16-year-old Landon Cassill wins his first career ASALMS Feature win in the Erie 100 at the Lake Erie (PA) Speedway!

 

By ASA Late Model Series
North East, Pennsylvania (06/09/2006):

The ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts have completed race number four in the 2006 schedule for the inaugural season for the Northern Division.

The Lake Erie (PA) Speedway, East of Erie in North East, Pennsylvania served as gracious hosts for the Erie 100 on Friday June 9, 2006. The great fans on hand who braved the unusually cold June temperatures were treated to a history making night of racing action.

16-year-old Fairfax, Iowa teenager, Landon Cassill, now in his third season of ASALMS competition, put it all together in a dominating display of driving as the Hawkeye State driver took the lead on lap three and proceeded to put on a clinic en route to his first career ASALMS feature win!

With the feature win, Cassill became the youngest driver in ASALMS history to win a feature event at 16 years, 11 months, and two days! Robbie Johnson, back in 2003 on his 18th birthday was the previous owner of the youngest driver in series history to win a feature back when what is now the ASALMS Challenge Division was known as the USPRO Cup Series.Earlier in the evening, Loves Park, Illinois sophomore, Ryan Carlson broke the track record in Hawk Performance Brakes Qualifying as he set the mark with a blistering 15.173. Carlson’s time equals out to 88.974 MPH.

The track record for the ASALMS overall, was set back season on May 29, 2004 when Jason Setser set the mark with a 15.291 during the 2004 season in what is now the ASALMS Challenge Division.

The GM Performance Parts Shootout has been cancelled for this event due to the earlier weather interruption.

Keystone State Rookie Kyle Martel and Dowagiac, Michigan veteran, Doug True led the 25-car field to the green flag and things got hairy in a hurry as True used the outside groove to his advantage to take the early lead.

As they came out of turn four to complete lap one, Martel got into the back of True, turning him around in front of the entire field! Everyone took evasive action and no one was seriously damaged in the melee.

Martel was sent to the rear of the field, moving the inside row up and putting rookie, Mike Osgar on the front row with True. On the restart, Osgar beat True to the first corner to take the early lead while the rest of the field settled in behind him.

Landon Cassill moved up quickly from his inside third row starting spot and quickly disposed of Osgar on lap three to take the lead! Cassill tried to run away and hide early in the event, but the caution plagued event kept the field close temporarily.

New Track Record holder, Ryan Carlson finally got through from his sixth starting spot and chased down Jack Smith, who started fourth and soon the two were running 2-3 but distantly behind Cassill.

Smith and Carlson duked it out for the second spot while ASALMS Northern Division Points Leader heading into the Erie 100, Jesse Smith had worked his way through the field and got up to fourth from his 13th starting spot.

As the laps wound down, Cassill continued his torrid pace while the Smith’s (No Relation) and Carlson continued to battle for 2-3-4.

The final of 12 cautions flew on lap 89 when Martel stopped in turn four. This was Jack Smith’s last chance for a run at Cassill, but the 16-year-old again stepped out away from the field and from their, the Fairfax, Iowa teenager would go on to win his first career ASALMS feature in his 34th career overall appearance!

New ASALMS Northern Division Points Leader, Jack Smith settled for second after a last lap battle with Carlson who finished third. Jesse Smith came from 13th to finish fourth but lost the North Points Lead!

Rookie Nick Neville finished a career high fifth while Todd Hoddick, Peter Cozzolino, Ryan Tedesco, Pete Vanderwyst, and Doug True complete the Top 10.

Earlier in the evening, Loves Park, Illinois sophomore, Ryan Carlson broke the track record in Hawk Performance Brakes Qualifying as he set the mark with a blistering 15.173. Carlson’s time equals out to 88.974 MPH.

The track record for the ASALMS overall, was set back season on May 29, 2004 when Jason Setser set the mark with a 15.291 during the 2004 season in what is now the ASALMS Challenge Division.