ASA STARS National Tour Glass City 200 Update

March 18, 2023 18:57

ASA STARS National Tour Glass City 200 Update

The ASA STARS National Tour roared to life March 11 with its inaugural race at Five Flags Speedway. The Sunshine State 200 kicked off the first of ten races for the series in 2023, which will see ASA STARS take on the most iconic short tracks and the most iconic races, including the Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway Saturday, September 16.

With that said, let’s take a look back at what was the Sunshine State 200.

Casey Roderick is First-Ever ASA STARS National Tour Winner

When the dust settled, it was Casey Roderick taking the checkered flag and staking claim as the first winner of the new ASA STARS National Tour. However, it did not come without drama. With 30 to go, a battle for the lead between Roderick and Bubba Pollard culminated with contact between the two exiting turn four. Pollard would spin on the frontstretch before being hit by oncoming traffic, ending his night.

What was undeniable, however, was Roderick and Anthony Campi Racing’s speed. He was fastest overall on both days of practice before qualifying fourth for the race. He hung around the top-five most of the race and once he inherited the lead, he drove away from Jeremy Doss over the final 30-lap run to take the win. He now looks to carry over that speed and continued momentum from the World Series of Asphalt to the next ASA STARS race at Madison International Speedway on May 7.

Big Names Take Part in Sunshine State 200

When the green flag waved Saturday night, 35 drivers vied for the $20,000 and the cool trophy from HDFive / Horvath Design. The field consisted of the country’s best Super Late Model drivers from all walks of Super Late Model life.

Former series champions included Casey Roderick (Southern Super Series), Bubba Pollard (SSS), Jeremy Doss (SRL Southwest Tour), Ty Majeski (ASA Midwest Tour) Cole Butcher (Pro Stock Tour), Jacob Gomes (SRL), Matt Craig (PASS South, CARS SLM Tour), Dan Fredrickson (ASA MT), Hunter Robbins (SSS), Preston Peltier (PASS South and National), Dakota Stroup (JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour), Derek Thorn (SRL), Stephen Nasse (SSS) and Michael Bilderback (Big 8 Series).

In addition, four current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers and two former Snowball Derby winners were also in the field.

Pit Strategy Galore

The Sunshine State 200 featured stages and six tires for teams to change throughout the 200-lap event. Those factors led to multiple leaders and lead changes and strategies throughout the race.

There were ten lead changes among eight drivers, with Matt Craig leading the most laps with 79. Carson Hocevar started last and eventually worked his way into the lead on lap 125, while Bubba Pollard and Ty Majeski both made up multiple laps - Pollard took the lead at one point and Majeski ended the night with a strong third-place finish.

ASA is Back

The Sunshine State 200 marked the first race under the ASA banner since 2004, which brings some old and new to the Glass City 200. ASA is officially back, with the 10-race National Championship Series next racing at Madison International Speedway in Wisconsin on May 7. The series will then visit North Wilkesboro Speedway and Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina, Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin, Anderson Speedway in Indiana, Wisconsin Int’l Raceway in Kaukauna, before the Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway September 16, followed by the Winchester 400, and the championship-deciding All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds.

Official Sunshine State 200 Results:

Casey Roderick
Jeremy Doss
Ty Majeski
Cole Butcher
Carson Hocevar
Gabe Sommers
Austin Nason
Jacob Gomes
John Bolen
Matt Craig
Michael Hinde
Dan Fredrickson
Blaine Rocha
Billy VanMeter
Gio Ruggiero
Jake Finch
Albert Francis
Hunter Robbins
Bubba Pollard
Preston Peltier
Derek Kraus
Dakota Stroup
Derek Thorn
Timothy Watson
Ryan Moore
Jett Noland
Tony Elrod
Stephen Nasse
Michael Bilderback
Connor Okrzesik
Grant Enfinger
Boris Jurkovic
Dustin Smith
Ryan Luza
Kyle Bryant

ASA STARS National Tour

The ASA STARS National Tour features many of the best drivers in America competing in the 10-race national tour with a minimum $100,000 point fund. The championship team will be guaranteed $25,000. The national series is made up of three races from each of the regional pavement Super Late Model Series under the Track Enterprises banner; the ASA CRA Super Series, the ASA Midwest Tour and the ASA Southern Super Series.

About the Glass City 200

The 35th Running of the Glass City 200 Presented by DTS Drive Train Specialists and Courtyard by Marriott roars to life under the ASA STARS National Tour banner in Toledo on Saturday, September 16th. The near-perennial event has provided some of of the most memorable moments in Ohio pavement short track racing history over the past fifty-five years, with local and national stars taking part in this historic event. New in 2023, the return to the 200-lap feature will also prove to be a new endurance test for many of the top drivers in the country. Ticket information for the 2023 Glass City 200 will be come soon, so keep updated with ToledoSpeedway.com for more information! You can also follow along with Toledo Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.