2009 ASAMT TOURING STARS: ANDREW MORRISSEY

Ninth in a series of 14 announcing the 2009 ASAMT Touring Stars

By: Kevin Ramsell

BURLINGTON, WI (Wednesday, February 18, 2009) - His personality pretty much was the same as he came into the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment in 2008. Andrew Morrissey is pretty quiet and low key, but once behind the wheel his consistency driving and heads up racing did all of the talking as he earned a Touring Star position for the upcoming 2009 season.

Morrissey, a Deforest, WI native, used the Wisconsin short tracks, mainly Madison International Speedway and Dells Raceway Park, to enhance his driving skills in a super late model stock car. Last season, he surprised many with his sixth place run at the opening event at Elko Speedway.

The original plan was to run some selected ASAMT events, but after a third place run at Jefferson Speedway, the third event of the season, Morrissey found himself near the top of the point standings.

After picking up Virchow Krause as his main sponsor, the young driver along with his father Charlie and the rest of his pit crew decided to run the entire season.

He would return to Dells Raceway Park and record another third place finish. Later in the season, he would make the podium again with a third place run at Norway Speedway.

Overall, he had three top-five and eight top-ten finishes in 13 starts this past season. He would finish sixth in the point standings. Actually, he tied Jamie Iverson for fifth but was credited with sixth due to a tie-breaker.

Andrew Morrissey will be one the many Touring Stars to watch in 2009 especially with the season opening event on Saturday, April 25th at Dells Raceway Park.

The ASAMT Touring Star program was developed to help the series promote each special event prior to, during, and after each event. Each year a group of Touring Stars will be selected to the travel bonus program.

In 2009, the top-14 from the 2008 points standing will be eligible for the Touring Star program. Those drivers who are eligible will be required to sign an agreement with a promise to attend all ASAMT events and to participate in all promotional programs or opportunities. Failure to do so will result in removal from the bonus program. Touring Stars will be allowed one (1) excused absence due to unforeseen reasons that is approved by the ASAMT office.

Those eligible drivers must have their agreement signed by February 28, 2009 to be in the program. If an eligible driver declines, then the Touring Star offer will go to the next eligible driver in the 2008 points standing prior to the start of the 2009 season. If a star drops out during the season, it will go to the next eligible driver in the current 2009 points standing.

The 15th spot in the ASAMT Touring Star program is reserved for the highest finishing rookie at an ASAMT event. If they are the highest finishing eligible rookie at any 2009 ASAMT events, they will receive a Touring Star bonus at the next event.

"The Touring Star program accomplishes a major goal that Tim (Olson, ASAMT President) and I set when we started this series. That is we want to have our fans local heroes to compete against the best Midwest drivers," Steve Einhaus, ASAMT Vice-President stated. "When we come to compete at a track with our Touring Stars, we encourage the local competitors to race with us. This is a win-win for everyone. The fans get to see some great racing and the local heroes get to show their talent against some of the toughest competition in the United States."

The season opening event will take place on Saturday, April 25 at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells, WI with the Race for the Gold - Bronze Race.

To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment log on to www.asamidwesttour.com or call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (262) 514-3880 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.

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.

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