johnson 1, Nick Smith 1.
* - Includes 2 events co-sanctioned with Gulf South Region (won by Brandon Berryman and Jason Johnson).
American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Brian McClelland (Tulsa, OK) 1,954, 2. Kevin Ramey (Fort Worth, TX) 1,929, 3. Cody Branchcomb (Sapulpa, OK) 1,926, 4. Gavin Punch (Collinsville, OK) 1,624, 5. Michael Brown (Lawton, OK), 6. J.P. Bailey (Fort Worth, TX) 1,522, 7. Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) 1,420, 8. Derek Cottrell (Fletcher, OK) 1,406, 9. Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX) 1,298, 10. Sherman Davis (Sand Springs, OK) 1,251.
ASCS Southern Tour
North Carolina's Brian Smith recorded ten top-ten feature finishes in eleven events en route to becoming the third different ASCS Southern Tour champion in as many years.
The championship battle over the first half of the season was a tight one between Johnny Bridges and Smith. But when Bridges missed the Oglethorpe Speedway Park event on June 22, Smith opened up an advantage that could not be overcome.
Recording his lone feature win of the year at Fayetteville Motor Speedway on July 14, Bridges went on to take the title by 176 points over Bridges, with five-time feature winner Kenny Adams in third. David Adkins and Rebel champ T.J. Winegardner rounded out the top five.
ASCS Southern Tour * (6 winners in 11 features): Kenny Adams 5, Johnny Bridges 2, Bryn Gohn 1, Travis Rilat 1, Brian Smith 1, Matt Tiffany 1.
*- Includes 1 event co-sanctioned with ASCoT National series (won by Travis Rilat) and 2 events co-sanctioned with Rebel Region (won by Kenny Adams and Matt Tiffany).
ASCS Southern Tour Points (Top Ten): 1. Brian Smith (Mooresville, NE) 1,584, 2. Johnny Bridges (Cherryville, NC) 1,408, 3. Kenny Adams (Malabar, FL) 1,174, 4. David Adkins (Winston-Salem, NC) 1,151, 5. T.J. Winegardner (Pierson, FL) 1,076, 6. Bryn Gohn (Malabar, FL), 1,051, 7. Brandon McLain (Indian Trail, NC) 786, 8. Matt Tiffany (Daytona Beach, FL) 716, 9. Tim Perry (Mooresville, NC) 678, 10. Craig Folmar (Phillipsburg, PA) 672.
Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz
The Sprint Car racing in Michigan was intense in 2007, with the ASCS Sprints on Dirt championship coming down to the final event of the year with three drivers battling it out for the crown.
When the season's final checkered flag flew at Hartford Speedway Park on September 8, it was Warsaw, Indiana's Tim Norman coming away with his third career series title after taking previous championships in 1985 and 2005.
Norman claimed the title by 20 points over fellow Indiana shoe Brett Mann, with Michigan's Ben Rutan just another ten points back in third. Norman posted a dozen top-fives and 15 top-tens in 17 events, with his single win coming at I-96 Speedway on June 1.
Bill Johnson and Gary Fast rounded out the top five, while 20-year-old Ryan Ruhl of Angola, IN, was the top-finishing rookie competitor with a ranking of seventh in points as all drivers finishing among the top ten in points competed in at least 16 of the series 17 events.
Nine drivers visited victory lane, with Dustin Daggett victorious in nine of 13 series starts. Steve Irwin was the only other repeat winner, picking off a pair of wins.
Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz * (9 winners in 18 features): Dustin Daggett 9, Steve Irwin 2, Mike Brecht 1, Gary Fast 1, Ryan Grubaugh 1, Brett Mann 1, Tim Norman 1, Steve Poirier 1, Ben Rutan 1.
* - Includes 1 event co-sanctioned with ASCS Patriot Sprint Group (won by Steve Poirier).
Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz Points (Top Ten): 1. Tim Norman (Warsaw, IN) 2,380, 2. Brett Mann (Goshen, IN) 2,360, 3. Ben Rutan (Jerome, MI) 2,350, 4. Bill Johnson (Linden, MI) 2,280, 5. Gary Fast (Kalkaska, MI) 2,195, 6. Joe Bares (Traverse City, MI) 2,060, 7. Ryan Ruhl (Angola, IN) 2,048, 8. Ryan Grubaugh (St. Johns, MI) 2,025, 9. Jake Stebner (Elmira, MI) 1,981, 10. Kirk Cheney (Hastings, MI) 1,874.
