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Orange County Speedway returns to the 2008 ASA Late Model Series
Southern Division Schedule on August 2, 2008 with the Orange County 125.
Posted January 30th, 2008
By Matt Prieur-ASA Late Model Series
Lexington, Michigan (01/30/2008): As the ASA Late Model Series Southern
Division Presented by GM Performance Parts has firmly planted there roots in
the Southeast section of the United States, several tracks have thoroughly
enjoyed the exciting action that the ASALMS Southern Division brings to each
host facility.
One of those tracks has been a staple on the ASALMS Southern Division
Schedule since the Southern Division was formed and began during the 2006
season. It only makes sense that if something is working, keep doing it and the
ASALMS agrees with that philosophy.
The Sixth Race of the season and the Official Halfway points of the 2008
schedule for the ASALMS Southern Division Cars and Stars will be at a very
familiar track; The fast 0.375 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval of the Orange
County (NC) Speedway, located just South of the North Carolina/Virginia state
line and North of Raleigh/Durham in Rougemont, North Carolina.
The Orange County 125 is set for Saturday August 2, 2008. Joining the
ASALMS Southern Division will be the OCS Regular Divisions of Limited
Sportsmen, Grand Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Southern Ground Pounders. The
Orange County 125 Entry Form will be available beginning on Wednesday July
16, 2008.
“Our races there in 2006 and 2007 have been very exciting and I’m very
happy that we’ve established a little bit of a tradition with our South teams and
the Orange County Speedway.” Added ASALMS Co-Founder/President, Ron
Varney. “It’s a very nice facility and the entire staff treat us very well and that
makes it really nice to travel down to tracks like that!” Varney said.
“All of us here at the Orange County speedway are really looking forward to
another fast and furious night of racing with the ASA Late Model Series
Southern Division.” Stated Kim Foushee, Director of Operations for the Tar
Heel State facility. “It’s always a pleasure to host the ASALMS and we expect
another great show again in 2008!” She added.
The ASALMS Southern Division has made Two appearances to the Tar Heel
State speed plant with the last race there coming on August 11, 2007.
Boothbay, Maine driver, Corey Williams, in his first ever ASALMS appearance
made the most of it as he started on the pole of the Orange County 125
Presented by FLF Racecars and led all 125 laps to score the Feature Win.
Williams, who was steering a David Stremme Racing entry, held off a
determined, Sean Murphy, who was looking for some redemption after losing
the win at the Bristol (TN) Motor Speedway in an ASALMS Challenge Division
race a week earlier after breaking a right front wheel.
Murphy settled for second after Williams pulled away from him and rest of the
field. Eventual 2007 ASALMS Southern Division Champion and Rookie of the
Year, Jeff Choquette picked up his third straight Top Five finish with a solid
third place showing and took over both points leads. Beau Slocumb and
Tommy King from 21st, rounded out the Top Five.
Choquette won his first career ASALMS Fast Qualifier Award over the 26-car
field as the Loxahatchee, Florida driver in his Jeff Choquette.com / Ford
Fusion turned a 14.234 around the 0.375 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval which
measures out to 94.843 MPH.
In the ASALMS Southern Divisions’ first appearance to the fast 0.375 Mile High-
Banked Paved Oval in Rougemont, North Carolina back on August 19, 2006;
Colleyville, Texas pilot Ryan Lawler won his first career ASALMS Southern
Division Feature in the extended distance Dr. Pepper 150 Presented by Zaxby’
s Real Chicken.
Lawler took the win over 15-year-old, at the time, Dalton Zehr, who finished a
career high second while Colt James, 2006 ASALMS Southern Division
Champion and Rookie of the Year; 16-year-old James Buescher, and Josh
Hamner completed the Top Five. Hamner also holds down the ASALMS track
record at OCS with a 14.009.
Orange County Speedway is located in Northeastern Orange County on the
site of the original Trico Motor Speedway, which was built in the early 1960s.
What originally opened as a dirt facility was paved and is currently a 3/8ths
mile (.375) asphalt, high- banked oval track.
The oval has 16 degree banking in the straightaway and 19 degree banking in
the turns. The banking and wide-sweeping turns make this facility one of the
fastest 3/8 mile tracks in the country.
The track averages 50 feet wide, which offers plenty of room for side by side
racing among competitors. Orange County Speedway has also, in the past,
won a National Speed Award for 3/8 mile track and has won several awards
from the Daytona Speedweeks-RPM Race Promoters Workshop Awards.
This facility offers grandstand seating that follows the curvature of the track,
along the front, from turn four to turn one, which means that there is an
excellent view of the track from every seat.
There is a VIP box in turn four that will accommodate 40 people in air-
conditioned comfort. This view offers a close up look at all the exciting turn
four action, as well as a fabulous view of the entire track.
Orange County Speedway was one of the first tracks in the area to have live
televised Busch races. Some of the top Winston Cup stars of yesterday and
today “Cut their teeth” in racing as regulars at OCS.
The list includes Bobby LaBonte, Todd Bodine and Jeff and Ward Burton.
Most recently, Scott Riggs of Bahama, North Carolina, began his racing career
here at the Orange County Speedway. Over the years, many others have
competed at OCS in Late Model Sportsman and Busch Races.
Some other well-known drivers to have raced at Orange County Speedway
including; Stacey Compton, Greg Davis, Barry Beggarly, and Stacey Puryear,
as well as Maurice Hill who is one of the winningest drivers at Orange County
Speedway, and Timothy Peters.
A typical race day event in 2008 will feature Late Models, Limited Sportsman,
Grand Stocks, Street Stocks, and Pure Stocks beginning on Saturday April 5,
2008. In addition, Two open Test and Tunes are scheduled for March 8th and
March 22nd.
Traveling Series’ that will visit in 2008 in addition to the ASALMS Southern
Division includes; Southern Ground Pounders, Allison Legacy Series, Mod 4s,
Rolling Thunder Modifieds, East Coast Flathead Fords, Virginia Mini-Cup
Cars, UARA Late Models and the PASS Series Late Models.
For more information about the Orange County Speedway, located on 9450
Highway 57 in Rougemont, North Carolina, please call during normal business
hours at: 1 (336) 364-1222 or you can log onto the tracks website at: Orange
County Speedway
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