The American Speed Association has announcedthat National Tour teams will be competing for more than a $1 million point fund duringthe 2004 season. This money is above the standard event purse that is posted at eachof the ASA National Tour races.
Additionally, the points fund will be paid deeper into the field than at any time in the 37-year history of the sanctioning body. In the past, only teams placing in the top 20 at theend of the season would be eligible for the points fund. Starting in 2004, the AmericanSpeed Association will make this additional money available to teams all the way to 40thposition in the point standings.
"This is a big announcement for the ASA National Tour," said Steve Dale, ASApresident/CEO. "It really is saying something when we run one less race than our 2003schedule, yet we can still increase the points fund and offer a record amount paid out tomore teams than ever before. I think that this is a direct reflection on the enthusiasmthat ASA is generating."
Teams are excited about the additional financial opportunities. "This creates anopportunity where we may invest more dollars into our program to go after the purse,"said Ken Smith, owner of SS Racing. "The last two years we've run a second car. Oneyear we were 28th and the other down in like 38th so this would help to fund some of that.Spreading it down helps the competitor."
The 2004 ASA National Tour champion will once again receive a $200,000 payout, witha $50,000 incentive to return and compete in the series the following year. This is thefirst time in ASA history that such a bonus has been offered to the series champion.
As with years past, the 2004 Rookie of the Year will also receive the $50,000 check thatcomes with the Pat Schauer memorial trophy. This rookie payout is among the highest inall of motorsports.
"I've been part of the American Speed Association for eight years and never before haveI seen so much money be awarded to so many teams," stated Mark Gundrum, ASAexecutive vice president, sales/marketing. "If people hadn't been looking at ASA before,this should help to turn a few heads our direction and get people talking about ourseries. I believe that this point fund is more than most other comparable series areoffering, and is one of the richest at our level of motorsports."
The ASA National Tour will run 16 events during the 2004 campaign, starting with the SKHand Tool 200 at USA International Speedway on March 27. This event, like most on theschedule will be televised live on SPEED Channel. This season is highlighted by thereturn of the ASA National Tour to five different speedways, tracks one-mile or larger insize, including the October 29 season-finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Otherspeedway tracks on the schedule include a pair of visits to Kentucky Speedway, PikesPeak International Raceway, The Milwaukee Mile and Lowe's Motor Speedway.
The American Speed Association is based in Pendleton, Ind., and has offered stock carracing programs since 1968, including the ASA National Tour, ASA Late Model Seriesand ASA Member Track programs.
