History of ASA: The Rise of Drivers’ NASCAR Stardom

The American Speed Association made its much-awaited return in 2023. The motorsports-sanctioning body was once a complimentary racing organization for many drivers, providing them a platform to shine. It was after the competition went defunct in 2004 that NASCAR decided to shut down and protect the image and culture of ASA. After 18 years, ASA organized 10 special events, with eight of those being championship-point-earning races. But even after giving rise to some of the most talented NASCAR drivers, the intrigue remains: how did it start, and what exactly was the reason for its shutdown?

The timeline of ASA in American motorsports

Rex Robbins founded ASA in 1968. Robbins began as a sprint car promoter who wanted to shift the racing culture to other parts of the country. With NASCAR primarily focused on Southeast American racing, ASA paved the way for racers in the Midwest and throughout the country. Robbins, however, immediately shifted his attention to stock-car racing and found a solution to tap into the underutilized potential of late-model stock cars.

In 1970, Rex Robbins masterminded the Dri-Powr 400 at the Winchester Speedway short track. That race proved a game-changer when he substituted heat races and a final feature race of 25 laps with a long-distance event of 400 laps. ASA’s depth of drivers was visible when its inaugural race winner, Michael Waltrip, went on to make a name for himself in NASCAR.

In 1972, ASA organized the Midwest 300 along with the addition of promoter Milt Hartlauf and advisor Steve Stubbs opening the race for sportsman car drivers from Central and Northern Indiana. This turned out to be an ace up their sleeves as Darrell Waltrip won the first event, which later came to be known as the ASA Circuit of Champions. In the following year, ASA devised a national championship and expanded the racing to popular tracks like Salem, Louisville, and Sun Valley.

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The late 70s was a turning point for ASA. With an expansion of the driver roster in 1977 after a visit to the I-70 Speedway, Robbins added a blueprint of a franchise system into the competition. ASA would now pay the teams and drivers who ran full schedules with an incentive-based system. By this time, ASA had already become the face of short-track racing and declared itself as a launchpad for younger drivers.

ASA turned into a passage for NASCAR’s superstars

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One would wonder what the common factor could be between Mark Martin, Alan Kulwicki, Jimmie Johnson, and Kenny Wallace, apart from being NASCAR drivers. The correct answer would be that these NASCAR stars began their careers on the ASA circuit.

Mike Eddy, Dick Trickle, and Bob Senneker were among the well-known short-track names to race in the ASA and eventually transition to the glory of NASCAR. As the competition’s popularity grew by leaps and bounds by the 2000s, television coverage entered the equation.

Later, revenue plummeted when the new broadcasting company removed motorsports altogether from its intentions. With the financial conditions unstable, Rex Robbins had to sell the series in 2003, and in 2004, the competition was out of operation. While it took some time to materialize, promoter Track Enterprises announced the return of ASA in October 2022.

ASA was all set to sponsor the 2023 STARS National Tour, which was supported by a racing promotion company based in Illinois that operated the ASA STARS National Tour. Not just this, Track Enterprises President Bob Sargent announced a partnership with the Southern Super Series. Overall, it was a successful comeback for ASA.

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Now the highly anticipated 2024 schedule for the ASA STARS National Tour has also been unveiled. Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s see who will defeat 2023 ASA STARS National Tour champion Ty Majeski, who secured the most stage wins by defeating the likes of William Byron, Stephen Nasse, and Cole Butcher.