DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Wednesday, October 10, 2012) – Lance Gatlin was a contender all season long for the ASA Member Track National Championship. He was going toe-to-toe with Shelby Stroebel as he won the first nine feature events of the season at Lonesome Pine Raceway, an ASA Member Track in Coeburn, VA. He finished second overall in the standings and won the East Region Championship presented by SpeedNetDirect.com.
“It was a great season, probably the best season I have ever had as far as my racing career goes,” Gatlin said when he found out that he was the East Region Champion. “I really can’t complain with ten wins.”
Gatlin ended the 2012 season with a national average of 4.9374. He had ten feature wins, 12 top-five and 14 top-ten finishes at the 3/8-mile semi-banked asphalt oval.
“I love the racetrack, it definitely fits my driving style. This is the type of track where you have to race the track and not the drivers, or the track will beat you,” Gatlin said about Lonesome Pine Raceway. “I enjoy racing up there. The competitors I race against are a good group of drivers. We can run side-by-side for many laps and not worry about taking one another out. It has been fun overall and it was a good season.”
“Lance is a gentleman, a scholar and overall a good young Christian man,” Harold Crook, Promoter of Lonesome Pine Raceway said. “Lance is probably one of the best racers I have seen compete around here. It is a pleasure to visit with him and his family. He will be a great representative as the 2012 ASA Member Track East Region Champion.”
Gatlin dominated the Limited Late Model season at Lonesome Pine Raceway. He won the first nine feature events and was in a tight battle with 2012 ASA Member Track National Champion Shelby Stroebel until Gatlin’s streak ended at nine wins.
“We congratulate Lance Gatlin on his outstanding season at Lonesome Pine Raceway,” Kevin Spiddle, Co-owner of SpeedNetDirect.com said. “For the second year in a row, we are excited to present the ASA Member Track Regional Champion with a special leather jacket honoring this achievement.”
Even though he came up short from winning the national title, he is proud to win the East Region championship. “We had ten feature wins, a track championship along with being the East Region Champion. This was a great season for us.” Gatlin said. “It puts a little fire in my belly to come back and win it all next year. We will see how it goes during the off-season.”
“Congratulations to Lance Gatlin on his East Region Championship,” Dennis Huth, ASA President said. “He had a championship season that many in short track racing dream of having in their careers. Shelby Stroebel and Lance put on a spirited battle for the national championship all season long. It was unique to see two drivers go undefeated for the first nine events. It was fun to watch these two compete all season long.”
Speednetdirect.com, for the fifth year in a row, tabulated 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 won 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.
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