2003 News and Rumors

Sources tell us they have confirmed with the team that Pete Vandermolen Jr will be back at WIR in 2004 behind the wheel of the #30 car. (12-14-03)

Source tell us that Terry Korth will be back in the #17 Super Late Model for Williams Motorsports. Terry will be racing at WIR weekly and running the Red, White and Blue. He is putting full attention on winning the FRRC Late Model Championship. (12-13-03)

We are told that Madison International Raceway will PROBABLY race on Saturday Nights in 2004. The announcement came at the Late Model meeting this last week. During the summer it was announced that the track would run on Saturdays, but after fans concerns they decided to stay with Friday nights. Apparently the track did market research and everything indicated that from a business standpoint that the switch to Saturday's was the way to go. (12-06-03) UPDATE: It was announced by the Public Relations director on the Todd and Eddie show that they will most likely race on Saturday Nights. (12-07-03) UPDATE 2: After scrapping a plan to switch its regular racing program from Friday to Saturday nights after opposition by fans and some drivers during the 2003 season, Madison International Speedway owner Terry Kunes announced the track will race on Saturdays in 2004. Roy Kenseth said that had it not been for a pair of special events featuring NASCAR Winston Cup champion and Cambridge native Matt Kenseth, the track would have struggled to turn a profit in 2003. Wisconsin State Journal (12-13-03)

When he started racing at Kaukauna’s Wisconsin International Raceway in 1993, most of the veterans on the circuit seemed to take exception with Kenseth’s aggressive style of driving — and the confidence he had to go with it. It also didn’t help that Kenseth came in and starting winning from the very start, finishing second in the Fox River Racing Club points race and being named rookie of the year. Full Story - Green Bay Press Gazette (12-12-03)

Team sources tell us that if Gregg Haese is unable to secure a quality ride for 2004, he will most likely drive for himself. Gregg is currently rebuilding the car that he raced at WIR in 2002. Gregg is getting a new motor to run Slinger and he is going to try to race weekly while running for Rookie of the Year. This all depends on sponsorship. (12-11-03)

Sources tell us that their are some rumblings that Eddie Muenster might have hung it up, at least on the asphalt. He sold his body and chassis off at the Green bay auction this weekend. (12-8-03) UPDATE: Another source tells us that Eddie purchased one of Mark Schroeder's Late Models months ago and will continue to race at WIR in 2004. (12-9-03)

There has been alot of "talk" about Andy Monday and Mike Butz Racing teaming up for 2004. Check out our message board for comments from Patty Butz. (12-06-03) UPDATE: Seems to be more and more truth coming to this, will the announcement come tomorrow? (12-07-03) UPDATE 2: Sources tell us that this deal will depend on the amount of sponsorship that Andy can bring with him. (12-8-03) ANNOUNCED: Andy Monday & The Monday Motorsports crew will be teaming up with Mike Butz Racing to run the Late Model Division at WIR in 2004. This will be a second car, Jeff Van Oudenhoven will still be in the #8. Monday Motorsports (12-8-03)

There now appears to be more changes taking place at Madison International Speedway. The track is going to be starting a new divison called the Late Model Spec Class. This divison would become the primary class, the class would run a sealed crate engine. Todd and Eddie Show (12-07-03) UPDATE: We understand that Randercar has already sold 6 of these cars with another 10 on order to be built. Appears to be alot of interest in this crate engine class. (12-8-03)

Hearing that Dan Hansen the 2003 Fox River Racing Club Wisconsin Sport Truck champion has purchased a new lefthander and is moving up to the Limited Late Model division in 04. (10-28-03) UPDATE: Sources tell us that Dan Hansen has no yet purchased a new lefthander. He would like to move up, but it takes alot of money to be competitive. (12-8-03)

Team sources tell us that rookie Limited Late Model driver Matt Derricks will race at Wisconsin International Raceway at the Spring Opener, the Red, White & Blue Series and 5 Thursday Night Shows. The team is only going to run 5 Thursday nights to hold their rookie status for the following season. The team will be doing alot of traveling to other area tracks to compete in about 25 shows through the year. (12-07-03)

Patti Butz remembers the days when Matt Kenseth didn’t have enough money to buy a hamburger. It seems a lifetime ago and a million miles from here since Green Bay’s Mike and Patti Butz, then just fledgling car owners themselves, decided to take a chance on an 18-year-old kid who had nothing going for him but ambition. Patti Butz still remembers how they connected with the kid who would one day be NASCAR’s reigning champ. It was 1991 and Mike Butz was in Rockford, Ill., to pick up a car for the 1992 season. He had already signed Kevin Servais to drive for him that season and while in Rockford, he stopped at the local Lefthander Chassis store where he met a kid behind the counter. Full story - Post Crescent (12-06-03)

