It has happened from time to time in the overall Five-Year history of the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts. A rookie driver with a shot at the overall championship in his maiden voyage of traveling full-time with the cars and stars of the ASALMS.
Two ASALMS Challenge Division Champions accomplished the dual feat of winning the Overall and Rookie titles. In 2004, Bobby Stremme took both crowns while in 2006, Kelly Bires, now running in the NASCAR Busch Series (Soon to be NASCAR Nationwide Series) won both championships as well.
Also last season in the ASALMS Southern Division, now 17-year-old James Buescher won both Overall and Rookie titles. Although it hasn’t been done in the ASALMS Northern Division, one driver is in line to become the first in the North to join quite an impressive list of pilots who have forever left their mark on the ASALMS historical lores!
21-year-old Jesse Saunders has the inside track on the 2007 ASALMS Northern Division Rookie of the Year Title heading into the 2007 ASALMS Northern Division Season Championships / Oktoberfest 100 this Saturday October 6, 2007 at the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisconsin. Saunders leads fellow freshman, Mike Heiss by a somewhat comfortable 40 point spread.
Saunders also faces the daunting task of trying to capture the Overall ASALMS North title as he sits 57 markers back of current points leader, Trent Snyder. Not impossible by any stretch of the imagination, but a tall order to say the least for a driver who had difficulties even making the haul to most of the facilities that dotted the 2007 Schedule!
| 
|