Backstretch Motorsports

 Reigning ASALMS Northern Division Champion, 17-year-old Jesse Smith continues to press on; 18th birthday approaching.

Wildwood, Missouri (07/17/2007): 17-year-old Jesse Smith is looking forward to his 18th birthday, which is on August 8, 2007. The St. Louis, Missouri driver has big plans for his upcoming birthday and hopes he can get himself an early birthday present by beginning a string of solid runs in the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts.

The ongoing 2007 season has the Reigning ASALMS Northern Division Champion running the full slate of events in both the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions with hopes of defending his ASALMS Northern Division Crown as well as capturing the championship in the ASALMS Challenge Division! Later in the season and as soon as he turns 18, Smith will then make select appearances in the ARCA Re/Mas Series

The next race on the 2007 Schedule for the Jesse Smith Racing Team is an ASALMS Challenge Division event is this Friday and Saturday July 20-21, 2007 at new and unfamiliar track to the St. Louis, Missouri driver; The Motor Mile (VA) Speedway, located South of the Virginia/West Virginia border and Southwest of Roanoke in Radford, Virginia for the Radfest/Race Against Drugs 200.

In his last Challenge Division event, which was the Canada 200 Presented by Sicard Holiday Campers at the Cayuga (ON) Speedway Park in Hagersville, Ontario/Canada back on June 30, 2007, Smith Qualified 13th in the 24-car field and in the 200-lap Feature in Canada, he struggled with an ill handling machine and finished 16th, but maintained his Top 10 in the season long points chase.

Birmingham, Alabama (07/15/2007): The fourth race of the 2007 Season in the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts is now complete. The famed Birmingham (AL) International Raceway in Birmingham, Alabama was the site for the Crimson 125 Presented by FLF Racecars.

The historic 0.625 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval, the longest track on the 2007 ASALMS Southern Division schedule, survived a very long and treacherous battle with Mother Nature all morning and into the late afternoon to complete the show in the ASALMS' first ever appearance in the Yellowhammer State.

As for the extended distance 125-lap Feature, Beau Slocumb grabbed the lead from race long leader, Brandon Johnson on Lap 100 and from there, the Juliette, Georgia driver pulled away to win his second ASALMS Southern Division Feature of the 2007 season in the Crimson 125 Presented by FLF Racecars.

Earlier in the season, the 22-year-old Peach State driver won the Watermelon Bowl 125 back on May 5, 2007 at his home track of the Watermelon Capital (GA) Speedway in Cordele, Georgia. With the win in Birmingham, Alabama, Slocumb is now two for two in extended distance 125-lap Features and his two feature wins have come in just three starts after missing the 2007 season opener in Bronson, Florida.

Stout Rookie competitors, Jeff Choquette and Brandon Johnson led the 25-car field to the green flag to begin the 125-lap Feature on the huge 0.625 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval in Birmingham, Alabama. Things happened very quickly as at the drop of the green with the field heading into Turn One, Brent Seeley got sideways and slammed the Turn One wall and collected Jeremy Gerstner in the process! Both drivers were done already after having only traveled roughly a few hundred yards!

As Chief Starter, Joey Aycock dropped the green flag again for the restart, Johnson used the outside groove to his advantage and drove around pole-sitter Choquette to take over the early lead in the ASALMS' first ever appearance in the state of Alabama while Choquette and the rest of the field quickly got into a single file line around the still green race track.

In one of the hardest hits of the season in the entire ASALMS, 14-year-old Tyler Townsend tried to follow Travis Wilson by Michael Seeright coming out of Turn Two for the Fifth spot, Townsend got sideways, spun and after sliding in the still wet grass, slammed backwards into the backstretch retaining wall! Townsend was shaken but ok, and the car was destroyed!

In another extremely hard crash, Owensboro, Kentucky freshman, 16-year-old Dakota Stroup lost control of his machine and slammed hard into the Turn One wall at almost the identical spot that Seeley hit during the opening lap! Stroup's car was also done for the evening but the Blue Grass State teenager was ok!

Johnson continued to lead Choquette and the rest of the pack as several more cautions for harmless spins slowed the action down. In the meantime, Beau Slocumb has quietly worked his way up to Choquette's back bumper and followed him around the Birmingham, Alabama speed plant and was looking to make his move for second when on Lap 83, Jimmy Lang found the Turn Three wall and his night was over.

Eight laps later, Logan Dernoshek, who started 13th was battling for Sixth when he lost control of his Pontiac Grand Prix and the Canonsburg, Pennsylvania driver found the wall in between Turns 3-4 and was done for the night as well. By this time, Slocumb had gotten around Choquette and was battling with Johnson for the lead.

