Ross Kenseth being talked about at Gibbs racing

The future of 19 yr old racer Ross Kenseth was talked about this week during the announcement of his father Matt moving over to race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series with Joe Gibbs racing in 2013.

Snowball Derby 2012

The biggest Super Late Model race in the nation takes place in Pensacola Florida.  The 44th Snowball Derby saw Bubba Pollard take the fast time in qualifying with a 16.290, breaking a 31 year old track record at 5 flags Speedway.

Starting Lineup Noteables:

6th-Jeff Choquette- ASA Midwest tour winner at Iowa Speedway 2011
7th-Landon Cassill-NASCAR driver from Iowa
8th-Augie Grill current "snowflake" winner, 2 time Derby winner
9th-Chase Elliott- Son of Bill Elliott, 2010 Snowball derby winner
11th- Kennis Prunty (best looking car winner) from Knowles Wisconsin
13th-Johanna Long- defending snowball winner
17th-David Ragan NASCAR winner at Daytona
20th-Erik Darnell former NASCAR Truck series ROY from Wisconsin
22nd-Mike Garvey from Michigan, many time ASA winner
33rd-Ross Kenseth ASA Midwest tour ROY from Wisconsin
37th-Steve Wallace, son of Rusty Wallace, NASCAR Nationwide series driver

*RACE DAY UPDATES:
Jeff Choquette has lead most of the race, Johanna Long crashes and hits wall to bring out a caution at lap 100 of 300.  Erik Darnell is out with a bad tranny, David Ragan also in the pits with mechanical problems.  Bubba Pollard and Chase Elliott fighting for the lead at lap 123 as Dennis Prunty brings out the caution.  Steve Wallace is out of the race at lap 130. 

The leaders Pollard, Choquette, Grill & Elliott all have contact in turn 4 as they were going for the lead on lap 145.

Lap 200 Casey Smith is the leader, Ross Kenseth is in 13th place.  With 50 laps to go, Chase Elliott is the leader followed by Van Dorn, Smith, Hamner and Cassill.

Red Flag with 5 laps to go, Derrick Thorn rolled and Josh Hamner crashed.  Ross Kenseth fought his way up to 3rd place just behind DJ Vanderley and leader Chase Elliott.

Bill Elliott's son Chase Elliott wins, just edging DJ Vanderley.  Matt Kenseth's son Ross Kenseth (photo below) finishes third after fighting back from a lap down, Landon Cassill fourth and Heath Heinman round out the top 5.

New Stars Emerge In ASA Midwest Tour's first half

Dean & Jason Talkin Racin
http://www.theracingconnection.com/



By Dean Reller

Unlike other touring series, where the circuit comes to town and local race fans watch many unfamiliar names stage a race on the track they are familiar with, but the drivers aren’t so familiar was the norm, until along came the ASA Midwest Tour. Tim Olson and Steve Einhaus revived the idea of bringing a field of Touring Stars to a local race track to compete against the local stars that race fans are used to seeing running at the front every week. This concept was highly successful in the former ARTGO series, but got lost along the way as NASCAR took over the series and made several changes, which resulted in a touring series that visited local tracks with little chance to see local drivers compete in front of their hometown fans.


In the first few years of the ASA Midwest Tour, the local drivers gave a good effort, but frequently lost the race to the touring drivers. This year has definitely not fit into that mold. In the first seven races, there have been five different drivers taking the checkered flag. Ross Kenseth, after a strong season last year, leads in the win column with three victories. Touring Star Tim Schendel has one win and Rookie Sklyer Holzhausen (photo below) has one win.

However, the real eye openers have been Jason Weinkauf and Mark Mackesy. They do not compete against many of these drivers on a regular basis, but they had the advantage over the touring series drivers as they used their expertise on their own turf and showed that the local driver can win against the visitors. I may add that these visitors include many track championships and touring series championships throughout the Midwest making them very strong competition and virtually all of them have a chance to win at every race. This fact is backed up by a very unique, but overlooked statistic that at most races the entire field qualifies within .5 seconds from top to bottom. Yes, that’s one-half of a second from the fastest to the slowest. This goes to show that the local drivers experience on the familiar track allows them to mix it up with the touring drivers who have to quickly adapt to a new track.

