MIS E-News
Week of March 31, 2008
By John Wells

The Countdown: We are less than one month away from the first on-track racing action of the season at Madison International Speedway. It's going to be an exciting year at MIS with many changes to our weekly program and some awesome special events coming to the speedway.

Attention Drivers and Teams

Goodyear tires are in stock for Limited Late Models. Hoosier tires are also in stock for Super Late Models and USST Super Trucks. On Thursday fuel will also be available. Call Dave Grueneberg at 608.513.2278 to set up an appointment to get whatever you may need.

Racing season will soon be here so drivers save some time and download the following from our website. If you have the forms completed and mailed in prior to the start of the year it will make things much easier.

All forms are now available at the download section of our website. Here's what's there:

Driver Info Form this must be completed before you get on the track in 2008. This is your background and sponsor information. This info is shared at the track on race nights by the announcers and will be included on the driver links on our website.

Membership Form / Pit Stall Registration: The membership form and car registration forms must be completed in order to be eligible for the 2008 point fund. Last year the point fund was nearly $15,000. In addition to being a member you must race at least 75% of the weekly events.

Pit Stalls are also available. If you want the same stall you had in 2007 you will need to complete this form by April 15th.

Car Owner Form: The car owner must complete this form. This will determine who will receive the weekly check and the 1099.

Drivers and Teams: We want to help promote your team in many ways in 2008. First, all divisions will be qualifying so this means your sponsors are announced to the fans. I realize after going to many tracks that this isn�t always the case. We will also include your picture in our 2008 MIS Yearbook and a link will be included on our website that will show your bio and sponsors.

We are very excited about the upcoming season with the return of super late model racing and five weekly divisions. We think we have an outstanding lineup of special events coming in highlighted by the RK Race Promotions event featuring Matt and Tony, the ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Late Model Northern Series, Wisconsin Challenge Series, Big Eight Series and the Budweiser Fall Classic. Something new in 2008 will be the appearances by the Badger State Tractor Pullers and the Lucas Oil Pro Pullers.

We are challenging all of you to bring out someone to the speedway in 2008 who has never been to a short track racing event. It always amazes me when I speak to someone who watches NASCAR every week but has never been out to a local track. Let's all try to do our part to get those folks off the couch and out to the track this year.

Sponsors: be sure to let any of the sponsors of racing at MIS know that you appreciate their commitment to the sport. From our track sponsors to the car sponsors we all need to support those who support local racing. Even better choose to do business with those who support racing.


It's Party Time

Now here�s an awesome way to kick off the 2008 racing season.

A START YOUR ENGINES Race Fan Party to celebrate the opening of the 2008 race season is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd at Viking Lanes in Stoughton, Wisconsin and is brought to you by Madison International Speedway and the ASA Midwest Tour.

Join your friends from MIS and the ASA Midwest Tour for an evening of fun featuring the rockabilly, turbo-twang party band - the deVillebillies who will begin entertaining starting at 8:30 PM.

FREE admission so arrive early due to limited space.

A $5 charitable donation enters you to WIN 50-50 raffle plus other great prizes - thanks to Trackside Charities.

MIS Super Late Model Drivers Eligible for National Championship

HOW TO WIN THE ASA SHORT TRACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 26, 2008) So, you want to win the inaugural ASA Short Track National Championship and the prestigious tryout with Joe Gibbs Racing? Well, read carefully, as this is how to do it

The first step is, obviously, race at an American Speed Association Level 1 Member Track. Each track will nominate one class to be their featured division and you must not only be competing in that class, but you must also be the 2008 track champion in that class.

So far, so good: Congratulations on that track championship. So, let's look at how you can also add the ASA Short Track National Championship to that resume. Are you ready, because here is the secret to accumulating the valuable points necessary - pass lots of cars on the racetrack. Actually, pass lots and lots of cars.

Let's take a step back for a moment. The points formula used to calculate the ASA Short Track National Champion is, naturally, extremely complex. In fact, there are only a couple of people who really know and understand exactly how it works. In that respect, it is sort of like how the BCS system works in college football.

