FORMER TRACK R.O.Y. RETURNS TO ASA'S ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY AS NEW PROMOTER

For Immediate Release

 American Speed Association PR

 

FORMER TRACK R.O.Y. RETURNS TO ASA'S ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY AS NEW PROMOTER

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 20, 2009) - Racers in the Southern California
area have seen their options for places to compete dwindle over the past
several years as racetracks are replaced by track homes. Orange Show
Speedway nearly fell to this same fate, until Rick McCray stepped in and
picked up a five year lease to promote the historic quarter-mile racetrack.

 

Coming from a family of racers, McCray was extremely familiar with the San
Bernardino, Calif., racetrack which is owned by the National Orange Show
fairgrounds. 

 

"My parents had been bringing me here since I was nine," he recalled. "The
last thing I wanted to see was it shut down." McCray is so familiar with the
racetrack he can even tell you the best driving line as he was the OSS
Rookie of the Year in 1976.

 

"We got everything taken care of (with the contract on February 18) and are
really looking forward to working with Rick. We had some other proposals to
take over the track operations, but Rick's was easily the best fit for
Orange Show Speedway. We wanted someone who had experience in racing, had
good credentials, and was successful in business. Rick brings all those
things," said Dan Jimenez, general manager of National Orange Show.

 

The same night that the contract was signed, McCray held a meeting with the
track's competitors to discuss their thoughts for the season. He was
impressed that more than 200 people showed up despite this being a very
"last minute deal."

 

 "I wanted to let the racers know that they too are customers of Orange Show
Speedway, and not just the fans," McCray said about the town hall-style
meeting. "We are going to try to clean the place up racing-wise and
appearance-wise. We are working hard to get the local businesses back
involved with the racetrack, and not just as sponsors. We need to get the
community involved and the more people that help each other out can help
stimulate things throughout San Bernardino overall. We have to get everybody
back on the ship to make it work."

 

McCray stressed to the drivers that he intends to be fair, and eliminate the
"gray areas" in the rules that they may have experienced in the past.

 

"Racers just want the rules to be enforced the same for everybody. I've been
a competitor and now that I'm on the other side of the fence I think I
understand better than many about what a racer wants, and that is simply
fairness across the board," McCray explained.

 

The 14-race season will open on March 28. The primary classes will be Super
Late Models and Late Models (alternating every other week), Factory 4, Pro
4, Ford Focus, Street Stock, Pony Stock, Legends and Bandoleros. McCray
indicated that there will be a variety of special events throughout the year
as well, citing demolition derbies, Figure 8s, and the occasional drifting
show. Several touring series will make a visit to OSS, including the USAC
Midgets (August 8), the Lucas Oil Superclean Modifieds, and a Super Late
Model series (formerly the Southwest Tour).

 

A brand-new web site (www.BestInTheWestRacing.com
<http://www.bestinthewestracing.com/> ) will debut in a couple of weeks for
fans to check out all the information about Orange Show Speedway. People
interested in more information are also invited to call (909) 885-9000.

 

"This year we are just planning to see what works and what doesn't. We'll
just throw it all out there and then evaluate the reception based on the
attendance and the numbers and see what gets it done," McCray said.

 

A former driver in what are now known as the NASCAR Camping World Truck
Series and Camping World West Series, one thing that McCray said was never
really in question was whether or not OSS would be a Level 1 participant in
the ASA Member Track Series.

 

"I got a couple of phone calls from racers who said that they really liked
being part of the ASA program," he explained. "Basically, it turned out that
almost 100 percent of them wanted to remain with the ASA, and when your
customers are telling you something like that why rock the boat?"

 

"I've known Dennis (Huth, president of the American Speed Association) since
the late '70s when he was promoting Portland Speedway and when he was
heading up the NASCAR Truck program. I didn't realize his involvement with
ASA until recently and when we got on the phone and he presented his ASA
Member Track package it was just much more enticing than what (others) were
offering."

 

One of the areas that McCray highlighted as a major benefit to the ASA
Member Track program was the insurance, particularly the coverage for
participants to-and-from the racetrack itself.

 

"In retrospect, when towing to-and-from the racetrack is probably when more
of the accidents happen so to be covered during that phase of the racing
event as well is a great part of the ASA insurance," he said.

 

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/> ).

 

"Orange Show Speedway is a great racetrack with a ton of history and I'm
proud of Rick for stepping up and taking charge," said Dennis Huth. "He was
a no-nonsense driver on the track, and he'll be taking that same attitude
into the role of promoter and will be well respected by the competitors
there. He has a big job ahead of him to turn things around and get the
community back involved, but the ASA stands behind him and is willing to
help in every way we can. I'm already planning my trip out to Orange Show
Speedway to meet the competitors and personally thank them for their support
of the ASA and making Rick aware that their membership was that important to
them."

 

"We've got a lot of good people here, but one person cannot turn things
around," McCray said. "We really need the support of the community; of the
drivers, of their sponsors, and of the fans and business around the region.
But, knowing that he (Dennis) has our back is very important too."

 

The ASA Member Track program is comprised of more than 30 short tracks
around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national
touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail
to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and
tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com
<http://www.asa-racing.com/> . 

 

ASAT, ASA RacingT and American Speed AssociationR are trademarks of Racing
Speed Associates, LLC.  Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to or
affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.

 

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For more information, contact:

American Speed Association

 (386) 258-2221

info@asa-racing.com