ANDERSON, Ind. — The vintage race car was parked just a few yards away and conversations flowed easily. These men had come here 20, 30, 40, even 50 years ago to try their hand at a tight high-banked, quarter-mile track and their memories were crisp, sharp and entertaining.
From their smiles and easy handshakes, it was obvious that everyone was having a good time.
The 50th Anniversary ASA Racers Reunion at Anderson Speedway on July 15 commemorated the launch of the American Speed Ass’n 50 years ago. Anderson was the home of ASA founder Rex Robbins and Anderson Speedway was the birthplace of ASA, so this was the perfect place for a reunion.
And, oh by the way, the 57th running of the Redbud 400 presented by Greg Hubler Auto Group was on tap for later that evening, featuring the reborn ASA STARS National Tour — perfect timing.
Nearly 20 former ASA stars were on hand, along with past officials, crew members, media folks and manufacturers. The former drivers were led by Bob Senneker and Mike Eddy, two ASA legends who were the face of the series through much of its heyday. The reunion was capped off with Senneker and Eddy each receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award for their contributions to ASA.
For a lot of former racers, coming to reunions and gatherings is like going to the dentist — you don’t go unless you must. Several of those on hand admitted they weren’t initially interested in attending. But with friendly prodding — most notably from fellow ASA racer Mike Miller — they agreed.
To a man, they raved about how much they enjoyed the day.
“I didn’t even want to come,” laughed three-time ASA champion Butch Miller. “But once I got here and started talking to all these old friends, my gosh … I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.”
At the tail end of the afternoon, the drivers were interviewed on a small stage, and the crowd listened, laughed and followed along.
Senneker and Eddy were interviewed together and as they smiled and told stories on one another everyone smiled right along with them. It was like we were transported back to another time, when these two men — along with Dick Trickle and a cast of dozens of stars — made ASA one of the finest racing organizations ever conceived.
It felt wonderful.
They could have scheduled this reunion at 8 a.m. Monday in Faith, S.D., and I still wouldn’t have missed it. But the fact that it came on an afternoon that preceded the return of ASA to Anderson’s high banks made it the perfect combination. Past, present and future all on display.
Bob Sargent and his staff did the impossible and successfully pulled together many entities to make the ASA rebirth possible. The 400-lap race on Saturday night was entertaining and solid, with a good finish that saw Cole Butcher prevail.
In an earlier time, when ASA rolled into town it felt like the spotlight of the entire racing industry was focused on your track. Sargent and the series are off to a good start and there is no reason that level of excitement can’t live again.
Will it be easy? No, but nothing is easy. Will it be different than it used to be? Yes, and it should be. This is a new generation of racing stars and with the right opportunity they can create their own spotlight, their own legacy.
This inaugural season for ASA STARS National Tour slated 10 races at several high-profile traditional tracks. The season will conclude with two massive events: The Winchester 400 at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 15, and the All-American 400 at Nashville (Tenn.) Fairgrounds Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 5.
Finishing the season with two blockbuster events, at blockbuster tracks. Just like it used to be.
Sometimes you can sense the good things that are happening for a team, a track or a series. That was the vibe surrounding Anderson Speedway and ASA STARS this particular Saturday — good things are happening and it’s a vibe short-track, stock car racing hasn’t experienced in a long time.
Rebirth. It’s happening.
This story appeared in the July 26, 2023 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
