MIS E-News - August 24th, 2005

As all of you know we cancelled our racing program last Friday night due to the tornado damage in the area. Several factors went into this decision: Many roads in the area were still closed, several race teams were directly affected by the tornado, our EMS / Fire / Security personnel were unavailable due to assignments related to the storm, etc.

Several employees and race teams have been volunteering in the Stoughton area and MIS has made food donations. The 50/50 Raffle will go toward the American Red Cross relief efforts this week. Trackside Charities will be helping with this, they will also be drawing for different prizes, such as concert tickets and a 2006 NASCAR event. Please check out www.tracksidecharities.org for futher information.

This past week has been a very difficult week for people in the Stoughton area. Earlier in the week Christ Lutheran Church (located right on Highway 51 in Stoughton) burned. Many loyal fans of the speedway attended this church. Thursday night's tornado affected hundreds of people just north and northwest of Stoughton. On behalf of all of us at MIS we ask that you keep these people in your thoughts and prayers.

A special thank you to Joe from Hooters who was at MIS this week making food to be taken to Stoughton for those who suffered losses as well as those who are volunteering to help with the clean up. Joe has been involved in clean up and volunteer efforts with past storms that have occurred in Illinois.

We would also like to offer our condolences to the family of Richard "Dick" Thompson of Oregon. Dick passed away this week after a long illness. Dick was the former constable for the Town of Rutland and worked closely with the speedway in the 1990's.

This Friday night is First Supply Season Championship Night at MIS with racing action in all four divisions. There will be extended features in all divisions and like the mid-season championships held in July, will be a double points night.

Bobby Wilberg may be about to do what no driver has done before as he is in line to win track championships in both the Bryden Motors Super Late Models and Weaver Auto Parts ASA Late Models. Dann Barber is the current leader in the Rockweiler Insulation Midwest Truck Series while Mark DePorter holds a slight lead over Scott Lawver in the Bryden Motors Area Sportsman.

Wilberg, a past track champion in 2002 when he and Dave Feiler tied for the title, has won three features in both the ASA Late Models and Super Late Models this season. More impressive is his lock on setting fast time: seven times in the ASALM and on nine occasions in the super late models. There is a tight point battle for second in the super late models with Jeff Storm and Steve Rubeck neck and neck. The difference between the two currently is six points. A six point difference is also all that separates Troy Hintzsche and Jesse Saunders for fourth place in the ASALM division. Casey Burns holds a six point lead over Carey Hensel for third in the Area Sportsman while Gary Cerny leads Vince Wilkinson by four in the battle for fourth in the Midwest Truck Series. Friday night will also be Round Three of the Wayne's Custom DIECAST Dash Series for the Weaver Auto Parts ASA Late Models. Thanks to Wayne Forsyth for making this event possible.

An on-track autograph session will take place on Friday night. Fans are urged to bring cameras and purchase yearbooks to get autographs from all of your favorite drivers. We are planning on moving qualifying up to 6:15.

This will also be the final night for the First Supply Charity Challenge as we look to meet our goal of collecting $3000 for local charities. Fans and race teams are encouraged to contribute to this very worthwhile cause.

The MARS Series will be at Madison International Speedway on Friday, September 2 along with the Mid Am Super Truck Series and the third round of their Triple Crown event at MIS. The main event will be a 100 lap feature for the cars from MARS.

Madison International Speedway would like to announce that Coyle Carpet of Madison will be sponsoring the races on September 2. Coyle Carpet is "The one store for your perfect floor." See them for carpet, vinyl, ceramic, laminates, hardwood, area rugs, and roll-ends. From Sept 1 - Oct 15 there is an ANSO Nylon National Sale. We have carpet, Installed with cushion starting at $2.75 sq ft. The consumer can receive up to a $50.00 rebate on carpet made with ANSO Nylon.

