LMS: Pre-season news 2007-01-24

1. FLF Racecars formally Finish Line Fabricating joins the ASA Late Model Series family of sponsors for the Fifth Anniversary 2007 Season.

Lexington, Michigan (01/24/2007): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts is continuing to prepare for the upcoming 2007 Fifth Anniversary Season within all three divisions of the ASALMS. The openers for the 2007 Season are set respectively in San Antonio, Texas; Bronson, Florida; and Clermont, Indiana.

The Lexington, Michigan based series prides itself on its' Michigan based sponsors and the ASALMS is very happy to announce another addition to the ASALMS family that is based in the Great Lakes State;

For the 2007 season, FLF Racecars formally Finish Line Fabricating, has joined the ASALMS as a Presenting Sponsor of several events within all three divisions throughout the season as well as Participating Manufacturers Program (PMP) partner of the ASALMS. In addition, victory lane at every event in all three divisions throughout the ASALMS during the 2007 season is now the FLF Racecars formally Finish Line Fabricating Victory Lane!

"Tim Curry and FLF Racecars are an integral part of short track stock car racing in the country and we're very happy to have them on board and playing such a huge part in the success of our Fifth Anniversary Season." Stated ASALMS Co-Founder/President, Ron Varney. "FLF Racecars presence will be felt throughout the ASALMS in 2007 and beyond and we can't thank Tim and his entire staff enough." Varney added.

In addition, FLF Racecars will also have a major impact and presence at every ASALMS Challenge and Southern Division event in 2007 as well! Auburndale, Florida driver, Chris Fontaine will run the FLF Racecars House Car and will be gunning for the ASALMS Challenge Division Championship and Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title in the crown jewel of the ASALMS, the Challenge Division as well as going for the Championship and Rookie title in the ASALMS Southern Division.

2. Keeton Hanks signs with Allen-Hock Motorsports and will run for the 2007 ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division Championship.

Cincinnati, Ohio (01/24/2007): Keeton Hanks, who started his racing career at the ripe age of five years old, has signed with Allen-Hock Motorsports for a full slate of ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division races in 2007 at the young age of 17 years old!

Hanks has collected over 60 Legends Car feature wins and was the 2004 National Pro Asphalt Champion. Keeton was recently crowned Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series at the historic Music City (TN) Motorplex and finished fourth in the points standings. With two seasons of racing Late Models under his belt, Hanks has gained valuable knowlege and experience that will help him to continue making Allen-Hock Motorsports the successful team it has been.

Keeton has proved he can be a threat in competitive fields as he finished out his 2006 season in his first ever All American 400 with a top five! Hanks' 2007 season will consist of 12 races and is going to be a year he will gain experience on larger race tracks as he will be racing on tracks such as Bristol (TN) Motor Speedway, The Milwuakee (WI) Mile, Iowa (IA) Speedway, and even crossing the border into Canada to race!

The Allen-Hock Motorsports prepared Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS will begin being driven by Hanks at San Antonio, Texas in the first ASALMS Challenge Division race of the year.

"These guys at Allen-Hock Motorsports are great guys and I'm looking forward to working with them week in and week out. We all have one thing on our minds for sure, and that is to give the team and myself our first ASA Late Model Series win together. I will focus on keeping these cars up front every week and the guys are going to work hard in the pits, so we also have a championship in the back of our minds," happily claimed Hanks about his new team.

3. Ryan Lawler to kick off Sophomore season in Lakeland, Florida for Speedfest. Also launches brand new website.

enrolled at Short Track Racing University, the 19-year-old would have earned straight-A's in his freshman season behind the wheel of a powerful Super Late Model. Racing throughout the Southeast and beyond, Lawler grew from a wide-eyed rookie from Texas, who had already succeeded on the Legends Car circuits, to one of the most promising short track talents in the country.

With a race victory at Hickory Motor Speedway and a runner-up finish in the PASS South Super Late Model championship standings, plus two triumphs in the ASA Late Model competition, Lawler emerged as a top contender wherever he went. He also ran up front in select NASCAR Elite Division events from coast to coast, including the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale, CA.

With his impressive first season in a Super Late Model now in his rear view mirror, it is now time for Ryan Lawler to make sure that his sophomore season is even bigger than the first. On Friday and Saturday, January 26th and 27th, Lawler hopes to kick off a stellar 2007 season with a strong run in his first start of the year at Speedfest, held at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida.

"I'm pretty pumped up," said Lawler. "We're going down there to test on Wednesday, and I think we'll be pretty good down there. I've been talking to Bill Boger, who owns Clay Rogers' car, about what they ran there last year. Since they ran real good out there last year, they were a big help to us, so hopefully we'll turn it into a good run at Speedfest.

"It would be great to kick the season off with a bang, because we ran good all season last year, but we struggled in the last couple of races. That was kind of a bad way to end the season; I think we can get it back going this weekend."

4. HANS Performance Products Receives Jack O'Neal Safety Award at the 51st USAC National Awards Banquet.

Atlanta, Georgia (01/24/2007) Bob Hubbard and Jim Downing, inventors of the critically acclaimed HANS Device, received the Jack O'Neal Safety Award at USAC's 51st Annual National Awards Banquet this past weekend.

The award originated in 1957. It is presented to those who have made outstanding contributions to the safety of motorsports. The award is presented in honor of Jack O'Neal, a longtime USAC safety official.

Receiving the award, Bob Hubbard commented; "We are honored to be presented with the Jack O'Neal Safety Award. Jim and I started developing head and neck restraints 25 years ago. It's highly satisfying to have USAC recognize our hard work and to know that we have significantly advanced racing safety."

-credit: asa