Catchfence

The action will be fast and furious on Saturday when the ASA Late Model Series South Division heads to the Concord Motorsports Park for the series next to last race of the season. The Super Sonic 100 takes place in stock car racing’s backyard, as the Charlotte area is home to many NASCAR teams.

It is also the site of the beginning of one of the hottest combinations in all of late model racing. It was one year ago that three-time ASA National Champion Butch Miller and fifteen year-old Drew Brannon from Miami met by chance. “I ran a late model race at Concord last year and somehow I started on the front row, the other driver on the front row was Drew. It was the youngest and oldest drivers in the field starting side by side. At the drop of the green, Drew went to the front and I went… well, the other way,” Miller joked. “The funnier part of the story is that Drew didn’t know who I was or that I have a little history behind the wheel of a racecar. He thought I was just Sean Murphy’s crew chief!”

Since joining forces together at SS Green Light Racing, the experience of Miller and the youthful talent of Brannon have taken the Late Model division by storm with Brannon winning eight features so far in 2009 and catching the eye of many in the industry. The team is coming off of what might be the biggest win of Brannon’s young career winning the ASA Challenge race two weeks ago at the mile and one-third Nashville SuperSpeedway.

“Butch made a couple changes at the start of the race, then we came from dead last and raced into the top-five before the halfway caution. We did catch a break at the end when Peter (Cozzolino) had some trouble, but I think the fans got to see a great race,” explained Brannon. “They should see plenty of action this week at Concord.”

Brannon finished runner up at the half mile progressively banked paved tri-oval behind Colt James in 2008. “It’s a fun track,” states Brannon, “I love that dog-leg. You get such an adrenaline rush going through there wide open. I just can’t wait to race again this weekend at Concord.”

Brannon’s SS Green Light race team is based just up the road in Mooresville, so the Florida teen hopes to put on a good show in front the hometown crowd. As for his approach to the next to last race of the season, Brannon contends that he is racing for the victory. “I could be leading the championship and I would still make it four wide trying to go through the dog-leg,” states Brannon, “I love being on the edge and getting after it.”

Miller say’s that James is the man to beat Saturday, “I think to win at Concord you have to beat Colt James. He has proven that in the past and won a big race just a few weeks ago. We’ll be working on our stuff, but I’ll have my stopwatch on James.” He continued, “I’m really hoping they get a nice turnout for this race, especially since there is no Cup race this weekend.”

The ASA Late Model South Division Super Sonic 100 takes place on Saturday, August 29th. The 100-lap race starts at 8:30 pm. Qualifying will be at 5:30. Practice for the ASA Challenge Series competitors is at noon and 3:00 along with an open practice session on Friday August 28th.

- SS Green Light Racing Press Release