The Fifth Race of the Fifth Anniversary 2007 Season in the ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division Presented by GM Performance Parts is now complete. In front of an announced crowd of 11,706 patrons, the immaculate Iowa (IA) Speedway located East of Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines in Newton, Iowa served as hosts for the Make-A-Wish 150 Presented by TMC Transportation and Northland Oil.
“America’s Premiere Short Track Series” has completed the second of two straight weekends in the state of Iowa as the cars and stars of the ASALMS Challenge Division will now take a four week break before the Sixth Race of the 2007 Season; The 1st annual Tradition 200 at the famed Berlin (MI) Raceway in the ASALMS home state of Michigan on Friday and Saturday June 15-16, 2007.
As for Make-A-Wish 150 Presented by TMC Transportation and Northland Oil, New Germany, Minnesota driver, Jacob Goede, who earlier in the evening won his first career ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Fast Qualifier Award, took the lead from fellow Rookie, Andy Hanson on Lap 51 and from there, held off a late charge from Current ASALMS Challenge Division Points Leader, Travis Dassow to win his first career ASALMS Challenge Division Feature!
Veteran Peter Cozzolino and Rookie Sean Murphy led the 32-car field to Chief Starter, Tom Powell’s green flag to begin the first of three 50-lap Segment that would make up the Make-A-Wish 150 Presented by TMC Transportation and Northland Oil. Cozzolino jumped out to the early lead while the rest of the field settled in behind him on the massive 0.875 Mile Progressively Banked Paved Oval.
The first of Seven Cautions in the first 50-lap segment came out on Lap Two when Chip Ganassi Racing Development Driver, 17-year-old Bryan Clauson struck the Turn Three wall collecting Chris Archer in the process. Both drivers were done early in the event.
When the green came back out, Ramsay, Minnesota Rookie, Andy Hanson made a dash at Cozzolino and on Lap Four took over the lead and led laps for the first time in his ASALMS career! In the meantime, ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Fast Qualifier, Jacob Goede began his charge to the front from his 10th starting spot.
Brent Downey and Kris Stump brought out the caution on Lap 15 when the two veteran drivers dove for the same piece of real estate coming through Turns 1-2 and both ended up turned the wrong way in two. 31 laps later, 17-year-old Wood Brothers JTG Development Driver, John Wes Townley slammed the Turn One wall hard and was done for the evening.
As the first of three 50-lap segments came to a close. Hanson would lead the field onto Pit Road for service and was followed by Goede, Current Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year Points Leader, Derek Thorn, Des Moines, Iowa hometown favorite, Michael Annett, and Current ASALMS Challenge Division Points Leader and winner of the last two Challenge Division Features, Travis Dassow.
When the second 50 took the green flag, Goede wasted no time and immediately dove underneath his fellow Gopher State competitor for the lead. Goede, from New Germany, Minnesota took the lead for himself heading down the back stretch and like Hanson, would lead his first career ASALMS Challenge Division laps beginning on Lap 51.
Goede would set a torrid pace throughout the middle portion of the event and would take his lead down pit road for the second and final service break. Hanson was second and was followed by Annett, Dassow, and Thorn the Top Five.
After the caution was thrown signifying the end of Segment Two, Hanson and Annett collided heading into Turns 1-2 and Annett ended up hitting the Turn Two wall before coming to a rest on the apron of Turn Two. Annett was done for the evening while Hanson was able to repair damage to his machine and continue.
As the third and final segment of the Make-A-Wish 150 Presented by TMC Transportation and Northland Oil began, Goede would once again resume the tremendous pace he established in the middle segment and took a nearly five second lead by Lap 105. As the laps continued to count down, the winner of the last two ASALMS Challenge Division Features, Travis Dassow skated by Hanson and set his sights on Goede.
Dassow was slowly but surely reeling in Goede and got a caution with just eight laps to go when Kyle Hinrichs slammed the Turn Four Wall on Lap 142 after running in the Top 10 for the majority of the evening. This set up an Eight Lap shootout between Goede and Dassow and the fight was on.
Goede was determined to not let the Challenge Division Points Leader get by as Dassow looked high and low trying to figure out a way around Goede, who had been strong all weekend long at the Newton, Iowa speed plant.
As hard as Dassow tried, Goede was up to the challenge as the New Germany, Minnesota driver would fend off the advances of the Current ASALMS Challenge Division Points Leader and would steer his Laketown Electric/LEC Motorsports/Chevrolet Monte Carlo into victory lane after winning his first career ASALMS Challenge Division Feature!
Dassow settled for second but at the same time, extended his points lead heading into the halfway point of the 2007 season in “America’s Premiere Short Track Series”. The 18-year-old Hanson finished a career high third after leading 47 laps early in the event. One more rookie, Sean Murphy tied a career high by finishing fourth ahead of the now 18-year-old Keeton Hanks, who recorded his third Top Five finish of the season.
Terry Schoppenhorst, in his first appearance of the season finished a strong sixth ahead of Peter Cozzolino, who led the first three laps, Colt James, Current Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year Points Leader, Derek Thorn, and Charlie Menard completed the Top 10.
Earlier in the evening, Goede, won his first career ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Qualifying as the 22-year-old turned a fast lap of a 23.791 which measures out to 132.403 MPH. The track record for the ASALMS Challenge Division in Newton, Iowa stands at a 23.536 which was set back on October 14, 2006 by Travis Dassow.
In addition, with Seven total teams of the 39 on hand electing to scratch for the weekend including Four on Friday and Three more before and during Time Trials on Saturday, ASALMS Co-Founders/Presidents, Ron and Sandy Varney elected to start the remaining 32 cars on hand.
The ASALMS Challenge Division will take four weeks off to allow their counterparts in the Northern and Southern Divisions to get some events in the record books. The next race for the ASALMS Challenge Division will mark the halfway point of the Fifth Anniversary 2007 Season for “America’s Premiere Short Track Series”.
The famed Berlin (MI) Raceway, located West of Grand Rapids in Marne, Michigan will host the Sixth Race of the 2007 season on Friday and Saturday June 15-16, 2007 for the running of the 1st annual Tradition 200.
The next race overall for the ASALMS will see the series close out the month of May and help celebrate the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend as the Entry Form for the Second Race of the 2007 Season in the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division; The 1st annual Bob Milner Memorial 125 Presented by Bailey’s Carpet One of Morris, Illinois is available.
Race Number Two for the ASALMS Northern Division is set for Saturday May 26, 2007 at the 0.333 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval of the Grundy County (IL) Speedway, located West of Chicago in Morris, Illinois for the running of the 1st annual Bob Milner Memorial 125 Presented by Bailey’s Carpet One of Morris, Illinois.
Joining the ASALMS Northern Division for the Memorial Day Holiday weekend will be the Mid-American Stock Car Series and the Central States Super Cup Series. The Entry Form for the 1st annual Bob Milner Memorial 125 Presented by Bailey’s Carpet One of Morris, Illinois is available and due to the ASALMS Home Offices in Lexington, Michigan by TODAY Monday May 21, 2007 to avoid the late fees.
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