2007 News and Rumors - January
Seymour Speedway, Seymour Wisconsin and NEW Dirt, Inc. are pleased to announce the addition of a Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Special to the 2007 schedule. The full size, winged Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints will take to the 1/3 mile clay oval on Sunday, September 2, 2007. Press Release (01-24-07)
Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, WI, has annouced though their web site (cedarlakespeedway.com) that they have filed a formal complaint in Minnesota Court against the WISSOTA Promoters Association. The web site statement: "On Monday, October 23rd, Cedar Lake Speedway commenced litigation against the Wissota Promoters Association. For those who are close to the situation, you will know why this is taking place. For those more removed, we want you to know that this is necessary because, among other things, Wissota has violated its legal responsibilities with Cedar Lake Speedway." Autoracingtracks.com (11-2-06)
Asphalt Racing
The Dells Raceway Park has made a couple of changes worth noting on the DRP website, the first being a minor correction to the tentative
schedule, concerning Saturday, May 19. Second, from the DRP website drivers and or teams planning to compete in 2007 can download a pdf version of the DRP driver/team form from the Dells Raceway Park download page. Press Release (01-31-07)
The American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment is pleased to announce Jamie Iverson of Escanaba, MI as a championship contender for the inaugural 2007 season. “This gives us the opportunity to travel again. We’ve always enjoyed traveling. The team of people that have put this series together possess a ton of racing knowledge and I believe it will be a great success," stated Iverson cheerfully. Press Release (02-16-07)
MIS E-News Week of January 29, 2007 (01-31-07)
Mike Butz Racing's current committments for 2007 are housing the Danes race car for Thursday nights at WIR and racing the ASA Challenge
Series for Long Haul Trucking with Andy Hanson behind the wheel. (01-24-07)
The Monday Motorsports team is hard at work reassembling our car for the 2007 season. We are currently entertaining the opportunity of competing with a Toyota Camry body this season and we are also looking at running throwback Jim Pagel paint scheme. The 2007 race season will be the 10 year anniversary since Jim's tragic accident at Wisconsin International Raceway. Andymonday.com (01-22-07)
Across Wisconsin, racing fans will see plenty of changes in 2007, including a new ownership team at the Dells Raceway Park. Under the direction of its new owners, the Dells Raceway Park's one-third mile track will return as one of Wisconsin's best racing venues - both for the fans and the teams racing at DRP. The Dells Raceway Park will offer its fans up to five divisions of Saturday night racing in 2007. DRP regular divisions will include Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Bandits. In addition at least two traveling series are set to race the inaugural season at DRP. Press Release (includes schedule) (01-20-07)
Dave Teske tells us that he will also change venues and return to his dirt roots, and says all his Slinger late model equipment is now sold and gone. Racingwisconsin.com (01-18-07)
Mueller returned to his roots of dirt racing at another track and earned a championship in the process. This year Mueller will return to defend his title at the Plymouth track rather than come back to Slinger. Racingwisconsin.com (01-18-07)
Slinger’s oval began as a tiny quarter-mile dirt track in 1948 and has gone through growth spurts and format changes as the world of racing evolved through the decades. Another update will come this season with the addition of electronic scoring, the in-car transponders recording what harried scorers one did. The late models will have a new tire rule this season based on the number of feature laps, limiting the use of new tires to two if the main is 60 laps or less. And just so there will not be any races lost to rain this year, it was announced that Slinger will be using Monday night rain dates. Racingwisconsin.com (01-18-07)
Steenbergen Motorsports recently purchased a new Randercar chassis that will compete in the Big 8 Series and at Slinger Super Speedway in 2007. Steenbergen Motorsports.com (01-9-07)
NASCAR Nextel Cup driver and Cambridge native Matt Kenseth has committed to defend his 2006 Slinger Nationals Title. Kenseth will be returning July 17 for the 28th Annual Miller Lite Slinger Nationals 250. The earlier announced date of July 24 was rescheduled for July 17 to accommodate driver-scheduling conflicts. The Capital Times (01-9-07)
