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CROSSVILLE RACEWAY MOVING
TO SATURDAY NIGHT ASA RACING PROGRAM
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 13, 2007) – Crossville (Tenn.) Raceway has had a
checkered past, and it was not limited to the one which flies at the conclusion
of the race. However, the days of uncertainty and a revolving door of ownership
are behind them as a new group took control last August and, with the ASA Member
Track support, are ready to embark on a regular schedule of weekly racing.
Al Varnadore, Crossville Raceway’s vice-president, said that the track had
been sporadically in operation and went through multiple ownership changes over
the past five years. However, in August a new partnership took control and tried
to set the track on a schedule of weekly racing but was thwarted by bad weather.
Unfortunately, this year hasn’t started much better either as the April 7
opening night was postponed a week due to unseasonably cold and freezing weather
in the Tennessee region, and rain washed out this one. “Weather has been our
worst enemy,” Varnadore said, only half-joking.
Regardless, he is optimistic that the change from their traditional Friday
program to a Saturday night schedule will pay off.
“Saturday night is a much better night because we can do so much more with the
schedule,” Varnadore explained. “For example, we can start earlier in the
evening. It looks like we will begin our programs around 5:30 p.m. instead of 7
p.m. when cold weather is a factor. When temperatures are normal, the events
will begin at 7:00pm. Now we can be racing before it gets cold at night when
necessary and end earlier which is much better for fans with children. We just
couldn’t do those types of things with our old Friday night program.”
Crossville Raceway, a one-third mile clay oval, will run a weekly schedule of
Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks
and Four-Cylinder Front Wheel Drive cars. They also have a variety of special
events planned, including several touring series and a special Tuesday night
program featuring NASCAR drivers Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace. Track
information can be found at www.CrossvilleRacewayUSA.com or by calling (931)
456-5000.
One thing that should help expedite the programs in 2007 is the addition of a
second opening in Turn 1 to help get race cars off the track. Previously, there
was only one entrance so it took time to get the cars off and the next wave onto
the racing facility.
“We are trying to become more fan-friendly and this new exit will help speed
up our racing program considerably from past years,” Varnadore explained. “We
want to try and get the fans and competitors out of the track at a decent hour.”
Like its sister track, East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., Crossville Raceway
is a new partner in the ASA Member Track program. They have a Level II status
which joins them with a network of racetracks across the country dedicated to
working together to improve the state of weekly racing for both fans and
competitors.
“I really like the ASA plan and what Dennis (Huth, president of the ASA
Member Track, Regional and National Racing programs) is doing with it. I like
that we are able to work with all the other tracks and promoters to help make
short track racing stronger in the industry and to help fend off the threat we
face from other entertainment options that are available today.”
When the weather finally cooperates and the green flag falls on the 2007 season
the teams will be greeted by the sight of ASA logos around the facility the
competitors will be covered by the renowned ASA participant accident insurance.
The ASA insurance program, always noted for its excellence, has been further
enhanced by the recently announced partnership with TOPIC Motorsports Insurance
(TMI). ASA Member Track operators are able to purchase general and excess
liability, automobile, an expanded ASA-exclusive $500,000 participant accident
medical, workers compensation and health insurance directly from TMI. Details
are available online at www.TOPICinsurance.com.
Varnadore also extended a welcome to fans from Atomic Speedway which recently
shuttered its doors. “We think that this is one of the premier tracks in the
state and we would love to have Atomic’s fans come and watch some dirt track
racing Crossville style. I know they won’t go home disappointed,” he said.
“Al and his group are putting in a ton of work and a lot of effort into making
improvements on-and-off the track and I really want to commend them for all
their hard work,” Huth said. “I’ve been in the short track industry for a
long time and I completely understand how frustrating it is when weather puts
the program on hold. That is the one element that nobody can control, yet it is
such a powerful influence in the weekly racing industry. But they will be
redeemed with happy fans and a great car count as the word is getting out in the
area that Crossville Raceway is back, and will remain back in operation for a
long time into the future.”
