Ricky Turner signs with Grand American Race Cars team

Pendleton, Ind. (June 5, 2003) -- Two-time Southern All Star Racing Series Champion Ricky Turner has been hired to drive the Jani-King Chevrolet owned by Grand American Race Cars for the balance of the 2003 ASA Racing Series schedule. Earlier, ASA champion Gary St. Amant announced that he resigned after driving the initial six events for the Alabama-based team.

The Jani-King car will revert back to the familiar No. 86 it sported during the 2002 ASA season when driven by Wayne Anderson and Jason Boyd. St. Amant's familiar No. 7 will go with him and his new team.

"Ricky (Turner) is a good racer and has a lot of experience in late models and the Southern All Stars. We are looking forward to working with him for the remainder of the ASA season," said crew chief Augie Grill. "We've had calls from over 30 drivers that wanted to drive the Jani-King car. With Gary (St. Amant) announcing that he was leaving, it created a lot of attention for our race team."

Turner of Dawsonville, Ga., began racing go-carts in 1988 and by 1993 graduated to the Late Model Sportsmen division at Lanier National Speedway. At the .375-mile track, he gained four wins and 26 top-ten finishes in 29 starts. After a successful first season, he advanced to the Late Model class and experienced a great amount of success. In 1994, he scored one victory, 21 top 10's. In 1995 he bagged six victories and produced 13 trips to the winner's circle in 1996. He also finished in the top 10 in 24 of the 26 races.

In 1997, Turner competed in the Super Late Models, producing nine top-10's and a second-place finish in 15 appearances. Continuing with the Super Late Model Division in 1998, he scored three wins (one of these was his first career win with the Southern All Stars), nine poles, and 19 top-10s. In 1999, Turner became familiar with the schedule of Southern All stars Racing Series and the All Pro Series competing in a total of 11 races with nine top-10 finishes.

The Georgia racer became the Southern All Star Champion in 2000 with more victories in the season than any other driver. His 2000 campaign consisted of five wins, 17 top- five finishes, 22 top-10 finishes, and four pole awards in 23 starts.

In 2001, Turner again won the championship, becoming only the second driver in the history of the Southern All Star Racing Series with back-to-back titles for the Alabama sanctioning body. His accomplishments in 2001 consisted of two victories, 15 top-five finishes, 17 top-10 finishes, and one pole position in 20 starts.

Placing third in the 2002 Southern All Stars driver point standings, Turner also scored one of the biggest prizes in short track racing, the 35th Annual Snowball Derby victory at Five Flags Speedway. He began the 2003 season in the Southern All Stars Racing Series on a strong note, winning the prelude to the Civil War On Wheels 200 at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville and currently ranked in third spot with two top fives.

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