Madison Internatonal Speedway E-News (01-7-07)
Touring Racing
As the American Speed Association Midwest Tour presented by Echo stays busy registering drivers and making plans for their upcoming debut season, West Salem's Steve Carlson has announced his intentions to run the full schedule of the inaugural Late Model series. According to Carlson, the decision to commit to the new series was an easy one. "With the people involved with this series, it was not hard. John McKarns' being involved, will make this a good deal. These guys are working hard to have an even playing field and exciting events." Press Release (01-31-07)
Jim Duchow, 52, of Appleton, WI, has signed on with the American Speed Association Midwest Tour for the 2007 season. “I’m looking forward to the ASA Midwest Tour because it sounds like it’s reviving the old ARTGO series. Dan Devine (car owner) and I are in the twilight of our racing career and want to travel a little more. ASAMidwesttour.com (01-31-07)
J.R. Norris, who won the season finale and the Championship on NASCAR’s AutoZone Elite Series, has joined the Team Full Throttle Driver Development Program, with representation from Driver Development Services, LLC. Norris, 27, will participate in the February 5th & 6th NASCAR Busch Series pre-season test at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He will share those testing duties with David Stremme in the Fitz Motorsports Dodge. BGNRacing.com (01-26-07)
Molly Rhoads, 24, of Hastings, MN, has signed on with the American Speed Association Midwest Tour for the 2007 season. Both Molly and brother AJ, 27, will be competing on the entire American Speed Association Midwest Tour and are registrants for the elite Touring Stars program. ASAMidwesttour.com (01-26-07)
The American Speed Association Midwest Tour is welcoming members to submit news to the media department for release. Such news items may be racing related or personal such as driver changes, new sponsors, community involvement and appearances, births, and other announcements of public interest. Press Release (01-26-07)
Dyer’s Top Rods of Forrest, Illinois has announced its partnership with the American Speed Association Midwest Tour. Dyer’s manufactures connecting rods for many of America’s greatest high performance engines with the Oval Track industry being one of its leaders. Dyer’s is also the official connecting rod for the Infinity Pro Series, a feeder series to the Indy Racing League. Press Release (01-26-07)
#70 ML Motorsports plans to run 19 Busch races this season with Justin Diercks back behind the wheel. The team will switch from Ford to Chevy for the season. Jayski (01-24-07)
The American Speed Association Midwest Tour “Touring Stars” program deadline is just around the corner (February 1st). Competitors that are interested in qualifying for the program must be registered by the deadline in order to be considered. The “Touring Stars” program was designed to create excitement for local fans when the Midwest Tour rolls into town for each event. Press Release (01-24-07)
The American Speed Association Midwest Tour is happy to announce the addition of Holley Performance Products as an official contingency sponsor for the 2007 season. Press Release (01-24-07)Lunati, well known for their custom design of engine parts ranging from Camshafts to Crankshafts has announced its intentions of supporting the American Speed Association Midwest Tour. Press Release (01-20-07)
Dan Fredrickson knows what it takes to win. He’s done it just about everywhere he has raced. When the 2007 American Speed Association Midwest Tour opens it’s inaugural season at Elko (MN) Speedway, Fredrickson, who lives not far from the track, will be one of the favorites to contend for the win. Press Release (01-18-07)
Again this year, Nathan Haseleu will drive the #87 owned by Gary & Jo Schultz and compete in the Wisconsin Challenge Series and ASA Midwest Tour Series. Nathan will also be driving The Swiss Colony #87 in the Madison Late Model division at Madison International Speedway. Nathan Haseleu.com (01-18-07)
Trent Snyder is looking forward to the inaugural season of the American Speed Association Midwest Tour with great anticipation. The 23-year-old Ironton, Minnesota driver has been gaining experience throughout the Midwest the last few years, running an aggressive schedule that has put him on several different tracks, tasting success along the way. Whowon.com (01-15-07)