“Al and his team are going the extra mile, like nearly every promoter and
owner who is part of the ASA Member Track program and that is the type of effort
that is making the ASA tracks thrive and be so successful while others have
gotten stagnant,” Huth added.
To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based ASA Racing Member Track
program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news
and information from all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the ASA,
visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
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HAVASU 95 SPEEDWAY TO CLOSE
2007 WITH ASA MEMBER TRACK PROGRAM
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 12, 2007) – Havasu 95 Speedway, located in scenic
Lake Havasu, Ariz., re-opened this season with new ownership and tremendous
response from the community, but lacking the support of a national sanctioning
organization. Now, nearly three-quarters of the way through their “inaugural”
season they have joined the ASA Member Track program and will close the season
under the American Speed Association banner.
When asked for an assessment of the season to date, Dennis Rudin, along with
co-promoter Bill Rozhon thought for a moment, and then said, “I would say that
we have done quite well so far. The stands have been full, and we have been
getting decent car counts so we are pretty much a success so far. I would say
that we are pretty close to where we thought that we would be at this point and
maybe even a little bit ahead of that projection.” Rudin, along with Bill
Rozhon, is a co-promoter of the quarter-mile paved oval.
The track had sat dormant for several years, but re-opened in September to the
delight of the community. Rudin explained that he thought that the time was
right to update the racetrack and bring motorsports back to the desert oasis.
“I moved to Lake Havasu 18 years ago and used to go to the races back when it
was still a dirt oval,” he reminisced. “It was standing room only back then
and the population of Lake Havasu was around 14,000 people. Today, there are
more than 70,000 residents so we thought that we had a pretty good chance of
being successful.”
Havasu 95 Speedway runs a winter schedule to avoid the grueling desert heat
during the “traditional” racing season. The regular Saturday evening program
includes Late Models, Modifieds, Legends, Pure Street Stocks, Factory Stocks and
Bandoleros competing from September through the May 5 season-finale. Rudin and
Rozhon have booked a number of special touring series as well, including the ASA
Speed Trucks, West Coast Pro Trucks, USAC Ford Focus Midgets and even a Monster
Truck show. The complete schedule can be found online, along with results, point
standings and plenty of other data about the racetrack at
www.Havasu95Speedway.com or telephone (928) 854-6450 for pre-recorded
information.
Prior to opening day, however, the pair had a lot of work to prepare the vacant
facility for both crowds and competitors. A new crash wall was built through the
turns which were formerly open, a new safety fence was constructed, and as
expected, considerable repairs and maintenance needed to be done all through the
racetrack.
Though Havasu 95 Speedway currently has a capacity of 4100 it is typically close
to being sold out so Rudin said that future enhancements include doubling the
grandstand capacity and opening up the backstretch to festival seating so people
can come, bring their own chairs, and picnic while watching the short track
action.
“The response from the community has been real positive. The support has been
great and everyone seems to leave with a smiling face,” Rudin added.
The news that Havasu 95 Speedway is so fresh that many of the competitors may
not be aware of the change yet as the contract was only finalized last Friday.
Rudin said that an announcement was made over to the PA to the weekend crowd and
was met with positive response.
“Dennis (Huth, president of the ASA Member Track, Regional and National Racing
programs) had been talking to us about the many advantages that the ASA Member
Track program could bring to us and our competitors,” Rudin explained about
the mid-season joining. “We did our homework too and talked to some other ASA
tracks like the Orange Show Speedway. They have all been pleased with the ASA
association and I think it will be good for us also.”
During the next few weekends the teams will be greeted by the sight of ASA logos
springing up around the facility, and for the first time the competitors will be
covered by the renowned ASA participant accident insurance. The ASA insurance
program, always noted for its excellence, includes much enhanced and expanded
ASA-exclusive $500,000 participant accident medical. ASA Member Track operators
are able to purchase general and excess liability, automobile, workers
compensation and health insurance directly from TOPIC Motorsports Insurance (TMI).
Details are available online at www.TOPICinsurance.com.
