ASA SPEED TRUCK CHALLENGE PROMOTES AUSTINE TO RACE DIRECTOR

Source: ASA Speed Truck Media
Date: 08/21/2008

UPLAND, Ca —--In an exciting, yet bold move for the future, American Speed Association (ASA) Speed Truck Challenge (STC) president Jay Rutherford announced today that he is stepping down as the Race Director and is promoting his long-time and incredibly competent Head Technical Official, Jeff Austine to the role. This innovative move will give Rutherford the much needed time to manage the Motorsports Economic Stimulus Package released yesterday. Austine brings a unique, in-depth, perspective to the role, mixed with a long history in motorsports and his racing motocross for years. Austine was hired by Rutherford back in 1997 to build the original Speed Trucks. The 51-year-old service manager at Camping World has been one of the primary catalysts for turning the ASA STC into one of the fastest growing and most prominent traveling racing series on the West Coast. His technical knowledge and implementation of the rules has assured complete parity in the premier ASA series. “Jeff’s understanding of tough, championship racing on and off the track and his knowledge of every detail on a Speed Truck makes him a perfect candidate to replace me as Race Director,” said Rutherford. “I have complete confidence in Jeff as do our teams and track owners and everyone will be very pleased with him at the helm of directing each race. We are getting ready to see some of our best days ahead.”

The catalyst for this dramatic change developed about the same time Speed Truck Challenge launched 12 years ago. New Vision International, a Scottsdale, Arizona based company with sales of over $1.6 billion, introduced its pioneering “Essential Minerals” for optimum health and performance at virtually the same time. Four years ago, New Vision recognized the need for a more convenient method of delivering the entire daily supplements a body needs. In late 2005, Vemma was launched. An acronym for Vitamins, Essential Minerals, Mangosteen, Aloe Vera, Vemma’s all natural, preservative free, tropical fruit flavored, 2 ounce daily shot, has already become the choice for tens of thousands of baby boomers in 46 countries.

Early in 2007, recognizing the epidemic of youth obesity/diabetes and the explosion of the energy drink category, BK Boreyko, President of Vemma, asked his nutritional scientists to develop a healthy energy drink. It had to be all natural, preservative free, taste great and include the complete Vemma 2 ounce shot in every can. January 2008 Verve! The Insanely Healthy Energy drink was launched. In 8 short months, Verve! is already the 8th best selling energy drink in America. Major sports teams, hotels and spas such as the Four Seasons and La Costa Spa & Resort have recognized and endorsed Verve! as their “Official Energy Drink.” With sales already topping $2 million a month, Verve! is expected to become the 3rd or 4th best selling energy drink in the next few years with all of Verve! sales coming from referral marketing.

Verve! has shattered the typical unhealthy, sugar and caffeine -filled energy drink mold with a product and Hybrid Marketing opportunity that’s totally fresh. Verve! is actually 3 product categories in one;

(1) delicious, fast-acting energy; (2) ultra-premium vitamin & mineral supplements; and (3) powerful mangosteen anti-oxidants and aloe juice phyto-nutrients. Verve! delivers the power to go all day and the opportunity to build your own self funded Motorsports program.

Jay Rutherford and his National Marketing Director, Bill McCloud will begin working with Verve! / Vemma and each team individually to generate the much needed additional funding for the series and every team. They understand that most of the teams need additional money to campaign their Speed Trucks and the VERVE! opportunity does exactly that. This program is offered to all, not just the Speed Trucks or ASA, each purchase of Verve! or Vemma benefits not only the participants, but also adds to the ASA STC purses, drivers’ points, national television production and the Speed Truck Ministries Program.

With this personal, financial and major time commitment, Rutherford and McCloud will propel the Speed Truck Challenge series to greater heights than ever before, giving each driver the best opportunity to attain the experience they need to accelerate their careers in Motorsports. “We knew as the series got larger and we wanted to take on more national exposure that it would demand more and more of Jay’s time and we have finally convinced him to take that step for the future,” smiled McCloud. “He has an incredible heart for his drivers and needless to say, his Motorsports Economic Stimulus Package will be great for the future of the series and for every driver.”

Previously Rutherford had announced a $50,000 purse for the remaining three races in 2008 with each being nationally televised to round out the 4th quarter 2008 and 1st quarter 2009 broadcast schedule. The ASA STC is also starting a high-level driver recruitment campaign within the Karting/Legends ranks, utilizing visuals with Go Racing Magazine for the 2009 season. This allows drivers as young as 14 to participate in the series and reap the benefits of this additional Verve! prize money. Said McCloud, “We are really going to raise the bar for our incoming drivers and make sure that they have the kind of commitment and interest that is needed at this level of motorsports. We are looking for the best of the best in young drivers, ones that are motivated to earn money and learn the business side of Motorsports to launch their careers. With this new crop of Cup-hungry drivers, we plan on helping them jumpstart their driving careers here with the Speed Truck Challenge and VERVE!”

Austine will start his new position with the next race at I-10 Speedway in Blythe, CA on September 27th. The dramatic ASA STC season finishes in exciting fashion running on the ever-favorite track at Havasu 95 Speedway and then at the “LA’s ½-mile Super Speedway” at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. A smiling Austine said, “It is a great compliment that Jay is willing to hand over the reins to me here at the end of the 2008 season. I have some excellent ideas as well and I promise to be the kind of Race Director that the teams and the public demands. Let’s go racing!”

Rutherford will still be present at all races and will be working individually with other new marketing partners and teams. “No one knows the Speed Truck Challenge like I do,” said Rutherford, “and I’m excited about utilizing that knowledge and our marketing expertise to get more money back into the hands of the teams so that they don’t have the financial burdens of the past. Verve! has presented a “golden opportunity” for the Motorsports industry and we want everyone to take advantage of this program.”

For more information about how you can get started in the

ASA Speed Truck Challenge and the Verve! opportunity, call or email:

Bill McCloud @ 866-873-7615 - bill@speedtruck.com / Don Tatman @ 520-349-3047 - tatmandn@cs.com

Cara Huish @ 480-503-1536 - clh2754@cox.net / Jay Rutherford - 909-949-4780 - jay@speedtruck.com

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