KWIK TRIP 125 POST RACE NOTES
By: Kevin Ramsell

BURLINGTON, WI (Monday, April 21, 2008) – The first event of the 2008 ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment is now in the record books with the running of the Kwik Trip 125 last Saturday night at Elko Speedway in Elko, MN. A total of 47 teams were on hand with Jake Ryan coming home the winner.

Ryan’s win makes him the 10th different driver to win and ASAMT event in twelve point events. Ryan was fast all day long as he recorded the fastest laps in both practice sessions. In the first session, he set a fast lap of 13.674 seconds (98.728 mph) and in the second session, it was lap time of 13.809 seconds (97.762 mph). Ironically, both of those fast laps came on lap 7.

But, in qualifying it was Dan Fredrickson earning another ECHO Leaf Blower with a fast time of 13.604 seconds (99.236 mph).

CLOUDY DAY FOR SOME OF THE TOURING STARS

The phrase “Home track advantage” was said a lot on Saturday afternoon after qualifying as seven of the ASAMT Touring Stars failed to make the feature event on their qualifying times. While Fredrickson, Donny Reuvers, Travis Sauter, and Jonathan Eilen got in on time, the others either had to work their way in or load up early.

Nathan Haseleu, defending ASAMT champion, had to use a provisional as he dealt with handling issues all day long. “I am glad that we have Madison and Jefferson coming up next,” Haseleu stated. “If we struggle at both of those places, we will have some real issues.” Haseleu finished 19th at Elko.

Jamie Iverson had to win the Last Chance Race in order to make the feature field. He would finish 24th in the main event.

Brandon Hill had limited practice time as his team struggled in the pits trying to figure out why his car wouldn’t start. It sounds like it was an electrical issue and was fixed. During the last chance race, Hill was quickly making his way to the front until he spun out on the front stretch. A locked rear end ended his night.

Kris Kelly, Doug Mahlik and Rich Loch had their nights end in the Last Chance Race as Kelly spun on the front stretch to take the green flag collecting Loch and Mahlik in the melee. All three were done for the night.

Loch was missed a lot of practice time during the afternoon as his team worked to fix a loose rocker on his engine.

Dave Feiler also missed making the main event after he struggled with handling issues as well. He was working his way to the front in the Last Chance race but got tangled up with Frank Kreyer causing Kreyer to spin. Both were sent to the rear.

Both Haseleu and Feiler expect to have better runs at Madison on Sunday, May 4th. Haseleu has won many times while Feiler is a three-time track champion.

BY THE NUMBERS

Want to know how close a driver had to be in order to qualify into the feature field? Try 0.002 seconds. That was the difference in qualifying times between Joel Theisen who qualified 16th with a lap time of 13.888 seconds (97.206 mph) and Steve Schultz who qualified 17th with his lap time of 13.890 seconds (97.192 mph).

The margin from Fredrickson’s fast lap of 13.604 seconds (99.236 mph) to Chris Skrede’s 47th qualifying time of 14.470 seconds was only 0.866 seconds.

Ryan’s margin of victory over Fredrickson was 0.837 seconds.

Fredrickson was also the Hard Charger of the event as he gained 11 spots. Fredrickson rolled a five in pre-race activities to give an invert of 13 for the main event. Ryan gained 10 spots.

The next event for the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment is on Sunday, May 4th at Madison International Speedway. Along with the ASAMT, the Big 8 Series will also be competing that day.

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.