Rising Star driver Michael Annett beats track record in practice but was unable to finish at Grundy.

Chicago, IL – May 30, 2006

The 8th annual George Appleton Memorial 125 was held Memorial Day on a very hot and humid day at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Illinois, which is just west of Chicago. After beating the track record and turning in the fourth-fastest time in practice, Rising Star Driver Michael Annett finished up the weekend with a mechanical issue that forced him out of the race with only sixteen laps to go. Annett had worked his way up to eighth place and was still moving forward before a dead battery ended his day. Earlier the top ten drivers all bettered the track record in final practice including Annett with a 15.555. ASALMS Northern Division events are normally 100 laps in length, but Grundy featured an extra 25 laps. “I moved up from a 13th place start to 8th before the car died on me. Otherwise, I think we could have pushed up to a top-five finish. It’s okay. We had a decent run and our team is working hard each week to have the best car on the track,” Annett said after the race. Annett opened this season at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Missouri with a top-five finish and headed into Grundy as rookie points leader.

After three races completed in the Northern Division, Annett hangs on to the ASALMS Northern Division Rookie Points lead by one point and seventh in the overall standings. Next stop for the Lorz Motorsports team will be June 9th at Lake Erie Speedway in Erie, Pennsylvania for the Erie 100. Annett will also be doing testing later in the week both at Lake Erie and Lorain Speedway in Elyria, Ohio.
Annett is racing in the ASA Late Model Series North Division during their inaugural season this year. He is enrolled in the Rising Star Driver Development program and racing for Lorz Motorsports. RSDD is a program that offers a one-stop, comprehensive training and marketing resource that is unmatched in the industry. Lorz Motorsports is a respected team known for excellence in the ASA Series. Annett is sponsored by TMC Transportation, a leader in the flatbed transportation industry and Benson International, one of the largest custom trailer and body builders in the transportation business for over forty years and Pilot Travel Centers.

Annett, who drives the TMC black and gold #12 Ford Fusion was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. Annett began an ice hockey career at the age of six and retired from minor league hockey at the end of the 2004-05 season after playing for two years on a national championship winning team. The Annett family and TMC have a rich heritage in auto racing spanning a period of over thirty years. Always dreaming of a career in motorsports, this accomplished athlete will now apply his winning ways in the pursuit of the 2006 ASA North rookie of the year title. He will also be running a select schedule at South Boston, VA (NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series) for Barry Beggarly’s team.

About RSDD
Rising Star Driver Development™ was formed to create the most highly trained, marketable and successful race car drivers in the USA and around the world. Their innovative program offers amateur and professional drivers the sort of one-stop comprehensive training and marketing resource that is sure to increase their likelihood of winning on the track. The drivers are hand selected and provided dedicated resources to elevate their status among sponsors, fans and teams – ultimately enabling their transition to the highest ranks of professional racing. The founders have over 40 years of experience in motorsports and sports marketing.

About TMC
The largest privately-held provider of open-freight transportation in the U.S, TMC was founded in 1972 and provides expert transportation service and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is know for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and unwavering dedication to quality and customer service. TMC’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers

About Benson International
Benson International is a manufacturer of class 6, 7, & 8 specialty trailers and bodies that has served the transportation industry for over 40 years with four locations in Mineral Wells, W.Va.; Cadiz, Ky.; Meyersdale, Pa. and Oneida, Tenn. For more information contact Benson International at 877-489-9020, or visit www.bensonintl.com

About Lorz Motorsports
Lorz Motorsports, based in Midlothian, Illinois, has been competing in ASA since 2001. The team has worked with a number of talented drivers including Dave Mader III, two-time champion Gary St. Amant, Ryan Zeck, Dan Frederickson and Erik Darnell. Lorz Motorsports is an established race team with deep knowledge and talent.

ASA Stories About The George Appleton Memorial 125

Race Story -
http://www.asalatemodelsnorth.com/?p=310#more-310

Qualifying -
http://www.asalatemodelsnorth.com/?p=307#more-307

ASALMS Northern Division Standings -
http://www.asalatemodelsnorth.com/index.php?page_id=46

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