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Brad Bennett
Prepares for 1st Career Start in the ASA Series
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Mooresville, North Carolina - REYBEN Racing and driver, Brad
Bennett, took a hiatus from racing in early 2001 and now have
redirected their motorsports efforts to the American Speed
Association. Their first race will be the Pennsylvania 300 at
Jennerstown Speedway in Jennerstown, PA this Sunday (August 26,
2001). It will be REYBEN Racing and Bennett's first attempt at
ASA racing.
Bennett, a former NASCAR Busch North Series competitor, enjoyed
limited success in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1999 and
2000. However, the costs associated with the series made the
family-owned team reconsider their efforts. ASA caught their
attention as a more cost-effective, high-exposure series.
"We had been looking at the ASA Series for quite a while," the
27 year old, Bennett confirmed. "It is a great series that has
graduated some very talented drivers. Without a full-time,
primary sponsor, it is more cost-effective than what we had been
doing. Plus, ASA has a great promotional package, including live
television coverage on TNN for every event. We wanted to race
more than just five or eight times a year and for the same
budget and we can do that with ASA."
Bennett, a former NASCAR Busch North Series Most Improved Driver
hopes to compete in three ASA races in 2001. In addition to this
weekend's event in Jennerstown, Bennett also plans to compete at
Memphis Motorsports Park and Indianapolis Raceway Park, both in
September.
"Our ultimate goal is to be successful in racing, no matter
which series we race in," said Bennett confirmed. "We need to
race competitively week in and week out to attract a sponsor."
Bennett took another step toward making his dreams a reality by
moving his family-owned and operated race team, REYBEN Racing,
to Race City USA, Mooresville, North Carolina. Included in its
stables is a new Rander Race Cars, #64 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
which Bennett will use this weekend in PA. Stan Meserve, of
Santerre-Reece Motorsports, will be the Crew Chief at
Jennerstown.
There are a few other part-timers looking to make a dent in this
weekend's race in Jennerstown, PA. Jesse Wilcox will make his
second attempt to start his first ASA race. He failed to make
the field at Chicago Motor Speedway. Veteran short track ace Tim
Ice will attempt to make his third career ASA start, his last
coming in 1990 at Jennerstown, where he finished ninth. Other
part-time drivers looking to make and attempt include Ryan
Hemphill, Davin Scites and Greg Edwards, who won the pole at
South Boston Speedway earlier this year.
One other note of interest going into the Pennsylvania 300:
Go Go Motorsports / Prestige Motor Sports has made some key
personal changes within the Meijer sponsored crew for driver
Mike Eddy following the most recent ASA event at Madison,
Wisconsin. Former ASA Rookie of the Year Dave Sensiba, who has
been the team's crew chief for the first fifteen events, has
moved to Team Manager. Dick VanWieren, of Beaverton, Michigan,
has agreed to assume crew chief duties for the balance of the
2001 season. VanWieren is a Product Engineer for Howe who
manufactures that chassis used by Go Go Motorsports / Prestige
Motor Sports and their driver Eddy on the Meijer/Kellog's/Tony's
Pizza, Edy's Grand Ice Cream Chevrolet. VanWieren has worked for
Eddy previously in 1986 as a rear tire changer and as his crew
chief in 1987.
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