We have a little different kind of racing in store this weekend, as we go full bodied stock car racing.  The stars and cars of the ASA Late Model Series make a much anticipated stop at Oswego Speedway this weekend for one of their marquee events.  A full card of time trials, a shootout, and 200 lap Fleet Pride 200 is on the docket for the Midwestern based organization.  In addition to the ASA cars, a full show of supermodifieds is on the card as well.

While the faces have changed, they are basically the same ASA cars that came to Oswego in the mid 80’s.  For years, ASA has laid the foundation as a training ground for drivers looking for stock cars experience.  As they gain experience, they have a competitive field to race with, making it one of the top driver development series in the country.

While the names Furlong, Sitterly, Snyder, Gareau and Stowell have become household names, the ASA drivers pretty much come in to the lakeside oval with anonymity. Some of these drivers have impressive resumes, and you may recognize more names than you think in the ASA Late Model division.  Let’s take a look at some of the top drivers on the circuit, and maybe you can pick a favorite or two to pick out and cheer for this weekend.

Kelly Bires is the current high point man.  Bires, 21, is a rookie in the division, and is the most recent winner in the series.  He drives the Waltom Racing #85, which Steven Leicht drove to the series championship in 2005.  That ride propelled Leicht into a Busch ride with the Robert Yates team. Bires, as well as being the top driver on the circuit at the time, is a two time state wrestling champion in Wisconsin.  He carried a 3.975 GPA in school, and combined with his wrestling prowess, they led to scholarship offers to places such as Duke, and Wisconsin.  Kelly turned them down to pursue a career in racing. In the three shows this year, Kelly has a win, a second and a fourth.  Kelly looks to be a strong contender this weekend.

Jake Ryan picked up the win at San Antonio Speedway.  Ryan is another rookie driver, and has three top tens in three shows to date.  He is a 23 year old from Minnesota, and has been driving for six years.  He drives the Honeywell #19, and picked up eight wins, including six in a row at Elko Speedway.

Eddie Hoffman drives the Dale Earnhardt Jr look a like car #8.  Hoffman won the season opener at the Music City Motorplex at Nashville.  “Fast Eddie”, as he has been dubbed, at 46 years of age, is one of the elder statesmen of the ASA series.  Hoffman has eight wins this year so far, at tracks from USA International, Nashville, Grundy and Lake Geneva Speedways.  If he’s around at the finish, look for the Hoffman car to be near the front.

Chad Wood has been the Mr. Consistent of the ASA series in 2006.  A third and a pair of second places put Chad in the runner up spot in the points.  He’s a Madison, Wisconsin native, and has a couple of heavy hitters in his resume.  A few years back, Chad was the driver of Ted Musgrave’s ASA car.  Musgrave, the reigning NASCAR Truck Champion is one of the legendary figures in ASA. Rich Bickle has been a part time team mate of Wood’s recently.  Chad drives the “Blue Deuce”, and looks to find victory lane for the first time this year at Oswego.

At the ripe age of 16,  Landon Cassill is one of the “Young Guns” of the ASA division.  He came home sixth in the season long standings last year, and is coming off a string of top runs.  Landon wheeled the black #7 to a third and fourth place  runs at Madison.  He’s been a poster boy for hard luck in the past, but that tag seems to have left him.  Landon surely is a hot shoe, and lists Joe Gibbs synthetic oil as his top sponsor.  He would like nothing better than to pick up his first ASA win this weekend.

25 year old Kris Stump has a basketful of feature wins in stock cars. Like Chad Wood, Kris Stump has some names in his background that may ring a bell or two.  A few years back, Stump drove for Yoder Racing (Kyle Busch’s ASA ride).  Two years back, he started his own team with ASA familiar name Glenn Allen Jr.  Allen Jr. is team manager of the red #35 team operation.  Stump is another of the engineer breed in stock cars.  He was valedictorian at ITT Tech. in Indy, in Electrical Engineering, with a perfect 4.0 GPA.  Stump is currently fifth in the standings, and coming off a runner up finish at San Antonio. Brent Downey is Stump’s team mate.  Downey is a 24 year old who seems to like tracks where supermodifieds run.  He had a season best seventh place run last year at Sandusky, and set fast time at an old supermod track at Baer Field (IN) Speedway. Downey is from the Cincinnati area, and is a veteran of the ASA wars, even back to the defunct ASA National Tour.  Downey wheels the red #23 Monte Carlo.

Travis Dassow may be a sleeper this weekend.  He seems to fly under the radar, but is a weekly contender.  The former snow mobile champion drives the light blue #92, and comes from Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin.  Slinger has seen Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Rusty Wallace, Ken Schrader, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the late Alan Kulwicki all in their victory lane.  Travis has three top tens to start 2006.

Bobby Stremme is the 2004 Champion and was the RoY as well.  Bobby won at Sandusky last year, and is a threat whenever he tows to a show.  The white #53 he drives is owned by his brother, Nextel Cup Series rookie David Stremme, who also competes in ASA from time to time.  Bobby is going after the title again in 2006.

The Menard name is familiar in both the racing and home improvement circles.  Charlie Menard drives the Ford Fusion day glow #13.  Charlie is the nephew of John Menard, and cousin of Busch driver Paul Menard.  Charlie is the Chief Operation Officer of Menards Home Improvement.  He picked up the season ending win last year at USA International in Florida.  Charlie was the prestigious NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Regional Champ in the Midwest in 2004.  Charlie has a pair of top five this year, and will be in contention this weekend. Drivers such as former sprint car driver Peter Cozzolino, Ken Wills, Jack Smith, and Ryan Carlson will also be in contention for the 200 lap victory.  Over 40 cars are expected to make the haul to Oswego for the much anticipated show.