By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Wednesday, July 30, 2008) – So far this season Russ Blakeley has not only been battling the competition in the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment, but he also has been working to removing a disease that he didn’t know he had, Hepatitis C.

“I went to get a life insurance policy about three years ago and they did all of the tests and I couldn’t get a policy because they said I had Hepatitis C,” the ASAMT Touring Star from Whitewater, WI recently stated during practice at Iowa Speedway. “I did some research on it and we kind of traced it back to when I did search and rescue in the navy for four years, because it’s a blood to blood contact type of disease. So it doesn’t matter where it came from, I had it and the treatment is pretty severe.”

By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Monday, July 28, 2008) – One of the Midwest premier racing events returns to Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI on Tuesday, August 5th with the running of the SCAG Power Equipment Dixieland 150. This will be the ninth event in the 2008 American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and the fifth event for the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet.

WHAT WILL BE RACING?

The American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment Super Late Models will be competing in a 150-lap feature event. The event will have a ten minute break at the halfway mark.

Also competing will be the BRP Big 8 Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet Limited Late Models in a 38-lap feature event.

WHO WILL BE RACING?

By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Friday, July 25, 2008) – Every sport has a major event while some sports like auto racing has a few major events. The famed Dixieland race at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI is one of those major events when it comes to Midwest Super Late Model racing.

The famous event will return for its 27th running of the SCAG Power Equipment Dixieland 150 on Tuesday, August 5th featuring the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment.

First, it’s about tradition. It’s always at the unique “D”-shaped ½ mile oval and it’s always run on the first Tuesday in August, and it always involved a NASCAR star or two or more.

Why Tuesday? That is a simple answer. NASCAR stars were always available to compete in it, no weekly paved tracks ran on Tuesdays, and it didn’t interfere with any other racing activities at WIR.

Iowa Native Landon Cassill is the latest entry

By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Thursday, July 17, 2008) – Two of the current hottest drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will return to their roots on Sunday and join the best Super Late Model drivers in the Rasmussen Group Twin 75’s at Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA. Recent Chicagoland winner Kyle Busch and 2003 Sprint Cup Champion Matt Kenseth will join the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment inaugural visit to the 7/8-mile tri-oval.

Cedar Rapids, IA native Landon Cassill will also be competing in a car prepared by current ASAMT point leader Dan Fredrickson. Cassill will be competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Gateway International Raceway on Saturday night and make the return to his home state on Sunday.

By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Tuesday, July 08, 2008) – Dan Fredrickson’s win this past Saturday in the ECHO Bear Cat July Spectacular 100 at I-94 Raceway, an ASA Member Track, allowed him to increase his points lead over second place runner Donny Reuvers. He currently has an 85 point lead after six of the 14 events in the 2008 ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment.

Fredrickson picked up 150 of the 160 points he was eligible to get this past Saturday night. He received 100 points for the win, 12 points for qualifying 5th, 18 points for finishing second in his fast heat, and 20 appearance points.

Reuvers picked up 134 points. He received 82 points for his fourth place finish in the feature, 16 points for qualifying third, 16 points for finishing third in his fast heat, and 20 appearance points.