Ross Kenseth (photo above) has the obvious blood lines of a racer, being the son of NASCAR star Matt Kenseth, but the young driver has been proving that he’s the real deal as his three wins having him leading in the win column, but not in the point standings as Andrew Morrissey, another of the young guns of the ASA Midwest Tour, leads in the points with several runner-up finishes and is set to win in any of the final few races of the year. Jacob Goede has recorded a couple of ASA Midwest Tour wins in the last few years, but he too has been snake bit in the hunt to the checkered flag, but sits inside the top five in the standings. Veteran driver Tim Schendel has one win and tons of experience, but sits fourth in points and needs to click off a couple a wins to give him a chance at the Championship. Young gun Nick Murgic rounds out the top five in points and would not surprise anyone if he won at least one of the remaining races. Former Champions Nathan Haseleu and Steve Carlson along with frontrunners Chris Wimmer and Jonathan Eilen are also surprisingly lacking Victory Lane appearances this year and sit surprising lower than expected in the point standings.


Jason Weinkauf and Mark Mackesy may have surprised the Touring drivers, but the chance for the local driver to win over the wealth of talent and experience has made something that race fans can get behind. Prior to the start of the season, officials from the ASA Midwest Tour billed 2011 as “The Best Season Yet”. At first I chalked that up to promotional hype, but the stark reality is that so far the 2011 season is living up to its billing and with a handful of key races remaining, the race to the Championship should be just as exciting.

The ASA Midwest tour travels to Iowa Speedway in Newton IA on Friday Aug 5th racing on the same weekend as the NASCAR Nationwide series.  Jason and Dean will have full coverage LIVE from Iowa Speedway with interviews of the top finishers of the ASA Midwest tour race on "Speedtalk on 1360," Saturday morning 10-11am on http://www.krwc1360.com/


Dean Reller and Jason Searcy have over 40 years combined experienced in motorsports. They host the weekly program Speed Talk on 1360 every Saturday morning from 10-11 AM on KRWC AM 1360. The program covers NASCAR and devotes a good portion to local and regional racing as well.

ASA Midwest tour at Elko

ASA Midwest tour day one results from Elko Speedway (MN).

#75 Chris Weinkauf was the fast qualifyer 13.745 followed by five MN drivers
#36 Dan Fredrickson 13.788
#72 Jacob Goede 13.808
#77 Jonathan Eilen 13.834
#41 Donny Reuvers 13.852
#12 Nick Murgic 13.856
Carlson, Schendel, Morrissey,S Holtshausen, Jorgenson, C Wimmer, R Kenseth, Panitzke,T Sauter, Haseleu.

$1000 "Dash for Cash" results:
#21 Tim Schendel, #77 Jonathan Eilen, #41 Donny Reuvers, #87 Nathan Haseleu, #36 Danny Fredrickson.

Qualifying race results;  #97 Steve Holtshausen, #64 Griffin McGrath, #2 Michael Bilderback, #17 Josh Vadnais.

Last Chance race will be held on Saturday.  27 cars are entered, so I believe everyone will make the show on Saturday night.  250 laps with a break at 125 to change tires.  Racing begins at 6pm.  ASA Midwest Sportsman & ASA Midwest trucks will be racing as well.

Jason and Dean from "Speedtalk on 1360" will broadcast interviews with numerous drivers during the radio show 10-11am Saturday July 9th on http://www.krwc1360.com/ and KRWC 1360am radio.

ASA Midwest tour president Tim Olson will be on the show along with drivers: Nick Panitzke, Tim Schendel, Andrew Morrissey, Chris Wimmer, Jonathan Eilen, Donny Reuvers and Erik Darnell.

Here is the podcast to those interviews https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/midwest-tour-elko-2011

Also Great North Legends winner Tim Brockhouse will be on the show, his car burst into flames during his post race burnout and his car was towed to victory lane!

ASA Midwest tour at Elko Speedway

By     Jason D Searcy     7-5-11       www.speedtalkon1360.com
 
Minnesota race fans are excited, the ASA Midwest tour is finally back in our home state on Friday and Saturday July 8th & 9th in Elko (MN).

In the past few years, Elko Speedway has hosted an ASA Midwest tour event in April or May.  Now this year its the 7th race of the 2011 13 race schedule.  Racing begins at 7pm on Friday and at 6pm on Saturday night.

 Matt Kenseth's 18yr old son Ross (photo above) has had a great season thus far, he has 3 wins (Illiana, Grundy & Madison) but finished a season low 14th in last weekends race in Marshfield (WI).  Ross is the "Real Deal," sure he has top-notch equipment, but he is patient and smart behind the wheel, he drives like a veteran at the age of 18.  He also won the Elko race in 2010, battling with Chris Wimmer most of the race.  Ross is currently second in points, 18 behind Andrew Morrissey who is winless but is ultra consistent this year.

