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The ASA Late Model Series cars and stars shine in Lakeland, Florida. Eddie
Hoffman wins Speedfest 200 at the USA (FL) International Speedway.Posted
January 29th, 2007
Wheaton, Illinois veteran Eddie Hoffman (Left and Top) won Speedfest 200 in
Lakeland, Florida over fellow ASALMS competitors; Butch Miller (Middle) who
finished second and Charlie Menard (Right) grabbed the sixth spot to give the
ASALMS three of the Top Six in the order. (ASALMS File Photos)
By ASA Late Model Series
Lexington, Michigan (01/29/2007): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM
Performance Parts were well represented over the weekend at the USA (FL)
International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida during the 3rd annual Speedfest
2007. Of the 50 cars on the grounds at the 0.750 Mile Progressively Banked
Paved Oval, 11 teams with ties to the ASALMS headed down South for the first
big race of the 2007 season.
The ASALMS as a whole made their presence felt in a big way by taking the first
two positions in the finishing order and three of the Top Six overall! 2007
ASALMS Challenge and Northern Division title contender, Wheaton, Illinois
veteran, Eddie Hoffman won the Speedfest 200 over fellow ASALMS veteran,
Butch Miller, who has tentative plans to compete in both the ASALMS Challenge
and Northern Divisions in 2007.
Finally Charlie Menard, another title contender in both the ASALMS Challenge
and Northern Division’s in 2007, finished a solid sixth, giving the ASALMS a solid
showing in the Sunshine State. Other drivers with ties to the ASALMS that were
on hand included; Jay Middleton, Travis Wilson, Jonathan Eilen, and Steven
Davis. Also in attendance but suffering varying degrees of problems over the
weekend were; Brian Campbell, Ryan Lawler, Matt Merrell, Sean Murphy, and
David Wilson,
Hoffman; the 2006 ASALMS Challenge Division GM Performance Parts Shootout
Champion. won Three Features during the 2006 Challenge Division season with
two coming in non-points affairs. His lone points Feature Win was during the
2006 season opener at the Music City (TN) Motorplex on March 18, 2006.
The 46-year-olds’ two other feature wins were in non-points shows including one
back at Music City on November 5, 2006 in the All-American 200. The 46-year-
old also won Day Two of the Mason-Dixon/Dixieland Challenge during the indoors
event at the DeVos (MI) Place. Overall, he collected Seven Top Fives and 10
Top 10 finishes and won One GM Performance Parts Shootout at the Oswego
(NY) Speedway to finish third in the final overall points standings.
Hoffman also competed part-time in the ASALMS Northern Division and picked up
Two Feature Wins with both of those coming back to back. The first was in the
rain shortened Lake Geneva 100 at the Lake Geneva (WI) Raceway on May 20,
2006 and then nine days later on Memorial Day Monday, May 29, 2006, he won
the 8th annual George Appleton Memorial 125 Presented by Rod Baker Ford
and WRXQ 100.7fm at the Grundy County (IL) Speedway. Overall he grabbed
Three Top Fives, Three Top 10s, and One Fast Qualifier Award during
Oktoberfest Weekend at the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway.
As for Miller, who was runner-up to Hoffman at the Speedfest 200, the 1997
Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee competed part-time in 2006 in both
the ASALMS Challenge and Northern Divisions. In Challenge Division
competition, the Coopersville, Michigan veteran picked up one Top Five, which
was a season high fourth at the Milwaukee (WI) Mile during the Governors Cup
150 on August 26, 2006. Overall Miller registered two Top 10s in his limited
Challenge Division appearances and still finished 24th in the final points
standings.
In two ASALMS Northern Division shows, the 54-year-old made the most of his
appearances as he recorded Two Top Fives with a season high of a second
place finish at the O’Reilly (IN) Raceway Park at Indianapolis on July 22, 2006
during his primary sponsors’ event, the A.S.I. Limited 100 which was presented
by Lucas Oil Products and TMC Transportation. He also snagged a back to the
front fourth place finish at his home track of the Berlin (MI) Raceway on August
19, 2006 in the U.A.W./United Auto Workers 100 during the second day of the
2nd annual Mid-Michigan Doubles Weekend.
Menard, who finished sixth in Lakeland, Florida and won the inaugural Speedfest
200 in 2005,
completed his first full season of ASALMS competition in 2006 as the C.O.O. of
the nationally known Menards Home Improvement Chain of Hardware Stores was
a solid contender at every event during the 2006 ASALMS Challenge Division
season.
The Eau Claire, Wisconsin veteran registered Four Top Five finishes with a
season high finish of fourth on two occasions. The first was during the Miller Lite
200 at the Madison (WI) International Speedway on May 27, 2006 after leading
the first 124 laps. Then he did it again at the next race at the Oswego (NY)
Speedway on June 10, 2006 in the Fleet Pride 200. He finished the 2006 season
with Eight Top 10 showings to finish just outside the Top Five in sixth by just five
points.
Menard also competed part-time in the ASALMS Northern Division and recorded
One Top Five finish, a fifth place showing in the Wisconsin 151 Presented by
Sign 1-1 on August 5, 2006 at the tight 0.250 Mile Oval of the Columbus 151 (WI)
Speedway. Overall in the North, the 34-year-old, who recently got engaged,
picked up Two Top 10 showings and finished 23rd in the final points despite his
limited appearances.
The 2007 Fifth Anniversary Seasons in all three divisions within the ASALMS are
fast approaching and it all begins with the cars and stars of the crown jewel of the
ASALMS, the Challenge Division invading the fast 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved
Oval of the San Antonio (TX) Speedway in San Antonio, Texas on Friday and
Saturday March 2-3, 2007 for the running of the 2nd annual Alamo 200. The
2007 Season Opener will pay a whopping $10,000 to win and $1,000 just to start!
As for the ASALMS Southern Division, the doors open on the 2007 season on
Friday and Saturday March 16-17, 2007 at the fast 0.333 Mile High-Banked
Paved Oval of the Bronson (FL) Motor Speedway, located West of Gainesville in
Bronson, Florida for the running of the Gator 125.
Finally the ASALMS Northern Division draws open the curtain on their 2007
campaign on Friday and Saturday April 27-28, 2007 for the running of the A.S.I.
Limited 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Products at the famed O’Reilly (IN) Raceway
Park at Indianapolis (Formally Indianapolis Raceway Park), located West of
Indiana’s capital city in Clermont, Indiana.
For more information about the approaching Fifth Anniversary 2007 seasons
within all three divisions of the ASALMS, You can call the ASALMS home offices
during normal business hours Monday through Friday (9am-5pm) (EST) at: 1
(800) 385-2503.
You can also log onto any of the three websites for more information concerning
the 2007 season. For the Challenge Division, go to: ASALMS Challenge Division
For the Northern Division, log in at: ASALMS Northern Division and finally for the
Southern Division click on: ASALMS Southern Division
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