The ASA STARS National Tour roared to life over the weekend with the inaugural race at Five Flags Speedway. The Sunshine State 200 kicked off the first of ten races for the series, which will see ASA STARS take on the most iconic short tracks and the most iconic races.
With that said, let’s take a look back at what was the Sunshine State 200.
Daniel Vining Photo
Casey Roderick is First-Ever ASA STARS National Tour Winner
When the dust settled, it was Casey Roderick taking the checkered flag and staking claim as the first winner of the new ASA STARS National Tour. However, it did not come without drama.
With 30 to go, a battle for the lead between Roderick and Bubba Pollard culminated with contact between the two exiting turn four. Pollard would spin on the frontstretch before being hit by oncoming traffic, ending his night.
What was undeniable, however, was Roderick’s and Anthony Campi Racing’s speed. He was fastest overall on both days of practice before qualifying fourth for the race. He hung around the top-five most of the race and once he inherited the lead, he drove away from Jeremy Doss over the final 30-lap run to take the win.
He now looks to carry over that speed and continued momentum from the World Series of Asphalt to the next ASA STARS race at Madison International Speedway on May 7.
Will Bellamy / Racing America Photo
Big Names Take Part in Sunshine State 200
When the green flag waved Saturday night, 35 drivers vied for the $20,000 and the cool trophy from HDFive / Horvath Design. The field consisted of the country’s best Super Late Model drivers from all walks of Super Late Model life.
Former series champions included Casey Roderick (Southern Super Series), Bubba Pollard (SSS), Jeremy Doss (SRL Southwest Tour), Ty Majeski (ASA Midwest Tour) Cole Butcher (Pro Stock Tour), Jacob Gomes (SRL), Matt Craig (PASS South, CARS SLM Tour), Dan Fredrickson (ASA MT), Hunter Robbins (SSS), Preston Peltier (PASS South and National), Dakota Stroup (JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour), Derek Thorn (SRL), Stephen Nasse (SSS) and Michael Bilderback (Big 8 Series).
In addition, four current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers and two former Snowball Derby winners were also in the field.
Daniel Vining Photo
Pit Strategy Galore
The Sunshine State 200 featured stages and six tires for teams to change throughout the 200-lap event. Those factors led to multiple leaders and lead changes and strategies throughout the race.
There were ten lead changes among eight drivers, with Matt Craig leading the most laps with 79. Carson Hocevar started last and eventually worked his way into the lead on lap 125, while Bubba Pollard and Ty Majeski both made up multiple laps – Pollard took the lead at one point and Majeski ended the night with a strong third-place finish.
In all, 14 drivers earned stage points between the two stages.
ASA is Back
The Sunshine State 200 marked the first race under the ASA banner since 2004, which brought some old and new to pre-race.
Former ASA flagman Dan Spence, now flagman at Five Flags Speedway, took his spot on the frontstretch directing cars to their respective lanes for the start of the race. Then, the field formed the four-wide salute with a modified four-wide call from legendary World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series announcer Johnny Gibson to the backdrop of fireworks.
ASA is officially back. We’ll see you at Madison International Speedway on May 7 for the Joe Shear Classic.
Official Results:
Casey Roderick
Jeremy Doss
Ty Majeski
Cole Butcher
Carson Hocevar
Gabe Sommers
Austin Nason
Jacob Gomes
John Bolen
Matt Craig
Michael Hinde
Dan Fredrickson
Blaine Rocha
Billy VanMeter
Gio Ruggiero
Jake Finch
Albert Francis
Hunter Robbins
Bubba Pollard
Preston Peltier
Derek Kraus
Dakota Stroup
Derek Thorn
Timothy Watson
Ryan Moore
Jett Noland
Tony Elrod
Stephen Nasse
Michael Bilderback
Connor Okrzesik
Grant Enfinger
Boris Jurkovic
Dustin Smith
Ryan Luza
Kyle Bryant
Stage #1 Results:
Matt Craig
Hunter Robbins
Jett Noland
Derek Thorn
Casey Roderick
Preston Peltier
Gio Ruggiero
Jake Finch
Stephen Nasse
Dan Fredrickson
Stage #2 Results:
Bubba Pollard
Preston Peltier
Carson Hocevar
Hunter Robbins
Gio Ruggiero
Jake Finch
Casey Roderick
Ryan Moore
Derek Thorn
Gabe Sommers
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 will debut in 2023 for Super Late Model racing in America. Announced in October, many of the best drivers in America are expected to compete in the 10-race national tour with a minimum $100,000 point fund. The championship team will be guaranteed $25,000.
The national series 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.
A Winner’s Circle program will also be part of the ASA National Tour for licensed drivers/teams with perfect attendance. The program details will be announced at a later date, but it will be in the same vein as ASA utilized in its heyday.
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.