In essence, you can think of the ASA point structure a little like a batting average in baseball. You can see your current number and how it compares to the other ASA competitors. But, while a baseball average is shown in a decimal form (like .250), the ASA number will be a digit extended to four decimal points (such as 5.4321). Most competitors will see their ASA number somewhere in the 5 to 6 point range, while those at the top of the charts will likely be in the 9 or higher range. That, my friends, is the number you need to be looking for to have a chance at winning the ASA National Short Track Championship.

Kevin Spiddle, president of SpeedNet Direct, is the mastermind behind the ASA formula. He worked closely with Dennis Huth from the American Speed Association and toiled through eight to ten different formulas and countless scenarios before settling on this latest version.

Dennis and I have been working on this conceptually since December, and believe me when I tell you that I think we have considered all possible scenarios and worked through all possible variations to come up with something that we feel is going to work extremely well, Spiddle said. One of the biggest differences in the ASA formula is that we are looking at averages, while other types of formulas often are just a points accumulation. We felt that there were too many variables involved to use such a simple structure and took into account everything we could think of like field size, inversion, and even number of races.

Spiddle explained that there are five key criteria used in calculating the ASA competition average.

The first is the finishing position in feature races. There is a descending points system from first to 25th place. Drivers finishing behind 25th place will all receive the same number of points so everyone in the feature will acquire points for competing. But, it is slanted towards the higher finish so pass some cars and get to the front.

The second criterion is the size of the feature field. The base, or full field, is set at 20 cars. The formula penalizes fields of less than 20 by dropping a five percent factor for each car less than that. Inversely, fields greater than 20 will have a multiplier added to account for the greater challenge of beating out more competitors.

Season length is calculated in a similar fashion. A full season is set at 14 events, and drivers competing in less are penalized by dividing the number of races competed in by 14. All races count towards the ASA Short Track National Championship, so drivers are encouraged to run at least 14 events this year, and more if possible to help accumulate the maximum points.

The fourth factor, and the one that will make the single biggest difference, is the starting versus finishing position. Simply put, the more cars passed in a feature race, the more points scored. This is how the tracks which invert the feature event are factored in.

For example, a driver that starts tenth and finishes first will have a major positive gain. However, a driver on the pole that finishes tenth will see a big negative factor applied to their ASA competition average. Start tenth, and finish tenth, will show a net of zero.

One of the first criteria that Dennis wanted to account for was inverting a field, Spiddle explained. We really made one of the keys to success in the ASA Short Track National Championship was to account for moving up through the field and passing cars. There is that hint again pass your competitors.

An obvious side benefit to the starting versus finishing position is that it will encourage more on-track action and this is what the fans come to the racetrack to experience, said Dennis Huth, president of Racing Speed Associates which owns the American Speed Association. With the heavy factoring of this, we anticipate seeing more battles for position all over the track and not just up front. Moving up from 15th to fifth will be even more important than starting and finishing up at the front of the field. And the fans will see that exciting short track action that the American Speed Association has been known for over the past four decades.

The final criteria in the formula accounts for feature wins. Admittedly, only a fraction of the wins versus the number of races competed in will be added to the point total, but it will still reward the drivers who end up in victory lane.

I feel like we have created a very strong formula that is going to withstand the test of a full season of ASA Member Track competition, Huth prophesized. We'll just have to see if there are any unique scenarios that come up as we implement the program, but I really feel like we will crown an ASA Short Track National Champion without any type of controversy over how the points are calculated.

It was previously announced that there would be an Eastern and Western Divisional Champion crowned, with the ASA Short Track National Champion being the single driver that has the highest ASA competition average at the end of the season. And yes, there is a tiebreaker system in case the astronomical odds are defied and these two drivers are tied at the end of the year. Total feature wins will be the first tiebreaker, followed by second place finishes and so on until one driver comes out on top.

The ASA Short Track National Champion wins bragging rights for a year (actually, a lifetime), the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Champion Award, a cash prize, and something that money cannot buy a test session with Joe Gibbs Racing and a chance to show your talents to those who can get things done at the pinnacle of motorsports.

