Catchfence

The 2009 ASA Late Models Challenge Series has been a roller-coaster ride for Drew Brannon this year. Brannon and the SS Green Light team kicked off the season with a huge win at the famed Milwaukee Mile and won again three weeks ago at Nashville Superspeedway. The other five races in the series this year have been up and down for the sixteen-year old from Miami.

Brannon has lead the most laps in the series so far this season and is second with four top-five finishes, however the other three races have not been as lucky as mechanical issues and on-track incidents not of his fault have relegated Drew to finishes of eighteenth or worse. The roller-coaster finishes have left Brannon second in points, 180 markers behind Michigan’s Brian Campbell. Drew sits 49 points ahead Josh Hamner in third.

Last Saturday at Gateway, Brannon suffered his worst finish of the year after being forced from the grove and into the grass to avoid a spinning competitor. The ASA Limited Chevy suffered damage to the front end and suspension when Drew hit the infield access road with the nose of his car. “We were coming to the front last week. After the break, Butch and the guys made some great adjustments and the car was just starting to come to me. I was ready to make a move toward the leaders when we got in that mess.” Said Brannon.

Crew Chief Butch Miller and the SS Green Light team have a second Port City Racecar ready to go for Iowa this weekend, “We’ll run the other car at Iowa, it’s a good racecar, might even be better than the car we damaged at Gateway. Each time we had a bad finish we have come back and finished in the top-three, so let’s hope that trend can continue.”

“I have full confidence in Butch and I know that the car will be ready,” added Brannon. “SS Green Light won at Iowa last year with Sean Murphy, so I know that we’ll have a good set-up. I’m excited to get to Iowa.”

Brannon is focused on maintaining his position in the ASA Late Model Series Challenge point standings, “It’s almost impossible to catch Brian in the points. There are only a couple races left, so we need to finish up front and hold onto second.” Drew explained. “It’s really been a great year; we’ve just had a couple bad finishes in the Challenge Series. Overall, we’ve won eight times so far and that is quite an accomplishment. We sure would like to get another win or two this year.”

The ASA Late Model Challenge Series Iowa 100 takes place on Saturday, September 19th. The 100-lap race beginning at 5:00 pm. Qualifying will be at 7:00 pm on Friday the 18th.

For more on Drew Brannon or SS Green Light Racing visit www.SSRacingonline.com

- SS Green Light Racing Press Release