ASCS/Wesmar Challenge
Points were tallied throughout the year to determine invitations to the ASCS/Wesmar Challenge, which took place at the Devil's Bowl Speedway Winter Nationals. With the top two point earners from each Region invited along with the top National Tour contenders, 22 of the top ASCS drivers in that nation squared off for a new Wesmar Racing Engine along with other prizes.
While Jason Johnson topped two of three segments over the two nights, Gary Wright piled up the most points to walk away with the new Wesmar Racing Engine.
Inaugural ASCS/Wesmar Challenge Final Results:
Position - ## - Name (Hometown - Region) – Point Total - Prize
1. 9-Gary Wright (Hooks, TX - National) 318.0 – Wesmar Racing Engine
2. 41-Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA - National) 313.5 – Maxim Chassis
3. 29-Travis Rilat (Forney, TX - National) 285.0 – Eagle Frame
4. 94-Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 265.5 – Set of Brodix Cylinder Heads
5. 4a-Kenny Adams (Malabar, FL – Southern/Rebel) 264.0 – Set of Brodix Cylinder Heads
6. 11F-Foster Landon (Collinsville, OK - National) 249.0 – Set of Brodix Cylinder Heads
7. 53d-Jack Dover (Springfield, NE – Midwest) 232.5 – Set of Brodix Cylinder Heads
8. 21-Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO – Midwest) 232.5 – Set of Brodix Cylinder Heads
9. 7m-Kevin Ramey (Fort Worth, TX - Sooner) 231.0 – Simpson Voodoo Helmet
10. 45x-C.J. Johnson (Quinter, KS – Rocky Mountain) 222.0 – Set of Pro Shocks
11. 64J-Johnny Miller (Burleson, TX – Gulf South) 210.0 – MPD Right Rear Wheel
12. 2m-Dustin Daggett (Portland, MI – Sprints on Dirt) 204.0 – MPD Left Rear Wheel
13. 35-Jared Zimbardi (Salamanca, NY – Patriots) 196.5 – Two MPD Front Wheels
14. 20-Eric Lutz (Sioux Falls, SD – Northern Plains) 186.0 – Hoosier Tires & Weld Certificates
15. 31-Brandon Berryman (Missouri City, TX – Gulf South) 177.0 – Hoosier Tires & Weld Certificates
16. 45-Chuck Hebing (Ontario, NY – Patriot/Mid-Atlantic) 177.0 – Hoosier Tires & Weld Certificates
17. 5x-Dave Glennon (Casselton, ND – Northern Plains) 162.0 – Hoosier Tires & Weld Certificates
18. 87-Brian McClelland (Tulsa, OK - Sooner) 153.0 – Hoosier Tires & Weld Certificates
19. 4J-Lee Grosz (Harwood, ND – Northern Plains) 147.0 – Hoosier Tires & Weld Certificates
20. 71-Keith Rauch (Thornton, CO – Rocky Mountain) 135.0 – Hoosier Tires & Weld Certificates
21. 11T-T.J. Winegardner (Pierson, FL - Rebel) 132.0 – Hoosier Tires & Weld Certificates
22. 7-Michael Herrington (Gonzales, LA - Coastal) 74.0 – Hoosier Tires & Weld Certificates
Overall 2007 ASCS Feature Wins : Jason Johnson 17, Gary Wright 13, Jeremy Sherman 12, Chuck Hebing 11, Dustin Daggett 9, Kenny Adams 8, Charles Davis, Jr. 6, Michael Dupuy 6, Garry Lee Maier 5, Brandon Berryman 4, Brian Brown 4, Kevin Ramey 4, Travis Rilat 4, Shane Stewart 4, C.J. Johnson 3, Wayne Johnson 3, Brian McClelland 3, Chuck Swenson 3, Jared Zimbardi 3, Justin Barger 2, Mike Boston 2, Johnny Bridges 2, Bud Kaeding 2, Nick Haygood 2, Johnny Herrera 2, Steve Irwin 2, Keith Rauch 2, Gregg Bakker 1, Billy Balog 1, Jason Barney 1, Chad Boat 1, Brad Bowden 1, Mike Brecht 1, Bobby Breen 1, Corey Brink 1, Darrell Brink 1, Pat Cannon 1, Jack Dover 1, Don Droud, Jr. 1, Gary Fast 1, Kaley Gharst 1, Bryn Gohn 1, Terry Gray 1, Lee Grosz 1, Ryan Grubaugh 1, Derek Hagar 1, Jesse Hockett 1, Danny Jennings 1, Corey Kruseman 1, Brett Mann 1, Terry McCarl 1, Scottie McDonald 1, Jason Meyers 1, Johnny Miller 1, Shane Morgan 1, Tim Norman 1, Wade Oliver 1, Jake Peters 1, Mike Peters 1, Steve Poirier 1, Jerry Richert, Jr. 1, Jody Rosenboom 1, Ben Rutan 1, Tim Shaffer 1, Marshall Skinner 1, Brian Smith 1, Nick Smith 1, Lee Sowell 1, Darren Stewart 1, George Suprick 1, Matt Tiffany 1, Jeff Van Dusen 1, Lane Whittington 1, Lucas Wolfe 1, Jessica Zemken 1.
