LMS: Racing season news 2007-05-09

ASA Late Model Series Press Releases for Wednesday May 9,

1. 19-year-old Lawson, Missouri Sophomore, Danny Ouderkirk continues to persevere through a tough season so far.

Lawson, Missouri (05/09/2007): 19-year-old Danny Ouderkirk is ready for some familiarity and a return to a track that he has some seat time at. The Hawkeye Downs (IA) Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this Friday and Saturday May 11-12, 2007 for the Barron Motor Supply/Crate Motor Classic 200 Presented by Cassill Motors for the ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division may be just the cure Ouderkirk needs to break out of his self described "Slump".

In his last race in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ouderkirk qualified a solid Eighth out of 28 cars for an ASALMS Northern Division show. With the inversion also an Eight, Ouderkirk would start the Keith Fleck Miller 100 back on September 1, 2006 on the pole. Only a Lap 20 accident kept Ouderkirk from his first Top 10 finish as he was consistently one of the fastest cars on the track!

For the 2007 season, Ouderkirk and the Lawson, Missouri based Bob's Collision Racing Team will run the full schedule of events in both the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions for the 2007 Racing Season. Ouderkirk also plans on returning home to the I-70 (MO) Speedway on ASALMS off weekends to compete in the tracks ASA Late Models Division.

In the teams' last race, the 2007 ASALMS Northern Division Season Opener; The A.S.I. Limited 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Products and Ed Martin Automotive Group, on Saturday April 28, 2007 at the famed O'Reilly (IN) Raceway Park at Indianapolis (Formally Indianapolis Raceway Park), Ouderkirk hoped the familiarity of the ASALMS Northern Division would help Ouderkirk kick start the remainder of the season.

2. Chris Fontaine moves up to Second in the ASALMS South Overall and Rookie Points with a Seventh Place at the Watermelon Capital Speedway.

Lakeland, Florida (05/09/2007): Chris Fontaine of Lakeland, Florida finished seventh Saturday night in the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division Watermelon Bowl 125 at the Watermelon Capital (GA) Speedway in a rain delayed race.

Even with his finish, Fontaine moved to second in ASALMS Southern Division Points and also second in rookie points in his FLF Race Cars Chevrolet. There were 43 late model cars with 28 making up the starting field on the .400 mile track. After starting fourth there was a quick caution. The race went green once more, but Fontaine's late model just wasn't the same.

"I was on the outside of the pole sitter (Anthony Campi) and we ran side-by-side for two and a half laps," said Fontaine. He pushed up into me and caused a spin. I got turned back the right way and kept going, but was able to keep my position. My problem was he'd knocked my tires about an inch off on my toe-in."

Keeping up with the leaders did present some problems. "We started running and it was all we could do to hang on. We got hit again and once again we got our spot back after the third race caution." Even with the early wait for a race start Fontaine's crew made all the necessary adjustments. "We thought we had a dominant car until that first caution."

3. Second Place at Watermelon Capital gives Matt Hawkins momentum.

Canton, Georgia (05/09/2007): By anyone's standards, 2007 has already been a pretty impressive year for young Matt Hawkins. He has won in just about every series that he has raced in, including back-to-back wins in March in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series and the Super Six Series Pro Late Model event at Lanier (GA) National Speedway.

So it really came as no surprise when he spent the majority of the ASA Late Model Series Southern Divison event at Watermelon Capital (GA) Speedway up front and leading. "It was a good weekend for us at Watermelon Capital," said Hawkins. "We were able to qualify up front, and they inverted the cars, but that didn't hurt us too badly. We were good all throughout the race, and we were really fast, but there were a lot of fast cars."

Hawkins started the race third and wasted no time getting up front. He took the lead on lap six and led until Beau Slocumb passed him with just four laps to go to take the lead, and Hawkins had to settle for the runner-up position.

"Slocumb got under me there at the end of the race. I thought that I was going to be able to hold him off, but in the end we weren't able to. The car just got tight there at the end, but to finish second is good. It was a good run, and we were pretty happy.

4. Travis Wilson shakes bad luck, scores a Top-10 in Cordele, Georgia.

Mooresville, North Carolina (05/09/2007): All Travis Wilson needed was a little 'Vitamin C' to get his season back on track in the ASA Late Model series. And that 'Vitamin C' came in the form of a sixth-place finish at Watermelon Capital Speedway, located in Cordele, Georgia.

"It was a good night for our team," said Wilson. "We ended up sixth, and I think that we took a sixth-place car and finished sixth with it. I don't know if we could have done any better, unless the cars in front of us had wrecked or something. It was a good day; it wasn't too bad at all."

What makes the sixth-place finish even more impressive is that there were actually two races going on within the single ASA Late Model Series Southern Division event. An impressive field of 43 cars showed up to try and take time for the event, so Wilson had to first qualify for the race before he could worry about being a contender for the win.

"It was a tough field out there. They had about 43 cars show up for it, and at first I was kind of worried about making the field. We were decent in practice, but I was still worried because the top 10 in points are locked into the field this year, so I had to worry about making sure I beat everybody else who wasn't locked in.

5. Wes Burton and Team build confidence despite bad luck in Cordele, Georgia.

Tool & Machine/Schoenfeld Headers team came to Cordele with three goals: to win practice, to win qualifying, and to win the race. After being the fastest car in final practice prior to qualifying, Burton and team were right on track with their goals.

In qualifying, Wes drove his black #5 Chevrolet into the 5th starting position. "At the beginning of this year, we knew that if we could just run with Lawler and Hawkins at tracks like these that we'd have a great shot at the win. We were right there with those guys every practice session and qualified right between them. We had a great car on the long run and felt we really had something to show those guys in the race."