Slocumb wasted no time on the next restart as he looked high and low, trying to figure out a way around Johnson, the winner of the last ASALMS South event at the New Smyrna (FL) Speedway on June 23, 2007. Slocumb won the event before at the Watermelon Capital (GA) Speedway way back on May 5, 2007 so the last two feature winners in ASALMS South competition were running 1-2.

Finally on Lap 100, Slocumb made his move to the inside of Johnson and took over the top spot. Fuel became a concern for the ASALMS Southern Division teams in the extended distance 125-lap feature around the huge 0.625 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval as drivers within the Top 12 began slowing due to running out of fuel!

Team Experience Will Help Young Driver Learn A New Track

CONCORD, NC (July 16, 2007) – Many young drivers get nervous when they head to a track for the first time.  In some cases, the driver hasn’t even seen the facility prior to arriving for the practice sessions.  While Motor Mile Speedway (VA) is a track Keaton Hanks has never been to, his Allen-Hock Motorsports team has, giving him an advantage heading into the ASA Late Model Challenge Series race on Saturday, July 21st.

“I haven’t raced at Motor Mile yet and I haven’t even been there,” said Hanks. “Most of the tracks I haven’t seen before when we show up, so that isn’t out of the ordinary for us.  The team has had a car down there before and they were pretty good, so hopefully I will be able to make it better when we unload.  We get three and a half hours of practice the day before the race.”

Hanks is optimistic on his chances at the track due to the vast knowledge within the Allen-Hock Motorsports organization, and especially from team owners Glenn Allen and Ed Hock.

“Glenn is a great help to me,” said Hanks.  “Everywhere we go he teaches me how to race.  He talks to me during the race and gets me comfortable to race around other cars.  I have really learned a lot from him.  Ed is also a big help from up in the spotter’s stand.  When they know the place, they can teach me if I am struggling with line issues and help me get around the track.  That way I don’t have to worry about figuring it out myself.  They were there for the (ASA Late Model) South race last year and almost won it, so hopefully we can do that this year.”

Hanks also has confidence going into this race due to the performance of the team as a whole. 

“This year has been a good year for us as far as getting top fives and having some consistent runs,” explained Hanks.  “But we have never had that extra speed to content for the win.  We have been right there but we haven’t got any wins.  We are really trying hard and I think our team deserves a win.  I am trying to make that happen as hard as I can and hopefully I can do that before the end of the year.”

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Loxahatchee, Florida (07/12/2007): ASA Late Model Series Southern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts Rookie of the Year title contender, Jeff Choquette continued his winning ways outside of ASALMS Southern Division competition as the Loxahatchee, Florida Freshman picked up another Feature win in his home state of Florida.

His Seventh Overall Feature Win of the 2007 season in non ASALMS events came last Saturday July 7, 2007 at the Desoto (FL) Super Speedway in Bradenton, Florida in the All-American Challenge Series 125. His second AACS Feature win in four starts in the series held exclusively at Desoto. He now sits second in AACS Points.

Jeff Scofield finished second while Current AACS Points Leader, David Pollen Jr., a former ASALMS Southern Division competitor in 2006 was third. Veteran Billy Bigley Jr., and Wayne Jefferson completed the Top Five.

"It feels good to go back to Desoto and win after missing a few of their races." Stated the Sunshine State rising star. "We really had a hard time getting a hold of the track all day Friday night and most of the day Saturday during practice. Late on Saturday everything came together, and in the race, the car was really good and we were able to come home with a win and some momentum going to the ASALMS South race in Birmingham." He added.

The next event for Choquette and his Choquette Motorsports Team is this Saturday July 14, 2007 at the famed 0.625 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval of the Birmingham (AL) International Raceway in Birmingham, Alabama for the running of the Crimson 125. "We're really looking forward to going to Birmingham after coming off a second at New Smyrna in the ASALMS South race last month." Choquette added.

“Plus we’re coming off back to back wins in our Super Late Model. We’ve heard a lot about Birmingham and how tough of a race track it is, we just hope we can carry some of the momentum we have built over the last couple of weeks, run good and come out with a Top Five!” The Loxahatchee, Florida driver ended.

Heading into Birmingham, Alabama for the Fourth Race of the 2007 Season in the ASALMS Southern Division, Choquette is only 21 points out of the Top Two in the ASALMS Southern Division Points Standings and just 61 markers out of the Overall Points Lead with One Top Five Finish, a season high second at the New Smyrna (FL) Speedway on June 23, 2007 during the Florida 100 Presented by FLF Racecars.

