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9/6/2008 Gateway International Raceway
Pos.	Driver
1.	Eddie Hoffman
2.	Robbie Pyle
3.	Sean Murphy
4.	Peter Cozzolino
5.	Travis Dassow
6.	Jimmy Lang
7.	Jack Smith
8.	Brent Downey
9.	Chris Sevey
10.	Brett Moffitt
11.	Drew Brannon
12.	Billy Crane
13.	Bear Lynch
14.	David Wood
15.	Logan Ruffin
16.	Josh Cave
17.	Brian Campbell
18.	Jeff Choquette
19.	Mike Vannoy
20.	Jacob Goede
21.	Chad Finley
22.	Kris Stump
23.	Jimmy Weller
24.	Patrick Lawson
25.	Kyle Sirizzotti
26.	Bob Varney
27.	Austin Siebert
28.	Michael Bilderback
29.	Michael Pickens
30.	Brent Seeley
31.	Rebecca Kasten

2008 ASALM Top 20 Final
Pos.	Driver	Points
1.	Peter Cozzolino	1398
2.	Jacob Goede	-56
3.	Sean Murphy	-121
4.	Travis Dassow	-127
5.	Brian Campbell	-132
6.	Brent Downey	-251
7.	Kyle Sirizzotti*	-380
8.	Robbie Pyle	-402
9.	Kris Stump	-433
10.	Jimmy Lang	-472
11.	Jimmy Weller*	-499
12.	Alec Carll	-507
13.	Eddie Hoffman	-590
14.	Brett Moffitt	-857
15.	Drew Brannon	-880
16.	Brent Seeley	-884
17.	Jordan Dahlke*	-896
18.	Darren Robertson*	-900
19.	Logan Ruffin	-903
20.	Griffin McGrath	-908
21.	Derek Thorn	-939
22.	Chris Sevey*	-949
23.	Jack Smith	-966
24.	Jordan Sims	-992
25.	Kevin Willis	-1067
26.	Blake Brown*	-1076
27.	Chad Finley*	-1120
28.	Bob Varney	-1122
29.	Phil Bozell*	-1149
30.	Brian Green*	-1159
31.	Chris Eggleston*	-1183
32.	Austin Siebert*	-1184
33.	David Odell*	-1188
34.	Billy Crane*	-1190
35.	Jeff Choquette	-1212
36.	Chris Anthony*	-1233
37.	Wes Griffith Jr	-1238
38.	Wes Burton*	-1243
39.	Joey King*	-1243
40.	Jesse Smith	-1253
41.	Mike Osgar	-1258
42.	Chris Koslek*	-1262
43.	Greg Stewart	-1262
44.	Terry VanHaitsma*	-1266
45.	Cody Mahoney	-1266
46.	Joey Gase*	-1270
47.	Trent Snyder	-1271
48.	David Wood	-1274
49.	Bear Lynch	-1275
50.	John Wes Townley	-1278
Click Here For Complete Standings

2008 ASA Late Model Challenge Series Schedule
Date	Track	Winner
3/15	Tri-County Motor Speedway	rained out
4/26	O'Reilly Raceway Park	Sean Murphy
5/17	Iowa Speedway	Sean Murphy
6/14	Berlin Raceway	Brian Campbell
6/28	Mansfield Motorsports Park	Jacob Goede
7/19	Salem Speedway	Jacob Goede
8/9	Bristol Motor Speedway	Brian Campbell
8/24	Milwaukee Mile	Brian Campbell
9/6	Gateway International Raceway	Eddie Hoffman
*races in bold indicate current race

Peter Cozzolino Captures the 2008 ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division Championship

9/7/2008 (Madison, IL) Peter Cozzolino entered the Gateway 100 needing only 14 points to claim the 2008 ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division Championship. After running in the top 6 for the majority of the day, Cozzolino would get the break he needed with only 8 laps remaining in the event. Jacob Goede’s day and championship hopes ended on lap 72 as contact with Brent Downey’s machine sent him into the outside wall of turn two. With Eddie Hoffman winning the Gateway 100 and Peter Cozzolino claiming the 2008 championship, the Gateway 100 proved to be a day for the veterans.

