The former ASA National Tour’s history in the Northeast is a limited one. Jennerstown Speedway (PA) was a frequent stop on the schedule for years, with 19 stops on the schedule between 1990 and 2004. Otherwise, ASA’s ventures to the region were limited to six total stops at Oswego Speedway (NY), Lancaster National Speedway (NY) and Lake Erie Speedway (PA)
Despite the limited past in the Northeast, ASA lore has still made its way to the region known best for its Tour-Type Modified racing and the Oxford 250. One of New England’s best, Hudson, NH’s Derek Griffith, is set to make his ASA STARS National Tour debut on Tuesday’s May 16 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
“I’ve got friends who have been in racing for a super long time that talk about how ASA used to be. It’s really cool to see the time and effort being put into bringing a national series like this into effect. It’s cool to see the names on the list and the whole deal, it’s going to be an awesome show for the fans and it’s going to be cool to be a part of.”
With two PASS National championships, a Granite State Pro Stock Series title, and multiple big wins in the Northeast, the driver known affectionately as “D-Griff” has established himself as one of the region’s top stars. His success has followed him away from home as well – he is a two-time World Series of Asphalt Super Late Model champion at New Smyrna Speedway.
The 2022 season saw Griffith compete in six NASCAR Xfinity Series races with Sam Hunt Racing. It also saw him have some of the worst luck imaginable, from untimely mechanical failures, accidents, and even a flip at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in a Super Late Model. After the World Series, his lone win the rest of the year came in a Supermodified at Oxford Plains Speedway.
As the year turns to 2023 in New England, the poor luck has seemed to subside. Strong runs at Thompson and New Hampshire were followed with a return to victory lane in a Super Late Model at Thunder Road International Speedbowl on May 6.
With that win now out of the way, he feels like a new leaf has turned.
“I’m feeling a lot better for sure. We just had the worst luck imaginable last year with the craziest things. I’ve never had a distributor fail on us and we had one break, I flipped over during a heat race, you name it and it happened to us last year.
“I think we’re on the right track now. The car we’ve been running at home we wrecked at Berlin, we got it put back together and it’s been getting better and better. We’re back feeling good and getting on the right path of making our racecars fast and being competitive. Hopefully no crazy incidents happen and we can get to racing.”
His debut with the ASA STARS National Tour comes at the ECMD 150 at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, an event with an entry list that rivals any other race in the country. With 55 drivers entered, including multiple NASCAR Cup Series drivers, Griffith is excited, yet admittedly a little nervous for Tuesday’s race.
“The names are huge on that list. Timing-wise it works out so well for all these big-name guys that are running in the top-three series to be able to come and run during the week of the All-Star Race. It’s both exciting and a little bit frightening because we know we’re going to have to race against the best in the country. It’s going to be an amazing deal for sure.”
Single-day general admission tickets for the May 16 ASA Stars ECMD 150 are $30 and available at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com. Children six and under are admitted free. Advance parking is also available for purchase online. Fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding NASCAR All-Star week and North Wilkesboro Speedway by following on Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.
The ASA STARS National Tour opened the ten race, six-state schedule at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL on March 11. Georgia racer Casey Roderick won the Sunshine State 200. Ty Majeski is the most recent winner with the series, taking the win at Madison International Speedway on May 7.
The ECMD 150 will be co-sanctioned with the ASA Southern Super Series, which will be the third race of the ASA SSS season. William Byron and Casey Roderick won the first two races at New Smyrna Speedway and Five Flags Speedway.
For more information regarding the Southern Super Series, visit the series website at www.southernsuperseries.com. Follow us on Facebook at Southern Super Series, on Twitter at @SoSuperSeries, and on Instagram at @officialsouthernsuperseries.
For the full ASA STARS National Tour schedule, plus Super Late Model rules and other information, please visit the series website at starsnationaltour.com, or be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: STARS National Series | Twitter: @racewithstars | IG: @starsnational).
ASA STARS National Tour
The ASA STARS National Tour debuted in March of 2023 for Super Late Model racing in America. Announced last October, many of the best drivers in America will compete in the ten-race national tour with a minimum $100,000 point fund. The championship team will be guaranteed $25,000.
The ASA STARS National Tour is made up of three races from each of the regional pavement Super Late Model Series under the Track Enterprises banner; the ASA CRA Super Series, the ASA Midwest Tour and the ASA Southern Super Series.
The Team Construction Winner’s Circle program has been announced as a part of the ASA STARS National Tour for licensed drivers/teams with perfect attendance. The program provides additional financial incentives to those teams who support the Series, thanks to Team Construction.
Track Enterprises, a Racing Promotions Company based in Illinois, will operate the ASA STARS National Tour. It announced the acquisition of the CRA sanctioning body in January and followed that up with the purchase of the Midwest Tour in July. In October, Track Enterprises President, Bob Sargent announced a partnership with the Southern Super Series which set the table for the formation of the ASA STARS National Tour.