Ryan Mathews ready for ASL opener as a top rookie of the year contender
   

ODESSA, MO --  Ryan Mathews of Lake Geneva, WI has been fast at the I-70 Speedway in Odessa, MO.  When the American Stockcar League (ASL) opens there on Saturday night, April 30, he is hoping he'll be able to pull off a win. "I had fast time there for the World Cup 300 last Fall," Mathews noted.  "I led the race until lap 120 when a lug nut came loose and wrecked the left rear wheel," he continued. "It's quite a race track. It's a big really fast half-mile.  I'm looking forward to the ASL opener.  We built a brand new ASA National tour car last year and only ran it four times because of the chaos within the series," he said.    "The car has been sitting since the race at The Milwaukee Mile last year, so all we have to do is put the car number back on the door," he explained. Mathews could be one of the top candiates for the Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie Recognition Award.
   
He started his career racing mini sprint cars on dirt tracks.  In 1998 Mathews began racing with the Mid-American Stock Car organization the Mid-Am Super Truck Series and by the 2000 season had worked his way up to a third place finish in the point standings. "That was the only year we ran the whole super truck series and we finished behind Danny Heinritz and Jerry Seibel. He took the year off in 2001 and finished college at Kettering University in Flint, MI where he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He competed in the Midwest AllStar Racing Series (MARS) late model series in 2002 and 2003.  His first late model feature win came at I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre, MN in a MARS sanctioned event.  He placed second in the rookie of the year standings in 2002 behind Steve Rubeck.  In 2003 he earned a third place overall finish in the MARS Touring Series point standings. Last year Mathews did not run for points anywhere.  His biggest win came during the Twin 75s at the Slinger Speedway in Slinger, WI.
   
For more information about any of the Mid-American divisions call 920-823-2856.