The ASA competition average will be posted online at www.ASA-Racing.com every Monday night so drivers and fans can see how they rank every week. Races through midnight on September 28 are eligible to be included in the calculations. Just remember to pass lots of cars (has the hint sunk in yet?).


The ASA Short Track National Championship is another step by the industry leader in creating new and innovative programs. This follows the recent announcement about extending the insurance coverage for ASA members traveling to, from, and during an ASA-sanctioned event.

Madison International Speedway
ASA Educational Series Events

The following race nights will count towards the point standings and subsequent awarding of nearly $400,000 in scholarships for participating drivers and / or crew members in the ASA Educational Series at Madison International Speedway. A separate point system will be kept for each of the five weekly divisions to determine the winning teams and students.

Please note that we are still looking for high school students who would be interested in participating in this program. Teams are currently looking for area high school students to join them.

Here are the nights that will count for points towards the ASA Educational Series awards: May 9, 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18, and August 1.

MIS Schedule Update

Madison International Speedway
2008 Racing Schedule (Subject to change)

Abbreviations: SLM= Weaver Auto Parts Super Late Models, LLM=Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models, AS= Area Sportsman, B= Roto Rooter Bandits, L= Legends, USST= Super Trucks, AST=Short Trackers, INT= Internationals HS= Hobby Stocks, BDO= Bandoleros

Saturday, April 26 Open Practice for all division (Noon to 5:00 PM)

Saturday, May 3 Open Practice for all divisions (Noon to 5:00 PM)

Sunday, May 4 ASA Midwest Tour plus Big Eight Series LLM

Friday, May 9 SLM, LLM, AS, B, L

Saturday, May 17 Badger State Tractor Pullers

Friday, May 23 Weaver Auto Parts Night presented by Yellow Book: SLM, LLM, AS, B, L plus Wayne�s Custom DIECAST Dash for LLM

Friday, May 30 Fire Rescue Night: SLM, LLM (Wayne�s Custom DIECAST 40), AS, L, USST also Scout Night

Friday, June 6 Miller Night: SLM, LLM, USST, B, L

Friday, June 13 LLM, AS, B, L, BDO plus Wayne�s Custom DIECAST Dash for LLM and Trailer Race

Friday, June 20 Tech Enterprises Night: SLM, LLM, AS, B, L

Tuesday, June 24 RK Race Promotions The Swiss Colony All Star Challenge
SLM / Big Eight Series LLM

Friday, June 27 Boucher Auto Group Night: SLM, LLM, AS, B, L plus Wayne�s Custom DIECAST Dash for LLM plus Fireworks

Friday, July 4 TBA

Friday, July 11 Construction Labor Management Night: SLM, AS, B, L, Int, AST

Friday, July 18 Pomp�s Tire Night: SLM, LLM, AS, B, L plus Wayne�s Custom DIECAST Dash for LLM

Friday, July 25 ASA Late Model Northern Series / BDO

Friday, August 1 Laborer�s Union 464 Night: SLM (100 Lap Feature), AS, B, L, BDO (Open Practice 2:00-4:00)

Friday, August 8 SLM, LLM, AS, B, USST

Friday, August 15 Swiss Colony Night: SLM, LLM, AS, B, L plus Wayne�s Custom DIECAST Dash for LLM

Friday, August 22 Werner Electric Night: SLM, LLM, AS, B, L

Friday, August 29 Season Championships: SLM, LLM, AS, B, L plus Wayne�s Custom DIECAST Dash for LLM

Friday, September 5 Tribute to America Night plus fireworks: Wisconsin Challenge Series SLM, AS, HS, BDO

Friday, September 12 Lucas Oil Pro Pullers (Tractor Pull)

Saturday, September 13 Lucas Oil Pro Pullers (Tractor Pull)

Friday, September 19 Budweiser MIS Fall Classic


Saturday, September 20 Budweiser MIS Fall Classic


Weekly Times: Hot Laps at 4:45, Qualifying at 6:30, Racing at 7:30