American Speed Association: Another Sauter added to the WIR winner’s list

JOHNNY SAUTER SETS THE PACE IN THE “DIXIELAND 150”

By: Kari Shear-Carlson

(Wednesday, August 4, 2010) “My goal tonight is to finish. I know if I finish, it will be a good finish.” Those were the words of NASCAR Camping World Truck series driver, Johnny Sauter before strapping in for the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net’s “Dixieland 150.” His words proved true as he took home the victory in the 29th Annual Tuesday night event at Wisconsin International Raceway.

Twenty-eight drivers strapped in on one of the hottest and most humid nights of the season thus far. Local driver, Andy Monday and the youngster of Nick Murgic led the field to the green flag. The 11-time WIR champion of Terry Baldry was able to show his experience by taking the early lead over Murgic from his fourth starting spot. On lap 10 Dan Fredrickson had mechanical issues and stopped in turn four bringing out the first caution of the night. He was able to rejoin the field before the restart.

As the field went back to green, seven-time Dixieland winner, Steve Carlson was looking racy on the outside. In the meantime, fast qualifier, Johnny Sauter was quietly moving up from his 14th starting position. Nick Murgic’s car was getting bigger and bigger in Baldry’s rearview mirror. Before the Rosemount, MN driver could make a move for the lead, the second caution of the night came out after Nick Panitzke and Kyle Calmes got together in turn three.

Murgic made a move to the high-side of Baldry on the restart and took the position over the veteran. Behind the leaders, it was a battle of the Steve’s. Steve Holzhausen was pacing himself in the fourth spot as Steve Carlson pressured him down the backstretch. As the drivers started to settle in, Johnny Sauter continued to move up through the field eventually taking over fifth from Carlson by lap 30.

Carlson appeared to be fading as the event was not even to the half-way mark. Eugene Gregorich Jr. passed Carlson for fifth while Holzhausen got around Tim Schendel for third. Schendel continued to slow off the pace before eventually pulling off the track for mechanical problems. Another driver that had his share of problems was the rookie of Ross Kenseth, but he was able to rally back into the top ten.

With a third of the race complete, Nick Murgic was holding onto the lead over Holzhausen while Johnny Sauter had moved into third. Baldry, the only local driver in contention for victory began to fade. On lap 56 a single car spin brought out another caution tightening the field back up once again. At the restart, Johnny Sauter was on the move.

Steve Holzhausen was all over the back bumper of leader, Nick Murgic as they approached lapped traffic. On lap 70, Murgic cleared the lapped car of Robb Vanderloop down the backstretch, but Holzhausen was not so lucky. Vanderloop and Holzhausen made contact sending the second place driver hard into the inside retaining wall, ending his night and hopes for a top five finish. The caution came on lap 70 of the 150 lap event. A competition yellow gave teams a chance to make adjustments and for the drivers to get some much-needed fluids.

With 80 laps remaining, Murgic and Sauter pulled out to a 15 car-length lead over the rest of the field. Sauter was beginning to put the pressure on Murgic. Seven laps later, Sauter dove to the inside of Murgic down the backstretch and took over the top spot as they came out of turn four and sped down the front stretch.

Carlson and Chris Wimmer made the right adjustments at the break and were steadily moving back up through the field. “We had to change the fuel pump at the half-way break. The car was good, but I had to give up so many spots by the time I got to the front, the car was used up,” added Carlson.

By lap 100, Johnny Sauter’s brakes were glowing, but that did not slow him down as he pulled to a three car-length lead over Murgic. Carlson continued to close the gap and eventually got around Murgic with 35 laps remaining. He now had his eyes set on Sauter.

Chris Wimmer, who was quiet for most of the night drove under Murgic in turn four for the third spot. With only 15 laps to go a spin in turn four set-up Sauter, Carlson and Wimmer for a 15 lap shoot-out. As the laps were winding down, the top three were nose to tail but on one was able to seal the deal, giving Johnny Sauter his first Dixieland 150 victory at WIR. “I feel like I’ve raced here a thousand times watching my dad race here. I’m pretty hard on brakes which I think I remedied from last year. The car wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough to win,” added the Necedah, WI native.

The seven-time event winner, Carlson, finished a close second with Wimmer coming home in third. Wimmer, whose family lost their home in a fire last week just a day before the “Larry Detjens Memorial” event at State Park Speedway, was satisfied with his finish but wished they would have made a few more changes at the break. “Overall this place has been good to me,” the Wausau, WI driver said.

Murgic who led for most of the first-half of the race did not even realize what passing the #8 car meant. During an interview at the half-way break, announcer, Matt Panure asked him what it was like to pass an 11-time track champion. “I didn’t know who I passed. I had no idea he was that good out here,” said the 18 year old driver. Jacob Goede and Blake Brown finished fifth and sixth respectively. Dan Fredrickson who had sustained damage during an earlier heat race, rallied back to a seventh place finish followed by Nathan Haseleu, Travis Sauter, and Ross Kenseth rounding out the top ten.

NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, Scott Wimmer did not start the 150 lap main event due to damage sustained earlier in the night.

Th 29th Annual “Dixieland 150” will be broadcast on Saturday, August 21st at 11:30 AM CDT on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports WIsconsin. The next event for the ASAMT is coming up on August 14th at Dells Raceway Park, an ASA member track, for the “Wisconsin Dells 100.”

To learn more about the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Residential Suites Hotels and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites, log on to http://www.asamidwesttour.com or call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (262) 514-3880 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.

If you would like to learn more about the ASAMT series sponsors, please visit their websites: Kwik Trip, Inc. (http://www.kwiktrip.com), ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment (http://www.echo-usa.com), and GrandStay Residential Suites Hotels and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites (http://www.grandstay.net).

To learn more about the Midwest Sportsman Tour log on to http://www.asamidwestsportsman.com.

To learn more about the ASA Midwest Truck Tour log on to http://www.asamidwesttrucks.com.

To learn more about the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association® Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association®, visit http://www.asaracing.com.

ASA®, ASA Racing®, and American Speed Association® are registered trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. ASA International, LLC or Racing Speed Associates, LLC are not related to or affiliated with the ASA Late Model Series.