The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts was at the Sandusky (OH) Speedway in Sandusky, Ohio on Saturday August 20th . The Domino’s Pizza 100 was race number 10 of 15 on the 2005 schedule.
Earlier in the evening, a two and a half hour rain delay forced series and track officials to cancel Motive Gear Qualifying as well as the GM Performance Parts Shootout. ASA Late Model Series President, Ron Varney and Sandusky Speedway Promoter, Kevin Jaycox then mutually agreed to start all 29 cars on hand for the Domino’s Pizza 100 and all 29 cars would be lined up by the 2005 Owners Championship points earned thus far during the season.
After a long day of fighting Mother Nature with regards to the rain, heat, and extremely humid conditions, it would be Defending ASA Late Model Series Champion and Reigning Rookie of the Year, Bobby Stremme, who would lead all 100 laps and fight off a determined Stephen Leicht, giving the South Bend, Indiana driver his first feature win of the 2005 season.
With an inversion of eight, that put the eighth and seventh place in those Owners Points, Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year Title Contender, Travis Dassow and Bobby Stremme on the front row of the stellar 29-car field that would take chief starter, Tom Powell’s green flag to begin the century grind! Stremme would lead a slew of outside row starters around Dassow to take the early lead.
As the field began to settle into formation, Bill Tomlinson would spin in turn four to bring out the first of nine cautions that would fly over the course of the 100-lap feature. On the restart, Stremme would try to pull away from the pack while the field still tried to settle into a rhythm. Stephen Leicht, the current ASA Late Model Series points leader began working the outside groove and quickly settled into the second spot while Stremme tried checking out on the field.
A couple of cautions on lap 33 bunched the field up and on the restart, Leicht began applying pressure to Stremme. The most serious incident of the nigh occurred on lap 48 when 15-year-old rookie, Chase Austin suddenly slowed coming out of turn two. Veteran Peter Cozzolino had no where to go and slammed into the back end of Austin, ending his night. Cozzolino was able to continue despite heavy cosmetic damage.
Two more cautions on lap 52 and 53 once again slowed things down. All the while, Stremme maintained his position as the race long leader while Leicht rode behind him in second trying to figure out a way around the defending series champion and reigning rookie of the year. Stremme maintained an even keel and just enough to fend off Leicht as the laps ticked away. Another cautions on lap 75 for a spin slowed things down one more time and then two more cautions, both on lap 87 set the stage for a final 13-lap shootout.
On the final restart, Stremme would once again try to pull away from Leicht, but the 18-year-old would never let Stremme stray to far away. With five laps to go, Stremme slowly pulled away from the current series point’s leader. Stremme wouldn’t let Leicht get to close as the South Bend, Indiana driver would lead all 100 laps to win his first feature of the 2005 season!
Leicht finished second for the fifth time this season while Dassow would regroup and come home a career high third. Chad Wood and Ryan Carlson would round out the top five. Kris Stump, Brent Downey, Ryan Tedesco, Brian Campbell, and Mike Satkowiak would complete the top 10.
The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts will now take a well deserved week off after a grueling stretch of five races in five weekends. The next two events for the ASA Late Model Series will both be over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Friday September 2nd the Hawkeye Downs (IA) Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa will host the Barron Motor Supply 100. Then the teams will travel North up to the land of 1000 lakes and the I-94 (MN) Raceway in Sauk Centre, Minnesota for the Minnesota Labor Day 100 on Monday afternoon, September 5th. For more information, please call the ASALM Series home offices at 1 (800) 385-2503 or log onto to the website at: www.asalatemodels.com
Dominos Pizza 100 UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Pos. Start Car #/Driver Laps
1. 2 53 Bobby Stremme 100
2. 8 89 Stephen Leicht 100
3. 1 92 Travis Dassow 100
4. 6 2 Chad Wood 100
5. 3 32 Ryan Carlson 100
6. 5 23 Kris Stump 100
7. 11 25 Brent Downey 100
8. 19 70 Ryan Tedesco 100
9. 7 29 Brian Campbell 100
10. 15 88 Mike Satkowiak 100
11. 20 31 Derek Bischak 100
12. 21 55 Tony Rosebrugh 100
13. 9 7 Landon Cassill 100
14. 12 90 Keeton Hanks 100
15. 10 28 Jack Smith 100
16. 18 81 Jesse Smith 100
17. 25 14 Jim Ross 99
18. 14 11 Peter Cozzolino 98
19. 22 3 Bill Tomlinson 96
20. 26 02 Scott Leach 95
21. 4 6 Jason Dietsch 87
22. 17 84 Brett Piontek 73
23. 28 42 Tony Urdiales 66
24. 27 44 Dusty Woodie 52
25. 16 111 Chase Austin 48
26. 13 93 Doug True 36
27. 23 94 Scott Baker 33
28. 24 12 Jason Setser 32
29. 29 66 Troy Barnes 1
Lap Leaders: 92 Travis Dassow-Pole, 53 Bobby Stremme 1-100. Cautions 9.