Earlier this summer nearly forty super late models were on hand when Kimberly, Wisconsin's Jeff Van Oudenhoven came home the winner. It will also be the third leg of the Triple Crown Series for the Mid Am Super Trucks. Mark Storlie of Elko, Minnesota, has been unstoppable at MIS this season as he has claimed the first two events.

Mark your calendars for Friday, September 9 when the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Northern Series makes their first-ever visit to Madison International Speedway for the running of the Miller Lite 250. "This is going to be an awesome event. The Hooters Pro Cup Series features some of the top drivers in the country. They are very excited about coming to Madison and we are just as excited to have them here," stated promoter Steve Einhaus. He also added, "The fans are in for a treat as there will be live pit stops. We will be moving the pit wall out to its orginal location and all race teams will be pitting in the infield. It will be a fantastic night of racing."

Also on the racing program will be an Area Sportsman Open. Sportsman cars from MIS, Rockford, LaCrosse, Jefferson, and other tracks will be competing on Wisconsin's Fastest Half-Mile. But this night is far from just racing.

Madison International Speedway will be recognizing all military personnel, police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical technicians. Any of the aforementioned personnel in uniform will be admitted free. A Black Hawk helicopter will also be landing in the infield and children will have an opportunity to experience a climbing wall.

To top things off a spectacular fireworks show will also be taking place. "This is truly an event for the entire family. We think the racing is going to be great, but we also want to take time to recognize those who serve our country both overseas and at home," said Steve Einhaus.

Ticket Pricing is as follows- $20 at gate, $18 in advance. Children 12-15 are $12, 11 and under are free. A double header ticket, September 2 MARS / Mid AM Super Truck and September 9 Hooters Pro Cup is $28.00 in advance.

Madison International Speedway will be hosting a Sportsman Open on Friday night, September 9 as part of our second annual Tribute to America Night. This will also be the night for the Miller Lite 250 for the USAR Hooters Pro Cup. The Sportsman Open will pay $500.00 to win.

All Madison / Jefferson legal Sportsman cars are eligible. Rockford and LaCrosse Sportsman can compete following their respective track rules including weight of 3200 pounds. Dells, Columbus and Golden Sands Sportsman/ Super Stock cars can compete but they must follow the guidelines below. The older style bodies are good to go...the newer "late model" style bodies are not.

LGR Sportsman must follow their respective weights and rules, but questions can be directed to Greg Folk for weight information. All Cars must compete on the Goodyear tire. Dells and Golden Sands cars must follow rules below: No Late Model style bodies. Minimum wheelbase 108" Cast Iron intake and exhaust only. Stock type clutch only. Cars fitting these guidelines 3300 lbs. It will be a great night of racing which also will include a spectacular fireworks display.

This Friday Night On August 12, fans at Madison International Speedway had the opportunity to vote for their favorite drivers in each of our four racing divisions. Fans were also able to select the best appearing car or truck for 2005. The results have been tabulated and will be announced this Friday night. Winning drivers will receive a plaque at the MIS banquet that will held in February.

Just another look at all of work taking place at the track on race nights. The tech people have done great work this year headed up by Greg Folk. Working long after the races are done, they are oftentimes the last to leave the speedway on a race night. There are many roles in the pits that must be covered each night from lining up the cars for the next race, checking in cars at the pit gate, etc. Our pit workers are tops in their field.

Concession workers...when it's hot in the stands it is probably twice as hot in the concession areas. Someone once said that a race track would be a great place to work because you get to watch the races and get paid. Only a few people are lucky enough to be able to say that and our wonderful concession staff has to accept the fact that they can't see the races. They are a vital component of the MIS family and are another example of the unsung heroes behind the weekly racing event.

Dave Grueneberg...the guy is incredible. I have worked with a lot of people over the years in various jobs, but never have I seen someone who works as hard as Dave. He does just about everything at the speedway and does it well...Great job Dave.

Next week we'll take another look around the speedway. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. On behalf of Madison International Speedway thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing you at the races this Friday night. If you do not wish to receive this e-mail, please e-mail us at mismedia2@yahoo.com. Thank you.