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Different year, same plan for Colt James as he looks ahead to the 2008 racing
season in the ASA Late Model Series.Posted January 23rd, 2008
Buda, Texas driver, Colt James has his sights set on the 2008 ASALMS
Southern Division Championship. However, he will enter the first ASALMS
Challenge Division race of the season at the Tri-County (NC) Motor Speedway
on Friday and Saturday March 14-15, 2008. (ASALMS File Photo)
By Matt Prieur-ASA Late Model Series
Lexington, Michigan (01/23/2008): Such as life of a stock car driver trying to
make a living doing what you love. Plans change when it comes to what you
want to do in the world of Stock Car Racing. It limits your capabilities when
your budget isn’t quite what you’d like it to be to do that very thing you love so
much.
In the case of Buda, Texas driver, Colt James, his original intentions for the
2007 racing season in the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM
Performance Parts was to run the full schedule in the ASALMS Southern
Division and the first race of the season in the ASALMS Challenge Division,
which just happened to be at his home track of the San Antonio (TX)
Speedway.
About the only way James was going to be able to run the next race on the
ASALMS Challenge Division schedule was if, and only if, he won the Alamo
200 on March 3, 2007. That’s exactly what the hometown favorite did! Not only
did he win the Fast Qualifier Award, he passed Eddie Hoffman just 52 laps into
the 200-lap Feature and thoroughly dominated to take the win!
In an ironic twist of fate, his engine, along with Hoffman’s and third place
finisher, Peter Cozzolino’s engines were all pulled and taken back to
Lexington, Michigan for inspection. All three passed. But the problem was
James didn’t get his motor back until the 2007 ASALMS Southern Division
season opener at the Bronson (FL) Motor Speedway.
After working all day during the Friday Test and Tune in Bronson, Florida;
James went out and finished Seventh in the ASALMS Southern Division
opener. Now he faced an important decision that would affect his entire 2007
season. After all he was leading one points standings and was solidly in the
Top 10 in another!
With some time between ASALMS South events, he gathered up enough
funding to make the trip to the next ASALMS Challenge Division race at the
Music City (TN) Motorplex for the Music City Spring Clash 200 on March 31,
2007. After leading the first 120 laps and finishing Seventh, it was then
decided to concentrate his efforts solely on the ASALMS Challenge Division.
James would lead the points standings up until the fourth race of the season at
the Hawkeye Downs (IA) Speedway where race winner and eventual 2007
ASALMS Challenge Division Champion, Travis Dassow won his second
straight Feature and took over the points lead that he would never relinquish.
James would go on to finish Third in the final points.
“2007 was a really good year for us. We didn’t even plan on running the
ASALMS Challenge Division at all except for the first race!” James explained.
“After we did so well in the first two shows and we were leading the points, we
felt we had to make the trip up to Toledo for the next race and concentrate on
the Challenge Division! To end up finishing Third in points was awesome.” He
added.
That same plan is in effect for the upcoming 2008 campaign as well. James
looks to run for the 2008 ASALMS Southern Division Championship, but he’ll
enter the 2008 ASALMS Challenge Division Season Opener at the Tri-County
(NC) Motor Speedway in Hudson, North Carolina on Friday and Saturday
March 14-15, 2008 for the Rumble in the Hills/North Carolina 200.
“I’m really looking forward to 2008. Currently we are planning to run the full
ASALMS South Schedule and we’re also going to run Tri-County for sure and
see how we do.” Continued the 24-year-old. “I love Nashville, so chances are
we’ll try and make that show too.” James added referring to the second
ASALMS Challenge Division event of the season, ironically back at the Music
City Motorplex for the Music City Spring Clash 200 on April 4-5, 2008.
“After that it’s really hard to say. If we’re leading the points again after those
first two shows or we’re at least near the top of the charts, I would seriously
have to consider going to Indianapolis for the third race and rethink our
strategy for 2008. Otherwise, we’re focusing on the ASALMS South schedule,
but that could change.” He smiled.
“Hopefully we can start the year off like we did last year. No matter what
happens though, we’re definitely going back to Bristol. This off season has
seemed very long, we are really looking forward to getting back to racing and
looking forward to opening up the ASALMS South season at Bronson.” James
remarked.
The 2008 ASALMS Southern Division Season Opener is back at the Bronson
Motor Speedway on March 28-29, 2008 in the running of the Bronson 100.
“Hopefully we can put together a great season and compete for the ASALMS
South title. I know there’s a lot of people that want that championship so it will
be a fun year competing with all the great competition the south series has.”
James ended.
During the 2007 season, James picked up One (1) Feature Win, which came
in the Alamo 200 at his home track, the now closed San Antonio Speedway on
March 3, 2007. Overall James racked up Four (4) Top Five finishes and Seven
(7) Top 10s to go with Nine (9) Top 15s.
James also picked up One (1) Fast Qualifier Award, which also occurred at the
San Antonio Speedway and finally was the Laps Leader during the 2007
season in “America’s Premiere Short Track Series” with a whopping 376 Laps
Led!
In limited ASALMS Southern Division appearances, James recorded a season
high Seventh in the 2007 ASALMS Southern Division season opener at the
Bronson Motor Speedway on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2007.
The Buda, Texas native, who resides in Troutman, North Carolina to be closer
to his job working for Roush/Yates Racing Engines, began his career in his
home state of Texas and results were immediate as he was the 1998
Longhorn (TX) Speedway Hobby Stock Track Champion.
He later moved up to the All-Star Race Trucks Series Lone Star Region and
won the series titles in both 2000 and 2001. After spending 2002-2003
running locally in his home state of Texas in Late Models competition, 2004
and 2005 were very impressive years for the now 24-year-old. He won races in
multiple series all with different teams and equipment.
James won two Features in the now defunct ROMCO Super Late Model Series
while one of his most impressive wins was in a Late Model with the Texas
Super Racing Series on the Texas (TX) Motor Speedway road course in 2004.
The highlight of the 2005 season was when he won the Fall Brawl Late Model
special at San Antonio.
Despite missing the first two ASALMS Southern Division shows and one more
show late in the 2006 season, the Lone Star State driver picked up One
Feature win and came on strong to finish a solid seventh overall in the final
Points tallies in both the Overall and the Rookie of the Year standings.
James’ lone Feature win in 2006 came at the Southern National (NC) Raceway
Park on June 3, 2006 during the Kenly 100. He also won his one Fast Qualifier
Award at Southern National while also picking up Seven Top Five showings
and Nine Top 10 finishes in his rookie season in the ASALMS. He also made
one appearance in the ASALMS Challenge Division and finished a sixth in the
Alamo 200 at the San Antonio (TX) Speedway on April 1, 2006.
During the 2007 season, James ran his own Colt James Racing Ford Fusion
with sponsorship from; Dickerson Machinery as well as Magnum Trailers, Wells
Cargo, Race Talk Radio.com, and Day Motorsports.
To learn more about the 2008 racing season for Colt James Racing and to
inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming year, please e-mail
the team at: Colt James Racing
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