LMS: 2005 champion - Stephen Leicht

Stephen Leicht; 2005 ASA Late Model Series Champion.

Lexington, Michigan (11/01/05): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts is proud to honor and salute the 2005 ASA Late Model Series Champion; Asheville, North Carolina's Stephen Leicht!

By merely taking the green flag during the Chicago International Trucks/Season Championships 100 held on Saturday October 29th, the 18-year-old standout, one of the "Young Lions of the ASA Late Model Series" clinched the series championship at the Rockford (IL) Speedway during the conclusion of the 40th annual National Short Track Championships. One of the biggest tradition laden, end of the year special events in the country.

The ASA Late Model Series Presented is proud to call Stephen Leicht; the ASA Late Model Series Champion for the 2005 season! Leicht joins such established stars as 2004 Champion, Bobby Stremme and 2003 Champion, Mark Kortz, in very select company.

"This is so awesome, we worked so hard for this, this is just great." Said a happy Leicht in post race ceremonies at the conclusion of the Chicago International Trucks/Season Championships 100. "Without the support of my crew chief, Howie Lettow, Wal-Tom Racing, Tom and Wally Gleitsman, the whole crew, my family and friends, none of this would've been possible!" He continued. "Howie has made me what I am today, no question about it and I will always be grateful to him for that!"

Leicht also gave credit to the ASA Late Model Series itself; "The ASA Late Model Series is so tough!" Leicht explained. "The fact that you are racing in a series where you go to a different track every weekend teaches you a lot."

Leicht used what he learned in the ASA Late Model Series and has already applied it to his next step up the proverbial racing ladder. Leicht made his NASCAR Busch Series debut back on Saturday October 22nd at the Memphis (TN) Motorsports Park and qualified eighth out of a strong 53-car field. Leicht would stay patient all race long, avoided several accidents and came home with a strong 13th place showing and on the lead lap!

"You go from a flat track to a fast high-banked track to a semi-banked track with progressive banking, and running those places makes it so much easier to go to a track that you've never been to and get comfortable in the car and find a fast line around there." Leicht added. "I think the time in the ASALM Series helped us tremendously at Memphis. I didn't have much practice, but I was able to adapt quickly. The competition level is tough in Busch, but it's tough in the ASA Late Model Series too." He added. "Hopefully if the schedule works out for next year, I can come back and race a few times next season with these guys. I've had a lot of fun." The 2005 ASA Late Model Series Champion ended.

The 2005 season is not over yet for the young rising star! Leicht's 2005 schedule calls for him to once again steer a Robert Yates Racing Ford Taurus in the NASCAR Busch Series at the Phoenix (AZ) International Raceway on Saturday November 12th and hopefully the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series finale at the Homestead (FL) Motorsports Park on Saturday November 19th.

Stephen's 2006 plans tentatively call for him to compete at least on a part-time basis with hopes of going full-time, depending on sponsorship, in the NASCAR Busch Series for a run at the series' Rookie of the Year title.

Leicht's last event of the 2005 season in the ASA Late Model Series at Rockford didn't fare as well as he had hoped race wise! Leicht was involved in a lap 62 pile-up when a lapped car spun in front of the field and Leicht collided with Rockford veteran, Tom Gille, ending both of their days. Leicht would be shown 22nd at the finish. Despite the finish, that didn't stop the Wal-Tom Racing Team and its' accomplished driver, Stephen Leicht, from breaking out the champagne and celebrating the 2005 ASA Late Model Series Championship!

Under the guidance of seven-time Rookie of the Year Championship Crew Chief in the historical ASA National Tour, Howie Lettow, Leicht had a career season in the ASA Late Model Series and perhaps one of the most consistent seasons in series history!

The Tar Heel State pilot won five features in ASA Late Model Series competition including all three events at the Baer Field (IN) Speedway on May 7th during the UB Machine 100, also on August 5th at the ninth annual International Gold Cup 100 and yet again on September 11th, during the 9/111 Tribute 100.

