News and notes from the ASL race held at Hawkeye Downs Speedway on Wednesday June 8 2005 in Cedar Rapids IA.
By Jason Dale Searcy (Jason@autoracingtracks.com)
Legendary driver Butch Miller announced during the on-track pre-race festivities that he is NOT retired as a driver. He is just taking some time off behind the wheel so he can lend a hand to aspiring driver Jarit Johnson and his team. Jarit Johnson said that he would invite his older brother (Nextel Cup star Jimmy Johnson) to one of the next few ASL races. The low car count was a main topic of discussion in the pits. Only thirteen ASL cars took to the track even though twenty pre-registered for the race.
“Hopefully it (car count) picks up. I would like the series to survive and, of course, we’ve got to have the cars for it to survive. I am hoping for the best.” Bryan Reffner #80
“I’m sure the weather kept some people away, it rained all day Tuesday and up until noon today (race day).” Trevor Stewart #91
“I really hope it (car count) does pick up, it’s not the greatest racing with a small car count but, it was a good field. Hopefully it will pick up and we can get a lot of cars when we come back here later in the year.” Landon Cassill #54
“I thought they were going to have a car count in the low thirty’s for this race, but being on a Wednesday night could’ve been a factor and the thunderstorms. I hope it gets better; we will be in Madison.” Ryan Mathews #21
Tires are always debated when a new series starts up. The ASL uses a Goodyear racing radial tire.
“Everyone thought it would be too hard of a tire and we would be slip sliding around. That didn’t happen, it was good side by side racing and people were able to pass.” Bryan Reffner #80
“They are not too bad to race on, they just take a little bit longer to get going, but once they get going they stay a lot longer. They don’t change or fade as bad as a Late Model Bias-ply tire.” Ryan Mathews #21
Four cars finished on the lead lap with the top three bunched close together at the finish. There were no cautions in this event except for the mandatory caution at the half-way point and a false start at the beginning of the race. The only incident in practice was when Paul Paine spun coming out of corner number two and did not hit the wall. He mentioned feeling rusty after not racing as much as usual the past couple of seasons.
Final comment:
“I thought it was a good show. We are putting on good races, we had changes for the lead throughout the race, no cautions, and nobody tore anything up. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.” Bryan Reffner #80
Wednesday June 8th 2005
By Jason Dale Searcy (jason@autoracingtracks.com)
Stephen Leicht made a late race pass for his first career ASL win in the Keith Fleck Miller 150 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids IA.
With twenty laps remaining Leicht closed in on race leader Andrew Morrissey. "I couldn't turn under him because he was so low and I couldn't go high because there was not grip" said Leicht. "Then I started being smooth and slowed myself down to get back in a rhythm." Three laps later Leicht moved into the top spot and held on for the win. "I somehow got under him (Morrissey) and he raced me clean."
Runner up Morrissey dominated early in the race holding as much as a straight-away lead before Leicht got by. "The car got too tight on me, I couldn't get off the corner like I was earlier in the race," said a disappointed Morrissey. "I just got out-raced; I didn't lead the most important lap."
Bryan Reffner, who started at the tail of the field, came back to finish a close third. "Our day started behind, we were way off when we got here" said Reffner. "I always say if you don't have your stuff prepared when you get to the racetrack you're going to get beat, and that's what happened."
Following Reffner to the checkered flag was Ryan Mathews, Trevor Stewart, Johnathon Davenport and Jarit Johnson.
With this win Stephen Leicht, also a winner on the ASA Late Model series this year, has now established himself in the ASL. “ASL is a great series; they are trying to build it back up to where it was before. I hope they do because it’s an awesome deal” said Leicht.
The ASL series next travels to Madison International Speedway in Oregon WI on Saturday June 18th.
For more information go to www.asl-midamracing.com or www.autoracingtracks.com