By: Kevin Ramsell

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Friday, October 23, 2009) - Rick McCray, General Manager of Orange Show Speedway, an ASA Member Track, in San Bernardino, CA knows a little about racing overseas. He is planning, along with his daughter Toni, to compete at the American Speed Association’s Transcontinental Series “Championship Between the Continents - South Africa versus USA Motorsports” on January 29-31, 2010 at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, South Africa.

“I think it’s awesome, it’s a new venture in a new country,” McCray said when he was asked about his reaction to he and his daughter being invited to race at this historic event. “My daughter is going to compete and there is a good possibility that I will as well. We are taking two cars, so we are going to see what will happen.”

McCray’s experience behind the wheel has helped Orange Show Speedway put on some of the best racing action in Southern California. He was a rookie of the year himself at the Speedway in 1977 only to back that up as the NASCAR Winston West Rookie of the Year in 1978. He holds the honor of being the first driver to be sponsored by Coors Brewing Co. and the first to bring a car sponsored by them over the Mason/Dixon line.

This will not be the first time that McCray has ventured overseas to compete in a stock car event. He competed in the 1980’s when NASCAR visited Australia and showed off their brand of stock car racing. This trip to South Africa will be special as his daughter Toni will again join him like she did when he competed in Australia. This time as a fellow competitor. “She is also very excited and we are putting some stuff together right now,” McCray said. “We are working diligently right now on this event.”

Toni cannot believe that she was invited, “I am really excited about it, I think its going to be a huge deal and I honestly can’t believe it. The experience of going over there will be incredible. This is the first time that ASA is going over and going to be running stock cars and I think it’s amazing. I am looking forward to be able to interact with the South African competitors, teach them some things and learn a lot too.”

She will be a tough competitor in the “Championship Between the Continents - South Africa versus USA Motorsports” as she won the Super Late Model 50-lap feature and then a 100-lap feature a week later earlier this month at Orange Show Speedway. She currently sits fifth in the point standings. “The little kids who respond to me driving is really fun, it really gets them excited,” Toni McCray said when she was in victory lane. “I hope we see a lot more females come through, it will be really good for this sport.”

She cannot wait to be a part of this unique event, “It’s an honor to be asked to go over there, I mean it’s huge especially to race against the competitors we will be racing against.”

But, it’s the elder McCray who summed it up best, “Just going over there, you are a winner! To be invited, is a lot of gratification. When you are invited to something in another country and your peers think enough of you to invite you to something like this, its really special. Win, lose or draw it’s a great deal. Everybody wants to win and it would be a great deal. Just to be a part of it, it’s going to be exciting and fun.”

“I have known Rick and Toni for a long time and I am very excited to have them racing in this event,” Dennis Huth, ASA President said. “With Rick’s experience of racing overseas in the past along with having his talented daughter racing as well is a welcome addition to the list of drivers we are compiling for this event.”

The American drivers invited will not only get a chance to compete on one of the finest racetracks outside of the United States, but will enjoy many off-track opportunities to see the various sights of South Africa; this includes a private tour of “Savannah” the wildlife preserve that holds the distinction of being just one of three accredited worldwide breeders of the Cheetah.

To learn more about Phakisa Freeway, visit www.phakisa.com.

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based American Speed Association 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.

ASA™, ASA Racing™ American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. ASA International, LLC or Racing Speed Associates, LLC are not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.



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