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ASA: 100th Vortec Red V8 Engine Ships Milestone Sets Tone For New Season

9 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
PENDLETON, Ind.-- The 100th Vortec Red V8 engine was shipped from Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE) on February 28 to Screaming Eagle Motorsports in Four Oaks, N.C. Laser Technologies Inc. (LTI), the exclusive distribution source for the engines, has assigned engines to over 65 different car numbers.

"This is quite a milestone for ASA," said ASA Director of Corporate Planning and Development Lex Dudas. "We are on target with projections that we made a year ago on where we would be at this time. Through the efforts of Lingenfelter (LPE), we have a sup ply built up and are ready for the season to begin."

The engines were initially built from a General Motors assembly line in suburban Detroit, then shipped to LPE, where various racing components are added. Each engine is then tested on a dyno prior to preparation for delivery.

"It is a job well done by all the engineers and by ASA," said Greg Stewart, driver for Screaming Eagle Motorsports. "I think it is going to be an obvious economic benefit with the drastic cost reduction and durability of the Vortec Red V8. I hope getting the 100th engine is a magical sign. Maybe it will means when we take that 100th engine to Lakeland, we will do well and maybe even pick up a win."

The Vortec Red V8 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 "pu t 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, determining how the engine would react in a competitive situation.

The new engines will be unveiled in competitive form as the season begins with the BFGoodrich Tires 200 on Sunday, March 26 at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fl. With ASAs new, two-day format, practice, qualifying and a 50-lap qualifying race wil l take place on Saturday, March 25. The season opening event will go green at noon (Eastern). TNN Sports will telecast the event live, preceded by TNNs weekly motorsports news show, Raceday.

The ASA ACDelco season begins with the BFGoodrich Tires 200 on Sunday, March 26 at USA International Speedway. The season opening event is set to go green at noon (Eastern). The event will be telecast live by TNN Sports.

Text provided by Jermey Troiano

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