The 2008 schedule for the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series was recently announced, with Regional schedules to be announced over the coming weeks.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com. |
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| Wright Awarded National Driver of the Year Honors |
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (December 11, 2007) - For the fourth time, Gary Wright of Hooks, Texas, was voted the 2007 “Driver of the Year” by the North American 360 Sprint Car Poll voting panel of media members, promoters, sanctioning officials and manufacturers. Wright, who clinched the American Sprint Cars on Tour (ASCoT) national title, earned thirteen (13) of the eighteen (18) first place ballots cast in the year-end poll. Gary Wright also received the 2007 “Team of the Year” award for the third time.
Those drivers ranked second through fifth, respectively, are ASCoT runner-up and defending “Driver of the Year” Jason Johnson of Louisiana, Knoxville 360 Nationals winner Shane Stewart of Oklahoma, ASCoT third-place point finisher Wayne Johnson of Oklahoma, and ASCS Patriot Region point champion Chuck Hebing of New York. Rounding out the ‘top ten’ for the season are United Sprint Car Series (USCS) champion Terry Gray, Northwest Sprint Challenge Series (NSCS) champion Roger Crockett, United Racing Company (URC) champion Curt Michael, Travis Rilat, and Tim Crawley, respectively. In addition to Wright, others receiving first place votes were Jason Johnson, Shane Stewart (two), Terry Gray, and California Civil War Series champion Andy Forsberg.
Winged Outlaw Warriors (WOW) feature winner and point title runner-up Josh Fisher of Missouri earned the “Rookie of the Year” title. Due to a tie in the voting, Glenn Styres of the Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario, Canada, and Dick and Shawna Wilskey of the Northwest Sprint Challenge Series (NSCS) will share the “Promoter of the Year” honors for 2007. Chuck Merrill of Maxim Chassis will receive the 2007 “Builder/Manufacturer of the Year” plaque. Lonnie Wheatley of the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) earned the “Media Member of the Year” award for the first time ever due to his hard work covering all of their regional and national tours. Tim Crawley of Arkansas claimed the “Wild Card Award” for his exciting sprint car performances in 2007.
The North American 360 Sprint Car Poll is an annual awards program of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation, Inc., of Knoxville, Iowa. All awards will be distributed in the spring of 2008 at tracks throughout North America.
