Joe Shear Classic Kicks Off The 2012 Season
By Kari Shear-Carlson
ASA MIDWEST TOUR SEASON OPENER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
In only four short weeks, the American Speed Association® Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment and Lester Buildings will head to Madison International Speedway for the 4th Annual Joe Shear Classic. The 2012 racing season officially gets underway on Sunday, May 6th with both the ASAMT and the MIS Late Models.
It is hard to believe that this will be the fourth year of the event honoring the late short track legend. In the past three years, the event has had three different winners in as many races proving the strong competition in the ASAMT, and 2012 will prove to be no different.
Each of the past three winners have their own memories and connections to the late Joe Shear. In 2009, Nathan Haseleu ended a two year winless streak after a hard fought battle against Jeremy Lepak for the win. While Nathan never raced against Shear, he watched him a lot while growing up. “He was one heck of a racer, it means a lot to me to win this,” Haseleu said from victory lane that night.
In 2010, Steve Carlson, one of Shear’s competitors back in the day, took home a very meaningful win. Carlson and Shear used to battle up front and Carlson learned a lot in those days. “It’s really cool to win this race. I dropped out early last year (2009) with a flat and felt bad about that,” said Carlson. “I wanted to come back and win this year. I used to pit by Joe Shear as much as I could. He did not seem to mind and I learned a lot from him. Eventually, I learned enough and was able to race with him, and even sometimes beat him.”
Young, up and coming driver, Ross Kenseth brought home the victory in 2011. It was the start of a three out of four race winning streak for Kenseth. While Kenseth did not know Shear or have the opportunity to watch him race, he has heard of the many stories and successes Shear had. In fact, during his young career, Ross’s dad, 2012 Daytona 500 winner, Matt Kenseth, raced with and had a great relationship with Shear.
The Joe Shear Classic is not only special because of its name, but because it is the first race of the year; when drivers hit the track for the first time and scope out the year’s competition. The question is, will there be a fourth winner for the 4th Annual Joe Shear Classic or will one of the three previous winners find victory lane once again?
Teams are in the process of making those final preparations to begin the 2012 ASA Midwest Tour racing season. On May 6th at Madison International Speedway all their hard work over the winter will be put to the test. Come on out and find out if there will be a fourth Joe Shear Classic winner and who will kick off their 2012 season in victory lane.
Qualifying begins at 1:00PM on Sunday, May 6th with racing to follow at 2:30PM. Adult general admission tickets are $17. Ages 12-17, 65 and older, or those with a military or college I.D. are only $15. Children ages 6-11 are $5 and 5 and under are FREE!
For complete race day information go to asamidwesttour.com.
Follow the ASA Midwest Tour on Facebook (www.facebook.com/asamidwesttour) and Twitter (@asamidwesttour).
To learn more about the American Speed Association® Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment and Lester Buildings, log on to asamidwesttour.com. For questions call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (630) 212-6022 or Tim Olson at (612) 327-5831 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus atsteve@asamidwesttour.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 www.asaracing.com.
