Avon,
Ind. (January 9, 2003) - Downey Racing announced today that Sunoco
Super Series regular Brent Downey will compete on a partial basis with
the ASA Racing Series in the upcoming 2003 season. Current plans
indicate Downey racing full-time in the 2004 ASA tour, challenging for
the prestigious $50,000 to win Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year
Award. Downey Racing recently purchased a Rander Car Chassis from the
stables of Go-Go Motorsports that led David Stremme to 2002 ASA Rookie
of the Year honors. Stremme and legendary crew chief Howie Lettow will
offer assistance to Downey Racing in the 2003 ASA season.
“I'm
really excited about my opportunity to race in the ASA Racing Series.
With the change of ownership and the new television package with Speed
Channel, ASA has a very promising future,” said Brent Downey. “I want to
use 2003 as a learning experience to receive education on the cars and
tracks in ASA. The cars are a lot different than what I have drove the
last three years in Sunoco. It will be a huge benefit having the
knowledge of David Stremme and Howie Lettow to help familiarize us with
ASA,” added Downey.
Downey will make his ASA
debut at Toledo Speedway on May 18 and will then compete in additional
races at Mansfield Motorsports Park, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Berlin
Raceway, Illiana Motor Speedway, Salem Speedway and Fairgrounds Speedway
at Nashville.
Downey Racing put the for
sale tags on the Port City machines that they utilized in the Sunoco
Super Series along with their K-Motion Racing Engines. There is still a
possibility that Downey will race a limited schedule in the Sunoco Super
Series in 2003.
“I'm going to miss all the
friendships I have developed in the Sunoco Series along with the stiff
competition in the races. It has been a great experience racing the past
three series with some of the best late model drivers in the Midwest,”
added Downey.
Downey, 20, began his
career in the quarter midget ranks and has notched numerous victories.
The 20-year old driver competed in legends during the 1999 season and
was the National Champion and Anderson Speedway Track Champion. In 2000,
he competed in his first season in a late model and finished 10th in the
Sunoco Super Series. The following season he ranked eighth and produced
four top-ten finishes. In 2002, Downey finished 14th in the final
standings after recovering from a early season hand injury that forced
him to miss some early season events. The 2002 highlights included four
top-five finishes, seven top 10s and his first pole at Angola Motor
Speedway.
Brent and his older
brother Brian are co-owners of Downey Racing, LLC. Brian has been named
team manager and their father Mark, a long time crew chief for Brent
will remain in that position next season in the ASA Racing Series.
Anyone interested in
working with Downey Racing, LLC in the 2003 ASA Racing Series should
contact Mark, Brian, or Brent Downey @ 317-272-5837 or
brentdowney@hotmail.com.
