Texas Speedzone - Texan Colt James leads ASALMS Challenge Diviion Points after Nashville

For Immediate Release, 4/2/07
By: ASA Late Model Series

Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title contender Derek Thorn wins his first career ASALMS Feature in the Music City Spring Clash 200.

Nashville, TN (04/02/2007) - The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts has completed Race Number of the Fifth Anniversary 2007 Racing Season for the Crown Jewel of the ASALMS, the Challenge Division. The Music City Spring Clash 200 is now in the record books.

The Cars and Stars of "America's Premiere Short Track Series" were at the famed Music City (TN) Motorplex in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday March 31, 2007 and Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title contender and new Rookie Points Leader, Derek Thorn took the lead from Charlie Menard on lap 139 and the Lakeport, California freshman went on to win his first career ASALMS Challenge Division Feature!

Under threatening skies, Menard and ASALMS Challenge Division Points Leader, Colt James brought the star studded 30-car field to the green flag to begin the Music City Spring Clash 200 and it was James who would beat out Menard to the first corner to take the early lead as the rest of settled in behind the front row starters.

The first of 11 total cautions flew on lap 13 when Bryan Clauson, part of the Driver Development Program for Chip Ganassi Racing and Ryan Lawler got together coming out of Turn Two collecting Kris Stump in the process. All three cars ended up in the Turn Two wall. Stump was the only driver that was able to continue later in the race.

James continued to set the pace when on lap 25, ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Fast Qualifier, Nick Neville and Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie Contender, Andy Hanson collided coming out of Turn Four. Neville got sideways and slammed the inside front stretch wall. The 19-year-old was ok but done for the evening.

Nine laps later, another Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie, Chris Archer found himself in the Turn Four wall and his night ended early as well. On the ensuing restart, James pulled out to a comfortable lead while Menard maintained the second position.

Another caution flew on lap 81 when Travis Dassow and John Wes Townley got together in Turn Two. Dassow was sent to the rear of the field while Townley was awarded his spot back in seventh position. James would continue to lead throughout the numerous cautions that plagued the first half of the Music City Spring Clash 200 and would lead the field into the pits at the Lap 101 10 Minute Break. James led over Menard, Derek Thorn, Michael Annett, and Keeton Hanks, the Top Five.

The second half began with Menard glued to James' back bumper looking high and low and trying to figure out a way around the ASALMS Challenge Division Points Leader. Finally on lap 121, Menard dove to the inside of James heading into Turn One and the Eau Claire, Wisconsin driver would take over the lead and brought Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title contender, Derek Thorn with him past James' ailing machine.

James dropped a spark plug wire and fell all the way back to as low as 10th. In the meantime, Thorn began his assault on Menard and began building momentum on the outside groove after several tries to the inside of Menard's Ford Fusion.

Finally on lap 139 Thorn had built up enough momentum in the second groove and coming out of Turn Four, Thorn drove around Menard in the second groove and beat him to the start/finish line to take the lead! Menard tried to stay on Thorn's back bumper in an attempt to retake the point.

The last of 11 cautions flew on lap 190 when Chris Fontaine, who was in an earlier incident on lap 47 and was nursing a damaged machine, slapped the Turn One wall and came to rest in the middle of the back stretch and was done for the evening.

This set up a final 10-lap Shootout between Thorn and Menard. 2006 Music City Motorplex Rookie of the Year in weekly Late Models competition, 17-year-old Keeton Hanks was now in third and he joined the battle for the win in the last 10-lap Sprint.

Thorn wasn't to be denied however as the Lakeport, California would pull away from both Menard and Hanks and the 20-year-old, who now resides in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin would go on to win his first career ASALMS Challenge Division Feature and a coveted Copley Guitar in the Music City Spring Clash 200! In the process, Thorn, who was steering his Retro Kits Chevrolet Monte Carlo, also takes over the Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year Points Lead heading into the third event of the season in Toledo, Ohio.

Menard settled for second while Hanks finished a career high third in only his second start for Allen-Hock Motorsports. Travis Dassow recovered from his Lap 81 penalty and roared through the pack for a season high fourth place finish while Eddie Hoffman, the winner of the last Two ASALMS events in Music City, also had to come from the back of the pack and recorded his second Top Five finish in a row in fifth.

17-year-old John Wes Townley finished a season high sixth while Colt James recovered from his Spark Plug Wire issues and bring his car back home to seventh spot and maintains the ASALMS Challenge Division Points Lead heading to Toledo, Ohio. Michael Annett, Peter Cozzolino, and Jesse Smith completed the Top 10.

Earlier in the afternoon in ARP Bodies/Aluminum Racing Products Qualifying Mackinaw, Illinois Sophomore, Nick Neville ripped off the fastest lap of ARP Bodies Qualifying as the 19-year-old in his Ben E. Neville Roll Off and Trucking Services Chevrolet Monte Carlo turned a lap measured at 19.207 which equals out to 111.709 MPH.

Then later in the evening, Richard Johns led all 15 laps to win the GM Performance Parts Shootout and earn the 29th starting spot in the Music City Spring Clash 200. Austin Siebert finished second to garner the 30th and final starting position in the Main Feature. Terry VanHaitsma finished third and was the first car on the outside looking in while Danny Ouderkirk and Alec Carll completed the Top Five.

The next event for the Crown Jewel of the ASALMS, the Challenge Division will see the Cars and Stars of "America's Premiere Short Track Series" make its' first ever appearance to the historic high-banks of the Toledo (OH) Speedway in Toledo, Ohio on Friday and Saturday April 13-14, 2007 in the running of the Glass Breaker 200.