DAYTONA BEACH, Fl — Wednesday, June 22, 2011) - There is a new leader at the top of the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Championship, as Barry Beggarly puts his name on top of the standings for the first time. But right behind Beggarly is Shelby Stroebel, who started racing over five years ago for a reason and today he has more of a reason and a National Championship may be a good cure.
Beggarly took over the points lead in the Late Model division at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, NC from Jason York this past weekend. He now leads by two points in the track standings. In the National Standings, Beggarly has an average of 1.7734.
Stroebel competes in the ASA Modified division at Meridian Speedway in Meridian, ID and is not that far behind Beggarly in the National Standings with an average of 1.7315, only 0.0419 back. He also has a comfortable lead in the track standings as he is leading by 193 points over Chris Fenton.
When Stroebel was asked about the opportunity to win the National Championship and a tryout with Joe Gibbs Racing, he had a very honest answer. "I have had a lot on my mind to think about it, but it would be pretty big," Stroebel said.
But he then revealed why he wasn't thinking about it. "I started racing over five years ago when my dad, Allen, was diagnosed with leukemia and I went racing to keep him in a positive mood. The leukemia went into remission and recently he got injured at work, had surgery on his neck and things have fallen backwards. We are still waiting for some results. He has lost some weight but he still comes to the track and tries to help and I try to get him to come out to the races as well. It gets me emotional thinking about it, but I am also driven about it as well."
Lately, that drive has gotten him pretty excited about where he is in the National Standings. Last year, he was in the hunt for the National title until, "We had some problems for about 6-8 weeks until we found a solution, but it was too late," Stroebel recalled.
A National Championship could be a great cure for the Stroebel family.
Not far behind Stroebel is Ken Dickinson, the Late Model point leader at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, MO. He has an average of 1.6474 in the National Standings, only 0.126 behind the leader. Dickinson holds a 70-point lead over Chrissy Wallace in the track standings.
Tyler Whetstone is fourth overall as he continues to lead the ASA Modified standings at Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, UT. Whetstone has an average of 1.6132, just 0.1602 behind Beggarly in the National Standings.
David Flynn continues to lead the Late Model Sportsman standings at Newport Motor Speedway in Newport, TN by three points over Wayne Webb. He is fifth in the National Standings with an average of 1.5330, just 0.2404 behind Beggarly.
Ryan Stiltner continues to lead the Charger division at Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, VA. He holds a 24-point lead over Steve Sims in the track standings. In the National Standings, he has an average of 1.1231. He is 0.6503 behind the leader.
Mark Shackleford is in a tight points battle in the Super Late Model division at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, CA. He currently holds a four-point lead over Matt Hicks and John Manke in the track standings. He currently has an average of 0.8975 in the National Standings.
Mark Mackesy continues to hold the point lead in the Late Model division at State Park Speedway in Wausau, WI. He holds on to a nine-point lead over Mark Eswein in the track standings and has an average of 0.8404 in the National Standings.
Jay Baumler took over the points lead this past Friday at Norway Speedway in Norway, MI. There is a tight points battle brewing at the track located in the upper peninsula of Michigan as 20 points separate the top-five. Baumler has a National average of 0.5865.
"Shelby's story is a great reminder of how short track racing can be a great sport for families to enjoy together. We wish the best to Allen Stroebel," Dennis Huth ASA President said. "Last year's National Champion Bryan Wordelman enjoyed his experience with his wife and his father. It was great to watch the enjoyment they were sharing together. Along with stories like this and the close battle we have for the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Championship, this is going to be a fun summer to experience short track racing in person and get to know our local heroes competing at the ASA Member Tracks."
Drivers from participating ASA Member Tracks across the United States have chosen one of their divisions as their premiere divisions. Those drivers in the premiere division, who are ASA members in good standing, will compete at their ASA Member Track to first win their track championship. Once they accomplish that goal, they will then be matched up against the other premiere division champions to determine the National Champion.
ASA has once again teamed up with speednetdirect.com to create a proprietary point system that is much like a batting average in baseball. Some of those factors used to create an average are wins, number of cars passed, finishes, car count, and number of events. No one knows what has more of a factor over another.
Race fans and competitors can follow the standings on www.speednetdirect.com. The opening page will show who are the current track point leaders who would be eligible for the National Championship if it ended today. The East and West Region standings gives a complete listing of all of the drivers participating this season.
Past National Champions are Cary Stapp, Thunderhill Raceway (2008), Tommy Cloce, Adirondack Speedway (2009), and Bryan Wordelman, Rocky Mountain Raceways (2010).
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 champion 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 ASA Member Track program sanctions dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses 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 email to info@asa-racing.com. The latest news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA can be found by visiting www.ASA-Racing.com.
JOE GIBBS DRIVEN RACING OIL
ASA MEMBER TRACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
STANDINGS (as of 6/22/11)
1. Barry Beggarly (Ace Speedway, Altamahaw, NC) - 1.7734
2. Shelby Stroebel (Meridian Speedway, Meridian, ID) - 1.7315
3. Ken Dickinson (Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO) - 1.6474
4. Tyler Whetstone (Rocky Mountain Raceway, West Valley City, UT) - 1.6132
5. David Flynn (Newport Motor Speedway, Newport, TN) - 1.5330
6. Ryan Stiltner (Lonesome Pine Raceway, Coeburn, VA) - 1.1231
7. Mark Shackleford (Orange Show Speedway, San Bernardino, CA) - 0.8975
8. Mark Mackesy (State Park Speedway, Wausau, WI) - 0.8404
9. Jay Baumler (Norway Speedway, Norway, MI) - 0.5865
