SKAGIT SPEEDWAY BECOMES A CROWN JEWEL IN ASA MEMBER TRACK PROGRAM

For Immediate Release

 American Speed Association PR

 

SKAGIT SPEEDWAY BECOMES A CROWN JEWEL IN ASA MEMBER TRACK PROGRAM

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 9, 2008) - Skagit Speedway, located just east of
the Pacific Ocean in beautiful Alger, Wash., is unquestionably one of the
finest dirt short tracks in the country. And now, Skagit Speedway has become
one of the highest-profile racetracks in the ASA Member Track program, a
partnership of short tracks around the country working together for the
betterment of grassroots racing.

 

Built in 1954, and in continual operation since, the 0.3-mile dirt track is
not resting on its laurels. Skagit Speedway owner Steve Beitler is currently
widening his track to allow for even racier events.

 

"We are adding a few more feet to give the racers a little more elbow room,"
Beitler explained. "We widened it once before in 2004, but the cars just
keep getting faster and faster every year. We are adding an additional
8-feet this time which will allow the guys to have a lot more elbow room,
and should enable them to go four wide if they get brave enough."

 

Beitler, owner of Skagit Speedway since 2001, seemingly has a lifetime
connection to the racetrack. His father raced in the very first event at the
track on Labor Day in 1954, and his first job was selling programs at the
facility at just eight years old. Beitler even built his first race car as a
class project in 1977 and raced it - where else - at Skagit Speedway. Now,
as owner, he presides over the daily operations and is continually working
to improve all aspects for his racers.

 

Beitler mentioned that the recent signing of Foothills Toyota and the Toyota
Tundra pickup as the "Official 2008 Racing Series Sponsor" should help to
elevate exposure of the track and teams in the Pacific Northwest.

 

"Having Toyota come aboard as our official sponsor really brings a lot of
credibility to our program," Beitler said. "When a company the size of
Toyota comes on at a grassroots level, it is a big deal. They came to us and
sees the value of using grassroots motorsports to help promote awareness of
their Tundra pickup."

 

In a recent news release, Foothills Toyota owner Pam Nelson said "Foothills
Toyota is excited to partner with Skagit Speedway and Toyota to bring the
'2008 Foothills Toyota Tundra Racing Series' to Skagit Speedway. We have
plans to bring more excitement and family fun to racing in Northwest
Washington. With our shared philosophies on community involvement, education
and family fun I think the partnership is a 'win-win-win' for Skagit
Speedway, Foothills Toyota and Toyota Motor Sales."

 

The weekly Saturday night program features 410 Sprint Cars, 360 Sprint Cars,
Sportsman Sprint Series and Outlaw Hornet divisions. The season starts on
April 19 and fans have already circled a couple of weekends on their
calendars for special events: the June 19-21 running of the Jim Raper
Memorial Dirt Cup presented by Camping World RV and the annual World of
Outlaws visit. This year the WoO cars will run at Skagit Speedway on August
29 & 30 in an event presented by NC Machinery and Caterpillar. The track's
full schedule, along with Skagit Speedway news, point standings, photos and
more can be found online at www.SkagitSpeedway.com
<http://www.skagitspeedway.com/> .

 

"We run a real strong Sprint Car program here at Skagit Speedway," Beitler
explained. "It's not uncommon to get 60 or 70 cars in the top divisions as
we offer a very good racing surface and put on a great program for them.
We'll get even more for the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup in June. That is one
of our marquee events and is definitely one of the strongest dirt races in
the country. We get drivers and fans from all over the United States coming
in just for that weekend."

 

In his continual search for ways to improve his program for the drivers and
fans, Beitler agreed to sign Skagit Speedway as a Level II partner in the
ASA Member Track program, in part due to the improved insurance offered to
competitors.

 

ASA members in good standing are eligible for a $500,000 Excess Medical
Benefit as well as a $20,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit.
Coverage for the member begins while traveling to a location promoting an
ASA-sanctioned event and continues until arrival home again. The American
Speed Association is the only sanctioning body to offer insurance coverage
which extends beyond the boundary of the racetrack itself (complete details
are available online at www.ASA-Racing.com <http://www.asa-racing.com/> ).

 

"One of the biggest reasons I decided to join the ASA Member Track program
is because of their insurance policy. But it is more than that. I really
like what Dennis (Huth, president of Racing Speed Associates which owns the
American Speed Association) is doing and how hard he is working to build a
solid grassroots program among the short tracks. I've met him a couple of
times and he seems like a very straight shooter," said Beitler.

 

"It was a really exciting day for me personally when Steve said 'yes' to
joining the ASA Member Track program," Huth explained. "Not only is Skagit
Speedway one of the most renowned short tracks in the country, but I feel
like I have a real connection to the racetrack. Growing up in the Pacific
Northwest I had always followed what happened at Skagit and have been there
a few times as well. Even today I still follow the events up in that region
of the country, and have been very excited to follow the improvements that
Steve and his staff have been making at Skagit over the past several years.
The racing is always good, and is consistently the type of short track
excitement that fans have come to expect from the American Speed Association
for the past 40 years. I welcome Steve, Skagit Speedway, and all the
competitors and fans to the American Speed Association and am thrilled to
have one of the finest racetracks in the United States in our program."

 

Beitler added that he sees many positives to the affiliation. "I think there
are a lot of parts to the ASA Member Track program that will benefit the
racers at Skagit Speedway. I believe that the name-brand affiliation is
good. The American Speed Association has built a very strong reputation in
the short track world. And I like what the ASA brings with them - exposure,
insurance, and a lot more. Everything that they do is good for us."

 

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based ASA Racing Member Track
program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For
news and information from all the racetracks and regional tours involved in
the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com <http://www.asa-racing.com/> . 

 

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For more information, contact:

American Speed Association

(386) 258-2221

info@asa-racing.com