LM: Rockford round 13 preview

Get the calculators out! Many possibilities for title clinching in the ASA Late Model Series with two races to go. It all begins at Rockford!

(Lexington, Michigan 09/20/05): The 2005 season is winding down for the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts. Drivers, fans, and teams alike all have their calculators out as they try to figure out how many points each team needs to clinch this and that. Going into the 40th annual National Short Track Championships at the Rockford (IL) Speedway in Loves Park, Illinois, there are several possibilities and different scenarios for drivers to clinch spots on the points rung.

Obviously the first one wanting to clinch as soon as possible is that of Current ASA Late Model Series Points Leader, Stephen Leicht. The Asheville, North Carolina driver comes into Rockford with a somewhat comfortable 128 point lead over Brian Campbell. In order for Leicht to clinch the title outright in Rockford, the 18-year-old pilot must win the Motive Gear Pole Award, lead the most laps and win the Rockford 100, all the while, Campbell has to finish 15th or worse and Leicht, "One of the Young Lions of the ASA Late Model Series" will clinch the 2005 ASA Late Model Series Points Championship!

For Campbell to clinch the overall championship, several factors have to be weighed in. Campbell would have to win the Motive Gear Pole Award, lead the most laps, and win the Rockford 100, while Leicht would have to have a horrible weekend on the 1/4 mile high-banked paved oval. Leicht would have to finish 26th, not lead a lap and not qualify in the top five in Motive Gear Qualifying. Even if all of those scenarios were to play out, Campbell would still trail Leicht by a mere 10 points heading into LaCrosse!

Mathematically, Chad Wood and Kris Stump are both still in the hunt for the 2005 ASA Late Model Series Championship. For Wood, who is 237 points behind, a plethora of scenarios all must fall into line for the Madison, Wisconsin driver to rally and clinch the 2005 title! First off, Wood must win the Motive Gear Pole Award, lead the most laps, and win the Rockford 100, while Leicht needs to finish 26th, not lead a lap, or not qualify in the top five! Then at LaCrosse, Wood would again have to sweep the program while Leicht would have had to had a second straight disappointing weekend and finish so better than 21st, while Campbell would also need two bad weekends.

As for Stump, Same as Wood but the Tipp City, Ohio driver is even farther behind, 257 points and would also need Wood to slip badly the last two events as well as the top two. Those four drivers are mathematically still in the hunt for the 2005 ASA Late Model Series Championship. Ryan Carlson, is the first driver on the outside looking in, but the ASALM Series will go to his backyard this weekend as the Loves Park, Illinois Freshman lives just down the road from Rockford Speedway.

Next up, Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year Points battle! Freshman Leader, Brian Campbell is in two separate fights! First for the Rookie title and then for the overall championship with Leicht. As for the Rookie title, for Campbell to clinch the freshman crown outright at Rockford, Campbell would have to sweep the program, take the Motive Gear Pole Award, lead the most laps, and win the Rockford 100. His closest pursuer, Kris Stump would have to finish 16th or worse and Campbell will win the Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title in Rockford!

For Stump to catch Campbell, a slew of scenarios would have to work out. Stump would have to win the Motive Gear Pole Award, lead the most laps, and win the Rockford 100, while Campbell would have to have a horrible weekend and finish 26th, not lead a lap and not qualify in the top five in Motive Gear Qualifying. Even if all of those scenarios were to play out, Stump would ironically still trail Campbell by a 11 markers heading into LaCrosse!

Ryan Carlson sits third and needs a small miracle to catch Campbell and Stump to have a say in the Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie title chase. Despite being one of only two freshman to win a feature this season, the other is Jason Dietsch, Carlson needs a lot to happen over the next two weekends. First off, he needs to sweep the program at Rockford while Campbell and Stump both have awful weekends. Even then, Carlson would still trail Stump by a minimum of 58 points and Campbell by over 100! Dietsch is the first freshman on the outside looking in.

As far as clinching spots in the top 10, positions fifth through 15th are bunched up to the point where anything can happen with those spots. Separated by 300+ points, these positions can go all over depending on the outcome of the next two events. Same with drivers trying to get into the final top 20 and be invited to the 2005 ASA Late Model Series Awards Banquet. Tony Rosebrugh, Ryan Tedesco, Jason Tyler, and Doug Mahlik still have an outside chance of cracking the top 20.

Finally the third title up for grabs is the GM Performance Parts Shootout title. Mark Hartline leads Bill Tomlinson by just 49 points, 387-338 heading into Rockford. 14 drivers still have a mathematical shot at the GMPP Shootout title! The most points you can get in a GMPP Shootout is 79 with leading the most laps and scoring the victory. Of course several factors play a role in the Shootout Points. One of the most obvious is the fact that one of the drivers still in the hunt for the Shootout title, may make the Rockford 100 and not get any GMPP Shootout points. This title battle is too close to call and will get much clearer after this weekend.

The 40th annual National Short Track Championships at the Rockford (IL) Speedway in Loves Park, Illinois will be the site for race 13 of 14 for the ASA Late Model Series. The Rockford 100 will co-headline the NSTC05 on September 22-25.

In addition to the ASA Late Model Series, the CRA Super Series will return for a 250-lap main event on Sunday afternoon. Also on the card after a successful debut at the 2004 NSTC, the Big 8 Limited Late Model Series returns for a 58-lap feature on Friday, September 23rd. The Mid-American Stock Car Series, Mid-American Trucks, Northern Late Models, Area Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Grand Nationals, American Short Trackers, Road Runners, Winged Women on Wheels, Hornets and Super Cups will also be competing over the four day weekend.

If you would you like to receive any competitor information, please call the Speedway's office to request your copy. Two-day and Three-Day advance tickets are on sale now. When you call to order your tickets you can also reserve your spot in the Speedway Village. Overnight parking is available in general and quiet areas. Bring your banners, flags, lights, etc as we will award a pair of weekend tickets to NSTC 06 for the best decorated Speedway Village location.

For more information, please visit Rockford Speedway's website at www.rockfordspeedway.com or call the Rockford Box Office at (815) 633-1500. Make your plans now to be part of "One Great Racing Weekend!" For more information concerning the ASA Late Model Series, you can call the home offices during normal business hours at 1 (800) 385-2503 or log onto the website at: www.asalatemodels.com

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