ASA Opens 2001 at Florida Half Mile
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
St. Augustine Speedway becomes 15th track to host opening event
PENDLETON, Ind.– The American Speed Association is set to open its 34th season of racing, for the fourth time in the last six years in the Sunshine State of Florida. The ASARacing.com 300 will take the green flag on Saturday night, Febr uary 17th, at 9 p.m. (Eastern), the night before the Daytona 500, at St. Augustine (Fla.) Speedway.
The event marks the start of the second campaign for the highly-successful GM Vortec ASA 5700 engines and BFGoodrich Traction T/A tires. It also begins Gary St. Amant’s quest in defense of his 2000 ASA National Championship.
The track will host a number of activities throughout the weekend, during the busy week known as “Florida Speedweeks,” a celebration of various types of motorsports that converge on the southern state.
St. Amant, coming off a career season that saw him pick up his second ASA National Championship, will have plenty of contenders in 2001, led by the points runner-up in 2000, LaFavre Racing Teams driver Kevin Cywinski. Veterans Mike Garvey, Butch Miller, Mi ke Miller, Tristan Dupuis and Joe Nott will also compete for the title.
The 2001 rookie battle will begin to take shape in St. Augustine, with all of the leading candidates set to compete for the Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year award. They include Mike Cope, of Orlando; North Carolina’s Ricky Bryant; Canadian Scott Fra ser; Kenny Phillips, of Ohio; Johnny Spaw, of Iowa; and Wisconsin drivers Johnny Sauter and Chris Wimmer.
The activities of the weekend begin on Friday, February 16, with spectator gates opening at 12:30 p.m., coinciding with the first of three ASA practice sessions. ASA qualifications begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the 100-lap qualifier race set to take the green at 8 p.m. Tickets for qualifying day activities cost $10.
The 2001 season kicks off on February 17 with spectator gates opening at 5 p.m. The on-track autograph session will begin at 7 p.m. with driver introductions and pre-race activities starting at 8:15 p.m. The ASARacing.com 300 is set for 9 p.m. The event wi ll be telecast LIVE on TNN Sports.
Text provided by Jeremy Troiano
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos and racing art, please visit The Racing Image Galleries and The Visions of Speed Art Gallery .