FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Jeremy Troiano, 51 Sports

(704) 788-2134, Jeremy@51sports.net

ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour Announces “Road To Nashville”

Season-Long Program Will Award Extra Money to Drivers & Prizes to ASA SAT Fans

CONCORD, NC ( February 1, 2008) – The ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour announced an extensive program today to help promote its biggest race, as well as the legendary racetrack and city that will host the event.  The Nashville 200, scheduled for Saturday, November 1^st, at the historic half-mile Music City Motorplex in Nashville, TN, will be the crowning event of the “Road to Nashville” program.

The season-long promotion is designed to help bring heightened attention to both the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, along with the City of Nashville and the Music City Motorplex, which is based at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds Complex.  The city of Nashville, and officials of the Music City Motorplex, will support the “Road to Nashville” program throughout the season.

"The ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour is excited about the partnership with Music City Motorplex.  The racing history in Nashville at the Fairgrounds is incredible,” said Stan Narrison, Promotions Manager of the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour.  “Most of the great legends of motorsports have competed at the 5/8^th-mile speed palace.  The season-long promotion will focus on the outstanding facility of Music City Motorplex and the attractions that Nashville has to offer."

“This is a great opportunity to highlight Nashville and the Music City Motorplex to race fans around the country,” commented Butch Spyridon, President of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are looking forward to hosting the spectators, sponsors and competitors that will be visiting our great city,” Spyridon concluded.

The program is designed to benefit ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour competitors, fans of the series and the Music City Motorplex, which is celebrating its 50^th year of asphalt racing in 2008.  The city of Nashville and its attractions will be featured in displays at all the ASA SAT events during the 2008 season.

“We’re really excited about the continuity of this program, the “Road to Nashville,” that the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour has planned,” said Joe Mattioli, Promoter and President of Music City Motorplex.  “This links us to not only the July event in Nashville, but also eight other events.  Plus, I think for the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, the ability to be a part of the Adam Petty Memorial All American 400, especially the event that is now branded as the Adam Petty Memorial, can bring the series more credibility.” 

The Music City Motorplex saw formalized paved racing begin on July 19, 1958, when the first race was held at the new speedway.  For many drivers it was the first time they had raced on an asphalt surface.  Chattanooga driver Charlie Griffin won the opening race.  Thirteen races were held in that initial season, but only three drivers were able to master the new asphalt surface.  Griffin, Bob Reuther, and a new local favorite named Jimmy Griggs took home all the first-place money with Reuther winning the season championship.  Griggs, nicknamed the “Donelson Dandy,” would go on to win the 1962 championship and become one of the most popular drivers in the track’s forty-plus year history. 

Champions of the Music City Motorplex reads like a who’s who of legends in short track racing.  Coo Coo Marlin, Freddy Fryar, Darrell Waltrip, Mike Alexander, Sterling Marlin, Jeff Green and Bobby Hamilton have all won track championships.  The track also hosted several big races over the years, from multiple Winston Cup events and the prestigious year-end All American 400.  Richard Petty, Waltrip, Benny Parsons, Rex White, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough, Butch Lindley, Bob Senneker, Butch Miller, Rusty Wallace, Jim Sauter, Gary St. Amant, Jeff Purvis, Wayne Anderson, Freddie Query and Bobby Gill are all drivers who have graced Nashville’s famous Victory Lane.

The ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour will televise nine “Road to Nashville” events leading up to the November 1^st event that will be part of the Adam Petty Memorial All American 400 weekend along with the CRA Super Series.  One of those nine races will be held at the Music City Motorplex on July 5^th.  The drivers who win at the nine “Road to Nashville” events will receive a $500 bonus when they attempt to qualify for the Nashville 200 on November 1^st.  If a driver wins more than one “Road to Nashville” event, the bonus will go to the second-place finisher if they have not already collected the bonus money.  There will be nine different winners of the $500 bonus during the nine “Road to Nashville” events.

During the Nashville 200 weekend, teams and drivers will also be treated to a special party and concert for everyone to enjoy.

The “Road to Nashville” promotion will also benefit the fans.  During the season, fans will have a chance to win a “Road to Nashville” prize package, which includes a trip for two to the event, plus airfare, meals, attraction tickets and VIP hospitality at the weekend race. 

“I’m finding that John Kee (series founder) and his staff of the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour are some of the most astute marketing people I’ve had the pleasure to deal with in motorsports,” added Mattioli.  “They see this as more than just sanctioning a race.  They are creating an event.  They’re creating a buzz and an exciting atmosphere around the race, too, and Nashville has the amenities to do just that.”

More announcements about the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour will be released in the coming weeks, including more news regarding the “Road to Nashville.”  The series rules are already available for downloading at the series official website.

For more media inquiries regarding the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, contact Jeremy Troiano at (704) 788-2134 and be sure to visit www.asasoutheastasphalttour.com for all ASA Southeast Tour news.  For technical and rules information on the entire series, call Micky Cain at (678) 373-9851.  For sponsorship and promotional information, please contact Stan Narrison at (678) 910-7726.

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com.  For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asaracing.com.