From American Speed Association PR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -May 5, 2008- Norway Speedway, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, has a short racing season. Because of that, they need to make the most of the opportunity and have signed on as a Level I affiliate in the ASA Member Track program confident the partnership will help to elevate the third-mile facility in a variety of ways.

Part the local Dickinson County Fair Grounds in Norway, Mich., just miles from the Wisconsin border, Norway Speedway opens their season on May 31 and ends on August 31. Though this is only a handful of weeks, during that time the paved oval is jammed with on-track action.

"Yes, we do have a short season but that is really a function of the weather. The snow just disappeared but I still had to scrape frost off the car windshield this morning," explained Bob Menor, a Dickinson County Racing Association senior Board of Directors member who works diligently with the rest of the board to manage the racetrack. "Even though we don't get as many races in as some of the other tracks, we have great attendance, great car counts and great enthusiasm for Norway Speedway."

First opened as a dirt track in 1942, Norway Speedway was paved in 1978. In continual operation since opening, the facility hosts four main divisions on their weekly program, as well as a handful of special events such as the ASA Midwest Tour which makes their second annual stop as the track's season-finale on August 31.

"We've had a lot of people come through Norway Speedway over the years, and quite a few names that you may know have raced here at one time or another. It's a really good racetrack to teach younger people the right way to be a race car driver. And we have a lot of people, like myself or track president Bruce White, who have raced here for more than 30 years and continue to give back to the racetrack as Board members. These people take the time to do their own racing program, but they are very active and interested in the future of Norway Speedway and give a lot of themselves for the betterment of the track," Menor said. He has personally raced at Norway Speedway since the early 1980s and is now a regular in the Pepsi Late Models.

Menor said that the track's regular divisions include the Pepsi Late Models, Auto Value Super Stocks, Norway Slammers and DQ Dogs Fab 4. It is not unusual to see 25 to 30 cars in both the Late Model and Super Stock classes, while an incredible 75 to 80 cars will fill up the Fab 4 division each time they hit the track.

Part of the program includes the three-race Auto Value series for the Late Models and Super Stocks. The auto parts chain puts additional money into a bonus purse for these three events which is paid out based on cumulative points. The Auto Value races are scheduled for June 13, July 11 and August 8.

Menor was especially pleased that the Auto Value series includes the Super Stock class. "The Super Stock cars purchase a lot of parts from Auto Value stores. It's really nice to have a major sponsor like Auto Value see the benefit of coming aboard and sponsoring a secondary class like that," he said.

Another special event, slated for June 30, is the "Driveline 100." This is an invitational Late Model event promoted through the group effort of Coleman Racing, Honda Powerhouse, Five-Star Stock Car Bodies and Driveline Promotions. The complete 2008 schedule, along with news, point standings and more can be found online at www.NorwaySpeedway.com <> .

Menor said that the decision to join the ASA Member Track program was an interesting and somewhat lengthy process, but he sees the value on multiple fronts.

"One of our technical inspectors is also an official on the ASA Midwest Tour. When the series came to Norway Speedway last year we started talking about an affiliation with the ASA Midwest Tour officials. Shortly after, we began talking with Dennis (Huth) and went back and forth, back and forth. But I think that the ASA Member Track program is the best deal going and should provide our racetrack with a number of benefits," Menor explained as he cited three major components he feels will really benefit Norway Speedway.

"I believe that the American Speed Association can help bring some more and some national attention to Norway Speedway. It's really hard for a little track like ours just to get any type of exposure in some of these magazines without paying through the nose. I think the exposure that the ASA can bring will be really big for our club," he said.

Menor also feels the ASA insurance package is a major benefit. "For the drivers and the pit crews, the ASA offers the best possible participant insurance in the industry," he summarized.

ASA members in good standing are eligible for a $500,000 Excess Medical Benefit as well as a $20,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit. Coverage for the member begins while traveling to a location promoting an ASA-sanctioned event and continues until arrival home again. The American Speed Association is the only sanctioning body to offer insurance coverage which extends beyond the boundary of the racetrack itself (complete details are available online at www.ASA-Racing.com <> ).

The final area that Menor mentioned was the potential for the Pepsi Late Model drivers, the track's premier division, to compete for the ASA Short Track National Championship. Supported by Joe Gibbs Driven oil, this program allows competitors in ASA Level I tracks an opportunity to compete against each other regardless of geographic location for both bragging rights and something that money can't buy - a test session with Joe Gibbs Racing.

The Joe Gibbs Driven ASA National Member Track Champion Award was designed to give the National Champion exposure with one of the top teams in racing - Joe Gibbs Racing. Joe Gibbs Driven, a division of Joe Gibbs Racing, sells the actual oil products developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing to racers at all levels. More information can be found at www.JoeGibbsDriven.com <> .

"Norway Speedway proves that you don't necessarily have to have a long season to be a successful short track," said Dennis Huth, president of Racing Speed Associates which owns the American Speed Association. "They have a passionate group of Board members, the support of the local fairground, enthusiastic fans, and tremendous car counts and these all combine to make one of the best facilities in the area. I've enjoyed talking with Bob and can see the passion he has for short track racing, and especially Norway Speedway. I'm really going to enjoy having this racetrack in the ASA Member Track program as they represent the heart and soul of what grassroots motorsports is all about. Sharing knowledge, passion, and fun and those are all things we strive to do with the ASA Member Track program."

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


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