Those Top Two teams in the ASALMS Southern Division Owner Points Standings after the Birmingham event are guaranteed a starting spot in the Crate American Race 200 at the Bristol (TN) Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday August 2-3-4, 2007.

The 20-year-old also has Three Top 15 showings in his three ASALMS Southern Division starts with his worst finish still a respectable 12th place finish in the 2007 ASALMS Southern Division Season Opener at the Bronson (FL) Motor Speedway way back on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2007. The Camp Boggy Creek 100 was also was Choquette’s ASALMS Debut.

Choquette was the 2006 Hoosier Cup All-American Challenge Series Champion at the Desoto (FL) Super Speedway in Bradenton, Florida. His Third Straight Championship in the series held solely at the 0.375 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval in Southwestern Florida.

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Oregon, Wisconsin : The Third Race of the 2007 Season in the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts is now in the record books! The fast 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval of the Madison (WI) International Speedway, located South of Wisconsin's Capital City of Madison, in Oregon, Wisconsin were the hosts for the Mad Summer Meltdown 100.

In the Mad Summer Meltdown 100, Columbus, Ohio veteran, Robbie Pyle took the lead from ASALMS Northern Division Points Leader and pole sitter, Trent Snyder on Lap 45 and from there, Pyle withstood several hard charges from ASALMS Challenge Division Points Leader, Travis Dassow to win his first ASALMS Northern Division Feature and Second overall ASALMS triumph of the 2007 season.

Earlier in the season, Pyle steered his Image F-X/Andrews Pallet Company/Howe Racing Enterprises/Ford Fusion into victory lane back on June 16, 2007 at the Berlin (MI) Raceway in ASALMS Challenge Division competition after winning the 1st annual Tradition 200.

Snyder and Pyle led a strong 27-car field to Chief Starter, Tom Powell's green flag to begin what would eventually become the fastest 100 lap event in ASALMS history as the century grind would only take 40 Minutes 19.704 Seconds to complete.

After a side by side dual that lasted for several laps, Snyder would take the top spot with Pyle tucking in behind the ASALMS Northern Division Points Leader. Snyder and Pyle would then pull away from the rest of the pack setting a torrid early pace around the fast 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval.

Rookie of the Year contender, Jesse Saunders, who earlier in the evening qualified third, patiently picked off cars one by one and soon was in the third spot with ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Fast Qualifier, Travis Dassow following in every step of Saunders tire tracks.

On Lap 32, 15-year-old Chad Finley lost oil pressure and pulled into the pits all done for the evening. The green stayed out as Pyle began applying pressure to Snyder as they sliced and diced through lapped traffic. On Lap 42, Pyle pulled up along-side Snyder and they battle continued over the next three laps before Pyle edged out in front to take the lead on Lap 45.

While Pyle and Snyder battled, Saunders caught up to the duo making it a three car battle. Saunders passed Snyder for second and set his sights on Pyle when the only caution flag of the night flew on Lap 60 when Madison Late Model Division regular, Shane Morrissey spun in Turn Two.

Lexington, Michigan (07/06/2007): After a four week break between events, the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts is back in action and will kick off the month of July in style! The ASALMS Northern Division contingent of Crews, Drivers, Fans, Officials, and Teams are now on the road and making the trip to the Short Track Racing Capital of the United States; The state of Wisconsin and more specifically; Oregon, Wisconsin.

The ASALMS Northern Division is eager to resume their 2007 Racing Season as the Third Race on the 2007 Schedule will see the cars and stars of the ASALMS Northern Division invade the popular Madison (WI) International Speedway on a special Saturday Night, July 7, 2007 in the running of the Mad Summer Meltdown 100.

The ASALMS Northern Division will go head to head with the Madison Late Models (ASALMS type machines) in what will be a thrilling 100-lap Feature around the fast 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval located South of Wisconsin’s Capital City of Madison, in Oregon, Wisconsin.

Joining the ASALMS Northern Division for the special Saturday Night extravaganza in Central Wisconsin will be three more traveling series’; The Mid-American Stock Cars Series, the Central States Super Cups Series and the Grand National Vintage Racing Series will all be on hand in support of the ASALMS Northern Division Cars and Stars.

Join Dennis Michelsen the host of “ASALMS Radio” and Matt Prieur the “Voice of the ASALMS” for exclusive live race coverage of the Mad Summer Meltdown 100. If you can’t be at the track, listen live on RaceTalkRadio starting at 8:30pm (CST).

The ASALMS Northern Division contingent are now on the road and heading over to Oregon, Wisconsin for the Third Race of the 2007 season. Keep up with all the action from the Madison International Speedway beginning on Saturday Afternoon.

