PARTS Truck Series and ASTRO Super Late Model Series Merge
18 August 1999
COLUMBUS, Ga. - Columbus businessman Larry Evans announced today the merger of the Professional Association of Racing Trucks (PARTS) Pro Truck Series and the American Short Track Racing Organization (ASTRO) Super Late Model Series.Evans founded the highly successful PARTS Pro Truck Series in 1996 and will continue to hold the position of president for the series as well as for the newly acquired ASTRO Super Late Model Series.
In the business world, mergers and acquisitions are everyday occurrences, and these same type of transactions are becoming more common in the racing industry, Evans said. It just makes good business sense to combine two premier short track racing series into one exciting touring show.
Our truck series has raced in conjunction with several other late model series and the fans have been treated to the best show in the business. We ran with the ASTRO Super Late Model Series at Peach State Speedway on July 4 and realized tremendous success.
Terry Treadwell of Jefferson, Ga. founded the ASTRO Super Late Model Series two years ago. The touring series has made visits to tracks in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
The two organizations have experienced great success independently, and it is only natural that combined, the success will be even greater, Treadwell said. Racing is an entertainment business and with the merger, we plan on presenting the best short-track racing program in the country.
As a partner in two racing facilities, Peach State Speedway in Jefferson and Senoia Speedway in Senoia, Ga., Treadwell indicated the merger would allow him the time needed to concentrate on track management and still remain involved in the series he founded. Treadwell has been named director of competition for both series.
The PARTS Pro Truck Series events have been televised nationally for the past two years. According to Evans, that same exposure for the ASTRO Super Late Model competitors is in the plans for the 2000 season.
Television exposure is important to the success of both series and to the teams that put on the show, Evans said. We have some of the most competitive racing on TV and our drivers are top notch in every way.
With drivers such as Freddie Query, Lance Goodson, Wayne Willard and others of the same caliber in the ASTRO series joining with the PARTS drivers like Blake Bainbridge, Clay Young, Kevin Barrett, and young guns J.C. Beattie Jr. and Derek Hagen, fans are going to be treated to quite a show when we come to town.
For the remainder of the 1999 season, the PARTS Pro Truck Series schedule will remain unchanged, with the next race at Montgomery Motor Speedway in Montgomery, Ala. on August 21.
The August 28 ASTRO Super Late Model race originally scheduled for Summerfield, S.C. has been canceled to allow time to prepare a schedule revision for the rest of the 1999 season.
The schedule for 2000, along with the television schedule for next year will be announced at a later date when marketing partners and sponsors are confirmed.
For information bout the PARTS Pro Truck Series or the ASTRO Super Late Model Series should be directed to the PARTS Pro Truck office in Columbus, Ga. at (706) 653-8990.
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos
and racing art, please visit The Racing Image
Galleries and The
Visions of Speed Art Gallery .