Jason Posted January 23, 2003 Report Share Posted January 23, 2003 CONCORD, NC (January 23, 2003) – Although the official start of the 2003 ASA Racing Series is still weeks away, one of Texas’ rising stars is already gearing up to start his season. 17-year-old Casey Smith is not hitting the racetrack just yet, but he will be on the floor of the Reliant Center (TX), as he and his Texas Department of Health number 08 Chevrolet Monte Carlo will be displayed at the 20th Annual Houston Auto Show starting January 25th. Smith will be promoting his sponsor and the Premier Short Track Series in the country, the ASA Racing Series. Smith’s “Tobacco is Foul” car will be on display for all 10 days of the Auto Show, with the teenage racing sensation making personal appearances on January 25th, February 1st and February 2nd. Smith hopes to speak with many of the 500,000-plus spectators that annually visit the show and deliver Texas’ tobacco-free message while also signing autographs and promoting the April 12th ASA event at Houston Motor Speedway. “Stock car racing fans are extremely loyal to the sports' sponsors,” said Smith. “The State of Texas and my entire racing team hopes that they will listen to this sponsor especially. It is my job to encourage kids that they can be a winner and cool without having to use tobacco. I think having it on a really great-looking racecar will help influence these people’s ideas of tobacco. People need to realize that tobacco kills more people than suicide, AIDS, drug abuse and car crashes combined.” The “Tobacco is Foul” campaign is aimed at young Texans, specifically in the Houston-Beaumont/Port Arthur area. It is part of a pilot project funded by money from the 1998 Texas Tobacco Settlement. Last year, the project led to a 40 percent reduction in middle school tobacco use in the Houston-Beaumont/Port Arthur area. Smith has inked a contract with the Texas Department of Health to carry the tobacco-free message into five events during the 2003 season. Those five races are still to be determined, but will include the Houston race. The American Speed Association season opener is slated for March 22nd in Lakeland, Florida. The series will run 17 events at 17 different tracks in 12 states during the 2003 season. SPEED Channel will carry 16 of the 17 scheduled events live with the other being on a same-day, tape-delayed basis. Casey and the team are still looking for other sponsors to help them run during the 2003 season. For inquiries, call 512-282-6845. # # # # Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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