American Speed Association: Wisconsin’s own NASCAR stars to compete in the ASAMT “Dixieland 150”

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By: Kari Shear-Carlson

Tradition is defined as “a system of behavior followed by people continuously from generation to generation.” In 1981 a Tuesday night tradition was born and generation after generation have taken part in the annual “Dixieland 150” at Wisconsin International Raceway. On Tuesday, August 3rd, the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net will continue to carry on the tradition with a new generation of drivers.

While the event may be a tradition, a Tuesday night race is not traditional. Who wants to race on a Tuesday night at a track in Wisconsin? Well, there is one group of drivers that have and will; the various NASCAR stars that have competed in this event since its conception. It is because of the night of the week, that NASCAR drivers, such as Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Ron Hornaday, Mark Martin, and Kyle Busch amongst others, have been able to compete in this annual event.

This year, the ASA Midwest Tour is welcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series competitor, Scott Wimmer, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, Johnny Sauter, who is currently third in the NCWTS standings. Both Sauter and Wimmer are second generation drivers who have followed the system of behavior of their previous generations.

Johnny Sauter and Scott Wimmer have several things in common. They were both born and raised in Wisconsin. They are both second generation drivers. They both grew up watching their heroes race at Wisconsin International Raceway. They have both competed as drivers at WIR. Even though they have spent many nights at WIR as spectators, neither has competed as much as they would like on the D-shaped 1/2 mile. Both will be competing against family members in the “Dixieland 150.” Finally, they both want to win at WIR, yet will be quick to tell you that a win at WIR is no easy task, especially when competing against the ASAMT and local favorites.

Wimmer and Sauter agree that the ASA Midwest Tour is the nation’s top short track series and has the highest level of competition in the country. “I think the ASAMT has the greatest competition anywhere. Racing in the Midwest is really tough. There is a great mix of guys that have a lot of experience and some younger drivers that really want to win. It has been like that forever and I think that is why guys from the ASAMT can run good anywhere. I think that is what is missing in a lot of other regional racing series,” said Wausau native, Scott Wimmer.

Johnny is no stranger to success in the ASA series. In 2001, Sauter dominated the ASA National Tour and went on to win the championship. A lot has changed since then, but the one thing that has remained the same is the high level of competition. Sauter added, “I like what I see in the 2010 ASAMT and I hope it continues to grow.” Wimmer also wants to see the ASAMT grow, and even recommends that parents of young drivers send their kids to race in the ASAMT if they want them to become better drivers.

This will be Sauter’s second time joining the ASA Midwest Tour in 2010. Earlier this season, he competed in the Elmer Musgrave Memorial event at Illiana Motor Speedway. Unfortunately he was unable to finish due to an ill-handling car. His goal for the “Dixieland 150” is to finish, something he has not been able to do in his last three super late model starts. “If I can finish, I’m sure it will be a good finish,” added a confident Sauter.

Johnny grew up watching his dad, Jim Sauter, dominate for many years at WIR. Johnny’s greatest memory was in 1989. He was only ten years old, but remembers for that entire season he watched his dad win almost every time he hit the track. The driver from Necedah, WI has only competed at WIR twice in his career. The second of which came last year in this very event. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish due to mechanical problems, but has a lot of confidence going into this year’s race. “I’ve been to KK a million times, but only as a driver twice now. There is no question that WIR is a place that laps are important, so maybe once every other year isn’t enough. This year, I will keep my car together and have no doubt it will be fast enough to aggravate some people,” said the 31 year old. Johnny will be going up against nephew, Travis Sauter, who is also looking forward to competing at the track his grandfather was so dominant at.

It has been over ten years since Scott has competed at WIR. Ironically his last event was the Dixieland race in 1998. He competed in a handful of ARTGO events, a couple weekly races and one REMAX Challenge Series race. “It is a really hard track to figure out and when I was racing there, it was tough to beat the weekly guys like Matt Kenseth, Terry Baldry, Rod Wheeler, and JJ Smith.” Scott’s best run at WIR came back in 1997 when Scott finished fourth behind some of the top competitors of their time. “Baldry won, Joe Shear was second, Jim Weber was third and I came from the back to finish fourth. I remember following the two greatest guys that ever raced there to the front.”

Scott has a goal that not many can claim. “I am looking forward to coming back. I want to keep my streak alive of leading a lap in every race I run this year. Currently I am 100% in the Nationwide Series for that.” Scott knows that if he can qualify well and keep improving, he’ll have a good night. “Who knows, maybe I can lead a lap and it will be the final one,” added Wimmer.

Scott will also be competing against younger brother and ASA Midwest Tour Swiss Colony Touring Star, Chris Wimmer. Chris is currently second in points and has made a statement in the ASAMT this year, finishing in the top 10 in all but the most recent event in Shakopee, MN. “I will be relying on my brother a lot. He has a lot of time in these cars and I’ll be racing one of his. He has really proven how good of a driver he is in the past few years. He got put in some under-funded teams down south, but didn’t give up. He came back up here, works on his own equipment, knows every nut and bolt and I’m really proud of how he is running.” Scott is definitely proud of Chris, but brothers are still brothers. “We still argue about things, but this time, I might just have to listen to him,” joked Scott.

Scott’s memories of WIR as a kid are bitter-sweet. Scott’s uncle was the late, Larry Detjens who lost his life at this very track during a racing event. “WIR has always been a tough track to go to. I have a lot of memories of my uncle Larry, both his success and the accident that took his life. I just don’t want to disappoint people. I want to be a winner like my uncle was; I want to win at WIR and everywhere for that matter, and make him proud.” On Thursday night, July 29th, Scott will be competing for the first time in WI in 2010 in the Larry Detjens Memorial race at State Park Speedway in Wausau, WI, a track that he and his family now own. Fans who attend the Larry Detjens Memorial can bring their ticket and get $2 off the price of admission for the “Dixieland 150” on Tuesday, August 4th.

It may be on a Tuesday night at a track in Wisconsin, but it is the only night that you can come out and see NASCAR stars compete against the stars of the ASAMT at Wisconsin International Raceway. In addition, for the first time this year, the NASCAR drivers will participate in the trackside autograph session along with all of the ASAMT drivers. So pack up the family, all of your souvenirs, and an extra Sharpie, and come on out to be a part of a tradition built on generations of the past and yet to come.

The ASAMT “Dixieland 150” will be another televised event. The broadcast will air on Saturday, August, 21st at 11:30 AM CDT on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin. Check your local listings for channel availability and line-up.

To learn more about the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Residential Suites Hotels and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites, log on to http://www.asamidwesttour.com or call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (262) 514-3880 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.

If you would like to learn more about the ASAMT series sponsors, please visit their websites: Kwik Trip, Inc. (http://www.kwiktrip.com), ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment (http://www.echo-usa.com), and GrandStay Residential Suites Hotels and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites (http://www.grandstay.net).

To learn more about the Midwest Sportsman Tour log on to http://www.asamidwestsportsman.com.

To learn more about the ASA Midwest Truck Tour log on to http://www.asamidwesttrucks.com.

To learn more about the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association® Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association®, visit http://www.asaracing.com.

ASA®, ASA Racing®, and American Speed Association® are registered trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. ASA International, LLC or Racing Speed Associates, LLC are not related to or affiliated with the ASA Late Model Series.