2010 ASAMT SEASON TRACK SMACK
The American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net will make its 11th and final stop for the 2010 season on October 10th at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. The season has brought about many exciting finishes and some disappointments as well. The points battle has been one of the closest to date and several rookies have made it known that they are here to stay.
The season started at Madison International Speedway for the 2nd Annual Joe Shear Classic. Forty-two drivers attended the event and the starting field included 29 of them. Steve Carlson was victorious after dropping out of the inaugural event one year ago. Rookie of the Year contender, Ross Kenseth finished second in his ASA Midwest Tour debut. Chris Wimmer had the fastest lap of the day and rounded out the top five. Other notable finishes came from Hedman Husler of the Race, Travis Sauter who started 17th and rallied to a third place finish while Griffin, IN driver, Jeff Cannon finished in the fourth spot.
The second event of the season was at Elko Speedway where Minnesota drivers are known for their dominance. Ross Kenseth, racing in his only second event with the ASAMT made it to victory lane against a hard-charging Chris Wimmer, with one of the most exciting finishes of the early season. Hedman Husler of the Race, Nathan Haseleu finished in the fifth position after starting 22nd. Local drivers, Jacob Goede, Donny Reuvers, Adam Royle, and Dan Fredrickson all finished in the top ten as well. Donny Reuvers collected fast time and with Chris Wimmer’s third place qualifying run and second place finish, he found himself in the early points lead.
Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, IA was next on the schedule. Steve Carlson had fast time and won the main event. Dan Fredrickson had dominated most of the night, but the veteran was able to get by him in the last laps as Fredrickson settled for second. Chris Wimmer had another great run finishing in third. ASA Midwest Tour Swiss Colony Touring Star, and one of the youngest drivers on the Tour, Nick Murgic had a great run finishing in fourth after starting in 15th. Jeff Storm rounded out the top five.
The next trip for the Tour was to Illiana Motor Speedway. Once again, Rookie Contender, Ross Kenseth was proving himself, taking home his first fast qualifier award followed by Dan Fredrickson. Carlson once again crossed the finish line first followed by Chris Wimmer and local Boris Jurkovic. ASA Midwest Tour Swiss Colony Touring Star, Blake Brown had a great run finishing in fifth. Nick Murgic moved up through the field improving 14 positions and named the Hedman Husler of the Race. Carlson and Wimmer continued to hold on to one and two in the points as the headed into the mid-season.
The fifth race of 2010 headed back to where it all began. The Swiss Colony All-Star Challenge 100 welcomed Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart on June 29th. Matt Kenseth returned to his stomping grounds with a vengeance. He took home top qualifying honors and the victory. Rookie Contender, Griffin McGrath had a great qualifying run, qualifying second to Kenseth. Ironically Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart advanced the most positions during the event. Steve Carlson found himself sandwiched between the Kenseths finishing second behind Matt and in front of Matt’s son, Ross Kenseth. Dan Fredrickson finished right behind them in fourth with Steve Holzhausen rounding out the top five. Nick Murgic started on the pole and was able to hold on to another solid top-ten in sixth.
Drivers headed back to Minnesota for the sixth event. Raceway Park in Shakopee, MN was home to the Kwik Trip Stores 125. Rookie, Michael Bilderback was the quick qualifier followed by MN natives, Jacob Goede and Donny Reuvers. Travis Sauter had his best qualifying spot of the year in fifth. Steve Carlson was looking for his fourth victory in 2010, but fell short to Nathan Haseleu. This was Haseleu’s first victory since the 2009 Inaugural Joe Shear Classic. Another young driver, Thor Anderson had his first podium finish of the season finishing in third behind Haseleu and second place, Steve Carlson. Ross Kenseth started in 19th and earned the Hedman Husler of the Race by advancing 15 positions up to fourth.
Next it was off to Wisconsin International Raceway for the Dixieland 150. Johnny Sauter paid a visit to his home state and had fast time and won the event for the first time in his career. Steve Carlson and Chris Wimmer continued to keep the point battle tight finishing second and third respectively. Nick Murgic once again had a stellar performance finishing in fourth. Travis Sauter has raced for every position he has gotten this year, and once again earned the Hedman Husler of the Race award advancing an astonishing 19 positions.
Chris Wimmer put himself at the top of the qualifying chart for the eighth event at Dells Raceway Park. Andrew Morrissey who had been fairly quiet throughout the season so far qualified in second followed by Nick Murgic in third. Tim Schendel who was searching for a victory all season finally came home victorious in the 100 lap event. Chris Weinkauf followed in second and Rookie Contender, Griffin McGrath had his best run of the season finishing in third. Jeff Storm powered through the field as the Hedman Husler of the Race advancing 11 positions. Carlson finished two positions ahead of Wimmer once again not letting him out of his sights for the points battle.
Next the teams were off to central Wisconsin for the Marshfield 100 in Marshfield, WI. Nathan Haseleu set fast time followed by Jacob Goede and Chris Weinkauf. Jamie Iverson had a good run, qualifying in fourth followed by youngster, Nick Murgic in fifth. Chris Wimmer was finally able to put it in victory lane after consistent top runs all season long. Weinkauf finished right behind him with Skylar Holzhausen making a name for himself in third. Steve Carlson finished an uncharacteristic 17th, losing a little ground to Wimmer in the points. Andrew Morrissey also had another strong finish in fourth. Once again, Travis Sauter put up a good fight and advanced 13 positions for the Hedman Husler of the Race Award.
History was made once again at Norway Speedway for the tenth event this season. Seven-time track champion, Jamie Iverson won his fourth consecutive ASAMT event at his home track. After starting on the pole, Carlson did all he could to hold him off, but Iverson used his track experience to make the move past Carlson for the lead. Nick Murgic has continued to improve all season and it showed as he passed the veteran Carlson and finished second, his best of the season. Chris Weinkauf had fast time followed by Tim Schendel and Chris Wimmer. With Wimmer’s seveth place finish and Carlson’s third place finish, Carlson leads the point standings by only two points with one event remaining. Nick Panitzke was the Hedman Husler of the Race moving up 14 positions throughout the night.
After such an exciting and fierce 2010 racing season, it all comes down to the final event. Travis Sauter, who leads the 2010 Hedman Husler of the Race point standings, etched his name in Oktoberfest history last year winning the ASAMT event. Who will be crowned the 2010 ASA Midwest Tour Champion and the 2010 Oktoberfest Champion? Only one way to find out; head out to LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway October 10th, 2010. Stay tuned to the ASA Midwest Tour website for more information in the coming weeks.
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.
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