DAYTONA BEACH, FL (May 9, 2013) – The ASA OK Tire Series Presented by Advance Testing opens its six-race 2013 schedule this weekend in Vernon, British Columbia.
Earlier this year British Columbia’s two main Sportsman series -- the OK Tire Sportsman Series and the ASA Advance Testing BC Late Model Tour merged to form the ASA-sanctioned OK Tire Series Presented by Advance Testing. The series were merged to increase car counts at track throughout the Canadian province and continue to strengthen the Sportsman class via one series.
The 2013 schedule will feature five venues, including the Motoplex Speedway in Vernon book-ending the schedule hosting both the season-opener (May 11) and closer (September 14).
In between the series will visit Thunder Mountain Speedway in Williams Lake on May 25; the PGARA Speedway in Prince George on June 15; the Gold Pan Speedway in Quesnel on July 20; and Agassiz Speedway in Agassiz on August 10.
The series will run the existing OK Tire Sportsman Series schedule throughout British Columbia on the Hoosier 970 tire run last season by the ASA Advance Testing tour. All other rules will remain unchanged.
For 2013, purse money has been increased to $12,000 and will include travel money paid to competitors coming from all over the province.
“Our goal is to continue to build race and points purses with marketing partners throughout the province and the ASA gives us the greatest leverage for that exposure,” said Gary MacCarthy, president of the ASA OK Tires Presented by Advanced Testing. “We feel that this merger will be beneficial for the racers and the fans of British Columbia short track racing.”
Kendell Thomas, the former Arca OK Tire Series race director will have the same role in the merged series.
“This merger has really helped increase our car counts and that’s what we’re most excited about,” said Thomas. “It’s what our fans, our tracks and our race teams want… great turnouts, top level competitors and exciting shows.”
The merged series will feature 2012 ASA Advance Testing BC Late Model Tour champion Dave Hemrich as well as veterans Tom Berrow, Tom Garnet and rookie Wes Mader. Drivers from the former Arca OK Tire Series joining the merged series includes 2012 champion Mark Beriau as well as Ian Graham, Logan Jewel, and Matt Stevenson will join with some of BC’s top Late Model Sportsman drivers to offer the deepest fields and most competitive racing in Canadian Late Model Sportsman history.
“We firmly believe that the new series will increase car counts at tracks throughout the province and build the sportsman class back to its former strength,” said John Ross, general manager of Advance Testing Ltd. “We are so happy to have the continued support of ASA here in the province of BC and know that their marketing support and national coverage give us a big advantage in getting exposure for our drivers and sponsors.”