ASA Rolls Into Madison For Friday Night July Showdown
Pendleton, Ind. (July 1, 2003) – In the only appearance in the state of Wisconsin, the
ASA Racing Series will have a Friday night showdown at Madison International
Speedway in Oregon, Wis. on July 18. The BFGoodrich Tires 250 is the eighth event
at the .50-mile track and the 10th race of the 2003 campaign.
Last season at Madison, 1997 ASA Rookie of the Year Steve Carlson started shotgun
on the field and took the lead with 44 laps remaining from Gary St. Amant to score his
first victory in the series that builds champions since 1997 at Jennerstown Speedway.
Driving the Phillips 66/ Trop Artic No. 36 Ford, Carlson was forced to start last in the 34-
car field because Jerry Wood qualified the car on Saturday. Carlson steadily climbed
through the field and was running in the top 10 after 100 laps of the BFGoodrich Tires
300.
Carlson initially took the top spot on lap 180 with an inside pass on St. Amant in the
ACDelco No. 7 Chevrolet. St. Amant reclaimed the top spot following the final pit stops
by the leaders on lap 217. On a restart following a late-race caution when Rookie Pat
Kelly spun his No. 66 car in Turn 4, Carlson slide into first place on lap 245 with an
inside move through turns one and two around St. Amant.
Carlson last started on the tail of an ASA event earlier in the 2002 season at La Crosse
Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wis., when Kevin Nuttleman qualified his car. In
that event, Carlson crossed the stripe in third.
At Madison, Carlson finished 2.6 seconds ahead of St. Amant with David Stremme,
1997 ASA champion Kevin Cywinski and three-time series titlist Butch Miller rounding
out the top-five finishers. Robbie Pyle placed sixth with Scott Hansen, Greg Stewart,
Kyle Busch and Rick Beebe comprising the top 10.
“I noticed on the restarts that Gary (St. Amant) was slipping wide in the corners,” said
race winner Carlson. “I wanted to get a smooth restart, slipped in Turn 1, but he slipped
a little more and I was able to get the lead. Jerry (Wood) did a great job of setting up the
car. The car was awesome and the crew did an excellent job. It’s great to win in the
Badger state!”
ASA returns to Madison International Speedway for the BFGoodrich Tires 250 on
Friday, July 18, with the first of two practice sessions beginning at noon. Pole qualifying
is set for 4 p.m. with a fan autograph session and live musical entertainment to follow.
The BFGoodrich Tires 250 goes green at 8 p.m. (Central)
Tickets are available through the ASA office at a cost of $25 for general admission
seats. Discounts are available when purchasing in advance. For additional information,
contact the ASA ticket line at 1-888-ASA-1020.