Lexington, Michigan -- The 2006 season for the ASA Late Model Series is starting to take shape in all three of the traveling series’. Several tracks all over the country are vying for position in an effort to book one of the three ASA Late Model Series divisions for the 2006 season. The ASA Late Model Challenge Series, the crown jewel of the three that also includes the ASA Late Model Series Northern and Southern Divisions, are all already starting to make waves with its’ respective 2006 schedules.
On the heels of the recent announcement by the ASALM Series that 10 of the 2006 ASA Late Model Challenge Series events will be televised on a Tape-Delayed basis on the cable network, "The Outdoor Channel"; One of the many premiere facilities in the United States, Iowa Speedway has signed on to host an ASA Late Model Challenge Series event in 2006. The brand new Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, just outside of Des Moines will see the cars and stars of the ASA Late Model Challenge Series on Saturday October 14th.
The weekend of October 13-15, 2006 will see both the ASA Late Model Challenge Series as well as the ARCA Re-max Series co-headline what will be an exciting weekend of racing at the Rusty Wallace designed facility. The Iowa Speedway, when completed, will boast a massive 7/8s mile semi-banked paved oval that will surely be admired for years to come.
"We are very excited to announce the addition of the ASA Late Model Series to our event Schedule in October 2006", stated Todd Melfi, General Manager of Iowa Speedway. "The ASA name has been synonymous over the years with exciting competition on the track and we feel that we have placed an exclamation point on what will prove to be a fantastic weekend of racing".
"I can’t wait for this race!" Stated ASA Late Model Series Founder/President, Ron Varney. "To add a track the caliber of Iowa Speedway to our 2006 schedule is truly a feather in the cap to all of our drivers, fans, and teams. It’s going to be a must-see and a history making event for the ASA Late Model Series!" Varney added.
In addition to the ASA Late Model Challenge Series, the ARCA Re-Max Series will also be on the card over the weekend of October 13-15, 2006 for an action packed weekend at the brand new state of the art facility. It will be the ARCA Re-Max Series’ 2006 finale!
The Iowa Speedway will feature such on track amenities as: A track width measuring 60 Feet wide with a 20 foot apron. The Banking will sport 12-14 Degree Compound Banking in the four corners while the Front Stretch will have 10 Degrees and Back Stretch will feature four Degrees of incline. Ground breaking on the facility took place in June of this year and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2006!
Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, along with Paxton Water Architecture and American Consulting and Neumann Brothers Inc., will all oversee and aid the design team in this first ever, driver designed racetrack. Rusty will play an integral part of the overall design and layout of Iowa Speedway. Amongst the plethora of features this brand new facility will incorporate during the building process, expected to be completed in the summer of 2006.
Some of the driver, fan, and team friendly amenities include: Garages Built for 54 competitors with year round facility use, Suites with 26 outside the track. Also the Newton Club Designed for up to 2200 patrons and year round Indoor use. The Grandstands will feature 25,000 permanent seats! Camping will have approximately 125 motor home spaces plus additional campgrounds on site in addition to Parking with approximately 9,000 onsite spaces.
The Corporate Hospitality Village will provide a very popular location for businesses and groups to entertain their guests in style. Concessions stand will feature at least five permanent buildings while up in the tower, Timing, Scoring and Media Facility Drivers meeting rooms which can hold up to 140 people. The Media room can hold up to 200 people and will have tiered seating for 90 people.
The ASA Late Model Series technical staff will think they are in heaven with two Tech Inspection Buildings as well as a separate Tire Building and an Infield Care Center with adjacent heli-pad along with a Maintenance Building, Four Restroom Buildings, and an Administration Building which includes, Ticket Offices, Credentials, Speedway Offices, Gift Shop, Museum and Restaurant.
In addition to the ASA Late Model Challenge Series/ARCA Re-Max Super Car Series weekend in October 2006, the USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup Series as well as the USAC Silver Crown Series, and USAC National Sprint Series will christen the new speedway with the first actual racing events ever on the 7/8s mile semi-banked paved oval on September 15-16, 2006.
For more information and to keep up with the progress of the Iowa Speedway while the state of the art facility is being constructed, log onto their website at: www.iowaspeedway.com
The 2005 season for the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts will close out on Saturday October 29th for the conclusion of the 40th annual National Short Track Championships at the Rockford (IL) Speedway in Loves Park, Illinois. Current ASA Late Model Series Points Leader, Stephen Leicht and Rockford’s own hometown favorite, Ryan Carlson will lead the field to the green flag to start the Chicago International Trucks/Season Championships 100 to close out the 2005 season.
Leicht merely needs to take the green flag and the 18-year-old Asheville, North Carolina native, one of the "Young Lions of the ASA Late Model Series", will clinch the 2005 ASA Late Model Series Championship! In addition, Brian Campbell, the current Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year Points Leader, just needs to start the Chicago International Trucks/Season Championships 100 and the Grand Rapids, Michigan pilot will clinch the freshman crown!
For more information about the remaining 2005 season as well as the approaching 2006 season with the ASA Late Model Challenge Series, the ASA Late Model Series Northern and Southern Divisions; check out their websites at: www.asalatemodelsnorth.com and www.asalatemodelssouth.com You can also call the ASA Late Model Series home offices at 1 (800) 385-2503 or log onto the main website at: www.asalatemodels.com
