2009 Wisconsin International Raceway Crowd at the Dixieland 150 - (Doug Hornickel Photo fastlapphoto.com)29TH ANNUAL DIXIELAND 150, THE “SUPER BOWL” OF THE ASAMT

by Kari Shear-Carlson
NASCAR has the Daytona 500, the NFL has the Super Bowl, MLB has the World Series, and the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net has the Dixieland 150. This coming Tuesday, August 3rd marks the 29th annual running of the event.

The ASAMT competes on a variety of tracks throughout the Midwest, but the D-shaped 1/2 mile of WIR is probably the most challenging and unique track on the circuit. The traditional Dixieland event has always been held on the first Tuesday in August. Many would ask, “Why would you schedule an event at the beginning of the week?” Well, there are a few reasons why this event has been successful as a Tuesday night event. There are no other paved tracks in the area that compete on a Tuesday night. The event does not conflict with any other WIR events, and last, but not least, NASCAR stars are available to compete.

In the past 28 runnings of the event, 13 different drivers have visited victory lane. Mark Martin (1981, 84), Jim Sauter (1982), Dick Trickle (1983, 87, 90, 91), Butch Miller (1985, 86, 88), Rich Bickle (1989), Steve Holzhausen (1992), Scott Hansen (1993, 99), Joe Shear (1994, 96), Bryan Reffner (1995), Steve Carlson (1997, 98, 2001, 03, 04, 08, 09), Brian Hoppe (2000, 2002), Stephen Leicht (2005), and Kyle Busch (2007).

Doug Hornickel Photo - fastlapphoto.comby Kari Shear-Carlson
For the first time in 2010, someone with the name other than Kenseth beat Steve Carlson in the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net. Twenty-six drivers took the green flag for the “Kwik Trip Stores 125” at Raceway Park in Shakopee, MN tonight. Mark Kraus and Steve Carlson led the field to the green flag.

Carlson took the top spot on lap one and as Kraus was trying to work his way back into the top spot, he and the #71 of Blake Brown made heavy contact in turn three ending both of their nights. With one lap completed the field restarted on lap two with Carlson on the point followed by the rookie, Thor Anderson.

As the field began to settle in for the 125 lap feature, ASAMT Swiss Colony Touring Star, Andrew Morrisey slowed and pull off the track on lap seven. Three laps later Joel Theisen spun on the backstretch bringing out yet another caution. While it seemed like the cars were never going to get a long green flag run, Swiss Colony Touring Star, Chris Wimmer had already made his way from his eighth starting position all the way up to fourth behind Carlson, Anderson and the #87 of Nathan Haseleu.

Meanwhile rookie, Ross Kenseth and 2008 ASAMT Champion, Dan Fredrickson were making a hard charge to the front. By lap 37, Carlson had a full straight-away lead. Travis Sauter, who is the current track record holder at Raceway Park, spun in turns three and four on lap 38. Carlson jumped back into the lead as the field went to green once again as Haseleu started to put pressure on Thor Anderson, but could not get the job done.

Matt Kenseth passes his son Ross on his way to victory in the All-Star Challenge (Doug Hornickel Photo)by Kari Shear-Carlson
The American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net completed the fifth event of the season tonight at Madison International Speedway with the “Swiss Colony All-Star Challenge 100” featuring Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart. Matt Kenseth made a last lap move to the inside of Steve Carlson for the victory.

Jeff Storm and Nick Murgic, the 19 year old from Rosemount, MN, led the field to the green flag. Storm charged to take the lead on lap one only to have mechanical problems on lap four in turn three bringing out the first caution of the night. Murgic led the field to the restart and held on despite a hard-charging field including Ross Kenseth for the first 75 laps of the event.

Fast-qualifier and fan-favorite, Matt Kenseth, started 14th after the invert. Current ASAMT point leader, Chris Wimmer, put up a hard fought battle with Kenseth for ninth position until Kenseth took the position on lap 14. Kenseth moved up to the fifth spot and settled in until the break at lap 75.

Steve Carlson and Dan Fredrickson were battling it out just ahead of Kenseth for several laps. Carlson charged his way to the second spot with his eyes set on Murgic for the lead. On lap 69, Carlson was showing Murgic that he was there but settled back into the second spot.

A fifteen minute break came at lap 75, with Murgic still leading, followed by Steve Carlson, Ross Kenseth, Dan Fredrickson, and Matt Kenseth. When the green flag flew with 25 to go, Carlson started setting his sights on Murgic again. On lap 82, Carlson moved to the inside and took the position going into turn three.

ASAMT Vice President Steve Einhaus talks about bringing the tour to the Swiss Colony All-Star Challenge.

Matt & Ross Kenseth (Doug Hornickel Photo)ROSS AND MATT KENSETH COMPETE TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ASAMT

by Kari Shear-Carlson
The American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net will be hosting the “Swiss Colony All-Star Challenge 100” featuring Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart along with Kelly Bires, on Tuesday, June 29th at Madison International Speedway. This marks the sixth annual event and the first year that the ASAMT has been a part of the event.

While this may mark the ASA Midwest Tour’s first year hosting the event, it is not the first year for many ASA Midwest Tour drivers to compete. The history of the “Swiss Colony All-Star Challenge 100” has combined some of the greatest talents in NASCAR with the some of the greatest talents in the Midwest.

The first All-Star Challenge event took place in 2005 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI. Jeff Van Oudenhoven held off Nathan Haseleu and Rod Wheeler to win the event which included Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards, his Roush-Fenway teammate. Edwards finished fifth ahead of Kenseth, who finished sixth.

In 2006, Roy Kenseth moved the event to Madison International Speedway and welcomed Tony Stewart to the event for the first time. Kelly Bires walked away with the victory over Kenseth and Bobby Wilberg. Tony Stewart finished seventh.

In 2007, Kenseth took home the victory over ASAMT drivers, Mark Eswein and Nathan Haseleu. Tony Stewart finished seventh for the second year in a row.
ASAMT Champion, Steve Carlson, held off Kenseth for the win in 2008. ASAMT Swiss Colony Touring Star, Andrew Morrissey finished third and Tony Stewart finished sixteenth after a spin earlier in the race.