History of the American Sim Racing Series

The American Sim Racing Series was founded by Jim Foose in 2002.  Foose, a competitor in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series was looking for a way to race with other drivers from across the globe.  The American Sim Racing Series was born in NASCAR Racing 3, the 1999 release by Papyrus.  After a short season in 2002, the ASRS moved to NASCAR Heat, a 2000 release by Hasbro Interactive that was highly modded by the sim racing community.  For 2003 and the spring of 2004, NASCAR Heat was run with the “Late Model Mod” created by a group of short trackers from Michigan, Ohio, and Canada based on the real USPRO Series, that turned into the ASA Late Model Series in 2004.  2004 brought a change for the American Sim Racing Series as a move to NASCAR Racing 2003 Season was made, and a Weekly Racing Series at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway was scheduled.  The series thrived, and for 2005 ASRS scheduled the Craftsman Truck Series, Pro Cup Series and Late Model Challenge Series.  ASRS was the first league to utilize the brand new Late Model Project mod in competition with the season opener at Nashville Speedway USA.  By season’s end, the ASRS took over the longest running online event, the All American 400.

2006 brought about more change, as the ASRS added a new style of racing to the online community with the addition of the “Pure Stock Series”, a full contact stock car division.  As the series grew, so did the car counts.  The competition became even tougher, and the quality of drivers has risen.  In late July, the ASRS Outlaw Paintshop Limited Late Model Series was announced, and the first race run on August 15th, the series quickly grew to include nearly 30 weekly competitors each Tuesday night.  In November, the Outlaw Paintshop Limited Late Model Series became known as the Outlaw Paintshop All American Series.  A record 86 entries were filed for the 9th Annual All American 400 which was won by Tennessee native Josh Berry.  In early December, riding the wave of success from the 2006 season, the 1st Annual Snowball Derby was run, with 73 entries being filed. 

2007 was a big year for the ASRS.  ASRS added the ASRS East Series and ASRS Modified Series and continued to grow.  The 10th Annual All American 400 saw the first 2-time winner, Josh Berry.  Later in the year the 2nd Annual Snowball Derby became the first ASRS sanctioned event to award trophies.  Josh Berry backed up his All American 400 win with a victory in the 2nd Annual Snowball Derby.  During the season the RPM Late Model Series was cut back to a partial schedule featuring special events only.  In December 2007, it was announced that the ASRS had obtained the rights to the United Shorttrack Alliance (USA Series) and would operate the USA Series in 2008. 

2008 saw a clean sweep of all championships by a pair of JF2 Racing teammates.  Jim Foose won championships in the Craftsman Truck Series BozPC National Series, Modified Series and Outlaw Paintshop All American Series Overall championship, Spring and Fall seasons.  EJ McDonell took home the Outlaw Paintshop All American Series Summer Championship. Mike Husby and Chuck Chamblee split the 11th Annual All American 400 wins and Jordan Hightower took home the Third Annual Snowball Derby.Foose also took home the USA Series Limtied Late Model Series championship in June.  The highlight of the 2008 season was the rising competition level and close points battles.  It was announced late in 2008 that the National and Modified Series would be dropped and replaced with the new Late Model Sportsman Series.  

2009 saw the Foose era kick into high gear, with each championship going to Foose during the 2009 season.  The Late Model Sportsman Series kicked off in early 2009 with great fanfare but faded as the summer months slowed growth.  The series gave way midseason to trial runs of other divisions to run full time in 2010.  The first Grassroots Racing Series was held with Hobby Stocks running at Lee USA Speedway.  In early December the brand new TheCrewShirt.com Cup Series was announced to begin in February at Daytona International Speedway.  Additionally the All American Series and Camping World Truck Series would return full time in 2010.  

2010 marks the 9th season for ASRS, with the determination of series founder, Jim Foose, and the highly qualified administrative team the series should continue to see growth. With an aggressive schedule of events including several high profile special events, 2010 should be the most successful year for the American Sim Racing Series.