DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Wednesday, August 22, 2012) – The old adage that you must win the battle in order to win the war could best describe the ASA Member Track National Championship. Right now, many of the contenders at the ASA sanctioned tracks are trying to position themselves not only to win the track championship but also to have a chance at being the fifth ASA Member Track National Champion.
In order for a driver to win the ASA Member Track National Champion, not only do they have to be an ASA member in good standing, they must also capture their 2012 track championship. Some contenders are in a position where they can look at the national picture while others need to focus on what is happening at the track.
Shelby Stroebel has been leading the National Championship all season long thanks to his undefeated streak in the ASA Modified division at Meridian Speedway in Meridian, ID. He currently has a 220-point lead over Rus Ward and a 434-point lead over Jentry Pisca in the track standings. His national average is currently 4.5261. Ward has a national average of 3.5601 along with Pisca’s 2.7837.
Lance Gatlin started out his season with a nine-win streak in the Limited Late Model division at Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, VA. He currently holds an 80-point lead over Ryan Stiltner and a 94-point lead over Kevin Wolfe. He is staying within reach of Stroebel in the National Standings with an average of 4.3944.
Mike Slone is holding a 265-point lead over Matt Wallace in the ASA Late Model standings at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, MO. Both have had some good and bad runs over the last six weeks. Slone has had a stable lead over the 16-year-old son of NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Mike Wallace. While Slone is third overall in the National Standings with an average of 4.0237, Wallace actually has a higher national average of 4.0754. Over the next few weeks, Wallace needs to find a way to eliminate Slone’s point lead to be a factor in the National Championship.
Dennis Queen holds a 15-point lead over Taylor Coffman in the Late Model Sportsman division at Newport Motor Speedway in Newport, TN. Wayne Webb is only 23-points behind Queen. Queen has a national average of 3.8336 while Coffman has a 3.6258. Webb has a 3.3872.
Michael Hale is looking to defend his Maverik Modified championship at Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, UT. He holds a 188-point lead over Mark Ith Jr. and a 216-point lead over Lynn Hardy. Hale is moving up in the National Standings with a current average of 3.6495. Ith has an average of 3.5548 while Hardy has a 3.5165.
There is also a tight point battle for the Late Model championship at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, NC. This week, Dustin Rumley holds a 12-point lead over defending ASA Member Track National Champion Barry Beggarly. Rodney Cook is also in the battle as he is just 24 points behind the 2010 track champion. Rumley has a national average of 3.4772 while Beggarly has a 3.3852. Cook has an average of 3.1601.
Only four points separate Mark Mackesy and Mark Eswein in the Late Model division at State Park Speedway in Wausau, WI. Neil Knoblock is 36 points behind Mackesy. Mackesy has a national average of 3.0183 while Eswein has a higher average of 3.1704. Knoblock has a 3.0714.
Kyle Borden holds a 229-point lead over Micah Parmer in the ASA Modified standings at Shasta Speedway in Anderson, CA. Bordan has an average of 1.3704 while Parmer has a 1.096.
“The last part of August and the early part of September is where we see a lot of shifting in the ASA Member Track National Championship standings,” Dennis Huth, ASA President said. “A track championship is like an endurance competition. Those who started the season strong need to finish strong while others fall back. We have a great group of drivers that are all qualified to win the 2012 title. What they do every weekend from now until the end of September will have a local and national impact.”
Throughout the season, drivers competing in the premiere divisions at eligible ASA Member Tracks are in the running for the 2012 ASA Member Track National Championship. In order to have a chance for the national title, a driver must first win their 2012 track championship.
Speednetdirect.com, for the fifth year in a row, will tabulate the National Championship standings. Using a proprietary formula that creates an average based on wins, finishing positions, number of cars passed, car counts and events. The driver who wins their track championship and has the highest average over the other ASA Member Track champions will win the 2012 ASA Member Track National Championship.
Full standings are available at www.speednetdirect.com. Click on the ASA Member Track logo at the top of the page.
To learn more about the ASA Member Tracks and Sanctioned Series in your area, please visit www.asa-racing.com. Follow ASA Racing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/american.speed.assoc and on Twitter at @ASARacing.
You can also look for the nearest ASA Member Track, get the weekend schedule, ASA Series information right on your smartphone by downloading the ASA Racing App for the iPhone and Android phones for free. Just search for ASA Racing on iTunes and the Android Market and get the app today for FREE!
The American Speed Association started as a single racing series in 1968 and is a fast growing racing sanctioning body today. The ASA Member Track program sanctions dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information call (386) 258-2221, or send an email to info@asa-racing.com. The latest news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA can be found by visiting www.ASA-Racing.com.
ASA MEMBER TRACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Shelby Stroebel (Meridian Speedway)
2. Lance Gatlin (Lonesome Pine Raceway)
3. Mike Slone (Lebanon I-44 Speedway)
4. Dennis Queen (Newport Motor Speedway)
5. Michael Hale (Rocky Mountain Raceways)
6. Dustin Rumley (Ace Speedway)
7. Mark Mackesy (State Park Speedway)
8. Kyle Borden (Shasta Speedway)