“Man I was just speechless. I saw it all unfolding and we needed one more position”, commented Cozzolino on the race action. “There was I point in the race where I thought we were really in trouble because we were backing up and he (Goede) was ahead of us and we had to beat him by 3 positions. I basically worked on getting through turns 3 and four better and that put us in position to catch back up to him”

“When they bobbled all of the sudden we went from being out of contention to me yelling we only need one more position over the radio to my guys”, Cozzolino added. “We were down to about 8 laps to go and we needed a caution. I was catching the lead pack of cars, but at the race I was coming I was just going to get there by the time the race ended but we got that caution.”

“When we got that caution I thought Cool! We can do this. I can pass these guys. So we come around the racetrack and I was just dumbfounded when I saw (Jacob) Goede setting there against the wall. I couldn’t believe my eyes”, Cozzolino continued. “I was in that position last year and I felt bad for him. At the same time I thought MAN WE HAVE A FREAKING CHAMPIONSHIP!”.

“I ran the car as hard as I could all day and kept the nose clean. In the end that was what we needed and here we are”, Cozzolino closed.

The ASA Late Model Series regularly fields a diverse group of drivers ranging from young up and coming stars to seasoned veterans. In the end Cozzolino believes it was his experience that led to the 2008 crown.

“I think you have to focus on really racing the racetrack and not the other guys, especially at these big joints. (1.25 mile Gateway International Raceway), stated Cozzolino. “If you are faster than another guy you are going to go by him. If you get out here racing other cars you are going to get wadded up. I think that is what happened to Jacob. He was down to where we were when we go to within 1 position of taking the championship away from him. I don’t know….maybe he panicked a little bit and that caused him to get into trouble”.

After a stellar season with only 1 finish outside of the top 5, Cozzolino stated how taxing the season had been on him.

“The competition here is so tough and you have to be so patient”, commented the newly crowned 2008 champion. “Patience and consistency is the key. In this series one bad race takes you out of the championship”.

While Peter Cozzolino celebrated the championship in victory lane, the mood in the Goede camp was somber to say the least. There was also a different opinion of what happened during the incident with Brent Downey.

“Today was pretty simple and I had a good car. Peter caught a break and got ahead on me on a restart, and I was doing the best I could to hang with him.’ commented Goede. “I wasn’t pushing the issue at all and I got up along side the 25 car. I raced him clean. I have been clean all year and going into 1 and 2 he just got into me. I felt like I left him plenty of room since my car worked the best up high and he just caught my left rear”.

“I really don’t know what else to say”, Goede added. “I had Peter in my sights and I was doing what I needed to do. I just don’t know. I have to thank Laketown Electric for everything they have done for us this year. We have been strong every week and today was no exception”.

When asked about the championship slipping away, an emotional Goede immediately produced a very simple answer.

“It kills” Goede stated with a trembling voice. “This is what our goal was for the whole year. To give it away with 8 laps to go …sucks”.

While the Cozzolino Motorsports team left Gateway International Raceway covered in champagne and savoring the greatest triumph of their career, ASA Late Model Series president and co-founder Ron Varney offered praise for the new champion.

“First of all I want to congratulate Peter Cozzolino. It is nice to see a veteran work real hard and persevere on to win a championship.”, commented Varney. “I have no doubts that Peter will represent the ASA Late Model Series very well.”

Eddie Hoffman Captures Victory at Gateway International Raceway

9/7/2008 (Madison, IL) The Gateway 100 was recorded a number of firsts for the ASA Late Model Series and its competitors. Not only was it the first appearance for the ASALMS at Gateway International Raceway, it was also the first time the cars had appeared on a track over 1 mile in length. A first time 2008 ASALMS Challenge Division winner would be in victory lane by days end, and a first time champion was also crowned.

The day began in grand form for the ASA Late Model Series stars. The drivers shared pit road with a handful of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers for a fan friendly autograph session. An estimated crowd in excess of 2500 greeted their favorite ASA Late Model Series drivers sent well wishes for the day’s 100 mile event. Despite the sluggish US economy, Gateway International Raceway officials credit the ASA Late Model Series for assisting tickets sales grow 4% over 2007.

The ASA Late Model Series drivers were strapped into their rides immediately following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Camping World 200. Having qualified on Friday afternoon, no adjustments were made to the impounded cars before the start of the race. Robbie Pyle lead the field around the St. Louis area 1.25 mile oval during the pace laps with three time 2008 winner Sean Murphy directly to his outside. ARP Bodies quick qualifier Eddie Hoffman started 8th in his Lisa Thomas Salon Ford Fusion.

