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ASA: Tina Gordon to Make ASA Debut in Season Finale

7 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Debut leads up to run for rookie in 2001

PENDLETON, Ind.--Alabama native Tina Gordon will make her American Speed Association ACDelco Series debut in the October 14 BFGoodrich Tires 200 at Gateway International Speedway in Madison, Ill. Gordon will attempt to become the seventh female to make an ASA ACDelco Series start.

The 30-year-old Gordon will drive the number 66 Enerjetix Motorsports Ford Taurus owned by Richard Balestrieri based in Keller, Texas. She will serve as a team car to the number 67 Ford driven by 2000 ASA rookie Paul Dallenbach.

"I am looking forward to racing in the ASA ACDelco Series BFGoodrich Tires 200 at Gateway International Raceway with Richard (Balestrieri) and the entire Enerjetix Motorsports team," said Gordon. "With every race nationally televised on TNN and the level of competition that the series offers, this will be a great opportunity for me to gain some good exposure and experience against some of the best drivers in all of racing."

The Enerjetix Motorsports team plans to run both Gordon and Dallenbach during the entire 2001 ASA season, along with the possibility of a third team with the driver to be announced. Gordon will compete for the 2001 Pat Schauer memorial Rookie of the Year.

"I look forward to working with Tina as part of this organization for many years to come," said team owner Richard Balestrieri. "Tina will be a great addition to this team as well as to ASA. She has some quality time in late models and various divisions of race cars. With some quality testing and seat time over the off season, I think she can turn into being right up there with and be on of the boys."

Gordon currently competes in the All-Pro stock car series, where she has recorded three top-10 finishes in 2000. As a rookie in 1999, Gordon finished 20th in the point standings. She has also won eight times and was the points leader at Green Valley (Gadsden, Ala.) Speedway in 1995-97. She has also spent some time in the Southern All Star Series, as well as at Birmingham (Ala.) International Raceway and Thunder Mountain Speedway (Fyffe, Ala.).

Gordon will attempt to follow in the footsteps of several other female drivers in the 33-year history of the American Speed Association. Janet Guthrie, Robin McCall, Cindy Peterson, Shawna Robinson, Jayme Bolkovac and Teri MacDonald-Cadieux have all made starts with ASA. Guthries ninth-place finish at I-70 Speedway in 1977 remains the highest finish for a female in ASA competition.

Text Provided By Jeremy Troiano

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