Matt Hein wins the American Speed Association/Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association 2008 Championship

Matt Hein wins the American Speed Association/Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association 2008 Championship

Matt Hein claims the 2008 ASA/NSRA Championship with a strong second half of the season claiming three feature event wins at Douglas County Speedway July 26th, Evergreen Speedway September 13th, and Friday night of the two day Championship weekend at Meridian Speedway September 26th.  Additionally, Hein set the all time track record at Stateline Stadium Speedway in late August with an 11.436 second lap.  Hein had nine top ten finishes, seven top five finishes, and four podium finishes in thirteen races.  Hein also set fast time in qualifying on five separate occasions at four different race tracks throughout the season.

Going into the Championship weekend at Meridian Speedway Hein held the season points lead by only 41 points over 2007 ASA/NSRA Champion Andy Alberding.  Sierra Jackson third in points and Justin Mack fourth in points were still in reach of winning the Championship.  By Hein winning Friday nights’ feature event he only needed to start the Saturday night event to claim the Championship.

Sixteen year old Sierra Jackson won the ASA/NSRA 2008 rookie of the year.  This was her first year with a touring series she demonstrating her talent in wheeling a winged sprint car by winning the feature event at Ephrata Raceway Park August 9^th.  By winning she made ASA/NSRA history becoming both the first woman to win and the youngest person to win. Additionally, she finished 2^nd at Stateline Stadium Speedway August 23^rd and again at Meridian Speedway September 26^th as well as setting quick time at Meridian Speedway September 27^th.

Justin Mack finished 3^rd in season points having a strong season himself with 3 feature event wins at Douglas County Speedway April 26^th, Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval July 5^th, and Meridian Speedway September 27^th.

Top ten drivers in the 2008 ASA/NSRA Championship season with total points:

728   Matt Hein (car # 98h)

678   Sierra Jackson (25j)

667   Justin Mack (17)

660   Andy Alberding (76)

560   Cory Lockwood (99r)

494   Jake Mann (51)

491   R. J. Fronsman (25z)

449   Ken Hamilton (01)

444   Greg Middendorf (4)

384   Rick Brown (99d) First 5 time ASA/NSRA Champion