LMS: Pre-season news 2007-02-07

1. Travis Dassow signs with T.D. Racing Development group that buys the former WalTom Racing Team to form an ASALMS powerhouse for 2007.

West Bend, Wisconsin (02/09/2007): In one of the most blockbuster deals of the off season within the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts; T.D. Racing Development is teaming up with veteran Crew Chief Howie Lettow and the former WalTom Racing Team for the upcoming 2007 season and immediately has to be considered one of the heavy favorites for the 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division Championship.

West Bend, Wisconsin stand out, Travis Dassow and his T.D. Racing Team have joined forces with the Two-Time Defending ASALMS Challenge Division Championship team for the 2007 season! Dassow and his new crew will make a run for the 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division Championship as well as make select appearances in the ASALMS Northern Division sporting the #89 that has won the last two ASALMS Challenge Division Championships!

"I want to thank everyone involved who made this happen. I also want to especially thank Howie Lettow for choosing me to drive for him." Stated a very happy Dassow. "This will be the first time that I have ever had a full time Crew Chief, and I can't believe it is with one of the best in the business. Being able to race with such a great team has been a dream of mine since I started racing and I have a real good feeling that we are going to "click" right away." Dassow added.

The new T.D. Racing Development Team will inherit almost the entire former WalTom Racing Crew, with the exception of Chris Purdy, who has moved on to become the new Crew Chief for 5K Motorsports, that helped win the 2006 ASALMS Challenge Division Championship and Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title with Kelly Bires, who will be running for the 2007 Rookie of the Year title in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series with Wood Brothers JTG Racing, and the 2005 ASALMS Championship with Stephen Leicht, who's running the full NASCAR Busch Series schedule for Robert Yates Racing in 2007.

"Words can't explain how excited I am for this opportunity, It came together so fast that I still don't believe it's happening. I am really excited to start working with the whole team and can't wait until the first race in San Antonio." Added Dassow. That first race for the new ASALMS powerhouse is set for Friday and Saturday March 2-3, 2007 at the San Antonio (TX) Speedway in San Antonio, Texas for the 2nd annual Alamo 200.

2. Performance Concepts back on board with the ASA Late Model Series for 2007 and within all three divisions for the Fifth Anniversary season.

Lexington, Michigan (02/09/2007): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts values the partnership that they have within the Certified Engine Rebuilders Program. It's up to the honorable Engine Rebuild Centers to maintain the integrity and the overall concept and foundation of the entire ASALMS with the exclusive use of Crate Engines throughout all three divisions within the series "Where Champions Race".

As the ASALMS heads into its' Fifth Anniversary season, a good friend to the series as well as a valued and honorable engine rebuild center and a sponsor to boot, is back on board for the upcoming 2007 season and within all three divisions as the ASALMS looks to kick off the 2007 season in just three weeks in San Antonio, Texas.

Performance Concepts Inc., has once again partnered with the ASALMS for the Fifth Anniversary 2007 season. Performance Concepts has partnered up with the ASALMS as a Participating Manufacturer's Program (PMP) partner in the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Division as well as a Certified Engine Rebuild center for all three divisions within the ASALMS.

"It is really great to see our Certified Engine Rebuild partners like Performance Concepts participating in the Sponsorship programs and giving back to the teams." Commented ASALMS Founder/President, Ron Varney. "I really appreciate Steve, Rusty and everyone at Performance Concepts stepping up to the plate for our Fifth Anniversary 2007 season." Varney added.

Seeing a need for a "One Stop Shop" in the area, Steve Setzer opened Performance Concepts Inc., in 1990. Performance Concepts Inc., moved into it's brand new 12,000 square foot, state of the art facility, complete with Shock and Engine Dyno testing just outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa in Marion, Iowa in 2006. The new facility is located 15 minutes Northeast of the Hawkeye Downs (IA) Speedway, site of one race apiece for the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions in 2007.

3. McGunegill Engine Performance is back for the Fifth Anniversary 2007 season within all three divisions of the ASA Late Model Series.

Lexington, Michigan (02/09/2007): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts is fast approaching the start of the Fifth Anniversary 2007 season within all three divisions. The Series "Where Champions Race" is just three weeks away from getting started in San Antonio, Texas. Not only are the Drivers, Teams, and Officials chomping at the bit to get started, but so are the great Family of Sponsors who support the ASALMS.

For the Fifth Anniversary 2007 season, McGunegill Engine Performance returns to the ASALMS as part of the Certified Engine Rebuilders Program for all three divisions as well as a Participating Manufacturers Program (PMP) Partner also for all three divisions within the ASALMS.

McGunegill Engine Performance has been a leading producer of racing engines for over 30 years and is based out of Muncie, Indiana. In addition, DeWaine McGunegill Sr and DeWaine McGunegill Jr., of McGunegill Engine Performance developed an ASALMS approved Ford engine during the 2006 season, which will once again be available for the Fifth Anniversary 2007 campaign. The engine is a McGunegill Ford Crate Engine, part number ASA425LM which serves as an approved crate engine for all three divisions within the ASALMS.

"We're very pleased that McGunegill Engine Performance has stepped up once again and is a part of the ASALMS family of engine rebuilders and sponsors for the Fifth Anniversary Season." Remarked ASALMS Founder/President, Ron Varney. "They've really gone all out to build an engine that fits into the backbone and the concept of what the ASALMS is all about. I look forward to a long term relationship with DeWaine and the whole crew." Varney added.

"We here at McGunegill Engine Performance are excited to be a part of the ASALMS series again and for the Fifth Anniversary season too! The ASALMS is fast becoming the premier short track series in the entire United States." Stated McGunegill Jr., as he talked about the upcoming 2007 season with the ASALMS. "We'll continue to build the McGunegill Ford Crate Engine (Part # ASA425LM) along with rebuilding Ford and GM crate engines as well." He added.

-credit: asa