MINNESOTA PROVES COLD FOR J.C.
September 3, 2001 - St. Paul, MN

ATI Performance Racing returned to Minnesota State Fair Speedway for the annual American Speed Association Labor Day event, the Miller Lite 300. J. C. Beattie and the ATI team were seeking an improvement on last seasons results from Minnesota.

J.C. started in the 20th spot based on car owner's points. The Minnesota State Fair Speedway does not have a qualifying race like normal ASA AC Delco series events. Starting positions one (1) through (20) are based on car owner's points, positions 21 through 30 are decided based on a two-lap qualifying session, and car owner's points determined the last four positions.

The ATI #09 ran a consistent race and finished in the 22nd spot improving five spots on the 27th place finish a year ago.

LaFavre Racing teammates Kevin Cywinski and Mike Garvey turned in a stellar one-two finish with St Amant, Miller, and Clanton rounding out the top five.

The race saw former ASA champion Kevin Cywinski and the current ASA points leader Johnny Sauter battle for the lead all day long, the only two drivers to lead the 300-lap event.

After the race's fifth caution, Cywinski's pit crew got the veteran out ahead of Sauter, who had led most of the race. Only two laps into the restart, Sauter got sandwiched between Cywinski and Garvey, the trio made contact spinning Sauter out causing the rookie to fall back to ninth place.

"I don't really have much to say right now," said Sauter after the race. "guess that's what you get when you get sandwiched between two teammates." Sauter finished eighth.

"I wasn't going to back off," said Garvey, who was booed by the fans. "It's time to go at the end of the race. Sauter would have done the same thing. Normally, I've been a nice guy in those situations, but I have to do what I need to do."

Also, the annual Labor Day event saw former ASA National Champion Dick Trickle return to the series in fine fashion, coming home sixth after running in the top-10 most of the day.

The next stop on the ASA/AC Delco Series is Memphis Motorsports Park Sunday, Sept. 9, for the Rev-Up Sports Drink 200.

Race Results:
1) Kevin Cywinski #21 - 300
2) Mike Garvey #1 - 300
3) Gary St. Amant #7 - 300
22) J.C. Beattie Jr #09 - 295

Fans in the Baltimore area can listen for J.C. Beattie, Jr. on The Checkered Flag, a radio program covering NASCAR, CART, IRL, and Maryland racing. The Checkered Flag can be heard on WNST 1570 AM, Saturdays between 9 and 11 AM. Be sure to check www.jcbeattie.com or www.asaracing.com often for the latest information on J.C. Beattie, Jr. and the ATI Performance Racing team.


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