“I think it is fun to have racetracks like Havasu 95 Speedway join the ASA
Member Track program as their schedule runs opposite from most of the tracks,
but now we can offer that exciting ASA short track racing year-round,” Huth
said. “I think that we can now say that there is ASA action somewhere in the
country all 52 weeks of the year.”
“It is really great to see a vision come to reality and that is what Dennis
and Bill have done with Havasu 95 Speedway. They saw a chance to bring racing
back to the community and have been rewarded with great crowds, solid fields,
and excellent response from the community. That is what short track racing is
all about, and that is what ASA is proud to be a part of.”
To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based ASA Racing Member Track program,
call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and
information from all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the ASA,
visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
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HAWKEYE DOWNS SPEEDWAY
CONTINUES ASA MEMBER TRACK STATUS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 3, 2007) – Hawkeye Downs Speedway, the first and
only paved oval in Iowa, was one of the inaugural members of the ASA Member
Track program and heading into the 2007 season they are still proud of that
affiliation.
“We are really proud to be one of the first members of the ASA Member Track
program and to see how much it has grown over the past four years,” said Paul
Draper. “Dennis Huth has done a marvelous job growing the program and the
benefits that we receive as a track and for our competitors are second to none
in the industry. When it comes time to renew the contract with ASA it has
quickly become one of our ‘must-do’ items as we head into this 2007 race
season.”
Hawkeye Downs Speedway has been a fixture in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, community
dating back to 1925. The track first opened as a dirt oval, and was paved in
1989 making the quarter and half-mile ovals the only paved racetrack in the
Hawkeye state. The track continually upgrades their facility, having added
state-of-the-art MUSCO lighting, a new scoreboard, and electronic timing and
scoring systems making this one of the finest examples of a short track in the
country.
Over the years many touring series have made stops at Hawkeye Downs Speedway,
and 2007 is no different with the ASA Midwest Tour, the ASA Late Model Series
and USAC Ford Focus Midgets all slated to make an appearance at the track. The
regular track divisions include Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsmen, IMCA Stock
Cars, IMCA Hobby Stocks, 4 Cylinder Hornets, and IMCA SportMod classes. The
weekly program runs on Friday nights with the season-opener scheduled for April
27. The complete 2007 schedule and other information can be found online at
www.HawkeyeDownsSpeedway.com or by telephoning (319) 365–8656.
“Our fans know the ASA name and it brings so much to our competitors in terms
of national exposure and especially the insurance benefits,” said Draper. “I
don’t think we are any different than any racetrack in wanting the best
possible insurance for our drivers and crew, and it is clear that package
offered through the ASA Member Track program is the best available.”
The ASA insurance program, always noted for its excellence, can be further
enhanced with TOPIC Motorsports Insurance (TMI). ASA Member Track operators
purchase an expanded ASA-exclusive $500,000 participant accident medical policy.
TMI Details are available online at www.TOPICinsurance.com.
“It was with great pride when I first signed Hawkeye Downs Speedway to our ASA
family back in 2003 and it is with great pride that I can say they have seen
enough benefits to continue in 2007,” said Dennis Huth, president of the ASA
Member Track and Regional and National Racing programs. “Hawkeye Downs
Speedway is a fixture in the Midwest short track scene and so many great
champions have learned their skills on that half-mile oval. I have no doubt that
the fans this season will once again see a star in the making and I am thrilled
that ASA can play some minor role in helping another future champion get their
start.”
Setting Hawkeye Downs Speedway apart from most other short tracks across the
country is that the majority of their races are broadcast live on the radio
thanks to KGYM-AM1600 “The Zone.” Most of the Friday night clashes, as well
as some of the touring events, are broadcast either live or tape-delayed, and
for those who cannot make it to the track in person these broadcasts are also
available worldwide via the racetrack home page.
As a Level II participant in the ASA Member Track Program, Hawkeye Downs
Speedway joins a national organization with racetracks across the United States,
each dedicated to working together to improve the state of weekly racing for
both the fans and competitors.
To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based ASA Racing Member Track program,
call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and
information from all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the ASA,
visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
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ASA/NSRA scheduled to open
season Saturday Andrew Kunas
MONROE, Wash. – March 30, 2007 - The ASA-sanctioned Northwest
Sprintcar Racing Association is set to kick off its 2007 season with the annual
Doug James Memorial this Saturday at Washington speed plant Evergreen Speedway.