Leicht didn't limit his wins to just the ½ mile semi-banked paved oval in Fort Wayne, Indiana as Leicht also took the victory during the Gibson Chevrolet 100 at the Illiana (IN) Motor Speedway on July 23rd, and during the Tribune-Democrat 100 at the beautiful Jennerstown (PA) Speedway on August 13th.

Those five victories are in addition to his first career series win in his first ever start with the ASALM Series back on August 21, 2004, when The Asheville, North Carolina pilot, then 17 years old, won at the Calhoun County (MI) Speedway (Now Springport Motor Speedway).

Leicht has always been in the feature win hunt all season long even when didn't win in ASALM Series competition. His 10 top five finishes have all either been a win or a runner-up showing! In addition, in the 14 events held this season in the ASALM Series, Leicht has boasted an impressive 12 top 10 showings!

His non win or second place showings have been a sixth and a seventh. His only two DNF's were at the I-70 (MO) Speedway on June 18th, and the series last event at the Rockford (IL) Speedway on October 29th.

Leicht is amongst the all-time leaders in nearly every category the series has stats in place for! Leicht is the all-time leaders in wins with six! Leicht is also tied for the all-time lead in most pole awards with four, all earned this season! Leicht is tied in that category with 2003 ASA/USPRO Cup Series Champion, Mark Kortz and 2004 ASALM Series Champion, Bobby Stremme as all three have four career pole awards!

The list of ASALM Series accomplishments continue for Leicht as he ranks tied for second all-time in top five finishes with Chad Wood, both have 12. Leicht is third all-time in top 10 finishes with 14. Leicht's 14 top 10's have come in 16 career starts! Leicht is second all-time in career laps led by only 12 laps! 412-400 is the margin between Leicht and all-time laps leader, Jack Smith.

Besides ASALM Series competition, Leicht also went two for two in the ASL Series in 2005 as he won both shows he entered this season in the tour for the former ASA National Tour cars.

Stephen got his start in racing at only six years old beginning with go karts and moving on to quarter midgets, sprint carts, oval carts and eventually Late Models. Leicht began driving a full size Super Late Model at just 12 years old. At age 13, Stephen was the youngest driver ever to complete a full season in the ARA All Star Tour, finishing seventh in season long points chase.

Leicht was the youngest driver ever to qualify on the pole at the ARA Fall Brawl that season. At 14, Stephen was the youngest driver ever to win the ARA Southern Thunder 125 at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway. When Stephen was 15, he was the youngest driver ever to win the American Challenge Series championship!

Leicht spent the 2004 season with the historical ASA National Tour and was very impressive in his rookie season in the historical and now defunct tour! Leicht picked up three top five finishes including a season high third at the 2004 Series opener at the USA (FL) International Speedway. He also grabbed two fifth place finishes at the Mansfield (OH) Motorsports Speedway and later at the wicked fast 1-½ oval of the Lowe's (NC) Motor Speedway in the heart of NASCAR country in Concord, North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte. Overall, Leicht picked up seven top 10 finishes last season.

Throughout the 2005 season in the ASA Late Model Series, Leicht carried sponsorship on the side of his Wal-Tom Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo from Texor Performance Fuels as well as GM Performance Parts, Action Collectables, Penske Racing Shocks, Mac Tools, Howe Racing Enterprises, AFCO Shocks, and Phil Harper Motorsports. You can learn more about Wal-Tom Racing by going to their website at: www.waltomracing.com

For more information about the approaching 2006 season with the ASA Late Model Challenge Division, as well as the ASA Late Model Series Northern and Southern Divisions; check out their websites at: www.asalatemodelsnorth.com and www.asalatemodelssouth.com You can also call the ASALM Series home offices at 1 (800) 385-2503 or log onto the main website at: www.asalatemodels.com

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