Southern All-Star Series profile

The O'Reilly Auto Parts Southern All-Star Series; a true Southern Tradition becomes part of the ASA Late Model Series family.

As the racing world already knows and the talk is still prominent, the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts sent shockwaves throughout the short track racing community with the announcement last week that the ASALM Series acquired the Southern All Stars Series and the Southern All Star Pro-Late Model Series effective September 1st. The ASA Late Model Series is expanding our market to the south and north regions as a major short track sanctioning body in the United States.

The series will be running an ASA Late Model Northern and Southern division as well as a National Touring series throughout the country, the ASA Late Model Challenge Series. The North and South divisions will run on a bias ply tire and the Challenge Series will remain on a radial tire, which is the set-up currently used by the existing ASA Late Model Series.

The rapid growth of this series is phenomenal. The crate motor, template body package with cost limitations on parts was appealing to not only drivers, but to race tracks throughout the country. The continued growth of a company (ASALM's) that has been formed and molded by racers and promoters together is the key to the success. The key has always been working together to breathe new life into short track racing.

As for the effects on the Southern All-Stars Pro Late Model and Super Late Model Tours, each series rules packages will remain the same as they currently are throughout the 2006 season. The series will be announcing details on purse, schedule and awards at a later date.

The biggest change will be the renaming of the Southern All-Stars Pro Late Model Series. The SAS PLM Series will become the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division for the 2006 season and beyond! The ASA Late Model Series Northern Division will be a brand new series while the existing ASA Late Model Series will then become the ASA Late Model National Challenge Series in 2006!

As for the existing Southern All-Stars Super Late Model Series. That series remains unchanged and will still utilize the template body, high compression engines that the series has implemented for years and will remain primarily in the South with special combined events with its' northern counterpart, the CRA Super Series.

The Southern All-Stars Pro Late Model Series is relatively new and has been in existence since 2003. Just like the USPRO Cup series, which is of course is now the ASA Late Model Series! So far in the 2005 season, Chris Whorton is the current Southern All-Stars Pro Late Model Series points leader and winner of the first two series events, including the last series event back on May 13th at Five Flags (FL) Speedway. Whorton leads the 2005 series points standings over: Chris Cochran, Gregory Tallent, Josh Hamner, Adam Reed, Brent Ethridge, Eddy Cagle, David Hole, Sammy McMullen, and Ricky Wilkinson, the top 10 in the season long points chase. Whorton has dominated in the two events held for the Southern All-Stars Pro Late Model Series. A perfect two for two thus far in the 2005 season!

Whorton, who also does double duty in the Southern All-Stars Super Late Model division as well, is the all-time leader in the series brief history in wins and laps led! In the last event at Five Flags, Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, Whorton led a single lap, but it was the one that counted , the checkered flag lap as the Boaz, Alabama driver drove by a sideways Josh Hamner to take his second win in the two series events held in 2005. Hamner recovered for second over Brent Ethridge, David Hole, Sammy McMullen, Chris Cochran, Lorenzo Benton, Greg Tallent, Scott McDonald, and Wayne Niedecken Jr., the top 10.

As for the Southern All-Stars Super Late Model Series, the series has been in existence since 1989. Matt Hawkins leads both the overall as well as the rookie points standings over fellow rookie, Lonnie Moon. Hawkins has two top five and two top 10 finishes thus far in the three events held in 2005. The Canton, Georgia Freshman's best finish thus far has been a pair of fourth place finishes at Lanier (GA) National Speedway on April 23rd and at the series last event, June 18th at Birmingham (AL) International Raceway.

In the series last event, Birmingham's own, Augie Grill took the win in the Early Bird 125. The Early Bird, traditionally the series season opener, was rescheduled to June 18th after being rained out February. Grill has been on a hot streak lately, taking Super late Model wins in independent races at Montgomery (AL) Motor Speedway and Five Flags (AL) Speedway in the last month! Grill took the dominating win over Charlie Bradberry, SAS PLM Series Points leader, Chris Whorton, Matt Hawkins, Danny Bagwell, Chad Brawn, Dennis Reno Jr., Ken McFarland, Clint Folsom, and Lonnie Moon completed the top 10.

As for the 2005 championship points chase, Rookies Hawkins and Moon lead veteran, Charlie Bradberry, Grill, Ken McFarland, Chad Brawn, Eric Wallace, Chris Whorton, Danny Bagwell, and Johnny Brazier, the top 10 after three events in the 2005 campaign.

The next event for both the O'Reilly Auto Parts Southern All-Stars Pro Late Model Tour and the Super Late Model Series is set for Saturday August 6th at the beautiful 3/8s mile semi-banked paved oval of the Lanier (GA) National Speedway for the Williams Brothers Saturday of Speed 350. For more information about the Braselton, Georgia speed plant, point your browser towards: www.lanierspeedway.com Or for more information on the Southern All-Stars Pro and Super Late Model tours, log onto their website at: www.southern-allstars.com

The next event for the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts is on Saturday July 23rd for the rescheduled Gibson Chevrolet 100 at the big ½ mile semi-banked paved oval of the Illiana (IN) Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana. This will be race number six of 15 on the 2005 schedule. For more information on Illiana Motor Speedway, log onto their website at: www.illianaspeedway.com

-www.asalatemodels.com