With Tom Powell’s green flag in the air, Murphy didn’t wait long to make his push into the lead. Murphy paced the field back to the stripe to lead the first lap of ASA Late Model Series competition at Gateway International Raceway. Rebecca Kasten started in the 10th position although her day would be a short one. Kasten’s #90 Chevrolet became loose on the second lap and made hard contact into the outside wall ending her day. Kasten commented in a track side interview that she simply over drove her car and made a rookie mistake. She also added that it would be one that she would never make again.

With a restart imminent, Murphy again led the field back to the green flag. Jacob Goede and Peter Cozzolino began the race separated by a mere 14 points, and appeared to be magnetically attracted to each other during the early laps. Cozzolino need to best the Laketown Electric machine of Goede by 3 positions on the track to claim 2008 championship honors. The duo battled back and forth early with Goede maintaining the fifth position and Cozzolino running 6th.

Caution number two came out when Michael Bilderback made contact with the outside wall in his Chevrolet. With very differing pairs of corners, the first and second turns at Gateway International Raceway proved to be the most difficult throughout the weekend. The epic battle between Goede and Cozzolino continued with neither driver able to gain a clear advantage as racing continued. Sneaking his nose underneath Goede’s machine on several occasions, Cozzolino was finally able to make the pass for position. Goede fought back quickly to retake the position and the battle continued back through the field.

While many eyes were focused on the championship contenders, Eddie Hoffman was flying under the radar and quietly working his way through the field. 2008 rookie of the year Kyle Sirizzotti’s day turned bittersweet on lap 29 as his #93 made hard contact with the wall in turn 4. After assessing the damage, the Texas based team decided the damage on Sirizzotti’s Ford Fusion was too extensive to continue racing safely.

A long green flag run ensued as the ASA Late Model Series drivers settled in and began to space out in single file fashion. Eddie Hoffman continued his march to the front while Goede and Cozzolino were busy battling for the 5th and 6th positions. Sean Murphy was busy with a challenge of his own as Robbie Pyle harassed the Fort Lauderdale driver.

Debris on lap 53 brought out the 4th caution of the day and tightened the field once again. Gateway International Raceway safety crews quickly gathered the stray material and the green flag was again waving moments later. Sean Murphy once again lead the field to the restart with Robbie Pyle, Eddie Hoffman, Brent Downey, Jacob Goede and Peter Cozzolino in tow. While Goede and Downey battled down the front stretch, Cozzolino made a daring three-wide move just before the entrance of turn one to overtake both competitors. Now running 4th with Goede in 6th, Cozzolino needed only 1 more position to clinch the 2008 ASA Late Model Series championship.

Eddie Hoffman was perfectly content to see the side by side action behind him, and he made his way to the lead on lap 60. With less than 20 laps remaining a shootout for the race win and season championship was set and ready.

72 proved to be the most memorable number of the day for ASA Late Model Series fans and championship leader Jacob Goede. Ironically enough Goede’s #72 Laketown Electric Chevrolet would end it’s championship journey at Gateway International Raceway on the lap bearing the same number as the car. While challenging Brent Downey for the fifth position the two cars made contact. Goede, who was running the outside line, slid up the track following the impact and found his way into the outside wall. The race and championship dream for Jacob Goede slid to a screeching halt in turn two of Gateway International Raceway.

With a stunned crowd in attendance racing action resumed following Goede’s turn 2 crash although the green flag was brief. Three time 2008 winner Brian Campbell lost control of his machine and collected Jeff Choquette in the process for the 6th caution flag of the event. The day ended for the powerhouse teams of Campbell and Choquette.

The racing at the front of the field was intense as well. Eddie Hoffman, Robbie Pyle and Sean Murphy staged an epic battle for the win as the trio swapped the lead on multiple occasions. Peter Cozzolino challenged as well but seemed content to ride to victory lane with the championship in hand. Once final caution flew with 4 laps remaining, and the field was set for a sprint to the finish. “Fast” Eddie Hoffman pulled away cleanly and crossed the stripe first in his Lisa Thomas Salon machine with Pyle less than 1 second behind.

“I really had to earn this one”, stated Hoffman in victory lane. “It was great racing at the front of the field with Pyle and Murphy. This is the way it should be”.

Hoffman’s victory would come in front of a substantial crowd at Gateway International Raceway. Virtually no one left their seats at the conclusion of the Craftsman Truck event and those in attendance were able to witness a Midwestern stock car hero claim victory in his home state.