LMS: Pre-season news 2007-01-29

1. The ASA Late Model Series cars and stars shine in Lakeland, Florida. Eddie Hoffman wins Speedfest 200 at the USA (FL) International Speedway.

Lexington, Michigan (01/29/2007): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts were well represented over the weekend at the USA (FL) International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida during the 3rd annual Speedfest 2007. Of the 50 cars on the grounds at the 0.750 Mile Progressively Banked Paved Oval, 11 teams with ties to the ASALMS headed down South for the first big race of the 2007 season.

The ASALMS as a whole made their presence felt in a big way by taking the first two positions in the finishing order and three of the Top Six overall! 2007 ASALMS Challenge and Northern Division title contender, Wheaton, Illinois veteran, Eddie Hoffman won the Speedfest 200 over fellow ASALMS veteran, Butch Miller, who has tentative plans to compete in both the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions in 2007.

Finally Charlie Menard, another title contender in both the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Division's in 2007, finished a solid sixth, giving the ASALMS a solid showing in the Sunshine State. Other drivers with ties to the ASALMS that were on hand included; Jay Middleton, Travis Wilson, Jonathan Eilen, and Steven Davis. Also in attendance but suffering varying degrees of problems over the weekend were; Brian Campbell, Ryan Lawler, Matt Merrell, Sean Murphy, and David Wilson,

Hoffman; the 2006 ASALMS Challenge Division GM Performance Parts Shootout Champion. won Three Features during the 2006 Challenge Division season with two coming in non-points affairs. His lone points Feature Win was during the 2006 season opener at the Music City (TN) Motorplex on March 18, 2006.

The 46-year-olds' two other feature wins were in non-points shows including one back at Music City on November 5, 2006 in the All-American 200. The 46-year-old also won Day Two of the Mason-Dixon/Dixieland Challenge during the indoors event at the DeVos (MI) Place. Overall, he collected Seven Top Fives and 10 Top 10 finishes and won One GM Performance Parts Shootout at the Oswego (NY) Speedway to finish third in the final overall points standings.

2. 14-year-old Team Rensi Motorsports Development Driver; Chad Finley set to run for the 2007 Rookie of the Year title in the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division.

DeWitt, Michigan (01/29/2007): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts prides itself on grooming prospective future racing stars as they make their way up the proverbial racing ladder. Three drivers with ASALMS roots immediately come to mind as drivers who are going on to future stardom in the NASCAR ranks, Kelly Bires, Landon Cassill, and Stephen Leicht.

One more driver hopes his career path will lead him down the same road as Bires, Cassill, and Leicht as 14-year-old DeWitt, Michigan teenager, Chad Finley will continue his ASALMS career that began with three events in 2006, with high hopes and a bright future that is staring him down with the 2007 season on the horizon.

For the ASALMS' Fifth Anniversary 2007 Racing Season, Finley and his Team Rensi Motorsports/Team Finley Racing Crew will focus their efforts on the complete 2007 ASALMS Northern Division Schedule with hopes of capturing the 2007 Rookie of the Year Championship. In addition, Finley will also make select appearances in the crown jewel of the ASALMS, the Challenge Division as well as the ASALMS Southern Division.

The ASALMS Northern Division has two dates on the 2007 schedule that has Finley counting the days down on his calender in the shop in DeWitt, Michigan; The 3rd annual Mid-Michigan Doubles Weekend on Friday August 17, 2007 at the Dixie (MI) Motor Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan and then the next day, Saturday August 18, 2007 at his home track of the Owosso (MI) Speedway, just 20 minutes Northeast of his hometown of DeWitt in Ovid, Michigan.

"Our limited 2006 schedule and season went fairly well. We ran a few ASALMS North races just to get our feet wet and learn about the ASALMS and what we had to do to become capable of being a contender and running up front." Explained the DeWitt, Michigan teenager. "I think I did fairly well, but I always want to win no matter what I'm racing, so we will get focused and do some testing before the 2007 season to get as much seat time as we can." He added.

3. Alex Kennedy Signs With 5K Motorsports, set to run for the Rookie of the Year title in the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division.

Aztec, New Mexico (01/29/2007): 14-year-old Late Model driver Alex Kennedy from Aztec, New Mexico has signed with 5K Motorsports to run the full ASA Late Model Series Northern Division schedule. This energetic young man made his ASALMS debut last season at the historic Music City Motorplex during the All American 400 weekend.

5K Motorsports expects a big season for this youngster as he teams up with ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division driver Derek Thorn. The Northern division kicks off their exciting season on April 27th at O'Reilly Raceway Park for the ASI Limited 100 presented by Lucas Oil Products.

Meet Alex Kennedy: Alex Kennedy had an adventurous 2006 season. Starting the year in Legends cars at the Las Vegas Road Course in January, he would have never guessed that he would end the season making his debut in the ASA Late Model Series in Nashville. ESPN's "Outside the Lines" show would even feature Alex during a special about young drivers! Nicknamed the "New Mexico Rising Star" at his home track of Sandia Motorsports Park, Alex lived up to that moniker with more firsts last season.

Racing for ROTY in 2007: The challenging ASA Late Model Series Northern Division will be Alex Kennedy's racing home for 2007. Alex will compete for the rookie of the year title in ASALMS North this year. Helping Alex adjust to racing at this level will be his teammate Derek Thorn. "Part of the program we have put together includes having Derek work together with Alex," said 5K Motorsports owner Ken Wills. "We plan to get Alex off to a great start in points the first five races to go after the rookie of the year title."

Introducing 5K Motorsports: Owner Ken Wills is a racer and knows what it takes to compete! Wills stepped out of the car and into the owner's role full time late last year. "We are dedicated to competing as a championship level team," said Wills. "We will focus our efforts with thorough attention to detail in our preparation and organization in every thing we do." 5K Motorsports is excited about the 2007 season with drivers Derek Thorn and Alex Kennedy competing this season in the ASA Late Model Series Challenge and Northern divisions respectively.

-credit: asalms