Illiana: Pole purse increased

Pendleton, Ind. (September 18, 2003) -- ASA Racing Series Qualifications will have an extra sense of urgency with the announcement of the CITGO Pole Award at Illiana Motor Speedway on Friday, September 19. The fastest qualifier receives a $1,000 bonus from CITGO. This driver is also eligible to win the VP Racing Fuels Front Runner Award, valued at $1,500, if he can also win the 250-lap event. The CITGO Pole Award winner will be honored in pre-race activities on Saturday evening, prior to the CITGO/MDA 250 presented by Jani-King.

For a second consecutive season, the ASA Racing Series visits the .50-mile Illiana Motor Speedway in Northwestern Indiana for the CITGO/MDA 250 presented by Jani- King on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20. ASA Pole qualifying is set for 8 p.m. on Friday night.

The starting field will consist of 32 cars, with positions 1 through 20 coming from qualifications. Positions 21 through 24 will come from the current 2003 Owners' Point Standings. Positions 25 through 32 will be filled with the fastest eight cars remaining from qualifications. A maximum of two provisional starters may be added to the field by the order specified in the ASA Racing 2003 Official Rulebook.

ASA's inaugural visit to Illiana in September of 2002 saw Ohio competitor Robbie Pyle notch his third pole position of the season, registering an official qualifying time of 19.835 seconds at 90.749 mph. Eventual 2002 ASA National Champion Joey Clanton qualified second with three-time series Champion Butch Miller in third position. Two-time ASA Champion Gary St. Amant and series veteran Mike Garvey rounded out the top-five qualifiers.

ASA returns to Illiana Motor Speedway for the CITGO/MDA 250 presented by Jani- King on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20, with the first of two practice sessions beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Pole qualifying is scheduled for 8 p.m. On Saturday, an on-track fan autograph session takes places at 6 p.m. with the CITGO/MDA 250 presented by Jani-King going green at 8 p.m. (Local)

Tickets are available through the ASA office at $25 for general admission seats. Discounts are available when purchasing in advance. For additional information, contact the ASA ticket line at 1-888-ASA-1020.

For additional information on the ASA Racing Series visit asaracing.com.