| Minnesota Labor Day Classic Moves to Elko | Pendleton, Ind. (August 5, 2003) – For the second consecutive season, the ASA Racing Series visits Elko Speedway for the Minnesota Governor’s Cup 400 with the event moving to Labor Day Weekend on Monday, September 1. This season marks the only stop to Minnesota for the series that builds champions and the first occasion the .375-mile track has hosted a 400-lap ASA event.
In the inaugural event at Elko in 2002, eventual series champion Joey Clanton delighted the capacity crowd with passing series veteran Mike Garvey with three laps remaining in the Governor’s Cup 300 Presented by Coca-Cola.
For 100 circuits, Garvey, David Stremme, Clanton and Kevin Cywinski bumped and banged for the top spot, but with three laps remaining, Clanton went to the inside lane to grab the checkers. On the final restart following the 11th caution period with seven laps to go, Stremme got outside of leader Garvey, but then he suddenly dropped off the pace on the back straightaway.
This allowed Clanton to get inside and take over second position. With a light drizzle falling, the Georgia veteran went underneath of Garvey, coming off the fourth turn to complete the final pass for the point.
Stremme regained power and got inside of Garvey entering turn two to record the second-place finish with Garvey, Cywinski and Gary St. Amant rounding out the top-five finishers. The victory was Clanton’s six of 2002 and his seventh podium finish in eight events.
“We got the car working on the bottom,” said Clanton. “At the end, no one was running the bottom of the track and it was actually drier down there. This is an outside groove racetrack, but you have to take what comes to you.”
Stremme, recording his second runner-up finish, put together back-to-back podium finishes for the first time of 2002. The previous event he placed third at Wisconsin International Raceway.
ASA returns to Elko Speedway on Labor Day Weekend for the Minnesota Governor’s Cup 400 on Monday, September 1.
The ASA National Pit Stop Contest Presented by BFGoodrich and SK Hand Tool will be take place on Saturday and Sunday on Labor Day Weekend. In the opening round held at Burnsville Shopping Center from 2-5 p.m., all teams are invited to partake in this competition showcasing the pit crews. The top-10 finishing teams will compete in the championship round at Elko Speedway on Sunday evening, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday at Elko, MARS and ASA begin practice starting at 11:30 a.m. ASA will set the field for the 400-lap event on Monday with pole qualifying at 4:30 p.m. with MARS qualifying taking place at 6. The ASA National Pit Stop Contest Presented by BFGoodrich Tires and SK Hand Tool rolls off at 7:30 with the 100-lap MARS event going green at 9. On Monday, ASA’s on-track fan autograph session and live musical entertainment are scheduled for noon with pre-race ceremonies set for noon. The Minnesota Governor’s Cup 400 goes green at 1:30. (Local).
Tickets for the Minnesota Governor’s Cup 400 at Elko are $25 each in advance and $30 on race day. Children 12 years old and younger are admitted free with a paying adult. Tickets on Sunday for the 100-lap MARS late model event and ASA pole qualifying are $12 in advance and $15 on race day. If tickets are purchased for both days, the price is $35 for admission. For Additional information, contact the ASA Racing ticket line, 1-888-ASA-1020. VISA, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. Tickets are on sale now.
For more information on the ASA Racing Series, visit www.asaracing.com.
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