Max Gresham's ASA Season-Opening Victory No Surprise To Roberts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Griffin, GA (April 2, 2009) – While Max Gresham may have surprised the racing world with a win in the season-opening American Speed Association (ASA) Southeast Tour event at Mobile, AL, the victory wasn’t that unexpected for the driver’s veteran team manager and crew chief, Gene Roberts.
“The results we had last weekend are just an extension of the program we put together last year,” said Roberts (above right), who oversees the Gresham Motorsports operation. “Max is a very talented young driver and over the winter months, we were able to refocus and work on our race cars. Our goal was to be right from the start of the season, especially in a series like ASA where we knew we were going to try to win a championship this year. When we hit the track at Mobile last weekend, we were fully loaded and ready to compete. That proved out with a win there and then a Top-10 finish the following day at Pensacola.”
Roberts, who made a name for himself working in NASCAR for several seasons – most notably with Bill Elliott – has in recent years dedicated himself to developing young drivers. In Gresham, a 15-year-old who has roared on to the late model scene after successful stints in Bandolero and Legends cars, Roberts thinks the Griffin, GA driver has the ‘right stuff’ to follow in the footsteps of several other top young talents.
“I’ve been working with Max since he was 12 and he’s progressed quite a lot,” Roberts stated. “I had success in the past working with young drivers like Joey Clanton and Reed Sorenson and the Gresham Motorsports program has had successful associations with drivers like Joey Logano and David Ragan as they made their way up the racing ladder. We’re hoping Max can achieve that same kind of success.”
Success was the name of the game for Gresham at Mobile as sprinted from the 16th starting position to win the ASA Southeast Ride-On Tire Protection System 100 Saturday. One day later, Gresham’s black and red No. 7-11 stocker again started deep in the field, roared through the pack to lead, and eventually finished 10th in the Estrol Oil 100 ASA Southeast Tour event at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL.
The solid weekend doubleheader performance left Gresham in second place in the ASA championship standings, just 35 points out of the top spot as the team prepares to head for its next ASA contest at Lanier (GA) National Speedway, Saturday, April 11.
“We expect to go to every event this season with the potential to contend for the win,” said Roberts. “As a team, we’re capable of winning races, but with a young driver like Max, you have to build his confidence and allow him to use the skills he has to win those races. There’s no doubt we have the cars to win races. I think this is going to be a breakout year for Max. He’s a very talented young man and I think he’s right on target to be one of the drivers in the ASA series that the competition is going to have to contend with at every race. Our goal is a championship, that’s what we are racing for this year. Winning at Mobile and getting a good finish at Pensacola was a great start to that goal.”
Max Gresham will return to American Speed Association Southeast Tour action in the Lanier 100 at Lanier National Speedway on Saturday, April 11. The event on the 3/8-mile Atlanta area paved oval will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The event will be broadcast live on the web at www.racetalkradio.com.
To learn more about Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please log on to www.greshammotorsports.com.
For information about sponsorship/partnering with Max Gresham and Gresham Motorsports, please contact Tony Gresham at tgresham@greshaminc.com.