ASA Late Model Series drivers dominate the first weekend of the 2008 Florida Speedweeks!

Lexington, Michigan (02/11/2008): The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts drivers past and present dominated the first weekend of 2008 Florida Speedweeks! From Daytona (FL) International Speedway to New Smyrna (FL) Speedway, the ASALMS made their presence felt in the Sunshine State with several Feature Wins!

Leading the way was Bill Davis Racing Development Driver, Michael Annett, who won the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series Season Opener; The 45th annual Daytona 200 at the Daytona (FL) International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday February 9, 2008.

The Des Moines, Iowa driver in his #28 Pilot Travel Centers / Bill Davis Racing / Toyota, took the lead from Five-Time ARCA Daytona 200 Winner, Bobby Gerhart on Lap 49 of the 80-Lap (200 Mile) Feature on the 2.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval and never looked back to take home his second consecutive ARCA RE/MAX Series Feature!

In addition, this was Annett's second straight Superspeedway win as the 21-year-old also won the ARCA 250 at the Talladega (AL) Superspeedway on October 5, 2007 in his ARCA RE/MAX Series debut! Justin Allgaier finished second while former Series Champion, Bill Baird was third over Gerhart and Nine-Time and Defending Champion, Frank Kimmel, who started 43rd in the 43-car field, rounded out the Top Five.

18-year-old Landon Cassill, who began his ASALMS career at just 14 years old, finished Seventh in his #88 Stanley Tools / Junior Motorsports / Chevrolet as the Fairfax, Iowa driver will now look ahead to running for the 2008 Rookie of the Year title in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series powerhouse, Hendrick Motorsports.

Another 18-year-old ,John Wes Townley, making his ARCA RE/MAX Series Debut, finished 11th in his Zaxby's Real Chicken / RAB Racing witrh Brack Maggard / Ford. Townley will be running for the 2008 Rookie of the Year title in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.

The winning didn’t stop at Daytona as the 42nd annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing began on Friday February 8, 2008 at the New Smyrna (FL) Speedway in Samsula, Florida. After watching Annett win the ARCA race earlier on Saturday afternoon, ASALMS Drivers took over the 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval!

The night was highlighted by 13-year-old Brentwood, Tennessee teenager, Logan Ruffin, who started on the outside of the front row in the Crate/ASALMS Type Late Models 25-lap Feature and led all 25 laps to score the Feature Win!

Ruffin, a contender for the 2008 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title in the ASALMS Challenge Division as well as the freshman crown in the ASALMS Southern Division, started on the outside of the front row next to 2007 ASALMS Most Improved Driver Award Winner, Steven Brooks, a regular in the ASALMS Northern Division.

After taking the lead on the start, Ruffin made it look easy in scoring the convincing win over Two-Time MAARA Series Champion and part-time ASALMS driver, Will Thomas, who is also the divisions points leader after Two nights of racing! Earl Beckner, David Wagner, and A.J. Fulgenzi rounded out the Top Five.

Brooks finished a solid sixth over Friday night feature winner, Eric Chase. Kyle Maynard, Dustin Skinner, and Casey Caudill completed the Top 10. The first two nights of Crate/ASALMS Type Late Models action has produced the highest car counts of the World Series with 30 machines on Friday and 28 on Saturday. The division had the night off on Sunday February 10, 2008.

In Fridays action, Chase took the Feature Win on opening night as the Milton, Vermont pilot held off Akron, Ohio driver, David Wagner for the win! Thomas, Fulgenzi, and Beckner were the Top Five.

Ruffin started off his Speedweeks with a Sixth place finish on Friday night over Brooks, Maynard, Jerick Johnson, and Kyle Eastham, who completed the Top 10. 5K Motorsports driver, Brett Moffitt, a contender for the 2008 ASALMS Northern Division Rookie of the Year title, was the Fast Qualifier on opening night. On Saturday the teams drew for starting spots!

The winning didn’t stop in the Crate/ASALMS Type Late Models as 2007 ASALMS Southern Division Champion and Rookie of the Year, Jeff Choquette has won Two of the Three Super Late Models Feature held in Samsula, Florida.

The 21-year-old finished Sixth on opening night as Tim Russell took the win. On Saturday and Sunday however, the Loxahatchee, Florida driver, who is saving his ASALMS machine for the 2008 season opener in Bronson, Florida on March 28-29, 2008 fought off Russell both nights to win both Super Late Models Features! On Sunday night, Choquette also set Fast Time.

If that wasn’t enough, young Chad Akins, who made one appearance in ASALMS Southern Division competition in 2007, has started off his 2008 season right by winning the first Two Limited Late Model Features! Akins beat out 2008 ASALMS Southern Division Rookie title contender, Drew Brannon on opening night!

On Saturday night, the 14-year-old from Daytona Beach, Florida fought off Florida Limited Late Model ace, J.R. McMichael for the Feature Win. On Sunday, Akins finished Fifth as former Hooters Pro Cup Driver, Derrick Kelley took the win.

The 42nd annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing continues on as the last night of Florida Speedweeks on the short tracks is on Saturday February 16, 2008. The 2008 Crate/ASALMS Type Late Models Speedweeks Champion will be crowned on Friday February 15, 2008 during Advance Auto Parts Night with a 50-Lap Feature.

Our friends at Speed51.com will be providing live coverage of the entire 2008 Florida Speedweeks from the New Smyrna Speedway in Samsula, Florida with their popular "Trackside Now" feature.

To keep up with entire World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, go to the Speed51.com website and lock in your browser for all Nine nights at: http://www.speed51.com

Also new for 2008, MustSeeRacing.com in partnership with FASCAR and New Smyrna Speedway will broadcast six nights of the 42nd Annual event on Internet TV. For more details on how you can watch Florida Speedweeks from New Smyrna from the comfort of your own home, log on at: http://www.mustseeracing.com

The ASALMS Southern Division will return to the Samsula, Florida speed plant on Saturday June 21, 2008 for the Fourth Race of the 2008 ASALMS Southern Division season and the running of the Florida 100.

New Smyrna Speedway is a 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval located in Samsula, Florida and races FASCAR Stock Cars every Saturday night. The track was repaved in January 2007 in time for the 2007 season and the new pavement saw it’s first action during the 2007 Florida Speedweeks.

New Smyrna Speedway is located between I-4 and I-95 on State Road 44 in Samsula, Florida just eight miles West of New Smyrna Beach and 15 miles South of Daytona Beach. For a complete schedule of events for the 42nd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing as well as early entries and track information, please call: 1 (386) 427-4129 or 1 (386) 663-2155.

You can also e-mail the track at: newsmyrnaspdwy@aol.com or log onto the tracks website for more information at: http://www.newsmyrnaspeedway.org

For more information about the 2008 seasons within all four divisions of the ASALMS, 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 ASALMS websites; For the Challenge Division, go to: http://www.asalatemodels.com For the Northern Division and USPRO Cup Series, log in at: http://www.asalatemodelsnorth.com and finally for the Southern Division click on: http://www.asalatemodelssouth.com