Eight vie for Gatorade All Pro rookie honors

April 18, 2001
11:19 AM EDT (1519 GMT)

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (April 7 2001) -- The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, has announced that eight drivers have filed applications to compete for the 2001 Gatorade All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring Rookie-of-the-Year Program. This will be one of the largest group of rookie contenders for the series in recent years.

Road Ammons, 32 years of age, is from Acworth, Ga. He is new to NASCAR competition after starting his racing career in 1998 and he brings a new sponsor to the series with A & W Rootbeer. For the past two years he has been competing with other racing organizations in Geogia. Ammons has served on active duty with the U. S. Marine Corp flying the F-18 Fighters. He recently left active duty and will be serving in the Marine Reserves also flying the F-18. Ammons is married to his wife LoWanda and they have two children, Jasmin and Justin.

Richie Beasley, 30 years old hails from Brewton, Al., and is a college graduate with a Degree in Secondary Business Education. He is currently employed as a school teacher. He started his racing career in 1989 on dirt tracks in south Alabama, competing in Hobby and Late Model type cars. He has also competed with in IMCA Modified type cars. Beasely competed with the Southern All Stars on asphalt in 2000. He has been one of the most popular drivers to compete at Mobile International Speedway winning Rookie of the Year honors there in 1999. He is sponsored by Advance Construction Services. Beasley is married to his wife Melissa and they have one son, Raven.

Wayne Bowen is making his first attempt at competing with the Gatorade All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring on a full-time basis. He started his racing in 1982 in go-karts and was a five-time karting champion before moving to Late Model type cars. He has competed mostly at Concord Motorsports Park, in Concord, N. C. and Southern National Speedway in Kenly, N. C. He has three career starts with the series and is sponsored by Checkered Flag Graphics. Bowen is married to his wife Kathy and they have one daughter, Ashley Nicole.

Charles Bradberry is new to NASCAR racing, as a driver, but now new to NASCAR. His brother Gary, was a competitor with the former NASCAR All American Challenge Series and he also competed in ARCA and on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Charlie started racing in 1994 runing go karts. He then competed with the Allison Legacy Cars before competing with the Southern All Star Series where he won Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 2000. Bradberry is single.

Michael Britt is making his NASCAR Touring series debut in 2001. He started racing in 1992 at Lanier National Speedway and has competed with the Southern All Star Racing Series. Britt is sponsored by Catalina Carpentry. Britt is married to his wife Carolyn and they have two children, Garrett and Mackenna.

Chris Fontaine brings an impressive record to the series. He started racing in 1997 and has competed at numerous tracks in central Florida. He has competed in two different divsions, Mini Cup type cars and Limited Late Model type cars. In 1999 he won a championship in Mini Cup cars. Fontaine has numerous victories to his credit in his short racing career and his sponsor is Discount Auto Parts. Fontaine is single.

Jody Lavender, started his racing in 1996 and has had extensive racing in mini-stock, Charger, Late Model Stock, Super Truck and Gatorade All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring type cars. He has five starts with this series entering the second event of 2001 and at 6' 5" is the tallest racer on the series. He is sponsored by H & R Block and Lavender Carpets. Lavender is single.

The eighth Gatorade All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring driver to file an application for Rookie-of-the-Year status hails from London, Ky. Roger Parker started racing in 1980 with extensive experience in go karts, motorcycles, Street Stock, and Late Model type cars. He has four starts with the Gatorade All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring entering the second event of 2001. Parker is married to his wife Stephanie and they have two children, Karli and Peyton.

The Gatorade All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring is one of nine NASCAR Touring Series that blanket the United States, bringing special events to many NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks and some NASCAR superspeedways and road courses. NASCAR Touring Series can provide a competitor with an entire career, or they can provide valuable experience to competitors moving through the NASCAR ranks. Corporate sponsors make significant contributions to NASCAR Touring Series point funds. The sponsors include R. J. Reynolds, Anheuser-Busch, Featherlite Trailers, Goody's Headache Powders, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Raybestos Brakes and RE/MAX International, Incorporated.