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June's Southwest Report
by June Lowitz

September 3, 2005... As I sit in my air conditioned apartment watching SPEED TV and the BUSCH qualifying, I can't help but sit back and realize how lucky I am to have what I have.  After watching the destruction that Hurricane Katrina did to Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, I'm so thankful that my biggest complaints are the heat from living here in the desert southwest and possibly sunburn.  I look around at my room at all of my souvenirs and pictures and I just can't imagine how it must be for those people who have lost everything.  My roommate's sister lives in Shreveport, Louisiana and she has been emailing my roommate to let her know she's ok and what's been going on. 
 
I know this is a lot to ask of everyone, but I'm going to put this challenge out to EVERYONE.  Please, take just $5 from your wallet and donate it to the American Red Cross or Salvation Army or one of the numerous charities that are taking donations for the hurricane victims.  If you can afford more please donate it.  If you think about it $5 is just one lunch a week that you would eat out at a fast food restaurant.  If all of the racing fans pull together and can donate just $5 per person can you imagine how much money the Red Cross would have to help these people out.  Try to imagine yourself with NOTHING.  Just the clothes on your back.  No pictures, no books, no computer, no home.  This is the time where we can all come together and help out each other. 
 
As I write this, I'm feeling so lucky to be where I am today and to have what I have today.  Tonight I have a choice as to where I can go and what I can do.  I choose to go to Manzanita Speedway to watch my favorite type of cars race.  I can't wait to see if Jeremy will win it again or if there will be someone new in the winners circle tonight.  There's so many great drivers and teams in ASCA it's really hard to choose a favorite.  There's drivers who have made some major improvement over the past year like Bernie Smith.  Bernie's one of those owner/drivers who has really come a long way.  There's guys like Nathan High who won his first main this year and Jay Ervine.  Jeff Henry's finally got the monkey off of his back and has been very competitive this year.  You have your favorites like Bob Ream, Jr., Josh Pelkey and Marty Miller who are there week in and week out.  I can't forget to mention the "Radio Flyer" Bruce St. James, who is doing better and better each week that he races and Channel 3's morning news man Scott Pasmore.
 
I've had the opportunity to go to California and watch sprint car racing at Ventura and at Perris Auto Speedway.  One thing I have to say that the ASCA has that the other two associations that I watched don't have is the family type atmosphere.  When I walk into the pits after an ASCA race, you see everyone (most of the time) with smiles on their faces, drivers talking to other drivers and being friendly about it.  I just didn't feel the family type atmosphere at these other tracks.  I've even heard people at these other tracks remark about how friendly ASCA and the ASCA racers are.  ASCA reminds me of racing back in the 70's when I grew up.  You would help out a team in need, even if you were competing against them in the next race.  I really have to say thanks to ASCA for making not only me feel so welcome but for making other racers and fans feel welcome too.
 
I have to take the time to apologize to everyone for not keeping up on my writing.  I've had a pretty busy summer with going to California a couple of times, going to Tucson and with the changes that have been made at work.  I just haven't had the time or the mind set to write anything worth reading.  I'm sorry for that and I promise to get better.
 
I want to take the time to say a special hello to LCPL Jim Gardner, Jr. who is now in Iraq in the Marine Corps.  Please make sure to include all of the men and women serving in the Armed Forces in your prayers as they are in a place where it's not so friendly and nice.  And it's hotter than it is here.  Jim called me one morning and he told me it was 120 degrees at 830am.  I will never complain about the heat again!!!!
 
I have to say hi to my newly adopted family the Lloyds.  Pops Larry Sr and Momma Pat head the family racing team with Larry Jr driving.  You might have seen the pretty #87 car race here with ASCA.  Traveling over from California is a big expense and with gas prices being what they are, Larry is taking a couple of weeks off and regroup.  This is a family owned and sponsored effort and the family would welcome any sponsor help that would be offered.  Please email me and I can put you in touch with the family for more information if you would like to sponsor this young, up and coming driver. 
 
There are two people that should be commended for their help this year with ASCA and sponsorship.  Bill Shaver and Grady Watkins.  Bill has been putting up $50 for the winner of the trophy dash and for the past few ASCA races I've been to, Grady has been matching Bill's $50.  Bill is also putting up $500 to the driver who leads the trophy dash points at the end of the year.  It's people like Bill and Grady that keep racing going.  This is what I've been talking about.  You don't even have to give $50.  Just give $20 or $25 to your favorite driver or car owner would be appreciated, I'm sure.  With the price of gasoline, that will help get the cars to the track, or it could go for fuel, pit passes, tear offs or whatever the team needs.
 
It's time for me to get ready to go racing.  I'm hoping for a great event since the racing will be on the half mile and there is qualifying.  I'll see you at Manzy either tonight or next week.  Feel free to email any comments to me at ASCAJune@aol.com.

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