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ASA 'Spring Training' set for Florida

29 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Pendleton, IN- ASA officials have announced a pre-season "Spring Training" for teams competing in the 2000 ACDelco Series, scheduled for March 10-13 at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL. The testing will be the first chance fo r the media and public to view ASA race cars with the new engine/tire/body package for the 2000 ACDelco Series season. It will also mark the first chance that the drivers and teams get to come out from the cold and run an official test with their new equi pment.

The 2000 season will debut the Vortec Red 5700 engine in ASA competition. The Vortec engine marks a return for ASA to a V8 powerplant and is the first competitive application of a fuel injected, factory production, high-performance engine in a stock car.

The Vortec Red 5700 is the end result of a joint development project between GM and ASA. The project allows stock car racing to get back to the roots of more closely matching a race car to what the fans driver to and from work daily. This allows ASA to " put the stock back in stock car racing." After months of planning and testing, the engine was run in five events during the 1999 season with driver Ted Smokstad, to see how the engine would react in a competitive situation.

"The Vortec engine is much more forgiving than the old V6s," said 1998 ASA National Champion Gary St. Amant. "I believe the new engine will mean a lot more side-by-side racing , and that translates into better action for the fans."

The new season also marks the BFGoodrich brand of tires first entry into oval-track racing. For ASA, it is the first use of the radial tire in competition, a distinct step forward from the previously used bias-ply tires. The new tire has been developed s pecifically for the ASA series. The racing version of this tire will be the springboard for a family of passenger tires to be introduced in 2001.

The fans will also get to see the first looks of the 2000 ASA body styles, which this year will include the Ford Taurus. Along with the Taurus, the brand new Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix will be seen on the cars of the ACDelco Series.

The 2000 ACDelco Series begins two weeks later with the BFGoodrich Tires 200 on March 24, 25 and 26 at Lakeland. With ASA adapting a new, two-day format at its races in 2000, practice, qualifying and a 50 lap qualifying race will take place on Saturday, M arch 25. The seasons first race will go green at 12 p.m. (Eastern) March 26. The event will be telecast live by TNN Sports.

Text provided by ASA

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.