The stars of the RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour know how quickly the spotlight is making them household names. After only two races, the drivers from the exciting new Late Model Tour are ready to each peaches again, as they head to New Senoia Speedway in Senoia, Georgia, for the running of the “Atlanta Southern 100” on Saturday, May 31st.
“The new track doesn’t worry me too much,” said series regular Jay Middleton. “My team owner, Mike Cope, and teammate, Travis Cope, have both been up to Senoia several times and they’ve run well. It’s a little bigger than Bronson (Motor Speedway, the last stop on the Tour), and it has an inside wall; it’s another bullring, and we have been really good on the bullrings this season.”
Middleton won the last event at Bronson Motor Speedway (FL). The victory also made him the tour’s point leader after four races. With the victory and the solid runs during the TV races, Middleton is already feeling the effect of the cameras at the racetrack.
“I went into a truck stop the other day and a guy came up to me and said, ‘Aren’t you Jay Middleton?’ I couldn’t believe it. This series has really taken off and with guys like John Kee, Stan (Narrison) and Micky (Cain) it’s going to get even better. They want to work with everyone to get guys to the race track. They want everyone to race and be competitive, which makes for great racing.”
Middleton is trying to become the first driver to ever win back-to-back RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast events in its inaugural season. In four races so far, four different faces have gone to victory lane. In fact, only Jay Middleton has won both a pole and a race. Tally that up, and it quantifies seven different winners between qualifying and the racing thus far.
If Middleton is going to win, he will have to hold off some of the best names in Late Model racing. Preston Peltier, who is second in the standings and won the season-opener in Mobile, AL, will be breathing down Middleton’s neck. Young John Bolen has been closing in on a victory and currently sits third in points. Taylor Satterfield and Scotty Ellis round out the top-five in ASA SAT points. Chris Fontaine, a Florida native, is also one of the ASA SAT guys to watch at New Senoia Speedway.
Round number five of the RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour will be on Saturday, May 31st, at New Senoia Speedway in Senoia, GA. If you would like more information regarding the event and upcoming TV coverage, please visit the official website of ASA SAT at www.asasoutheast.com.
After a successful television debut with the “Watermelon 100,” the second event is slated to air in several markets in the coming weeks. The “Lakeland 125” at USA Int’l Speedway for the RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour will make its television premiere on Saturday, May 17th, on Sports Time Ohio and Wednesday, May 21st, on SportSouth.
The RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour is part of a nine-race televised program that makes up the “Road to Nashville,” which will set up the most prestigious event of the season at the historic Music City Motorplex at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. ASA SAT and the CRA Super Series will race in Nashville on Saturday, November 1st, as part of the Adam Petty Memorial All American 400 weekend. Prior to the November 1st event, the RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Tour will make a mid-season visit to the Motorplex on Saturday, July 5th. Information for the July 5th event is available by calling (615) 726-1818 or going to www.musiccitymotorplex.com/.
For more media inquiries, sponsorship and promotional information regarding the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, contact Stan Narrison at (678) 910-7726 and be sure to visit www.asasoutheast.com for all ASA Southeast Tour news. For technical and rule information, call Micky Cain at (678) 373-9851.
To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asaracing.com
