DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Red River Speedway located in Wichita Falls, TX, is in pre-season mode as it prepares for its second season as an American Speed Association Member Track. The track saw a lot of benefits last season with its membership and cannot wait for its grand opening on April 4th with Greg Biffle in attendance.
“It was fantastic, it was a new deal for us and when everyone figured out what it was all about, they were more than willing to become members and that grew throughout the year,” Hank Cournoyer, Red River Speedway Track Manager stated. “Being a member of the ASA Member Track program gives the drivers notoriety. It gives them something to hang their hat on. They are proud to be a member, its bragging rights. It also increases the whole aspect of racing at Red River Speedway, it’s so much better for everybody.”
When reflecting back on Red River’s first year in the Member Track program, Cournoyer shared two stories, “The biggest piece was at the end of the year at our awards banquet. For so many years, these guys have been racing and haven’t received much in the way of contingencies or point funds. ASA stepped up and the top five in our Thunder class all received checks. It was great, everyone was very pleased.”
The second was the benefits of the insurance plan that comes with being a member, “It’s just one of those things where you hate to say you had to use the insurance because something happened. But, we had a couple that benefited from it and it got them out of a bind,” Cournoyer stated. “Just the comfort of knowing they have that insurance available if something were to happen really does put them at ease. We make it known to them that when they hook up their trailer to the truck and head in our direction that they are covered under this insurance program. A lot were not aware of that and that helps a bunch as well.”
Red River Speedway opened this past Saturday, March 21st and will race again this Saturday, March 28th. Both of these nights are considered more like pre-season events. The 2009 season officially opens on Saturday, April 4th with a special guest, “We are going to have Greg Biffle come in and he is bringing some of his crew members. We are going to put them in our LMST Super Trucks, which is an ASA Member Class, and some of his crew members in our Charger cars, which is a lower class of car we have,” Cournoyer explained. “They came down last year and we had Hornet cars for them and they had a blast. This year we are going to give them a little more of a performance car for them to drive.”
But, that is not all as the Speedway issued a challenge to Biffle, “A challenge has been put out to Greg to break the track record which is a 14.89 and he has taken the challenge,” Cournoyer announced. “He is going to try to break the track record in the Super Trucks; it ought to be a very eventful evening.”
Most of their Saturday night shows consist of their Thunderstock, Mod 4, Charger and Hornet divisions. The track will welcome late models, NASKART, and Texas Pro Sedans throughout the season.
Cournoyer wouldn’t mind seeing the ASA Member Track National Championship stay in Texas, but this time at his track, “Last year, Cary Stapp at Thunderhill Raceway represented Texas very well with winning the National Championship. It would be a huge feather in our cap to have our track as the home of the 2009 National Champion.”
More information can be found at www.redriverspeedway.net.
Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, sponsor of the American Speed Association National Short Track National Championship, is the same oil developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing. The team sells the oil so racers across the country can have access to the latest technology in racing lubricants.
Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs - a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame - JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships and more than 80 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500.
The American Speed Association Short Track National Championship is another step by the industry leader in creating new and innovative programs. This follows the recent announcement about extending the insurance coverage for ASA members traveling to, from, and during an ASA-sanctioned event. For updated ASA National Points, just click on the "Points" link at www.asa-racing.com.
ASA members in good standing are eligible for a $500,000 Excess Medical Benefit as well as a $20,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit. Coverage for the member begins while traveling to a location promoting an ASA-sanctioned event and continues until arrival home again. The American Speed Association, in conjunction with WSIB Motorports Insurance, is the only sanctioning body to offer insurance coverage which extends beyond the boundary of the racetrack itself (complete details are available online at www.ASA-Racing.com).
The ASA Member Track program is comprised of more than 35 short tracks around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
ASA™, ASA Racing™ and American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.
