ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour Headed To Familiar Track of Lanier

June 27th Race Will Be Double-Header With USARacing Pro Cup Series

ATLANTA, GA (June 24, 2009) – The RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour

doesn’t have a “home track” on its schedule.  But if the series had to choose a home

track, based on proximity to the series’ home offices, the number of times its raced at

one particular place and the home track for so many of its competitors, that track would

probably be Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, GA.

Lanier will host the RC Cola / MoonPie 100 on Saturday night, June 27 for the ASA

Southeast Asphalt Tour.  The event will be the second race of the season for the series

at the famed 3/8-mile oval, and the third in the short history of the series.  The series

will also visit the track one more time in 2009, coming on September 12.

Even more unique about the event is that it will offer fans a “double-header” of sorts;

two major league short track events for the price of one.   The ASA SAT event will follow

a 250-lap event for the USARacing Pro Cup Series.  It will be the first time the two

series have worked together.

“Putting these two series together is a win-win for the fans,” said ASA Southeast

Asphalt Tour Operations Manager Micky Cain.  “These are the two biggest short track

racing series on the East Coast.  Even more impressive is that both series offer their

competitors and fans national television exposure.  So for one price, fans will get to

see names like Jason Hogan, Jeff Choquette, Max Gresham, Chase Elliott, Bobby Gill,

Clay Rogers, Billy Bigley, Brandon Ward and so many other great drivers.  It should

make for an awesome night of racing.”

Many of the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour’s regular drivers, including points leader

Hogan, call Lanier their “home track.”  Paul Kelley, Tyler Millwood and Elliott also consider Lanier “home” and will likely be threats to win.

However, one of the biggest threats for the RC Cola / MoonPie 100 win might not come from the immediate Georgia area.  In fact, the biggest threat might just come from a couple of states away.  And that threat is a rookie making huge strides in the Late Model world.

His name is Parker Hammons.

“I think we can win a race by the end of the year,” said Midland, NC’s Hammons.  “We’ve already gotten a third in just my fifth race.  So things are on the upswing with our team.”

Hammons is riding a hot streak into Lanier.  He finished a career-best third in the series’ last event at Watermelon Capital Speedway, where he led his first laps in a Late Model.  He sits sixth in the national points, just over 100 points out of the top spot.

And while winning the championship wasn’t a preseason goal for Hammons, its not totally out of the question.

“My goal coming into the year was to just earn respect from these guys here, race clean and finish up front.  It is better to go out there and earn respect than to wreck them and win.  And I think I’ve earned a lot of respect from these guys.  

“It feels good to run up front with this caliber of drivers because these guys can drive.  Back when I raced legends cars, I would watch these guys race and just admire them.  Now I’m here, so it’s pretty cool.”

The start of the season was a little tough for Hammons and his #24 Home Business Success Group Toyota.  A couple of mechanical problems and a crash started his season.  But things turned around at Dillon Motor Speedway with a sixth-place run.  Follow that up with a third-place effort at Watermelon Capital and Hammons is on the right track.

“I think I am more patient and smarter then I was when I first started the season,” added Hammons.  “I wasn’t sticking my nose in there at the right times earlier in the year.  I was trying to pass in a Late Model like I do in a Legends car.  You just have to be more patient because 100 laps isn’t a 20 lap feature anymore.”

Events for the RC Cola / MoonPie 100 at Lanier National Speedway begin with an optional practice on Friday, June 26 from 7pm - 9pm.  The real action takes place on Saturday, June 27, with gates opening at 8:30am and practice starting at 11:40am.  Qualifying is set for 5:10pm with an autograph session at 6:30pm.   The 250-lap USARacing Pro Cup event is scheduled to start at 8pm, with the ASA SAT RC Cola / MoonPie 100 to follow.

A full schedule of events for that race is posted on the ASA SAT website, www.asasoutheastasphalttour.com.

For more media inquiries, sponsorship and promotional information regarding ASA SAT, contact John Kee by emailing him at j.kee@charter.net or by visiting www.asasoutheastasphalttour.com for all RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour news. For technical and rule information, call Micky Cain at (678) 373-9851. 

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asa-racing.com.

ASA™, ASA Racing™ and American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.

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