The ASA Late Model Series presented by GM Performance Parts has completed all the points’ event of the season for all four divisions; ASA Late Model Series Challenge, ASA Late Model Series North, ASA Late Model Series South and the USPRO Division.
It has been a remarkable year with many highs and lows. Many of us are looking to get some tee-shirts made stating “I survived 2008.” Let’s face it, with one of the toughest economies in years and plenty of crazy weather we as short trackers have all suffered. Still, despite the obstacles there were a few that prevailed and beat the odds.
Let’s take a look at the numbers this season; The Series had a total of 38 events within the four divisions, 19 different event winners, over 260 teams taking points in these divisions, 4 rain-outs with 2 of those rescheduled, 4 Champions, 4 Roy’s and 1 big sigh of relief when the checkered flag dropped at Charlotte County.
The 2008 Champions and ROY’S are:
2008 ASALMS Challenge Champion - 11 Peter Cozzolino,
2008 ASALMS Challenge Rookie of the Year – 93 Kyle Sirizzotti
2008 ASALMS North Champion – 8 Eddie Hoffman
2008 ASALMS North Rookie of the Year – 5 Brett Moffitt
2008 ASALMS South Champion – 86 Jimmy Lang
2008 ASALMS South Rookie of the Year – 88 Justin Larson
2008 USPRO Champion – 6 Dave Gentile Jr.
2008 USPRO Rookie of the Year – 72 Andy Marchiniak.
These teams and there fellow racers gave us some of the most exciting, riveting and extreme racing of the season. The sixth year of racing for the ASA Late Model Series has given short track the most competitive and talented teams to date.
We amazed many premier tracks and turned many heads with the competitive racing performed by these teams and their crate motors during the 2008 season. Our best stood toe to toe with the best in the industry and they did it with skill, tenacity and pure determination. The concept of the series rules package and crate motors forces teams to focus on their driving skill and experience and not the power of their cars. To win an ASA Late Model Series event or Championship has to be earned with talent.
With proven success the series continues to move forward and ignite the racing world. The teams continue to have the eyes and ears of the racing world upon them and many will use this as a tool to launch their racing careers. The ASALMS is a premier series, with premier drivers and tremendous support from some of the largest companies in the racing industry.
In 2003, the idea was to start a late model crate engine series that was cost effective with a rules package created by racers to keep the cost of racing down. The Crate motor, mandates and price caps help keep some costs down for racers but more importantly it helps keep and even playing field.
To be a part of a professional traveling series costs money, fuel costs, hotel costs, crew costs… it goes on and on. Those that find the financing to be able to run a traveling circuit need to be able to come out to the field and compete on a level playing field.
A look at our past champions and how we have evolved is a great indicator of just how important our competition is to the racing world.
Past Champions and Rookie of the ASA Late Model Series
2003 Champion and ROY - Mark Kortz, Mike Carter (R)
2004 Champion and ROY – Bobby Stremme (both).
2005 Champion and ROY - Stephen Leicht and Brian Campbell (R)
2006 Champions and ROY’S – Challenge Division, Kelly Bires (both); North Division, Jesse Smith and Derek Neville (R), South Division, James Buescher (both).
2007 Champions and ROY’S – Challenge Division, Travis Dassow and Sean Murphy (R); North Division Trent Snyder and Jesse Saunders (R); South Division, Jeff Choquette (both)
The 2008 Champions and Rookies are joining a brotherhood of true blue champions that continue to make a name for themselves in the world of racing.
A couple of teams that have earned a 2008 honorable mention and will continue to turn heads in racing are: 72 Jacob Goede, 77 Brian Campbell,
32 Sean Murphy, 21 Robbie Pyle, 87 Jesse Saunders, 32 Jeremy Miller, 30 Michael Pickens, 29 Joey King, 75 David Odell, 59 Dustin Dunn, 57 Chad Pierce, 70 Jeremy Gerstner and the 3 Blake Lehr.
Let’s give it up for these teams and their crews, families and sponsors that helped make all this happen. Hopefully we will see a number of these teams in Memphis for the ‘Kings Ransom 300” on November 14th and 15th.
This event spectacular will name the ‘King of Short Track’ and it will surely be an indicator of the who’s who of short track.
Over the next couple of weeks we will get out volumes of information regarding 2009 schedules, rules, banquet, registration, PRI……..We thank you for your patience as we make the transition into another season.
