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2007 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Sean Murphy wins his first
career ASALMS Feature in the Crate Late Model Challenge 100.
By: Matt Prieur-ASA Late Model Series
2007 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Sean Murphy won his first
career ASALMS Feature in the "Non-Points" Crate Late Model Challenge 100
on Sunday January 27, 2008 at the USA (FL) International Speedway. (Speed
51/Jamie Williams Photo)
Lexington, Michigan (01/28/2008): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by
GM Performance Parts kicked off the 2007 season as part of SpeedFest 2008
at the USA (FL) International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida. The "Non-Points"
Crate Late Model Challenge 100 crowned the first winner of the 2008
campaign in “America’s Premiere Short Track Series”.
The 100-lap Feature was ran a day later on Sunday afternoon, January 27,
2008 due to persistent rain showers that dampened the area on Saturday
night. It was well worth the wait for 2007 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the
Year in the ASALMS Challenge Division, Sean Murphy, who won his first
career ASALMS Feature.
It was not without a lot of work on the part of Murphy and the entire SS/Green
Light Racing Team as on Lap 30 the Fort Lauderdale, Florida driver was
forced to pit with a flat tire. From there, Murphy charged his way back through
the field and after a lengthy battle with pole-sitter, Eddie Hoffman, Murphy took
the lead with Four laps to go and went on to win!
“We finally won!" Said Murphy, who was exhausted from the long battle to
stand in victory lane. "We always believed we were a winning team, but when
you miss win after win with dumb luck you start wonder if it will ever happen."
SpeedFest officials oversaw the entire event for the Crate Late Models division
over the weekend with technical support from ASALMS Technical Officials. The
entire weekend was under the direction of CRA Super Series Promoters,
Glenn Luckett and R. J. Scott as well as FASCAR’s Don Nerone.
The CRA Super Series and the FASCAR Florida Sunbelt Series served as
headliners for SpeedFest 2008 at the fast 0.750 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval
as earlier on Sunday afternoon, 2007 ASALMS Southern Division Champion
and Rookie of the Year, Jeff Choquette won the NOS Energy Drink 200.
In the Crate Late Model Challenge 100, the two Qualifier Race Winners from
Friday night, Eddie Hoffman and Travis Cope brought the field down to the
green flag to begin the century distance feature in Lakeland, Florida.
Before a lap was completed however, George Crenshaw slid up into 13-year-
old Logan Ruffin sending both around and collecting Michael Pilla in the
process, bringing out the first of seven cautions of the afternoon.
On the restart, Hoffman led the field back to the green flag and was being
pressured by Sean Murphy and Jimmy Lang. On Lap 17, Murphy began to fall
backwards as his tire began going down. Lang and Travis Wilson both drive by
Murphy for second and third as Lang then glues himself to Hoffman’s back
bumper as they continue to click off laps.
A caution on Lap 25 for 18-year-old Patrick Staropoli and Ruffin getting
together allowed Murphy and outside pole-sitter, Travis Cope to pit. Murphy
restarted at the rear of the field while Cope called it a day.
On Lap 39, Lang makes the pass for lead on Hoffman and the 19-year-old
from Hardeeville, South Carolina would lead the first laps of his ASALMS
career with Hoffman settled in behind him on his back bumper.
As the crossed flags waved signaling halfway, Lang led Hoffman, Kris Stump,
Wilson, and Chris Fontaine, who were the Top Five. Once the halfway signal
was given Hoffman began to look for a way back around Lang and on Lap 55,
completes the pass to retake the lead!
Four laps later, Fontaine and Pilla collide sending Fontaine hard into the Turn
One wall. The Lakeland native was ok, but was done for the day. On the
restart, Hoffman tried to pull away from the rest of the field, but by this time,
Murphy was back in the Top Five and began passing cars at a rapid rate.
Soon Murphy was in third as he and Stump both drive by Lang for second and
third respectively. On lap 73, Murphy gets by Stump and sets his sights on the
crafty Prairie State veteran.
Hoffman was looking for a clean sweep of the entire weekend as he set Overall
Fast Time and won the 25-lap North Qualifier Race earlier in the weekend on
Friday and was looking for the Hat Trick by winning the main event of the
weekend for the Crate Late Models, but now he had Murphy on his back
bumper.
Murphy looked high and low trying to figure out a way around the 2007
ASALMS Challenge Division Runner-Up as the Lakeland, Florida crowd was on
their feet watching a great battle to end the SpeedFest 2008 weekend.
One more caution flew on Lap 96 when Pilla and Staropoli got together coming
out of Turn Four, setting up a four lap shootout between Hoffman and Murphy
to decide the first winner of the 2008 season in the ASALMS.
On the restart, Murphy let Hoffman know he was behind him and the two
drivers battled furiously for the win. Contact again between the two sent
Hoffman around in Turn Three bringing out the final caution. In a
sportsmanlike gesture, Hoffman accepted blame for the incident and went to
the rear of the field on his own.
On the final restart, Murphy had Stump and Lang on his back bumper, but
Murphy wasn’t to be denied this time around as he steered his ASI Limited -
SS/Green Light Racing - Chevrolet Monte Carlo into victory lane after winning
his first career ASALMS Feature!
"When we got the flat tire we did what we always have done in adversity and
just kept going forward." Added Murphy. "I knew I had my work cut out for me,
but I also knew we had a good enough car to win. With every race we set out
to win. This one was no different, but it certainly was good to get that back-luck
monster off our backs!"