Heading into the Mad Summer Meltdown 100, Trent Snyder, the winner of the Missouri 100 Presented by KC Power Equipment back on June 9, 2007 at the I-70 (MO) Speedway, vaulted himself from Sixth all the way to the points lead in the chase for the 2007 ASALMS Northern Division Championship! The Ironton, Minnesota driver will head to Madison with a 26-point lead over Indianapolis, Indiana veteran, Peter Cozzolino (356-330).

As for the ASALMS Northern Division Rookie of the Year title chase, Elwood, Illinois freshman, Dave Gentile Jr., has taken over the Rookie Points Lead. Based on his career high second place finish in Odessa, Missouri and picking up bonus points for leading laps as well as the most laps, Gentile Jr., will carry a 57-point lead over 15-year-old Team Rensi Motorsports Development Driver from Dewitt, Michigan; Chad Finley (326-269).

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Charlie Menard gets it done in Canada; Wins the Canada 200 Presented by Sicard Holiday Campers at the Cayuga (ON) Speedway Park.

Hagersville, Ontario (Canada) (07/01/2007): The Seventh Race of the Fifth Anniversary 2007 Racing Season for the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts is now complete. The historic Cayuga (ON) Speedway Park located West of Buffalo, New York and Southeast of Brantford in Hagersville, Ontario/Canada served as gracious hosts for "America's Premiere Short Track Series'" first ever International event.

The ASALMS first ever event held outside of the United States was the running of the Canada 200 Presented by Sicard Holiday Campers at one of the most historic and storied tracks in all of Canada, the Cayuga Speedway Park.

As for the Canada 200 Presented by Sicard Holiday Campers, Eau Claire, Wisconsin veteran, Charlie Menard took the lead from 21-year-old Michael Annett on Lap 126 and from there, Menard steered his Menards Home Improvement/Ford Fusion to a dominating victory, his first since October 7, 2005 at his home track of the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway during the prestigious Oktoberfest Weekend.

Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year Points Leader, Derek Thorn and Michael Annett were the front row. Originally, Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame Driver, Butch Miller was to start on the outside of the front row, but problems even before the ASALMS Wave Lap force Miller to pit and the Coopersville, Michigan veteran would have to start at the back of the field.

So it would be Thorn and Annett leading the 23-car field to guest Chief Starter from Hamilton, Ontario, 30-year veteran, Chip Shunaman's green flag to begin the 200-lap Feature and it was Thorn who would edge out Annett heading into the first corner to take the early lead.

Thorn set a torrid pace in the early going as he jumped out to over a full straight away lead over Annett and the rest of the field. The first of only three cautions thrown all evening was displayed on Lap 30 when Colt James suddenly slowed in Turn One. On the restart, Thorn again pulled away from Annett and began lapping fellow competitors at a rapid rate.

As lapped traffic became heavy at times, Thorn would carefully negotiate around the lapped cars. On Lap 91 and after five laps of trying to pass the potential lapped car of Alec Carll, Thorn got into the back of the 17-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan turning him around. ASALMS Officials sent Thorn to the rear of the field giving the lead to Annett.

Annett himself would then take off from the rest of the field when on Lap 99, Peter Cozzolino and Charlie Menard collided coming down the front stretch sending Menard around and into the infield grass. With the Lap 100 ½ way break coming on the next lap, the teams took the crossed flags and Yellow Flag to end the first half.

Menard was awarded his spot back in Fourth as Cozzolino was sent to the rear of the field to begin the second half of the Canada 200 Presented by Sicard Holiday Campers. Annett led the field to the green to begin the second half with a the hard charging Travis Dassow, the current ASALMS Challenge Division Points Leader who earlier in the afternoon won the ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Fast Qualifier Award and 18-year-old Keeton Hanks.

Menard began his charge to the front and quickly made short work of Hanks and later Dassow. He then set his sights on Annett and finally on Lap 126, Menard made the pass coming out of Turn Four to take the lead.

From there, Menard would set another torrid pace rivaling that of Thorn's earlier run and would proceed to continue Thorn's work by putting cars laps down. Overall, Menard lapped everyone all the way up to the Fifth Place car during the caution free second half.

Brandon Johnson holds off Jeff Choquette and Jason Boyd and leads all 100 laps to win the Florida 100 Presented by FLF Racecars.

Samsula, Florida (06/24/2007): The third race of the 2007 Season in the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts is now complete. The historic 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval of the New Smyrna (FL) Speedway located Eight miles West of New Smyrna Beach and 15 miles South of Daytona Beach in Samsula, Florida was the site for the Florida 100 Presented by FLF Racecars.

