Asphalt Racing
Midget MAYnia Tour promoter Dan Thiel announced the addition of the Illini Racing Series (IRS) Midgets to the May 17th Stan Fox Memorial at Slinger Super Speedway. The event, presented by Mid States Equipment and Kubota, will be highlighted by the USAC MOPAR Midget National Championship Series, which is expected to include the NASCAR development teams of Tony Stewart Chevy, Kasey Kahne MOPAR, Nine Racing Toyota, Klatt Racing Ford, plus all the top USAC National Midget starts and cars. Who Won (03-31-08)
The 61st season of racing at the Rockford Speedway will open April 5-6 at the famed Loves Park, IL facility. The weekend will include an open practice and Media Day on Saturday, April 5th and a 200-lap 4-cylinder Enduro on Sunday, April 6th. For the first time in 2008, the sound of engines will erupt on Saturday, April 5th for an open practice session for all divisions competing this season at quarter-mile high-banked oval. The track will be opened from Noon until 4 p.m. Press Release (03-30-08)
Gregg Haese and the Buco Racing team will race weekly at Wisconsin International Raceway this season. The team will also race the Red, White and Blue Series at WIR. The team has plans to race special events at Norway Speedway, Dells Raceway Park and Golden Sands Speedway. The team welcomes the return of Tim Dooley with his wealth of knowledge. The team will also carry the sponsorship of Fast Care for the 2008 season. Gregg has also build a Mid American car that he will run ever once in a while at 141 Speedway. Photos of the 2008 car (03-29-08)
Lowell Bennett Motorsports has released their 2008 schedule which consist of racing weekly at Wisconsin International Raceway and Slinger Super Speedway. Additional races consist of the Red, White & Blue Series at WIR and the Slinger Nationals at Slinger Super Speedway. Lowell Bennett Motorsports (03-27-08)
Close to 20 of the cars scheduled to compete this season at the Rockford Speedway will be on display this weekend at the Cherryvale Mall in Rockford, IL. Fans are invited to visit the Mall on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to get a sneak peek of the 2008 season. “We will have a great group of cars on display this weekend,” Gregg McKarns, Rockford Speedway General Manager stated. Press Release (03-27-08)
During the off-season, many race teams will be working on their cars and are getting ready to debut their new cars including a new paint scheme, body style, etc. Rockford Speedway has done this with their website and is proud to announce the debut of their revamped website. The site is still www.rockfordspeedway.com and has been designed by speedXdesign, Inc. Press Release (03-27-08)
Kelly Bires was on the Lets Talk Nascar radio show on Sunday and stated he is working returning for the Slinger Nationals. Kelly is currently looking for a car that he can run that will compete for the win. (03-26-08)
Dick Trickle had plans to run select races in the Midwest this summer, but those plans will be put on a hold. We are told Dick Trickle had to have heart surgery in which 2 stints/shunts were put in. Dick won't be able to wheel a car this season per doctor orders. Dick Trickle has drove a car prepared by Tim Rothe over the last couple a seasons. Dick Trickle has told Tim Rothe not to prepare a car for him as he will be taking this year off. (03-15-08) UPDATE: I (John McKarns) heard the rumor Dick Trickle had a heart attack so I called him tonite. He did not have a heart attack or stroke; however he has had chest pains since late November and they have run various tests. This week he had two stents installed where doctors found some blockage - but he still has chest pains and will have further tests. He is taking a blood thinner and will likely not race this season. (in part from John McKarns Email) (03-16-08) UPDATE 2: Dick Trickle was on Lets Talk Nascar and stated there was very little blockage in his heart. Even after having the stints put in his heart he was still having the same cheast pains. The doctor put him on a medicine to calm him down and Dick says he is filling better. Dick is also stated he is going in for surgery on his shoulder. Dick said as a kid he fell down a couple stories and was on crutches for a long period of time and now has a knot in his shoulder. LTN Radio Network (03-25-08)
MCL Racing team and driver Tom Gee Jr. have released their own website with photos, their 2008 schedule and information about their race team. Check it out at www.tomgeemotorsports.com (03-24-08)
Cal Harrel will continue to race in the Super Late Model division weekly at Wisconsin International Raceway, but will have an ACE motor under the hood. Last season Cal raced with a Ford Crate motor. (03-20-08)
Eugene Gregorich Jr. has raced at Wisconsin International Raceway over the years running special events. For the 2008 season Eugene Jr. will race weekly at Wisconsin International Raceway running for rookie of the year honors. (03-20-08)