Stump, who had by his standards, a miserable 2007 season, started off the
2008 season off right with a strong second place showing over Lang, who
finished a career high third. Travis Wilson was fourth while Center Conway,
New Hampshire invader, D.J. Shaw, made the most of his first career ASALMS
appearance with a Top Five showing.
Kevin Macy finished a solid sixth ahead of Wayne Morris. Hoffman made the
most of the four laps remaining as the #8 finished in eighth position while
Michael Pilla and Patrick Staropoli completed the Top 10.
Earlier in the weekend on Friday night, Hoffman was the fastest overall
Qualifier of the weekend and will be credited with the official Fast Qualifier
Award for this event! The Wheaton, Illinois veteran established the ASALMS
track record in Lakeland, Florida with a 20.940 which measures out to 128.940
MPH.
Hoffman and South Fast Qualifier, Travis Cope won the North and South 25-
lap Qualifier Races which were also held on Friday and determined the
starting line-up for the “Non-Points” Crate Late Model Challenge 100.
Now the ASALMS contingent will have some time to prepare for the official start
of the 2008 racing season as the 2008 ASALMS Challenge Division Season
Opener is first on the docket and is set for Friday and Saturday March 14-15,
2008.
The ASALMS Challenge Division kicks things off with the series' first ever
appearance at the 0.410 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval of the Tri-County (NC)
Motor Speedway, located Northeast of Asheville in Hudson, North Carolina for
the running of the Rumble in the Hills / North Carolina 200.
Then the ASALMS Southern Division will start off there 2008 season on Friday
and Saturday March 28-29, 2008 with the traditional season opening Bronson
100 at the fast 0.333 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval of the Bronson (FL) Motor
Speedway, located West of Gainesville in Bronson, Florida.
The ASALMS Challenge Division returns to action a week later with Race
Number Two on the 2008 schedule; The Music City Spring Clash 200, which is
set for Friday and Saturday April 4-5, 2008 at the famed 0.596 Mile High-
Banked Paved Oval of the Music City (TN) Motorplex in Nashville, Tennessee.
Then to close out the 2008 season openers, both the ASALMS Northern
Division and the widely anticipated return of the USPRO Cup Series will
highlight the Glass Breaker 200 Weekend on Friday and Saturday April 11-12,
2008 at the historic 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval of the Toledo (OH)
Speedway in Toledo, Ohio.
The ASALMS Northern Division will kick off there 2008 season with the running
of the Glass Breaker 125 while the USPRO Cup Series will officially return to
action with the running of the Welcome Back / Glass Breaker 75.
For more information about the 2008 racing seasons within all four divisions,
you can call the ASALMS home offices during normal business hours Monday
through Friday 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m. (EST) at: 1 (800) 385-2503.
You can also log onto any of the three websites; For the Challenge Division,
go to: ASALMS Challenge Division For the Northern Division and USPRO Cup
Series, log in at: ASALMS Northern Division and finally for the Southern
Division click on: ASALMS Southern Division
Crate Late Model Challenge 100 OFFICIAL Results
Pos,,Start,,Car #/Driver,,,,,,,,,,,Laps,,Status
1,,,,,,5,,,,32 Sean Murphy,,,,,,,,,100,,,Running
2,,,,,,9,,,,5 Kris Stump,,,,,,,,,,,100,,,Running
3,,,,,,3,,,,86 Jimmy Lang,,,,,,,,,,100,,,Running
4,,,,,,6,,,,62 Travis Wilson,,,,,,,100,,,Running
5,,,,,,13,,,60 D.J. Shaw-R,,,,,,,,,100,,,Running
6,,,,,,12,,,19 Kevin Macy-R,,,,,,,,100,,,Running
7,,,,,,4,,,,56 Wayne Morris-R,,,,,,100,,,Running
8,,,,,,1,,,,8 Eddie Hoffman,,,,,,,,100,,,Running
9,,,,,,20,,,24 Michael Pilla-R,,,,,100,,,Running
10,,,,,10,,,97 Patrick Staropoli-R,100,,,Running
11,,,,,11,,,76 Logan Ruffin-R,,,,,,100,,,Running
12,,,,,15,,,16 Austin Siebert,,,,,,100,,,Running
13,,,,,19,,,70 Jeremy Gerstner,,,,,100,,,Running
14,,,,,16,,,25 Steve Smith-R,,,,,,,77,,,,Handling
15,,,,,8,,,,47 Chris Fontaine,,,,,,59,,,,Accident
16,,,,,18,,,127 Kyle Maynard-R,,,,,59,,,,Mechanical
17,,,,,14,,,93 Rob Partelo,,,,,,,,,44,,,,Mechanical
18,,,,,2,,,,26 Travis Cope,,,,,,,,,28,,,,Handling
19,,,,,7,,,,08 Beau Slocumb,,,,,,,,9,,,,,Accident
20,,,,,17,,,07 George Crenshaw-R,,,0,,,,,Accident
DID NOT START: 108 Drew Brannon-R
Lap Leaders: 8 Eddie Hoffman Pole-38, 86 Jimmy Lang 39-54, 8 Eddie
Hoffman 55-96, 32 Sean Murphy 97-100.
Cautions 7 for N/A Laps.
Time of Race: 0 Hours, 58 Minutes, 55.812 Seconds.
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