Minnesota driver Jacob Goede (photo above) is 4th in points thus far.  Goede ran up through the field at Illiana passing cars left and right and finishing third.  He has been in the "top 5" three times this year.  Jacob finished third in this race in 2010.  He won an ASA Midwest tour race at I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre (MN) back in 2007.  Matt Goede just won his first Super Late Model feature two weeks ago at Elko Speedway with Jacob turning wrenches for his brother in the pits.  

Danny Fredrickson (photo above) has won as many Super Late Model races at Elko Speedway as anyone, he win this event in 2009 and took home a bar of gold.  2008 tour champion Fredrickson is not running the full ASA Midwest tour schedule this year giving him even more track time at Elko Speedway adding motivation to this intense competitor.

Six time Elko Champion Donny Reuvers (photo above) is also in the field, he is not racing the full ASA Midwest tour schedule this year, he is racing Elko full-time, he is the current point leader at Elko Speedway in 2011.

Tim Schendel is quietly having a great season, he is currently 3rd in points and won a race at Kaukauna earlier this year.  Schendel is also racing part-time in the NASCAR Nationwide series and is the class favorite when the ASA Midwest tour travels to Iowa Speedway on Friday August 5th.  MN driver Jonathan Eilen won this race in 2007, you can't count him out at Elko Speedway.  Former NASCAR Truck series star Erik Darnell will also be in the hunt for a win at Elko.

For Minnesota fans, this is your opportunity to see Ross Kenseth one of the few true rising stars before he makes his move to the NASCAR schedule. In the last dozen years or so I've seen ASA races in Minnesota with: Kyle Busch, Reed Sorenson, David Stremme and Joey Logano.  This guy might be just as good as any of those drivers, but he will have to prove it at Elko Speedway this weekend.

This is an endurance 8 tire, 250 lap event for the Super Late Models sponsored by Grandstay, they will have an intermission at half-way and change tires.  The ASA Midwest Trucks and Sportsmen will also be racing feature events on Saturday night.

Dean Reller and I will be interviewing as many ASA Midwest tour drivers as possible and will broadcast those interviews Saturday morning from 10-11am on KRWC radio, "Speedtalk on 1360."  You can listen on-line at www.krwc1360.com

We also will be doing some youtube video's with race hi-lights and interviews with the winners.  Stay tuned to www.speedtalkon1360.com for more details.

Snowball Derby Update

Two of our local Super Late Model drivers from the Midwest are racing at the "Snowball derby" down at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola FL.

Former ASA Midwest tour champion Dan Fredrickson (top photo) and 2010 ASA Midwest tour "Rookie of the Year" Ross Kenseth (bottom photo).

Here are the Friday Qualifying results:

1 Cale Gale 16.335

2 Ryan Lawler 16.403
3 John Bolen 16.417
4 Johanna Long 16.42
5 Grant Enfinger 16.442
6 Jimmy Garmon 16.483
7 Donnie Wilson 16.484
8 Dan Fredrickson 16.495   (MN)
9 Landon Cassill 16.516  (IA)
10 Chase Elliott 16.525
11 Casey Roderick 16.533
12 TJ Reaid 16.562
13 Derrick Griffin 16.565
14 Dennis Prunty 16.579
15 Josh Hamner 16.586
16 Ross Kenseth 16.59  (WI)

We will update information as the weekend progresses.


For updates you can also check http://www.speed51.com/ and http://www.asamidwesttour.com/

ASA Midwest tour from Shakopee (MN)

Photo's: Dean with Nathan Haseleu, Ross Kenseth, Ryan Johnson (car)

The ASA Midwest tour made their annual stop at Raceway Park in Shakopee (MN) on Sunday (July 18th) for the Kwik Trip stores 125. It turned out to be a great race in front of a very good sized crowd.

Tour point leader Steve Carlson took the lead on the first lap and held the top spot until lap 118 when Nathan Haseleu passed him on the high side as the crowd erupted in response.

Young Iowa star Thor Anderson took home third and Ross Kenseth worked his way up from the rear of the field to finish fourth. Kenseth tangled with fast-timer Michael Bilderback on lap 70 to bring out a caution that sent both of them to the back of the pack.