It looked like there was a hand full of cars that could get out front and break away from the rest of the field. However, an incident in turn four on lap 6 ended the night for Burton and a few other potential race winners.

"We were just kind of riding there in the beginning, giving more than taking, and just looking for a hole. It had just rained and there were a few guys up front who didn't know how to handle it. I'm not real sure what happened, but I ended up sandwiched between a couple cars. It busted the radiator and we were out for the night."

6. Circle Racing Wheels; Charging Back in 2007 with the ASA Late Model Series.

Lexington, Michigan (05/09/2007): Circle Racing Wheels is proud to continue its support of the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division for the 2007 racing season. We feel there is a great demand for high-quality racing wheels in all forms of racing, especially for the ASALMS competitors who will definitely push their racecar products to the extreme.

The ASALMS Southern Division will hold events at tracks that test the limits of their equipment, and CRW can deliver the quality and reliability that they are looking for. In 2007 our products have made it to Victory Lane on many different types of racecars across the USA. So we welcome you to come share the consistency and reliability of our products that many racers have already discovered.

Series 41-44: Our 5 on 5 products have absolute minimal runout and specially designed spokes that move a larger volume of air through the wheel to lower brake temps and tire pressure build-up. Wheels are available in Black, Silver, and Chrome finish. Special order powder coat colors available. Offered in 21.5 lbs and 19.0 lbs.

Series 51-54: Our Wide 5 wheel is the finest of its kind on the market. These products have absolute minimal runout as well as maximum brake rotor clearance. Wheels are available in Black, Silver, and Chrome finish. Special order powder coat colors available. Offered in 17.7 lbs and 15.4 lbs.

7. Alison Quick hopes past success in the ASALMS Northern Division carries over this weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Midlothian, Illinois (05/09/2007): Redding, Iowa driver, Alison Quick, the 2006 ASA Late Model Series Northern Division GM Performance Parts Shootout Champion gets her first shot at an ASALMS event in her home state of Iowa this weekend at a track where she opened the racing worlds' eyes with a strong performance over the Labor Day weekend in 2006.

Her team, Lorz Motorsports, based outside of Chicago in Midlothian, Illinois hopes her success from a year ago will carry over in an ASALMS Challenge Division show this weekend. For the 2007 Season, Quick will go after the ASALMS Northern Division Championship as well as make select appearances in the ASALMS Challenge Division. Her teammate, Rookie contender, Dave Gentile Jr., will concentrate on the ASALMS Northern Division Schedule for the 2007 season.

Quick is flying solo this weekend as up next is her second appearance in the ASALMS Challenge Division in 2007 as "America's Premiere Short Track Series" makes its' first of two straight appearance in her home state of Iowa this Friday and Saturday May 11-12, 2007 at the 0.500 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval of the Hawkeye Downs (IA) Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the Fourth Race of the 2007 season; The Barron Motor Supply/Crate Motor Classic 200 Presented by Cassill Motors.

"I'm looking forward to Hawkeye. Last year we had a strong run of Fifth in the North race despite some events that sent us to the back a couple times." Remarked the 20-year-old as her team prepares for a return trip to the Cedar Rapids, Iowa oval. "I have Six feature wins on the 1/4 mile there and would like to add one from the ½ mile as well. If we can leave off from what we learned last year at Hawkeye, I think we should have a very strong run." She added.

8. Sean Murphy is ready for Round Four for the ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division at the Hawkeye Downs (IA) Speedway.

Indianapolis, Indiana (05/09/2007): Sean Murphy is preparing for round four of the ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division. The SS Racing crew and Murphy will head to Hawkeye Downs (IA) Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the Barron Motor Supply/Crate Motor Classic 200 Presented by Cassill Motors this Friday and Saturday May 11-12, 2007.

Murphy will pilot the no.32 ASI LIMITED, Spectrum Metal Finishing, Akzo Nobel, Aluminum Shapes Late Model. Murphy is currently 10th in the point's championship and Third in the rookie of the year standings.

Murphy and Crew Chief Deon Deneau are looking for a solid run. And they will carry some good momentum heading into the event. Just a few weeks ago Murphy broke the track record at O'Reilly Raceway Park (formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park) and led most of the race until running out of fuel. "We have the team to win," said Murphy. "Luck just hasn't fallen our way. All we can do is keep moving forward and eventually it will all come together. I'm hopeful we can have a good run this weekend."

Murphy once again will be at a disadvantage with never having raced at the speedway. However, he keeps a positive focus. "It's certainly a disadvantage compared to those who have been there before," explained Murphy. "But I guess that's what makes a driver."

9. Cody Smith Racing re-assesses his ASALMS Southern Division season to date.

LaVernia, Texas (05/09/2007): Another tough day of qualifying for an ASA Late Model Series Southern Division race has the Cody Smith Racing (CSR) team looking to regroup for a strong run in the summer.

Smith, the Rookie of the Year and runnerup champion in the Texas Super Racing Series (TSRS) Late Models last year, missed last weekend's Watermelon Bowl 125 at Watermelon Capital (GA) Speedway (located South of Macon in Cordele, Georgia) when he qualified 35th following a strong practice session.

Smith, along with team owners Tom and Barbara Smith, think they've figured out a long-term solution. "We've come to realize we're probably a little underpowered (in the series)," Tom Smith revealed. "Cody ran very well in the turns but got beat coming out on the straightaways. It became obvious to us there's a horsepower issue that needs to be addressed.

The elder Smith added, "We're going to reassess everything at the shop and move forward with an aggressive plan. We're also going to make a few other changes we believe will improve our standing."

-credit: asa