By: Kevin Ramsell

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Wednesday, July 09, 2008) – When you talk to Jimmy Mullins, you will find someone who just loves what he does. He was excited when he went online and found himself sitting at the top of the ASA Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Member Track National Championship.

The 47-year-old Bassett, VA driver finds himself at the top of the season long championship chase with a performance indicator of 3.2839. He takes over the top spot from KD Kelley after East Bay Raceway Park suffered another rainout this past Saturday night.

Mullins didn’t have an easy cruise at Franklin this past Friday night, “We tore the car up and put it back together, then in the first practice we broke an axle and lost a lot of practice time. But we were able to come back and finish second behind Rodney Cook.”

Mullins currently holds a six point lead over Rick Sigmon at Franklin County. Ironically, Sigmon has a higher performance indicator of 3.2981. But as a reminder, in order to win the ASA Member Track Championship, you will have to win your track championship and have the highest performance indicator.

Mullins, the 1996 & 2007 track champion at Franklin, is happy to be competing not only at Franklin but for the ASA Championship as well. “I tell you what they have some good cars racing at Franklin County Speedway,” Mullins stated. “They have good races every week, and I will tell you that since we have been a part of ASA, our car counts have gone up, it’s been a big boost.”

He is also excited about competing for the ASA Member Track Championship, “I think it’s just awesome,” Mullins exclaimed. “I have won track championships, but it’s great to be running for a national championship.”

There is also respect for KD Kelley, “I have to congratulate KD on the run he is having this season. I have a feeling that he will be back on top next week because we have an off week, but we will make sure we stay in the hunt. We have to make sure that the bolts are tight and with me being an aggressive driver, I will be going for the win every week.”

And when asked if he felt he was too old to get the chance at a tryout with Joe Gibbs Racing, “You just tell KD that age don’t mean nothing.”

Kelley sits second in the East Region with a performance indicator of 3.1506 with Tony Hicks of Friendship Motor Speedway in third with 2.0132.

In the West Region, Gary Madsen moved back to the top of the standings over Cary Stapp after his fourth place finish at Rocky Mountain Raceway this past Saturday night. Madsen holds a 95 point lead over Michael Hale.

Stapp sits in second after enjoying a week off at Thunderhill Raceway with an indicator of 2.7028. Matt Ohm from Red River Speedway is third with a 2.6683.

Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, sponsor of the ASA National Short Track National Championship, is the same oil developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing. The team sells the oil so racers across the country can have access to the latest technology in racing lubricants.

Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program. Its driver lineup consists of Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch in the Sprint Cup Series; Stewart, Hamlin, and Busch in the Nationwide Series; and Joey Logano and Marc Davis in the NASCAR Camping World Series East. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs – a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships and more than 80 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500.

The ASA Short Track National Championship is another step by the industry leader in creating new and innovative programs. This follows the recent announcement about extending the insurance coverage for ASA members traveling to, from, and during an ASA-sanctioned event. For updated ASA National Points, just click on the "Points" link at www.asa-racing.com.

The ASA Member Track program is comprised of a network of short tracks around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.




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