Ryan Johnson had the "Speedtalk Karma" and was the top Minnesota finisher in fifth, followed by Jacob Goede.

Danny Fredrickson, Griffin McGrath and Chris Wimmer all had good races going, but dropped out because of brake problems.

Listen for interviews with Nathan Haseleu, Thor Anderson, Ross Kenseth and Ryan Johnson on "Speedtalk on 1360" with Jason and Dean this Saturday (July 14th) from 10-11am on KRWC radio and http://www.krwc1360.com/

For official results go to http://www.asamidwesttour.com/

Ross Kenseth wins "Elko 100"

It was a great ASA Midwest tour race at Elko Speedway on Sunday (June 6th) after getting rained out the previous night.

17 yr old star Ross Kenseth (#25) drove a masterfull race leading about 90 laps of the 100 lap event at Elko. He started 4th and passed Tim Shendel to take the lead early in the race.

He then held off Jonathan Eilen (who later dropped out with electrical problems) and then Chris Wimmer (who started 9th) for about 30 laps side-by-side at the end of the race, Jacob Goede finished a close third after starting 14th. Donny Reuvers got 4th after starting 12th and Nathan Haseleu finished 5th after starting way back in 21st. Very clean racing, lots of passing and fun for the fans who showed up on the "rain date."

Dean and I had the opportunity to be the Public Address announcers at Elko for the day and called all the races. It was a blast for us, we also announced the inagural ASA Midwest tour race at Elko back in 2007.

We will have an interview with runner-up Chris Wimmer (in the picture with Jason) and will have much to say about this great event on "Speedtalk on 1360" this Saturday from 10-11am on KRWC radio and http://www.krwc1360.com/

Adam Royle won his 5th straight SLM feature at Raceway Park and Tim Brockhouse won the "Click Club Challenge" Great North Legends race.

Denny Hamlin won the Pocono race so, both Jason and Jordan picked that one right on the http://www.speedworksdiecast.com/ contest. Jordan leads with 20pts, Jason 15 and Dean only 5pts.

ASA Mw tour ELKO 100 to race on Sunday (June 6th)

Due to the rain all day on Saturday, the ASA Midwest tour will race the "Elko 100" on Sunday (June 6th).

Pit gates will open at 9:30am, with practice at 11am, qualifying at 12:30pm and racing beginning at 1pm.

Classes competing will include: ASA Midwest tour Super Late Models, ASA Midwest trucks and Elko Thundercars. The Powerstocks and Super Hornets will not be racing on Sunday.

Jason and Dean will still web-cast the race beginning with qualifying at 12:30pm on Sunday (June 6th) on http://www.krwc1360.com/

Weekend Wrap (May 22nd)

Ross Kenseth wins at Elko on Saturday night, he will be back on June 5th for the ASA Midwest tour race. We will broadcast that race on http://www.krwc1360.com/ if you cant attend.

Adam Royle won at Raceway Park on Sunday.


Great interview with Gary Curtis from BIR Performance Driving school.

He is offering a special for any "Speedtalk" fans, just mention you heard him on Speedtalk radio and he will give you 15% off any driving school THIS MONDAY (May 24th). They have many different packages for the novice or advanced drivers.

Check out their web-site http://www.birperformance.com/

or Call (866) 511-7606 ... Tell them you heard about it on "Speedtalk radio" and get the discount!



Jordan was right again! Kurt Busch wins the NASCAR All-Star race.


Just got the word that the "Hideaway Speedway" in Isanti season will begin June 12th. Call Darin Nelson (763) 267-9161 for more information.

Ross Kenseth racing in MN

Ross Kenseth just confirmed that he will be racing at Elko Speedway (MN) this Saturday night (May 22nd) in the Super Late Model divison.

Ross Kenseth is the son of NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth. He won a ton of BIG 8 series races last year and really turned some heads. This year he is racing full-time in the ASA Midwest tour series in 2010, he finished second place in the season opening event at Madison WI a few weeks ago.

We interviewed Ross last fall, he was soft spoken, just like his dad. He explained why he is number 25 (adding his dad's to race car numbers 17 + 8 = 25).

He no doubt is gathering information for the big ASA Midwest tour race at Elko coming up on Saturday June 5th. If you are unable to attend, Dean and I will broadcast that race on http://www.krwc1360.com/ from 7-10pm.

http://www.elkospeedway.com/ Racing begins Saturday night at 7pm

*Above picture is Ross Kenseth in victory lane at Rockford Speedway.