Almost a month old, but thought it would be of interest to some of you. The Dickinson County racing Association held its 33rd annual awards banquet this past Saturday night, which was held at St. Anthony’s church in Niagara Wisconsin. Details on who got what award in the Full Story. (12-1-03)

Brewecrew Motorsports and driver Rod Brewe are looking at many options for the 2004 season. The team is exploring the ASA Late Model Series along with a couple local series. The team is searching for a primary sponsor, we are unsure what happened to Peko Tile who has been their sponsor for the last couple of seasons. Brewecrew Motorsports (11-29-03) UPDATE: The team tells us as of today they have resigned Peko Tile as a primary sponsor. They are looking for additional sponsorship to run the touring series. (12-5-03)

We were able to confirm at the FRRC meeting on Monday that Mike Gardner will be back weekly at WIR in 2004. (11-19-03) UPDATE: The team has posted a complete 2004 schedule which does include racing weekly at WIR. Mike Gardner Racing (12-02-03)

Bang Racing today announced Line-X will sponsor the No. 24 Toyota Tundra truck team with driver Travis Kvapil in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for 2004 and beyond. Racingone (12-15-03)

ASA Late Model Series officials have released the rules for the 2004 season. Many of the rules found in the guidelines mirror the rules found for the ASA National Tour, particularly in the areas of race procedure and safety. 2004 Rules Section 1 - 2004 Rules Section 2 - ASA Racing (12-12-03)

The American Speed Association and Grundy County Speedway have announced the ASA Late Model Series and the Chicagoland Late Models will both hold 100 lap events in 2004 at the Illinois racetrack. The Twin 100 lap features will take place on Saturday, June 19 at the .333-mile oval located in Morris, approximately 60 miles Southwest from Chicago. The ASA Late Model Series begins ASA’s tradition at Grundy County Speedway in 2004. The entire 2004 ASA Late Model Series schedule continues to be formulated with a total of 14 events expected to make up the final slate. ASA Racing (12-9-03)

In one of the most anticipated inaugural seasons in late model racing history, the 2004 ASA Late Model Series schedule continues to form. Two more dates have been added with Michigan’s Tri-City Motor Speedway hosting events on Sunday, June 27 and Sunday, September 12. Nine of the 14 races that will make up the schedule have been announced. Announced Schedule Dates - ASA Racing (12-6-03)

In this months Midwest Racing News there is a picture of Tracy Hines, Chapman Racing and Chad Wood's cars from the annoucement of the USAC, MARS and ASA returning to the mile. Apparently Chapman Racing plans to race the series in 2004, no driver was mentioned. (12-06-03)

Ken Smith, Owner of SS Racing, announced today that 2003 Rookie of the Year candidate Davin Scites has signed for the 2004 ASA season. Scites raced full time in 2003 garnering a spectacular win at Concord in April 2003. in the pursuit of sponsorship and let us focus on that for him," states Ken Smith. SS Racing via Speed51 (12-4-03)

In one of the most anticipated inaugural seasons in recent late model racing history, the seventh event of the 2004 ASA Late Model Series season has been set for Sandusky Speedway in Ohio on Saturday, August 28. This is the third announced race that will take place in the state of Ohio with other stops at Mansfield Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 5 and Toledo Speedway on Saturday, July 31. The entire 2004 ASA Late Model Series schedule continues to be formulated with a total of 14 events expected to make up the final slate. ASA Racing (12-3-03)

AutoZone (NYSE: AZO), the nation’s leading auto parts retailer, will become the title sponsor of the NASCAR Elite Division, it was announced today. The Elite Division, which will now be re-named the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, consists of four individual racing series in four regions of the country – Midwest, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. With this announcement, the four series names will change as follows: NASCAR Elite Division, Featherlite Southwest Series becomes NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series; NASCAR Elite Division, International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series becomes NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series; NASCAR Elite Division, Kodak Southeast Series becomes NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series; and NASCAR Elite Division, Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series becomes NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series. Nascar Touring (12-3-03)

Catchfence.com has been informed that NASCAR Busch Series driver Jason Rudd will be moving to the American Speed Association [ASA] in 2004. Jason Rudd, the nephew of NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Ricky Rudd has competed in ARCA, as well as the NASCAR Busch Series and is looking forward to 2004. Catchfence via Jayski (12-1-03) UPDATE: Being told that Jason Rudd purchased Brent Strelka's ASA car last month. (12-2-03)

Fresh from winning his second ASA Series championship the Cywinski team set about building a new car for the Snowball Derby, a traditional race that is held at the Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. The car pictured here does not carry the traditional #1 teams black or red colors. The team thinks its hot with its flames and is looking forward to testing its capabilities in the Snowball Derby. Joey will be running for the ASA Rookie of the Year title in 2004. Country Joe Racing (12-1-03)