FATHER & DAUGHTER DUO EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE AMERICAN SPEED ASSOCIATION SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE

FATHER & DAUGHTER DUO EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE AMERICAN SPEED ASSOCIATION
SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE

 

 

By: Kevin Ramsell / Photo Credit - Orange Show Speedway

 

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Friday, October 23, 2009) - Rick McCray, General Manager
of Orange Show Speedway, an ASA Member Track, in San Bernardino, CA knows a
little about racing overseas.  He is planning, along with his daughter Toni,
to compete at the American Speed Association's Transcontinental Series
"Championship Between the Continents - South Africa versus USA Motorsports"
on January 29-31, 2010 at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, South
Africa.

 

"I think it's awesome, it's a new venture in a new country," McCray said
when he was asked about his reaction to he and his daughter being invited to
race at this historic event.  "My daughter is going to compete and there is
a good possibility that I will as well.  We are taking two cars, so we are
going to see what will happen."

 

McCray's experience behind the wheel has helped Orange Show Speedway put on
some of the best racing action in Southern California.  He was a rookie of
the year himself at the Speedway in 1977 only to back that up as the NASCAR
Winston West Rookie of the Year in 1978.  He holds the honor of being the
first driver to be sponsored by Coors Brewing Co. and the first to bring a
car sponsored by them over the Mason/Dixon line.

 

This will not be the first time that McCray has ventured overseas to compete
in a stock car event.  He competed in the 1980's when NASCAR visited
Australia and showed off their brand of stock car racing.  This trip to
South Africa will be special as his daughter Toni will again join him like
she did when he competed in Australia.  This time as a fellow competitor.
"She is also very excited and we are putting some stuff together right now,"
McCray said.  "We are working diligently right now on this event."

 

Toni cannot believe that she was invited, "I am really excited about it, I
think its going to be a huge deal and I honestly can't believe it.  The
experience of going over there will be incredible.  This is the first time
that ASA is going over and going to be running stock cars and I think it's
amazing.  I am looking forward to be able to interact with the South African
competitors, teach them some things and learn a lot too."

 

She will be a tough competitor in the "Championship Between the Continents -
South Africa versus USA Motorsports" as she won the Super Late Model 50-lap
feature and then a 100-lap feature a week later earlier this month at Orange
Show Speedway.  She currently sits fifth in the point standings.  "The
little kids who respond to me driving is really fun, it really gets them
excited," Toni McCray said when she was in victory lane.  "I hope we see a
lot more females come through, it will be really good for this sport."

 

She cannot wait to be a part of this unique event, "It's an honor to be
asked to go over there, I mean it's huge especially to race against the
competitors we will be racing against."

 

But, it's the elder McCray who summed it up best, "Just going over there,
you are a winner!  To be invited, is a lot of gratification.  When you are
invited to something in another country and your peers think enough of you
to invite you to something like this, its really special.  Win, lose or draw
it's a great deal.  Everybody wants to win and it would be a great deal.
Just to be a part of it, it's going to be exciting and fun."

 

"I have known Rick and Toni for a long time and I am very excited to have
them racing in this event," Dennis Huth, ASA President said.  "With Rick's
experience of racing overseas in the past along with having his talented
daughter racing as well is a welcome addition to the list of drivers we are
compiling for this event."

 

The American drivers invited will not only get a chance to compete on one of
the finest racetracks outside of the United States, but will enjoy many
off-track opportunities to see the various sights of South Africa; this
includes a private tour of "Savannah" the wildlife preserve that holds the
distinction of being just one of three accredited worldwide breeders of the
Cheetah.

 

To learn more about Phakisa Freeway, visit  <http://www.phakisa.com/>
www.phakisa.com. 

 

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based American Speed Association
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  <http://www.asa-racing.com/>
www.ASA-Racing.com. 

 

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