LMS: Jennerstown on 2006 calendar

Jennerstown Speedway to host both the ASA Late Model Series Challenge and Northern Divisions during the 2006 season.

Lexington, Michigan (01/10/2006): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts had a very successful 2005 season. On the heels of that success came the multiplying of the ASALMS in 2006 with three traveling series within itself.

The ASALMS Challenge Division is the crown jewel of the three traveling series that also includes the ASALMS Northern and Southern Divisions and each respective 2006 schedule will see the cars and stars of the ASALMS visit some of the most immaculate facilities in the country.

The televised ASALMS Challenge Division will make a stop at the beautiful Jennerstown (PA) Speedway on Saturday July 29th for the running of the Laurel Highlands 200. The ASALMS Challenge Division will be televised, on a tape delayed basis, on the cable network, "The Outdoor Channel" during the 2006 season.

"We're very pleased to be going back to Jennerstown." Stated ASALMS Founder/President, Ron Varney. "Jennerstown is a very challenging track and with them closely mirroring our rules, I see a lot of their drivers looking at running against our core base of drivers in an attempt to defend their turf. It should be a lot of fun, especially going to there twice for both a Challenge and a Northern Division show!" Varney added.

The ASALMS made it's inaugural appearance at the immaculate facility on August 13, 2005 for the running of the Tribune-Democrat 100. 2005 ASALMS Champion, Stephen Leicht took the lead from Buckeye State veteran, Scott Baker on lap 67 and then held off 2005 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Brian Campbell, to score the feature win. Campbell settled for second with Chad Wood, Baker, and Travis Dassow rounding out the top five.

"Jennerstown is excited to be included among the foundation of tracks hosting the ASALMS Challenge Division." Stated Jennerstown Speedway General Manager, Larry Mattingly. "We feel the ASALMS concept of creating a touring series which features 'weekly race cars' is long over due. Giving local driving stars the opportunity to compete in a nationally recognized tour is the shot in the arm asphalt short-track racing has needed for the past 20-years." Mattingly added.

In addition to the televised ASALMS Challenge Division date, the Laurel Highlands speed plant has also booked an ASALMS Northern Division race. The Jennerstown 100 is set to go for Saturday June 17th at the .533 mile semi-banked paved oval. "We decided to run a Northern Division event, as well as a Challenge Division show because we felt it would entice more local competitors to mix in with the ASALMS touring group." Continued Mattingly. The ASALMS Northern Division will be running a Hoosier tire very similar to what we race here weekly, and that alone should provide a comfort zone for our weekly racers."

Mattingly then added. "Crate engines are the catalyst to save weekly asphalt late model racing. Using the ASALMS example, short-tracks around the nation have a definitive model to use in rewriting their rule books." Stated Mattingly. "Ron Varney has taken much of the unknown and guess work out of the procedure. It is my belief that all serious late model racing in this country will be done with crate engines within a five year period, if not sooner." Stated Mattingly. "A good example is the new Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance. Using the ASALMS model, five tracks are working their way to establishing common rules, and co-operative marketing."

Jennerstown Speedway is in its 76th year of operation. Started as a half-mile fairgrounds oval, and has gone through various phases as a quarter mile and half mile dirt oval before being paved in 1988. The track was repaved in 2004 with a polymer racing surface. Jennerstown features an 8,000 seat steel and aluminum grandstand and a paved infield pit complex. In 2005 Jennerstown boasted its first sell-out crowd in history, when 10,000 fans attended the NASCAR Race of Champions featuring an exhibition by four Nextel Cup stars.

A member of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, Jennerstown races on Saturday evenings featuring competition in Super Late Models, Late Models, Street Stocks and Hobby Stocks. Touring series' schedule to visit the Laurel Highland's oval include; the Hooters ProCup Series, ISMA Supermodifieds, and the ASALMS. For more information about Jennerstown Speedway, log onto their website at: www.jennerstown.com

The next scheduled event for the ASALMS will be the 2005 Awards Banquet to be held at the Quality Hotel and Banquet Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Saturday January 14, 2006, beginning with Happy Hour at 5:30pm. The awards portion of the ceremony will begin promptly at 6:30pm.

The ASALMS will honor the 2005 ASA Late Model Series Champion, Stephen Leicht, as well as the 2005 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Brian Campbell and the top twenty drivers in the final points standings. In addition, the GM Performance Parts Winner's Circle participants will be awarded as will the GM Performance Parts Shootout Points Champion, Mark Hartline. Also Special Awards, as voted on by the teams of the ASALMS will be handed out along-with special appreciation awards.

The banquet is a semi-formal event and the ASALMS encourages everyone to put on their best. The ASALMS will continue with the tradition that started with the first annual banquet to begin the awards presentation first followed by dinner and dancing. Attendance is mandatory for all teams receiving awards. Tickets for the banquet must be purchased in advance through the ASALMS Office.

In addition, there are some rooms that are blocked off for the ASALMS and some of those hotel rooms are still available at the Quality Inn by calling 1 (877) 240-2929 and using the ASALMS Member code #00802174 to get a 15% discount. Once all of those rooms are gone, you can call the hotel direct and get a room for $59 by letting them know you are part of the ASALMS. Please Call 1 (260) 484-7711. Pricing is discounted for both Friday and Saturday January 13-14, 2006.

Also on that same day, the 2006 ASALMS Owner/Drivers meeting will also be held at the Quality Hotel and Banquet Center from 9am-Noon. This meeting will be open for all three divisions and its' participants and the ASALMS management and staff encourages all teams that plan on running with any of the three traveling series in 2006 to attend or send a representative to the meeting.

The 2006 ASALMS Southern Division Owner/Drivers meeting is set for Saturday January 21, 2006 at the Quality Inn/Marietta Room in Marietta, Georgia from 10am-1pm. Just a reminder to all teams that plan to attend the January 21st Informational meeting in Marietta Georgia. This meeting is in addition to the ASALMS Owner/Drivers Meeting to be held the weekend before on Saturday January 14, 2006 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

It is very important that you register your attendees with the ASALMS South Office as soon as possible. There is no charge to attend the meeting but we will need an accurate head count to ensure that we are properly prepared. Please register via e-mail or call the Southern Division office at: (770) 630-4571 or you can e-mail Southern Division Director, Randy Rabinowitch at: randyr@asalatemodels.com

The ASALMS Southern Division will open the 2006 season on Saturday March 4, 2006 at the Bronson (FL) Motor Speedway near Gainesville in Bronson, Florida for the inaugural Florida 100. The televised ASALMS Challenge Division will open the doors on their 2006 season two weeks later at the famed Music City (TN) Motorplex in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday March 18, 2006 for the Music City 200.

Finally the ASALMS Northern Division will hold its' inaugural event on Saturday May 6, 2006 at the wicked fast ½ mile of the I-70 (MO) Speedway outside of Kansas City in Odessa, Missouri for the inaugural Show-Me 100.

For more information about the 2005 ASALMS Awards Banquet as well as the approaching 2006 season with the ASALMS Challenge Division, and the ASALMS Northern and Southern Divisions; check out the websites at: www.asalatemodelsnorth.com and www.asalatemodelssouth.com

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