Jay Foley (No. 57) races to...
Jay Foley (No. 57) races to the inside of Burt Myers (No. 1) in the ASA Southern Modified Race Tour at Friendship Motor Speedway in Elkin, North Carolina. Photo by Allen Wolford
One of the hallmarks of the original ASA was its National Tour. That tour is where some of the biggest names in NASCAR racing made their first mark on the national racing scene. Now that Huth owns the rights to the National Tour, ASA fans are eagerly awaiting its return.
"I constantly get asked when we are going to bring the National Tour back," says Huth. "There has been a lot of work and attention paid to that [the National Tour]. I'm not saying when, but we've had a lot of good people working hard on that project."
Before Huth etches that date in stone, there will be no doubt in his mind that the National Tour is ready to go and its timing right. "It's a work in progress on a daily basis," explains Huth. "Every piece that can conceivably be placed in motion will be placed properly in order to alleviate every chance for failure."
Even though Huth and RSA own the rights to the National Tour, Varney's ASA Late Model Challenge Series has a national feel to it. The 12-race series visits 11 tracks in 9 states, from New York to Texas. And Varney has eyes on a national series of his own.
"We're trying to fill the void left by the National Tour," explains Varney. "We're offering the professional race teams a real national series."
While Varney's Late Model Series is currently racing, Huth is focused in a different area. "I don't want to start something that has a prospect to fail. We're going make sure that it is done up right and make sure it really is national in scope."
A typical ASA Northwest Sprint...
A typical ASA Northwest Sprint Car in the pits. Photo by Curt Kern
It may get confusing with two groups using the ASA name and nearly identical logos, but they are actually very different. The ASA Late Model Series is a racing series for a particular type of car, racing on a particular type of track. The ASA Member Track program is a formula for tracks and competitors in various forms of racing.
Myers, who has been around racing all his life, said that in the past it was up to the tracks to fend for themselves. But with the programs that Huth and RSA are bringing to grassroots racing, that is changing. "He'll be really good for the sport," says Myers.
The motorsports business has radically changed over the past decade. More competition for the fans' dollar, increased insurance costs, and car count issues are all things that today's racer has to face. But for the forward-thinking track owner and competitor, the savior of short track racing has arrived.
Methodical expansion is somewhat of a battle cry for Huth and RSA, and they have two big events planned for the coming months.
The ASA Southern Modified Race Tour will visit Atlanta Motor Speedway for the first time during the NASCAR weekend at the end of October. Right after Cup qualifying on October, the Inaugural Papa John's Pizza Shootout will take the green flag for 75 laps of action, putting 25 Modifieds in front of 35,000 people.
Also recently announced is the ASA Speed Truck Challenge's expansion to a second division in 2007. The Speed Truck Challenge will offer a West and a Midwest division, featuring the classic full-bodied American pickup. There will also be a national championship event at the conclusion of the '07 season. The field will include the top 10 in points from both divisions, both divisions' Rookie of the Year drivers, a choice of teams selected by the two division sponsors, and one pick from the two division directors. In a unique twist, the fans will also have a say in how the 28 truck national championship field is set. By going online, fans will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite driver and fill out the starting lineup with a pair of wild card fan choices.
A pair of photographs from Bob Milner were featured in this story. We at Circle Track were saddened to learn that Bob passed away on Thursday, August 31. He was 63. The longtime ASA photographer lived in Angola, Indiana, with his wife Claudette. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Milner family and everyone affected by his loss.