In an effort to support “Built Motor” Engine Builders and the Engine Parts Manufacturer Industry the ASA Midwest Tour is happy to announce the giveaway of two engines worth over $50,000 at the Championship Banquet, according to series Vice President Steve Einhaus. Pro Power Racing, the recent recipient of two back to back Engine Builder of the Year Awards and B&B Racing Engines have stepped up tremendously to supply a brand new Chevrolet 9to1 and A.C.E. Motor at the year end Championship Banquet. Press Release (01-15-07)
The new American Speed Association Educational Series, under the direction of co-partners Steve Einhaus and Peter Raskovic, has announced the newly formed Scholarship program in conjunction with the new series, targeted to begin competition in the spring of 2007 at selected tracks in the Midwest. Ohio Technical College, based out of Cleveland, Ohio, will collaborate with the new series that was formed to attract the school student population to be directly involved with racing through the participation of their high school. Press Release (01-12-07)
The American Speed Association Midwest Tour is proud to announce the addition of Echo Outdoor Power Equipment as the Series Presenting Sponsor and official supplier of outdoor power equipment for 2007 and beyond. Press Release (01-12-07)
There’s a whole lot of pinching going on these days around the Cassill household. Landon Cassill, a 17-year-old senior at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, will join NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports team next season. “We just have to pinch ourselves, knowing we’re a part of that,” said Roger Cassill, Landon’s father. Landon Cassill — most recently an ASA racer who surged from 30th to fourth in the October race at Iowa Speedway — will graduate high school in February and journey to Hendrick headquarters March 1, his father said. Des Moines Register (01-10-07)
This Friday at the Lefthander Chassis Seminar and Tradeshow, three major announcements will be made on behalf of the American Speed Association Midwest Tour. Each announcement will have a significant positive impact on the success of the Midwest Tour for many years to come. One of the announcements will be the first of it's kind in any motorsports application and will surely draw great attention to the Midwest. Press Release (01-10-07 )
Motor Sports spring manufacturer Draco Springs of Houston Texas has announced its intentions to fully support the American Speed Association's Midwest Tour. Draco Spring Manufacturing began in 1969 with one man's concept and has developed into a multi-million dollar corporation. Press Release (01-10-07)
The American Speed Association Midwest Tour is elated to announce the signing of 29-year-old Josh Vadnais of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, as a registered contender for the 2007 championship season. "Everyone always talks about the glory days of short track racing when ASA and ARTGO were part of all the premier events in the Midwest. They set a high standard and when they disappeared there hadn't been anything that had come close until now," Vadnais expressed, grateful for the creation of the Tour. Press Release (01-9-07)
The American Speed Association Midwest Tour is pleased to announce sponsorship from Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil. Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil will be supplying the ASA Midwest Tour with over $2500 in product for the 2007 inaugural season. Press Release (01-9-07)
Veteran driver Rod Wheeler of Hortonville , Wisconsin , recently became the first driver to declare his intentions of running the inaugural season of the ASA Midwest Tour in 2007. “My plan for 2007 is to run the ASA Midwest tour and possibly the Red, White, and Blue Series,” said Wheeler. Press Release (01-7-07)
Roltek Transmissions, a division of BoreRite INC has joined forces with the American Speed Associations Midwest Tour to sponsor its Rookie of the Year program. Roltek Transmission, owned by Todd Bombaci and Mark Barney is located in Hartland, WI and is literally located in the heart of Super Late Model racing in the Midwest. Roltek Transmissions will present a brand new transmission worth $4000 to the 2007 Rookie of the Year Candidate at the season ending Championship Banquet. Press Release (01-7-07)
American Speed Association Midwest Tour President Tim Olson and Vice President Steve Einhaus are happy to announce a 12-race schedule for the upcoming 2007 Inaugural Season. The Midwest Tour, developed in the fall of 2006 will focus on reincarnating the lull in short track racing throughout the Midwest. Press Release (01-7-07)