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Kids Driving Enthusiasm at ASA's Franklin County Speedway

Monday January 21, 2008

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 21, 2008) - The youth movement is alive and well in racing, and nowhere as evident as at ASA Member Track Franklin County Speedway. Located in Callaway, Va., the track's Kids Club is cultivating both race fans and future drivers.

Available to all children 12 and under, the FCS Kids Club plans a number of activities during each of the regular Saturday night events.

"We are putting a lot of effort into making Franklin County Speedway a kid-friendly racetrack," said Richard Gluth, promoter of the 3/8-mile facility. "Typically, on most of our race nights we can between 60 and 80 kids in the grandstands and participating in their special activities."

One of the most unique ideas that FCS has implemented for kids is to have them paint a Ucar before the races with washable, watercolor paints. Besides getting "hands on" time with a racecar, this gives the kids a reason to watch the races, and a car to automatically cheer for. If "their" car wins the race, all the kids are invited into the winners circle to celebrate.

The Kids Club train rides are not only a popular attraction at the racetrack, it helps to extend FCS into the community. The cars on the train are sponsored by local businesses and are painted in the colors of well-known stock cars.

"The Kids Club train rides have done well to help extend awareness of the track out into the community. We will often bring it out to events in the area and it is always a big hit. Of course, the local businesses that sponsor the train cars get extra visibility, but more than that it is always rewarding to see the big smiles on the kids as they ride the train," Gluth explained.

Other kid-oriented events include bicycle races around the racetrack, visits by characters such as Shrek, and even a carnival to be setup around the Fourth of July.

Don't think that kids dominate the racetrack though, as the racing on the 22-degree banking is fast and furious. When the 2008 schedule begins in April, there will be five regular divisions competing for bragging rights: Late Model Stock, Limited Sportsman, Mod 4, Street Stock and Ucar. Special events during the year will be a visit by the ASA Southern Modifieds on July 12, and a pair of races on May 17 and September 13 with the new Super Cup Stock Car Series.

Admission to FCS, which has been in continual operation since 1967, is a reasonable $10 for adults, $5 for kids six to 12, and free for the youngest in the crowd. Discounts are available for advance season tickets. The 2008 schedule, along with class rules, photos and other information can be found online at www.FranklinCoSpeedway.com.

Attendance continues to grow, and Gluth has a number of ideas to bring additional fans into the track. Several times during the year, on Friday facility will host alternate events such as motorcycle rallies, street rod shows or music and entertainment acts. Tickets for these Friday night events will be honored at the gate for admission to the races the following evening.

Another promotional idea is the $30 car load; for one price, fans can stuff as many people into the car and each will be able to see some of the most exciting racing in the region.

FCS is new to the ASA Member Track program in 2008, joining as a Level 1 member. Gluth cited a number of positives to joining the ASA family, but the insurance and lower driver age requirements were two that he became excited to discuss.

"The insurance program that ASA offers really caught my eye. It is better than anything else in the industry and it is very important to keep the racers protected," he said. "The other thing is the lower age requirements for a driver It is such a big drawing card for our racetrack to get kids involved and we want to offer them as many ways as possible to keep them interested and active in short track racing."

ASA members in good standing are be eligible for a $500,000 Excess Medical Benefit as well as a $20,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit. Coverage for the member begins while traveling to a location promoting an ASA-sanctioned event and continues until arrival home again. The American Speed Association is the only sanctioning body to offer insurance coverage which extends beyond the boundary of the racetrack itself (see complete details on www.asaracing.com) .

"I commend Richard and Franklin County Speedway for taking the initiative to get the kids involved," said Dennis Huth, president of Racing Speed Associates which owns the American Speed Association. "A lot of the time kids get dragged to the races by an enthusiastic parent who wants to share their love for the sport, but often kids get bored if all they can do is sit and watch the cars, especially the younger kids. To have a lot of activities to do before and during the race is critical to keeping the interest in racing alive in kids today, as they will evolve into the fans and drivers of the future."

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based ASA Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.

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This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.

 

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