EILEN READY TO DEFEND HIS 2007 ASAMT ELKO VICTORY THIS WEEKEND
By: Kevin Ramsell

BURLINGTON, WI (Friday, April 18, 2008) – “I’m ready and the car is just about ready, just need to put a few finishing touches on it,” Jonathan Eilen recently stated. Eilen, the 2007 ASAMT Rookie of the Year, is getting ready to defend his 2007 ASAMT Elko victory this Saturday night at the Kwik Trip 125 at Elko Speedway in Elko, MN.

Last year, Eilen found himself in a battle for the lead with 2007 ASAMT Champion, Nathan Haseleu throughout the 125-lap event. It was an event that Eilen will never forget.

“I was just hoping to make the race,” Eilen recalled as 51 Super Late Models attempted to earn one of the 26 starting spots. “There were so many big names at the event, just like again this year. Once we got a spot, the next thing was just to make sure we survived, but to find myself battling for the lead, that was something I would never expect in a million years.”

Eilen and Haseleu would exchange the lead throughout the event. But on lap 114, the battle would come to an end as Haseleu would fall victim to a burnt ignition wire and be forced to drop out. “We were racing side-by-side for a long time, so I decided to back down and cool the tires for a few laps,” Eilen remembers. “Then all of a sudden coming off of turn two, he about stopped and I was like whoa is there a caution or something? Then all of a sudden my spotter comes on and tells me to go on the outside. Just to be able to race with someone like Haseleu, who was on a hot streak at that time, it was just an honor.”

Overall, Eilen will never forget that race, “Just to be able to make the race and be in it that was an awesome experience by itself.”

Eilen would become the inaugural ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment winner and would go on to collect the Rookie of the Year title at the end of the season.

“I had a blast running the entire season with the ASAMT,” Eilen stated. “Our team looked forward to every race and we have the same attitude about this upcoming season. Heck, I wish we had some indoor dates so we could race all the time.”

Eilen also had another wish, “Man, I wish I could compete for Rookie of the Year every year,” he jokingly stated. “To be honest, the ASAMT has a great rookie program and after what I won and what I see they have for this year, who wouldn’t want to go for Rookie of the Year?”

Along with the many contingency prizes, Eilen was also awarded with a new Roltek Transmission valued at $5,000. “We will not have the new transmission in our car at Elko, but it will be in our new car at Madison. But, I have to say that for us, it’s not only the money that we get for competing, but the contingency awards that the ASAMT has is a great win-win situation. We are getting prizes that we can use and the car is getting it as well. It’s a really good program that they have for us.”

This year’s Rookie of the Year will earn around $10,000 in money and contingency awards.

“We are honored to have Jonathan as our 2007 Rookie of the Year and a Touring Star in our series,” Steve Einhaus, ASAMT VP stated. “He along with his team is very professional and well liked by his fellow competitors and fans. He has a bright future ahead of him.”

As of this release, a total of 45 drivers have already registered for the Kwik Trip 125 this Saturday night at Elko Speedway.

Saturday’s schedule includes, Qualifying starting at 4:00pm with the ASAMT Autograph session starting at 5:30pm in the Champions Event Centre. Local heats will begin at 6:00pm with the first ASAMT heat starting at 7:00pm.

For more information on Elko Speedway, please visit their site at www.elkospeedway.com.

To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment and the engine giveaway program, please contact the ASA Midwest Tour office by calling (262) 514-3880 or by e-mailing Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@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 all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asa-racing.com.