Final 2007 North American 360 Sprint Car Poll
rank, driver (first place votes), hometown, state, points
1., Gary Wright (13), Hooks, TX, 1365
2., Jason Johnson (1), Eunice, LA, 690
3., Shane Stewart (2), Bixby, OK, 420
4., Wayne Johnson, Mustang, OK, 380
5., Chuck Hebing, Ontario, NY, 266
6., Terry Gray (1), Bartlett, TN, 198
7., Roger Crockett, Rio Linda, CA, 154
tie, Curt Michael, Ocean View, DE, 154
9., Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX, 148
10., Tim Crawley, Little Rock, AR, 132
11., Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL, 121
12., Steve Poirier, St. Mathieu de Beloeil, PQ, CAN, 107
13., Kenny Adams, Malabar, FL, 97
14., Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA, 86
15., Andy Forsberg (1), Auburn, CA, 85
16., Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS, 60
17., Brian Brown, Higginsville, MO, 52
18., Tim Norman, Warsaw, IN, 50
19., Phil Gressman, Helena, OH, 28
20., Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK, 27
21., C.J. Johnson, Quinter, KS, 22
22., Natalie Sather, Fargo, ND, 18
23., Randy Martin, California, MO, 17
24., Dustin Daggett, Eagle, MI, 10
tie, Michael Dupuy, Amite, LA, 10
Also receiving multiple votes: Michael Carber, Greg DeCaires, Bryan Dobesh, Kevin Ramey, Marshall Skinner, Jeff Swindell, Colby Weisz. |
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| ASCS Expands With Northwest Region in 2008 |
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (November 20, 2007) – Already with a strong presence throughout a vast majority of the nation, the American Sprint Car Series will be featured from coast to coast in 2008 and beyond with the addition of the ASCS Northwest Region.
In conjunction with Northwest Race Promotions, the newly formed ASCS Northwest Region will sanction approximately 15 events throughout Washington and Oregon in 2008, with plans to expand into Northern California, Idaho and Montana in the following years.
"By aligning with the American Sprint Car Series, the Northwest joins the rest of the country as a part of the most successful winged Sprint Car series in the nation," according to ASCS Northwest Regional Director George Wade.
Included in the inaugural ASCS Northwest Regional tour in 2008 will be the traditional Northwest Speedweek contested during the third week of July.
"We're thrilled that George Wade and Northwest Race Promotions have chosen to bring the American Sprint Car Series to the Upper Northwest," commented American Sprint Car Series founder and President Emmett Hahn. "There's a tremendous base of cars and fans in the Northwest and the new ASCS Northwest series will be a great asset to the American Sprint Car Series."
The addition of the Northwest Region further expands the reach of the American Sprint Car Series, which already extends along the east coast from New York to Florida and westward across the Northern Plains as well as the southern portion of the country and on into Arizona.
The ASCS Northwest Region brings the number of ASCS Regional series to 14 in addition to the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series.
Other ASCS Regions include Canyon, Coastal, Gulf South, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northern Plains, Patriots, Rebel, Rocky Mountain, Sooner, Southern Tour, Sprints on Dirt and the recently announced Southwest Region.
Set to embark upon its 17th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing throughout the United States in 2008, the American Sprint Car Series sanctioned 189 nights of racing action in 2007 with 866 different drivers competing in at least one event.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com. |
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| ASCS Adds Southwest Region for 2008 |
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (October 10, 2007) – The American Sprint Car Series established its first Regional series based west of the Rocky Mountains at the beginning of the 2007 season with the Canyon Region, featuring the series' only non-winged Sprint Car Region.
The ASCS will now have a winged presence in Arizona as well in 2008 and beyond with the formation of the all-new ASCS Southwest Region, which will feature the winged Sprint Cars that the series sanctions throughout most of the nation.
The addition of the ASCS Southwest Region brings the number of ASCS Regions throughout the country to 13 in addition to the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series. The ASCS Southwest Region joins the ASCS family that already includes the Canyon Region, Coastal Region, Gulf South Region, Mid-Atlantic Region, Midwest Region, Northern Plains Region, Patriot Region, Rebel Region, Rocky Mountain Region, Sooner Region, Southern Tour and Sprints on Dirt.
A majority of the ASCS Southwest Region's events will be contested at Tucson's United Sport Arizona Race Park. In addition to USA Race Park, Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix will also host several winged ASCS Southwest Region events in 2008, with several other tracks in discussions to host the series as well.
Rick Ziehl is the current Sprint Car points leader at USA Race Park, with other top contenders that will be under the ASCS Southwest sanction in 2008 including Ronnie Clark, Kaylene Verville, Ben Gregg, John Van Horn, Billy Chester, John Gaston, Steve Lohn, Travis Cooley and Bud Rowe.
In 2007, the 16th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, the series had approximately 240 scheduled nights of racing action at approximately 100 different race tracks throughout at least 30 different states and Canada.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com. |
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| Gary Wright - 2007 ASCS National Champion! |
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