Tim Satorius tells us he will be back in the fold at Wisconsin International Raceway for the 2008 season. Tim has fielded Late Model cars at Wisconsin International Raceway carrying the #93 with Andy Weyenberg and Troy Nelson over the years. Tim's son David will run for rookie of the year in the super stock division. David has been racing karts and snowmobiles since he was 7 years old, last season he raced street stocks at Seymour. The team has purchased Mike Gardners championship car from the 1990's which is a '88 Monte Carlo. The car will be red and carry the familar #93. The team is close to inking sponsorship with the Forest County Potawatomi. The car will carry sponsorship from Lake Park Pub, Monday & Associates, Cinders and The 10th Frame Bar & Grill. The team will be a team car as far as sponsorship goes with Troy Nelson who will pilot a Late Model weekly. (02-24-08) UPDATE: Troy Nelson will drive his own car at Wisconsin International Raceway for the 2008 season. The car will carry the #66 and Potawatomi sponsorship. (03-20-08)
Drivers and teams if you have pictures of your 2008 race cars please email them to Corey and we will get them put in our photo gallery. (03-18-08)
We have updated the 2008 FRRC Drivers Plan Page. If you have any addition information about your please email Corey. (03-18-08) UPDATE: We have added a whole bunch more updates to the drivers page. (03-20-08)
Stay up to date on the latest "official" club news by visiting: www.frrcracing.com There is a message board/forum that officers will use for updates. We ask that these updates are not copied and pasted elsewhere, as we want our new website to get as much exposure as possible, since frrc.net is no longer operational. If there is an official "press release" we will make sure websites that support the positive promotion of the FRRC will get these for public posting. (frrc 2008 officers). (03-16-08)
A team member of Robb Vanderloops racing team tells us the team will continue to race at WIR for the 2008 season. The team has last seasons car finished and has started working on the new car that they sat on all last season. The team will have 2 cars at there disposal this season. The team has plans to run ASA Midwest Tour races this season in addition to Thursday Nights. (3-13-08)
Kyle Busch will join Matt Kenseth at the Miller Lite Nationals at Slinger Super Speedway. LTN Radio Network (02-26-08) UPDATE: Kyle Busch, the hottest driver in the land is set to return for the 29th Annual Miller Lite Slinger Nationals July 15th. Kyle will be driving one of his own Kyle Busch Motorsports cars prepared by his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Crew Chief Richie Wauters. For a chance to meet Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and other Stars a limited number of VIP Meet and Greet Hospitality tickets are available. This year Slinger Speedway has added a Pit Pass to VIP Hospitality tickets that also allow lucky fans the opportunity to get an autograph and attend a Q&A session. Press Release (03-11-08)
Thrive To Drive Motorsports Spring Newsletter (03-10-08)
Todd Behling will take over announcing duties at Dells Raceway Park for the 2008 season. Todd will also announce at The Oshkosh Speedzone on Friday Nights and Slinger Super Speedway on Sunday Nights. LTN Radio Network (03-10-08)
FRRC4KIDS is in it's 5th season of existence. We have made many kid's nights special thanks to our wonderful past sponsors. For 2008, we have a few openings and are asking for donors to buy a bike or a gift card to make a child's night special. Any interested parties can contact me directly at: CBSRacing@hotmail.com. Press Release (03-10-08)
Gardner Racing and driver Mike Gardner have released their 2008 schedule which consist of Thursday Nights at Wisconsin International Raceway, the Red White and Blue Series with addition races to be added. The team has also announced their 2008 sponsors while they are still looking to obtain primary sponsorship for the 2008 season. Gardner Racing (03-6-08)
The #5 Limited Late Model team that races weekly at Wisconsin International Raceway tells us they are getting out of racing. The team tells us with their work schedule it's hard to work on the car and be at the track every week. The team tells us the turnkey car is for sale, radios, scales and other misc. things are for sale. If interested contact Scott Lehmann at 920-751-8011 or 920-585-0371 or e-mail him at slehmann5@tds.net. (03-6-08)
Chase'n Monday Motorsports would like to welcome and thank Chalmers Jewelers for their support for the 2008 season. We will proudly be displaying the Chalmers name on the hood of our racecar for the entire 2008 season. Andy Monday (03-5-08)
Looking back, Dave Feiler would say he was satisfied with his first season in the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment. He finished third in points with five top-five and nine top-ten finishes. This season he is looking forward to getting his first win and moving up in the final point standings. Last year, Feiler, a Sun Prairie, WI resident, became well known for moving his way from the back of the pack in a feature event to earning those top-five and top-ten finishes. He took home a new Lefthander Chassis for winning the Hard Charger Award for his Maynard Motorsports race team. Press Release (02-29-08)
Ed Howard tells us he will race full time in the Super Stock divison in 2008. The #11 car will be making a run for Rookie of the year. Ed was the Sizzling 4s Co-Champion in 2005, in 2006 Ed was the Vice President of the Fox Racing Club. In 2007 Ed ran 5 races in the #11 Action Auto/Carquest and made one dash. (03-5-08)
