Midlothian, Illinois (04/09/2008): Entering their third season of racing in the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division, Lorz Motorsports has their sights set firmly on a championship. With two new drivers in the Lorz stable one and possible two titles are firmly within the teams’ grasps.
For the 2008 racing season, new drivers, Troy Hintzsche and Rookie title contender, Josh Lane have joined forced with Midlothian, Illinois-based team and both will make a run for the 2008 ASALMS Northern Division Championship beginning on Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, 2008 at the Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio in the running of the Glass Breaker 125.
Hintzsche will not only switch teams for 2008 as he’s coming from his family-owned team he ran for in 2007, he’ll also go with a new body style as well! Gone is the Dodge Charger, enter a Ford Fusion! In addition he’ll switch out numbers! The familiar #34 is history and now adorning the doors of the Malta, Illinois pilots’ machine in 2008 will be an unfamiliar #76!
Lane will steer the familiar Lorz #54 machine and will make a run at the 2008 ASALMS Northern Division Rookie of the Year title! This will be the first full season of competing in a full bodied Late Model for the Algonquin, Illinois freshman after spending most of his career in open wheeled machines.
Lorz Motorsports Car Owner, Mike Lorz has been pacing back and fourth for weeks in anticipation of the start of the new season and in his words, has never been more excited to start a new year then now!
“We’ve been really busy preparing both cars for the upcoming race at Toledo and I’m really excited about getting this year started!” Lorz stated. “Both of my drivers are ready to go! It’s been a long winter and it’s time to go racing. Both cars have been prepared by bunch of good guys and I would to thank them for the good job they did this winter. Now it’s time too win.”
“We tested over this past weekend at ORP getting all the little things out of the way so when we head out to Toledo, we’re ready to go!” Added Dan Lorz, Crew Chief on Hintzsche’s ride. “We got Troy comfortable in the car he did a really good job and was really consistent! He’s got a great attitude the whole team is ready to go.” He added.
Both drivers are just as eager as the Lorz Brothers to get the season started as well! Hintzsche was elated with his first test with Lorz. “I’m really excited for the first race at Toledo! We had a very good test session last weekend and was able to work some of the bugs out of the car as well as get myself comfortable in the car.” He explained.
“The test saved us a lot of time for the season opener. We will be able to focus on getting the car fast as soon as we unload in Toledo.” The 24-year-old added. “My goal for the first race is to finish the #76 Winfield Soultions, DeKalb Seed, BASF Chemical Company, International Truck and Engine, Lorz Motorsports Ford Fusion in the Top Five and go from there.”
The only driver in the Northern Division to run a Dodge Charger in 2007, Hintzsche competed in all but one event in 2007 and picked up One (1) Top 10 finish, which was a season high Ninth place showing in the Wolverine 100 at the Dixie Motor Speedway on August 17, 2007.
Hintzsche also recorded his first career Fast Qualifier Award which also came at Dixie. Overall, Hintzsche just missed the Top 10 in the final points by finishing 11th but the 24-year-old managed a solid Fifth place showing in the Final 2007 ASALMS Northern Division Rookie of the Year Points Standings.
He also made one ASALMS Challenge Division appearance in the Benson International / Crate American Race 200 at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway on August 4, 2007 and finished in 19th place.
Lane is just as excited as his teammate especially after a good test session at ORP; “I feel confident about Toledo this weekend after leaving ORP. It was good that we got out on the track I learned a lot and we got stronger, closer, and better as a team overall.”
“Between my teammate and myself, I believe we can put together some good chemistry to have a strong run this season.” The soon to be 20-year-old remarked. “I can’t thank my Dad, Lance Lane and manager Jeff Charno, of Performance Enterprise enough for giving me this awesome opportunity.”
“I really think that getting along so good with the Lorz team puts us one step ahead of everyone else. I feel while communicating with my Crew Chief, Don Udoni and the rest of the team, we have something that sets us out from everyone else. Look for us at Toledo.” Lane ended.
Lane made Two (2) ASALMS appearances with one race each in the Northern and Southern Divisions in 2007. His first race was in the 1st annual Bob Milner Memorial 125 at the Grundy County Speedway on September 9, 2007 where he finished 23rd.
The results were much better in his second and final 2007 appearance, as he and the Lorz Motorsports team traveled down to the historic Hickory Motor Speedway for the Meet the Stars 125 late in the season on October 20, 2007.
Lane survived a crash filled affair and severe cosmetic damage to his machine, and even a Flat Tire to finish an impressive Fourth, just missing the podium and one position behind his teammate for the weekend, Auckland, New Zealand driver, Michael Pickens who ironically will also contend for the same rookie title as Lane in 2008 for a different team.
For the 2008 racing season, Hintzsche will steer a Lorz Motorsports Ford Fusion with sponsorship from: Winfield Solutions as well as DeKalb Seed, International Truck and Engine Corporation, Agriliance Interlock, BASF Chemical Corporation, Syngenta, Rooster Reality, Bell Racing, M.P.H. Promotions, and Lorz Motorsports.
As for Lane, he will steer the familiar #54 Lorz Motorsports Ford Fusion carrying sponsorship from; Racers Against Hunger as well as Chicago Family Law, Performance Enterprises, Red Line Synthetic Oil, Kdubya.com, M.P.H. Promotions, and Lorz Motorsports.
