RICHARDS HOPES TO KEEP HIS MOMENTUM GOING
By: Kevin Ramsell (www.kevinramsell.com)

BURLINGTON, WI (Friday, March 7, 2008) – 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.

The Montello, WI driver started his racing career on the dirt tracks in Wisconsin. “I started my racing career on the dirt in Chilton at the tender age of 15(1996) and ran dirt thru 2000,” Richards recalled. “I finished 2nd in the points in 97/98 to my own father. I got rookie of the year in Chilton in1996.”

It was in 2000 that he started to run on an asphalt track where he ran Super Stocks at Dells Raceway Park. “I ran SS on the asphalt in 2000, and was the track champion in 2001, 2002 and 2003,” Richards stated. “I broke the track record at Dells Raceway Park in 2003 and also broke the record for fast times in one year with 15 in a row. In the end of 2003 I drove a LLM owned by my Dad to win the Midwest 100.”

In 2004, Richards kept himself busy behind the wheel. “I did double duty in my own LLM and SLM with a very limited budget,” Richards stated. “I won the LLM rookie of the year and the LLM Championship. That year I also took rookie of the year and 6th in points in SLM. My brother Jeff drove a SLM owned by my father, Larry but decided to return to dirt racing. Dad gave the SLM to me to pilot in 2005 and finished 2nd in the points.”

His momentum would continue in 2006 where he would capture the track championship at Golden Sands Speedway (Plover, WI) and finished second in the Wisconsin Challenge Series.

The trend continued in 2007 where once again he finished second in the WCS standings and also finished fifth in the ASAMT. “Last year was an outstanding season, but for the bad luck gremlins in mid-year our outcome could possibly have been even better but all in all it was a super season.”

When asked about the biggest highlight of the 2007 season. He didn’t hesitate on the answer, “Being able to race at DRP with Johnny Sauter and his fellow racers was the highlight of any career. To be able to win that race was something I never dreamed of doing.”

What made the night more special for Richards came from the car the Sauter drove in that race. “Nate (Haseleu, ASAMT Champion) and I have chased each other all over the Midwest and that night Johnny Sauter was actually driving one of the Swiss Colony cars that I have been chasing. Racing with Nate and the Swiss Colony team in ASAMT has been fun and a definite learning curve, racing with a team of their caliper and knowledge.” For the past two seasons, Richards finished in the runner-up position behind Haseleu in the Wisconsin Challenge Series final point standings.

In 2008, he hopes to continue the momentum that he has going in racing. But, with many he has run into finding a primary sponsor to help him continue that momentum. “No argument that there is a cost to go to a Super Late Model event. That is just for the essentials (gas, tires, pit passes, etc.) It takes a dedicated and devoted crew and family to have a tip-top car,” Richards stated. “A major sponsor is an important and necessary part of any competitive and winning race team. Their commitment to us helps keep our car appearing and performing in a way that shows our sponsors that we are as serious in our commitment to them and their products.”

And he also feels that a sponsor would benefit greatly with him competing in the ASAMT, “Our sponsor would be shown that ASAMT is the largest tour in the Midwest and that we would get their name and company out at various tracks and we would be willing to do displays for them,” Richards explained. “We are a winning team and take pride in ourselves and our sponsors. We have an excellent fan base and would be proud to advertise their name on our race car.”

“Kenny and his race team is just an example of who we think about when we work on our rules package in the ASAMT,” Steve Einhaus, ASAMT VP stated. “We realize that this series has many teams racing with a different budget, and we want to make sure that everyone is on an even playing field so that teams like Kenny’s can show up to race and know they will be competitive with some of the high dollar teams that compete.”

And Richards just has one request, “If anyone is interested in sponsoring a hard working, dedicated team please feel free to contact either myself or Larry Richards for more information, call 608-589-5456 or 608-589-5370.”

The first event of the 2008 ASAMT season will be on Saturday, April 19th at Elko Speedway in Elko, MN. (www.elkospeedway.com)

To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment log on to 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.

To learn more of 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.