Idaho Racing News

By: Kevin Ramsell

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Friday, August 1, 2008) – The eyes of the American Speed Association will be watching the action this Saturday night at Franklin Co. Speedway in Callaway, VA as Jimmy Mullins and Rick Sigmon will be battling for the points lead in the late model division at the 3/8-mile facility. Only ten points separate the two in the track standings, but there is more on the line than just a track championship.

Both Mullins and Sigmon are also the top two drivers in the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil American Speed Association Member Track National Championship standings.

The ten point separation has a lot of meaning when it comes down to the National Championship. Right now, Sigmon and Mullins are way above the rest when it comes to their average points in the national standings. They are the only two to have a performance indicator above 4.000. Sigmon has a 4.0616 while Mullins has a 4.0556.

But it's Mullins with that ten point lead at Franklin Co. Speedway that currently has him line for the National Championship that brings along the tryout with Joe Gibbs Racing. Sigmon needs to surpass Mullins in the Franklin Co. point standings in order to be line for the championship, as the requirement to be the National Champion is that you also must be the track champion.

The two are returning to the track this Saturday night after a well deserved weekend off. The last time the two met, Mullins took home a feature win to keep the lead at Franklin and stay on top of the national standings.

In fact, 8 of the top ten in the East Region are weekly competitors at Franklin Co. Speedway.

Over in the West Region, Gary Madsen continues to lead with Cary Stapp right behind him. Madsen has a performance indicator of 3.5795 while Stapp has a 3.5194.

Madsen won the 50-lap feature this past Saturday night at Rocky Mountain Raceway. He currently holds a 109-point lead over Michael Hale in the track’s point standings. Hale currently sits third in the West Region standings with a 3.5166.

Rocky Mountain Raceway currently has four drivers in the West Region’s top-ten.

Stapp finished second to Keith Garrett this past Saturday night at Kyle, TX Thunderhill Raceway. He currently has a 180-point lead over Duane Toyne in the track standings.

Both Rocky Mountain Raceway and Thunderhill don’t have events scheduled for this weekend.

There is two full months left and it’s possible that your favorite driver at your local ASA Member Track is just getting ready to make their mark in the season long National Championship chase. Make your plans to be at one of the 33 tracks this weekend and cheer them on.

Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, sponsor of the ASA National Short Track National Championship, is the same oil developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing. The team sells the oil so racers across the country can have access to the latest technology in racing lubricants.

Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program. Its driver lineup consists of Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch in the Sprint Cup Series; Stewart, Hamlin, and Busch in the Nationwide Series; and Joey Logano and Marc Davis in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs - a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame - JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships and more than 80 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500.

The ASA Short Track National Championship is another step by the industry leader in creating new and innovative programs. This follows the recent announcement about extending the insurance coverage for ASA members traveling to, from, and during an ASA-sanctioned event. For updated ASA National Points, just click on the "Points" link at www.asa-racing.com.

The ASA Member Track program is comprised of a network of short tracks around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.