MAARA ANNOUNCES 2006 SCHEDULE

JENNERSTOWN, PA (Dec. 7, 2005) … The new Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance (MAARA) has announced a tentative five-race series of extra-distance late model races for the 2006 season.

The MAARA group, which was organized to standardize car specifications and create a co-operative working environment between five Western Pennsylvania and New York asphalt ovals, will stage its first event on Friday, June 30^th at Motordrome Speedway (Smithton).

Other races on the MAARA schedule include: Sunday, July 30^th , Lake Erie Speedway (North East); Saturday, Aug. 12^th,  Jennerstown Speedway (Jennerstown); Saturday, Sept. 2^nd, Holland Speedway (Holland, NY); and Saturday, Sept. 23^rd, Lancaster Speedway (Lancaster, NY).

Race distances, purse structures and  a series point fund will be announced at a later date.

The MAARA series will be open to late models using ‘crate’ engines (governed by ASA late model series specifications) and custom-built engines currently in use at the five member speedways. Competitors from the five tracks will be permitted to utilize their ‘home track’ car specifications for the MAARA events. Tires, custom-built engine restrictions, and weight rules will be determined by the specific track hosting the event. ASA late model series cars will also be legal for MAARA events with minor changes.

“Our original goal was to have all five tracks on the same rule book for 2006,” said Lake Erie Speedway general manager Joe Lewandoski. “We found, however, that we can’t accomplish this overnight, without costing our race teams a significant amount of money.

“We’ve had to back pedal a bit from our original announcement,” he said. “We have made a great deal of progress this year, and we are getting closer to having everyone on the same page. All five speedways are committed to working together to achieve unity, and begin a group marketing process.”

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