American Speed Association PR
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Wednesday, August 11, 2010) - When you go on the internet to see the distance to drive from Boyd, WI to Wisconsin Dells, WI, the shortest route will say it's about two hours and thirty minutes...each way. The route from Boyd to Tomah, WI is about one hour and forty-five minutes.

Those two routes are what Josh Bonick, along with is his father Wayne, took over twenty times in the last few months. That time was spent working with Corey Jankowski and his team on their late model that competes weekly at Dells Raceway Park, an ASA Member Track in Wisconsin Dells, WI.

Why?

The reason was simple, Josh, who was a recent high school graduate, was already planning to start classes in July at Ohio Technical College in Cleveland, OH and majoring in their Collision Repair with Custom Paint & Graphics program. That was until when Randy Dziadowicz, OTC National Coordinator, asked if he would be interested in the ASA - Student Educational Series and earn some scholarship money.

Bonick thought it was a good idea and Dells Raceway Park Track Manager Scott Sauerbrei assigned him to Corey Jankowski's team. Jankowski was excited to get a new crew member as he was short on help.

Bonick and his father both started helping Jankowski, who is the current Late Model points leader at the track. They would not only help him on Saturday nights but also make the trek to Tomah, WI to work in the shop or make a weekday trip down to Dells Raceway Park when Corey wanted to practice.

The long drives and hours he logged working on the car paid off last Saturday for Bonick. He received the Track Manager Award, a scholarship of $20,000 to Ohio Technical College, from Scott Sauerbrei, Dells Raceway Park, Track Manager. He is looking forward to starting Ohio Technical College where he will start classes on October 4th.

"I was just shocked that after working hard and going through what I did that I ended up winning it," Bonick said. "I thought I would be getting a $10,000 scholarship or something. But, I never would have thought that I would have received the $20,000 scholarship."

"I think it's awesome," Corey Jankowski said when asked about his student. "It's an opportunity for a young kid like Josh to see a positive atmosphere gives him hope. As the world is turning today you see a lot of negativity and this is pure hope for the next generation."

Jankowski also enjoyed having him on his team, "As soon as he started coming here, he really didn't know much about racing and if you ask him now, he is right on top of things. It's amazing how working this summer he turned from a nobody into somebody. The kid has come a long ways in a short time."

When it was announced, the proud father, Wayne Bonick, stood off on the side wearing sunglasses. But you could see the tears swelling up in his eyes. Josh received his award, posed for a couple of photos then walked over and embraced his father.

"I said this is a blessing from God," Wayne Bonick said afterwards still choking back tears. "He worked hard for it and we supported him all the way."

Their participation in the ASA - Student Educational Series allowed for a special father/son bonding experience to occur.

"I have been a car guy all my life, since I was old enough to pick up a magazine it was about cars," Wayne recalled. "When I was four years old, older guys would ask me and I would point out every car that was on the street. I'm still a big gear head and we have several projects we are working on. So it was nice that one of my sons had the interest like me in cars. It's a passion that I have had all my life and I am glad he is going into it for a career. I wish I would have but I am in the trades, but he is there and I am proud of it and he is going to be successful. I think we are going to add on to the garage so we can have a little shop. Hopefully he can graduate and get a little business going. That is what he wants and I am going to do everything for him."

"My relationship with my dad is pretty strong," Josh said. "He has been there helping me with cars and automotive. He has been there to get my trucks, look at trucks with me, telling me what to look for when I get something. Taking the time to take me to the shop and the track, it shows a lot."

Josh was planning to start classes in Ohio Technical College in July, but when the ASA - Student Educational Series was presented to him, both he and his father thought it would be something worth doing to help relieve the financial burden. "When he first told me about Ohio Technical College, I never heard of it. I have heard of other schools," Wayne Bonick said. "He said he wanted to go there. So we did some research and we took the trip to see the school, which blew me away. It's a great place to be and for anybody else that has a kid, they should look at going to Ohio Technical College. I was impressed with the students there and with the instructors. He was going to start school in July, but when Randy told us about this program to work for some scholarship money, we felt this was the best way to go. So we put off until October and dove into the program. We live quite a ways away but we made the commitment to go to the shop and to the track and we didn't miss one day or one night. It was a financial burden a bit with me being out of work, traveling 600 miles a week but it was for my boy."

Winning the scholarship was a relief for the family, "It sure took the burden off and it makes it a lot easier to get him through school," Bonick said. "I really appreciate what ASA and Ohio Technical College has done for this family. It's amazing."

"The story of Josh and Wayne Bonick is not just another everyday racing story," Dennis Huth, ASA President said. "This is a family, who I met in early July, that is devoted and determined to make a difference along with embracing the fundamentals of family values through motorsports. This also drives ASA to continue to take this program and strive for more as we move forward. The entire ASA family of Tracks, Series, and teams congratulates Josh and wish him luck in all of his future endeavors. We also want to thank Corey Jankowski and all other teams at our ASA Member Tracks for mentoring these students."

The ASA - Student Educational Series is co-sponsored by ASA-Racing and Ohio Technical College, the 2009 #1 rated technical college in the US. For more information on the program, go to www.asa-racing.com and click on the ASA Educational Series link on the right side of the ASA Racing home page.

Students interested in being a part of this program should contact Larry Pond, National Director, at lpond@asaeducationalseries.com or (480) 861-8108 or Randy Dziadowicz, OTC National Coordinator at (414) 339-9586 or rdziadowicz1@wi.rr.com.

For more information about Ohio Technical College, please visit www.ohiotechnicalcollege.com.

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