Hopefully, they’ll race this time.
In an improbable string of bad luck, the Doug James Memorial has been knocked
out by the rain three straight years, along with the 125-lap stock car event the
ASA/NSRA shared the card with. Sprint car and stock car drivers alike who plan
to race this weekend are hoping that streak ends on Saturday.
ASA/NSRA drivers in particular are eager to start, as the series will most
likely crown a champion different from the one they did last year. Victoria,
British Columbia driver Jeff Montgomery won three straight races at the end of
the season to win his first ASA/NSRA title. The reigning champion, however, is
scaling back his schedule in 2007 to spend more time with his family.
Pat Bliss of West Linn, Oregon has re-united with former car owner Jim Helm
to go after their second series championship after winning it in 2003 and just
narrowly losing it to Rick Brown in the final race of the 2004 season.
Back together, Bliss and Helm are expected to again be a very potent
combination.
Having been one of the top drivers in the series for a number of years now,
Roseburg, Ore. driver Andy Alberding is looking to break through for his first
championship. Having won five career ASA/NSRA main events, Alberding is looking
for his first win at Evergreen.
After going through a rough 2005 season and then losing the title in the last
week of the season in 2006, Craig Deaver of Sumner, Wash. is expected to arrive
at Evergreen and try to use it as a launch pad for his attempt at his second
series championship after first winning it in 2001. Deaver was dominating the
series last year, winning several races, until Montgomery’s stunning charge at
the end of the year ended Deaver’s bid. Deaver has been fast at Evergreen,
becoming one of the first drivers to ever get into the 18-second bracket around
the large, fast .646-mile, semi-banked asphalt oval in 2003.
Several other drivers are expected to compete, including Monte Zema Jr., who
scored his first ASA/NSRA win last May at South Sound Speedway near Tenino,
Wash. Eastern Washington driver Justin Mack is searching for his first win as is
Oregon’s Matt Hein.
The last time the ASA/NSRA was able to run the Doug James Memorial was in
2003, and fans were thrilled by the performance Trevor Montgomery, Jeff’s
brother, gave them. With Seattle area driver Drew Church seemingly unreachable
with just a lap to go around the large .646-mile asphalt oval, four-time series
champion Montgomery roared his way around the “Super Speedway of the West”
to catch Church and pass him coming out of turn four for the stunning victory.
For Montgomery, that win at the Monroe track was a long time coming. After at
first winning the 2002 Doug James Memorial, Montgomery was disqualified for a
rules violation. In both races the ASA/NSRA ran in Monroe in 2001 Montgomery
lost the lead after cutting down a rear tire and his comeback bid in the August
race that year came up only a car length short, losing to Rick Brown.
Brown, the 14-time open wheel champion out of Oregon, won the Doug James
Memorial in 2001 and also received credit for the win after Montgomery’s
disqualification in 2002. His bid at a fourth straight ASA/NSRA win on the
Monroe oval ended when mechanical problems forced him off the track in the
2003 Doug James Memorial.
In 2000, Geoff Wade narrowly held off future World of Outlaws star Jason
Solwold, long a master of Northwest dirt tracks, for the win in the Doug James
Memorial.
The Doug James Memorial is the first of two events the ASA/NSRA has scheduled
at Evergreen Speedway this year. The other is Saturday, September 15, two weeks
before the NSRA closes the season with a two-night event at Meridian Speedway
near Boise, Idaho. After the Doug James Memorial, the next scheduled event is
the Don Hein – Casey Diemert Memorial Classic at Douglas County Speedway in
Roseburg, Ore. on April 28.
Track activities will start early on Saturday, with pit gates opening at 11
a.m. Practice for the ASA/NSRA, as well as the local super stock class, is
scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 3:35. Front gates will open for spectators at 3:30
and qualifying is expected to start at 4:00 with heat races starting just after
5:30.
NSRA: Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association www.nsraracing.com
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