The ASALMS Northern Division and USPRO Cup Series to open the 2008 season at Toledo Speedway
The ASALMS Northern Division and USPRO Cup Series to open the 2008 season at Toledo Speedway
The ASALMS Northern Division will run in the Glass Breaker 125 while the highly awaited return of the USPRO Cup Series will run the Welcome Back / Glass Breaker 75. Joining the ASALMS Northern Division and USPRO Cup Series will be the O’Reilly Auto Parts USA Modifieds Series.
“I have a lot of fond memories of the Toledo Speedway and it only made sense to me to have our 2008 openers for both the ASALMS Northern Division and USPRO Cup Series on the same weekend at one of my favorite race tracks.” Stated ASALMS Co-Founder / President, Ron Varney.
“The ASALMS Challenge Division put on such a great show last season. People still talk about the battle between Travis Dassow and Derek Thorn!” Varney continued. “This time around, we’ll bring in not one, but two of our divisions and split up the 200 laps into two separate Features, A 125 lapper for the North cars and the Welcome Back 75 for the USPRO Cup drivers.”
“What a great way to kick off each of their seasons with a huge weekend dedicated to just our ASALMS North and USPRO teams at such a great facility. Plus, the USA Modifieds return, and they brought 45 cars last year! How many days are left until we head down there for the weekend?” He asked.
“We’re very enthusiastic about opening the 2008 Midwest racing season at Toledo Speedway with the ASALMS Northern Division, the revived USPRO Cup Series, and the always exciting USA Modifieds Series.”
Added Scott Schultz, General Manager of the Toledo Speedway.“Toledo is a favorite for many race teams and we look forward to the April 12 race. There is a great deal of history at this track, with several of today’s stars having competed at Toledo.” Schultz continued. “I’m sure there will be a few entries for the ASALMS weekend here that are looking to move up the ladder.”
In the ASALMS one appearance at the Michigan / Ohio border facility, the ASALMS Challenge Division ran in the Glass Breaker 200 on April 21, 2007 after a postponement due to Snow Showers the previous week.
2007 ASALMS Challenge Division Champion, Travis Dassow won his first career ASALMS Feature after a thrilling side by side dual that lasted over the final 15 laps with Lakeport, California driver, Derek Thorn. With five laps to go, Dassow made one last pass count to win the Glass Breaker 200. Thorn settled for second while Colt James took the last podium finish with a third place showing. Keeton Hanks and Eddie Hoffman completed the Top Five. Earlier in the afternoon, Hoffman established the ASALMS Track Record in Toledo, Ohio as the Wheaton, Illinois veteran toured the fast 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval at a 15.766. Hoffman’s lap measured out to 114.369 MPH. There were 29 cars on hand.
Under the direction of Promoters Roy Mott and Ron Drager, the Toledo Speedway enters its 48th season in 2008 with weekly Friday night racing events beginning on May 2, 2008 with a weekly racing card of Sportsmen, Figure 8s, Factory Stocks, and Four Cylinders.
Numerous special events and appearances by nationally recognized racing series, as well as non-racing related events are also on the 2008 schedule. Amongst the special events in 2008 and in addition to the 2008 ASALMS Northern Division and USPRO Cup Series Season Openers is the Glass City Late Model Gold Cup Series.The Glass City Late Model Gold Cup Series for Outlaw Bodied Late Models is a Five-Race series leading into the prestigious 20th annual Glass City 200 on Saturday, September 20, 2008. The Gold Cup dates are slated for Friday May 9, Sunday May 25, Friday June 27, Friday August 8, and Sunday August 31, 2008.
More traveling series’ that are booked for 2008 includes Two (2) appearances by the home based ARCA RE/MAX Series as well as the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series. The CRA Super Series will make one appearance while the Fastest Short Track Show in the World is booked for Friday June 13 featuring the ISMA Super Modifieds and Auto Value Super Sprints on the same card. In addition, the Buckeye Super Sprints, MSA Super Modifieds, are also scheduled. Plus the highly popular annual Monster Truck weekend, classic car shows, charity motorcycle runs and car cruises, flea markets open to the general public and music concerts at the Toledo Speedway Bar and Grill are all on the 2008 schedule.
The 2008 season ends for the Toledo, Ohio speed plant on Saturday and Sunday October 10-11, 2008 with the ARCA Championship Weekend. The ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series run their 50-lap Championship Feature on Saturday while the ARCA RE/MAX Series will end their 2008 season with a 200-lap Feature on Sunday.
The track itself is a lightning fast 0.500 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval with a 0.250 Mile Oval and figure-8 course inside. Many of the most recognizable names in motorsports have raced at Toledo Speedway. Amongst those legendary drivers; Indy 500 winners Al Unser and Gordon Johncock. Daytona 500 winners Bobby Allison and Benny Parsons. Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Ryan Newman, Michael Waltrip and many more!
An aggressive capital improvement campaign has been undertaken since 1999 to upgrade and renovate the storied venue, making Toledo Speedway into the category of among the finest short track motorsports facilities in the nation.
Toledo Speedway is located at 5639 Benore Road in Toledo, Ohio. Just ¼ mile off I-75 at the Alexis Road exit on the Michigan-Ohio border. The track is easily accessible from any direction, with the Ohio Turnpike, I-280, I-475 and US 23 just a short jaunt from the track.
For more information about the Toledo Speedway and the 2008 season, please call during normal business hours: 1 (419) 727-1100
By Matt Prieur-ASA Late Model Series