Dells Raceway Park February News Letter (03-4-08)
The Rockford area accumulated a record snowfall this December, January and February when a total of 65.1” (wxrx.com) of snow blanketed the ground. Surpassing the previous record of 63.4” measured during the winter of 1978-79, the recent flakes have caused some concern amongst area race fans that the start of the 2008 season may be pushed into May. Despite the record amounts, Rockford Speedway still plans on opening their 61st consecutive season on Sunday April 6 with the running of the Stone and Double T 200 Enduro. Press Release (03-4-08)
Dennis (Prunty) is currently running a part-time racing schedule due to the lack of sponsorship. If you are interested in being a primary sponsor for the #42, contact Dennis Prunty for details or to request a Motorsports Marketing Proposal. DDP Motorsports (03-2-08)
TK Motorsports has released thier 2008 season schedule which consist of the full ASA Midwest Tour schedule and Thursday Nights at WIR. We assume the Thursday Nights would be running a Limited Late Model for M&M Motorsports. (03-2-08)
The 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Season at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway is just seven short weeks away. That is significant, which also brings the concept that this long winter will soon be over; the snow WILL melt....... soon! Racing in 2008 will begin at 7:30, at the request of many fans. 7:15 was a difficult time to meet for all of the agriculturally involved fans and participants. Racing Wisconsin (03-1-08)
Touring Racing
When Scooter Brothers of COMP Cams was approached in participating in the ASAMT Engine Giveaway Program, his company jumped at the chance. With COMP Cams participation, three drivers will be at the season opening event on Saturday, April 19th at Elko Speedway in Elko, MN for the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment’s Kwik Trip 125 with a brand new engine under their hoods. Press Release (03-31-08)
Brandon Hill, Travis Sauter, and Kris Kelly are currently getting ready for the 2008 ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment after being recipients of a new built engine they won at the 2007 Championship Banquet. Holley Performance was one of many parts manufacturers involved in assisting with this award program. The Holley brothers started producing carburetors in 1904 and began providing carburetors to all American automakers. Over 100 years later Holley Performance is still producing carburetors for the street, and race tracks all over the world. Our core business is fuel systems, carburetors, manifolds, fuel pumps, etc. Holley is the parent company of such performance companies as NOS, WEIAND, Earls Performance Plumbing, Hooker Headers and FlowTech Exhaust. Press Release (03-29-08)
ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment’s Engine Giveaway program was successful due to the assistance of many part manufacturers. Manley Performance Products, Inc. was one manufacturer that stepped up to help the ASAMT giveaway three engines at the 2007 Championship Banquet. Manley Performance was founded by Hank Manley in 1966. With two locations in Lakewood, NJ and Orange, CA, they have been a leading manufacturer of high performance internal engine components for over 40 years. Their core products are valves, valve train products such as springs, retainers, locks and connecting rods and pistons. Press Release (03-26-08)
2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, Matt Kenseth, will return to his roots and compete in two of the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment events in 2008. Kenseth is scheduled to race at the July 20th Iowa Speedway event and the August 24th Milwaukee Mile event. Joining Kenseth on July 20th at Iowa Speedway will be another NASCAR star, Kyle Busch, along with the ASAMT Touring Stars and the best Super Late Model drivers from the Midwest, which promises to be a highlight of the Iowa Speedway’s third season. Press Release (03-24-08)
Big 8 Series officials are proud to announce that Gandrud Chevrolet, located in Green Bay, WI, will be the presenting sponsor for the 2008 Big 8 Series season. The series will be titled the Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet. Gandrud Chevrolet, located at 919 Auto Plaza Drive in Green Bay, is the largest GM Parts dealer in the North central region, meaning they sell more parts than other dealers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, and Iowa. They are also one of the largest GM Engine & Transmission dealers in the country and every day they ship parts from North Dakota to Pennsylvania. Press Release (03-23-08)
It’s not difficult to say that Nick Murgic has his future planned out. His goal is to get a degree in Mechanical Engineering with the hopes of working as an engineer for a race team, be a crew chief or a driver. And he is hoping that the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment will be a stepping stone towards that goal. The junior at Rosemount (MN) High School is ranked 8th in his class with a 3.98 GPA. He is the youngest Super Late Model competitor at Elko Speedway and Raceway Park in Shakopee. This season he plans on competing for Rookie of the Year in the ASAMT. Press Release (03-23-08)
The ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment first season’s success was recently shown with multiple top-five placements in the recent Speed 51 Awards courtesy of speed51.com. Fans were asked to vote in 36 different short track racing categories. The ASAMT staff, drivers, owners, and series itself was nominated in 12 of the 36 categories. 2007 ASAMT Champion Nathan Haseleu had a great showing. He was the top vote getter in the “Driver Who Deserves a Shot in the Big Leagues Now” category. Haseleu beat out other short track hot shoes Bobby Santos III, Clay Rogers, Sean Caisse and Donny Lia. Press Release (03-20-08)
Jeff Storm is ready to get back behind the wheel full-time in 2008. After a small absence from full-time racing, the two-time Mid-American Series champion is getting prepared to run the entire 2008 ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment. “In 2008, I have been fortunate enough to be selected by Scott Dahlburg to drive his race car. I think that this is going to be a great fit,” Storm recently stated. Press Release (03-16-08)
ASAMT Officials are proud to announce that Echo Outdoor Power Equipment will return as the presenting sponsor of the ASA Midwest Tour in 2008. The series will once again be called the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment. “2007 was a successful year for the ASA Midwest tour and Echo Outdoor Power Equipment,” Jerry Kobza, Marketing Manager of Golden Eagle Distributing stated. “The strong return of a premier touring series in the Midwest was the perfect vehicle to market the full line of Echo outdoor power equipment, and the fans, teams and our network of dealers were very passionate about the relationship. Press Release (03-15-08)
Chad Wehrs is someone that is always looking to create something innovative and unique for the world of auto racing. This season, Wehrs will come on board as a contingency sponsor in the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment as well as field two cars with one experienced veteran and one newcomer. Wehrs has been keeping his eye on the ASAMT while operating his machine shop that is entering its 11th year of operation at its Bangor, WI location. Their product catalog (available at www.wehrsmachine.com) features over 35 unique pieces that Wehrs has created for racing along with items like: Adjustable J-Bars, A-Frame Spaces, Splash Guards, Fuel Pump Plates, bellhousing dowels, and much more. Press Release (03-13-08)
It’s no doubt that when you talk to Kenny Richards, you can hear the passion and the dedication that he has as a race car driver. His talents were shown last season in the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment where he had one win, two top-five’s and six top-ten finishes and finished fifth in the season point standings. Press Release (03-10-08)
Two of the biggest supporters of the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment have teamed up for the 2008 season. Competition Race Technology and Lefthander Chassis announce that Avcomm Communications has been added to Lefthander’s parts lineup for 2008. Jim Naumann, of Competition Race Technology & Wayne Lensing, owner of Lefthander Chassis, came to an agreement during the Lefthander tradeshow to carry communications equipment in the 2008 catalog and to be available at all Lefthander dealers. Press Release (03-5-08)
Today, The Milwaukee Mile announced a new marketing partnership with Sears Holdings and the addition of the "Sears Auto Center 150" United Speed Alliance Racing (USAR) Hooters Pro Cup Series event, to be run on Saturday, May 31. Racing Wisconsin (03-4-08)
Big 8 Series officials have released the entry form for the first event of the 2008 season. The Spring Classic 100-lap feature is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, April 13th at Rockford Speedway in Loves Park, IL. The entry form can be found at: http://speedthrills.big8series.com/pdfs/08ENTRY_01.pdf. Press Release (03-4-08)
Andy Hanson just wants a shot; he wants the opportunity to further his racing career. He feels that his best opportunity could come by running for the championship in the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment. Hanson, a Ramsey, MN native, has teamed up with one famed car owner Mike Butz to make a run for the championship this season in this ASAMT. “The ASA Midwest Tour will help advance my career due to the competitive nature of the series,” Hanson recently stated. “There are many experienced and highly talented drivers competing, and it can only help me behind the wheel.” Press Release (03-4-08)
When 2007 ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Champion, Trent Snyder officially clinched his title during the 38th Annual Oktoberfest Weekend at the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway, the first thought that went through the now 24-year-olds' head was; "How am I going to defend this title?" His question was answered over the winter at the Performance Racing Industry (P.R.I.) Trade Show in Orlando, Florida and a chance meeting with Mesa, Arizona businessman, Scott Rueschenberg, who also just happened to be a huge race fan and driver himself! Racing Wisconsin (03-1-08)