Jesse Saunders (87) in action during the last event of the 2005 season for the ASA Late Model Series, the Chicago International Trucks/Season Championships 100 held during the conclusion of the 40th annual National Short Track Championships at the Rockford (IL) Speedway. Saunders finished a career high fifth and now looks ahead to the 2006 season. (Bob Milner-RACEPIX Photo)

JANESVILLE, Wis. -- The 2005 season for the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts is now complete, Stephen Leicht won the ASA Late Model Series Championship while Brian Campbell won the Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title. In addition, hometown favorite, Ricky Bilderback won the Chicago International Trucks/Season Championships 100 at the Rockford (IL) Speedway during the conclusion of the 40th annual National Short Track Championships.

Lost in the midst of all the hoopla and pomp and circumstance surrounding the post race activities was the career high finish by Janesville, Wisconsin’s Jesse Saunders! The 19-year-old pilot, in only his second full season in an ASA Late Model, opened the eyes of the proverbial racing world with an out of nowhere run. Saunders steered his Three Hammer Construction/Miller & Sons/ARP Aluminum Racing Products Chevrolet Monte Carlo to an very impressive fifth place showing!

Saunders earned his first career top five, and first career top 10 finish for that matter, in the ASA Late Model Series the hard way. Saunders started ninth and ran with the leaders all day long. An accomplishment in itself! The part-time competitor in 2005, who picked up two wins this season in the companion GM Performance Parts Shootouts this season, fended off serious challenges from the previously mentioned 2005 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Campbell and to make his finish that much better, Saunders was working on fourth place finisher, Chad Wood at the end of the century grind!

I started the day really excited because we were pretty good the last time we were there and the only thing I had changed since La Crosse was my shock program, to Dyno-Mite Shock Service." Explained a very happy Saunders after reflecting on his top five finish. "In Practice the car was tight off, but an easy fix. Then in a rush to get back for the second practice I scuffed the pit wall entering the traffic, causing some right front cosmetic damage and luckily no suspension damage." Continued Saunders. "I missed the rest of practice and my crew got the car fixed in time for Tech. The car didn't look pretty but I knew I had a very stable and a consistent Pathfinder Chassis." He added.

Saunders made grid time and started in the 27-car field from the inside fifth row, next to perennial contender, Kris Stump. "The race started and I got shoved up by another car into the wall I thought this is gonna be a long day. Luckily everyone settled in and race went smoothly for a while until I tangled with another car and got out of shape." Saunders continued. "I got it back underneath me but with all the marbles I collected it took a while to get the car back straight and comfortable.

In the caution plagued event, Saunders stayed out of trouble with minimal or no damage and continued running amongst the leaders. "Wreck after wreck I kept finding the causes of all the trouble, but on a tight 1/4 mile running up front the trouble doesn't really escape from you." Saunders continued. "All day my car was not good on restarts which put a lot of pressure on me for a couple of laps but three laps into a run and I usually could distance myself."

Saunders battled with Wood in front of him and Campbell behind him late in the event and when all was said and done, the Janesville, Wisconsin driver would finish a career high fifth place! "All in all the day was a success to me. We proved we belong here, and worked through adversity from practice (pits) to the checkered. I want to earn the respect of my fellow competitors, but I'm going to do what I have to do to put myself in contention to win these races. I think that shows more at Rockford than anywhere" He added.

"I also need to recognize the crew. When I hit the wall in practice they jumped right on getting the car fixed. My spotter Ken Noyce kept me calm all day and guided the car through a lot of wrecks." Saunders stated. "My crew of Matt Noyce and Ken DeMars led by Interim Crew Chief Joe Lacy got the car fixed for the race. My dad, William Saunders gave me a good set of Bagels (Tires) that I definitely "used up" in the 100 lapper. All this on my moms birthday." Saunders ended.

Despite limited appearances during the 2005 season, Saunders managed a 29th place showing in the overall ASA Late Model Series Points Standings. The Janesville, Wisconsin driver picked up two feature wins during the GM Performance Parts Shootouts held in conjunction with the ASA Late Model Series events and finished 13th in the GMPP Shootout Points tallies with only three total appearances. His Shootout wins came at his home track of the Madison (WI) International Speedway on May 27th and again, also in Wisconsin at the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway during Oktoberfest on October 6th.

In addition to his appearances with the ASA Late Model Series, Saunders also competed full-time in the ASA Late Model Division at Madison and finished an outstanding fifth place in the final points standings in a strong weekly field every Friday night at the ½ mile high-banked paved oval located just outside of Madison in Oregon, Wisconsin. It was the second year in a row where Saunders finished in the top 10 in points in the ASA Late Model Division. In 2004, he was shown ninth at seasons end in the first season for the division at Madison.

During the 2005 season, the soon to be 20-year-old Saunders carried sponsorship on the side of his Chevrolet Monte Carlo from Three Hammer Constrcution as well as Werner Electric Supply, Miller and Sons Supermarket, Glarnerladen Antiques and Collectibles, A.J. Leinhardt Realtor, Nodorft Construction, Sprecher Custom Homes, The Swiss Colony, and Gordie Boucher of Janesville WI. Along with support from Spectrum Coatings, Pathfinder Chassis, Dyno-Mite Shock Service, Simpson Race Products and Auto-Meter.

Saunders racing career began at the age of 9 in go-karts and he stayed in Karts from 1995-2000 racing in the US820 Jr. Division as well as the Badger Kart Club. In 1997, Saunders also ran in the Midwest Sprint Series. During that time, Saunders racked up impressive numbers including two championships, 1997 and 2000 in the US820 Junior division. He also won the title in the Midwest Sprint Series in 1997.

His full bodied Stock car career began in 2002 after serving a year as a crew member. Saunders started in Limited Late Models at the Jefferson (WI) Speedway where we was the youngest ever feature winner in the history of the speedway. In 2003, Saunders made the big jump to Super Late Models at his home track of Madison where he took the Rookie of the Year honors. 2004 saw Saunders make the pivotal career move to the ASA Late Model Division at Madison where he finished ninth in the final points tallies.

Saunders and the JWS Racing Team are actively seeking sponsorship for a full run in the ASA Late Model Challenge Division for the 2006 season as well as the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division. For more information and to learn more about Jesse Saunders, please visit his website at: www.jwsracing.com

To learn more about the ASA Late Model Series and the 2006 season, visit one of their three websites at: www.asalatemodels.com, www.asalatemodelsnorth.com, or www.asalatemodelssouth.com