ASA champ again to get JGR test
Last year, the American Speed Association introduced a new unique point system to help determine the National Champion out of its 35 member tracks in the United States. With the help of speednetdirect.com, the first National Champion was Cary Stapp who was the track champion at Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, TX.
The program proved to be successful and will return next year for the ASA Member Tracks.
“We have a great formula set up to help determine the ASA Member Track National Champion," Dennis Huth, American Speed Association President stated. “The formula gives every driver who competes at our ASA Member Tracks an equal opportunity to be the ASA Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Member Track National Champion."
“Working with Dennis Huth and the American Speed Association is giving Joe Gibbs Racing a great opportunity to see the talent that is racing at the local tracks across the United States," JD Gibbs, President of Joe Gibbs Racing stated. “We are very proud to renew this opportunity in 2009. A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to welcome Cary Stapp to our shop and give him an opportunity to tryout by driving our race cars. It was a very positive experience for everyone involved."
As the 2008 ASA Member Track National Champion, Stapp took full advantage of his tryout with Joe Gibbs Racing. The experience itself was one that Stapp will always remember, “Oh man, it was more than what I expected," Stapp stated. “Joe & JD Gibbs and their entire staff treated us so well; this is something I will never forget."
The San Marcos, TX driver got to tour the Joe Gibbs Racing shop and had a test session at South Boston Speedway where he logged over 100 laps in testing two Toyota Camry’s for Gibbs.
“Overall, the whole experience was a positive one for the American Speed Association and Joe Gibbs Racing," Dennis Huth, American Speed Association President stated. “We were able to give a driver an opportunity of a lifetime and Joe Gibbs Racing got the opportunity to see a talented local driver behind the wheel of their cars."
Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program. Its driver lineup consists of Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch in the Sprint Cup Series. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs – a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships and more than 80 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500.
“The American Speed Association has a motto and that is ‘We Build Champions’ and with Joe Gibbs Racing doing this for our champions, I can only see the list of quality champions get bigger and brighter," Huth exclaimed. “The racing at our member tracks will be awesome in 2009 with this opportunity that Joe Gibbs Racing is offering next year."