The home of the "World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing", served as gracious hosts for the ASALMS Southern Division on a very hot and humid evening in Eastern Florida and when the checkered flag waved, Longwood, Florida Rookie, Brandon Johnson emerged as the winner after a thrilling battle with New Smyrna favorites, Jeff Choquette and ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Fast Qualifier, Jason Boyd.

Johnson, who started on the outside of the front row, took the lead from pole-sitter, Travis Cope and the 22-year-old Sunshine State driver in his unsponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo withstood heavy pressure from a slew of different drivers and would go on to score his first career ASALMS Southern Division Feature Win in just his third ever start!

Travis Cope and Brandon Johnson led the star studded 28-car field to Chief Starter, Gary Montique's green flag to begin the Florida 100 Presented by FLF Racecars in front of a stellar crowd at New Smyrna Speedway. Johnson beat a slow starting Cope to Turn One to take over the top spot. After a couple of quick cautions for spins, the field settled down with Johnson continuing to lead over fellow Rookie, Jeff Choquette.

One of the most serious incidents of the 2007 season occurred on Lap Six when Tommy King veered off the track and slammed the inside front stretch wall! He then careened up the banking in Turn One and directly into the path of 16-year-old Kyle Eastham and 17-year-old Devan Hall resulting in all three drivers slamming the outside Turn One wall! All three drivers were shaken but otherwise ok and done for the evening.

Lexington, Michigan The ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts has closed the overall radius of travel during the 2007 Racing Season with primary focus on the Midwestern United States.

With that in mind, the 2007 ASALMS Northern Division schedule will mark the return of the Lexington, Michigan based series to one of the hotbeds of short track stock car racing in the Midwest. This facility has seen the crowning of two ASALMS champions in what is now the ASALMS Challenge Division. Bobby Stremme officially won his championship in 2004 while Stephen Leicht captured his title here the following season.

The Cars and Stars of the ASALMS Northern Division will make the trip to the fast 0.292 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval of the Rockford (IL) Speedway, located just outside of Rockford in Loves Park, Illinois on Saturday July 28, 2007 for the ASALMS Northern Divisions' Fifth Race of the 2007 season, the Rockford 100.

Joining the ASALMS Northern Division for the Fourth Race of the 2007 season will be the Central States Super Cups Series as well as Rockford's own NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series' Grand Nationals, and Road Runners divisions and a special Backwards/Forwards Race. Plus Musical Group "Slipstream" will be performing a Pre Race Concert during the ASALMS Autograph Session! The Entry Form for the Rockford 100 will be available beginning on Thursday July 5, 2007.

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Lawrenceville, Georgia (06/19/2007): David Odell of Lawrenceville, Georgia will begin running in the ASA Late Mode Series Southern Division beginning this Saturday June 23, 2007 at the New Smyrna (FL) Speedway in Samsula, Florida.

Over the last couple of years, Odell has run in the NASCAR Busch Series, the ARCA RE/MAX Series and locally in the Georgia Asphalt Series which runs mostly on Georgia short tracks. Unfortunately David was racing with an under funded team, TC Motorsports out of Loganville, Georgia.

The team did quite well considering the financial issues they had and even made Busch races Cup drivers did not qualify for. David has picked the ASA Late Model Series because he wants to stay competitive racing at different tracks while pursuing sponsors. David hopes to be able to run again in the NASCAR Busch Series full time in 2008.

David has raced against present cup drivers David Regan and Reed Sorensen in 1/4 midgets and the Legends Series. The three of them were very competitive against each other with all of them taking their turns winning feature events against each other.

David Regan and Reed also competed against David in the ARCA RE/MAX and NASCAR Busch Series. David Regan stated that he felt David Odell had the talent to be in the NEXTEL Cup Series and be very successful there. At 16 David Odell won the championship of South’s premiere racing series at the time, the Southern All Star Series Pro Truck Division. David did this against drivers in the series many of whom were twice his age.

Alex Mckenzie owner of Flight Media, David’s marketing and P.R. company says that sponsorships do not come easy when you are asking for some where between one and six million dollars to sponsor a Busch car. Racing is and always will be though one of the best ways to market a brand because the whole team is built around the sponsor. No sport puts is sponsors in front of the consumer such as racing.

Flight Media has worked with such NASCAR programs as DeWALT Power Tools and Trex Building Products. Alex says, “David is still very young at 20 which allows a company to build its brand around him for a long time such as Dupont has done with Jeff Gordon.”

David looks forward to competeing with the drivers running in the ASA Late Model Series and improving his skills against some of the countries best short track drivers.

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