14th in a series of 14 announcing the 2009 ASAMT Touring Stars

By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Friday, March 13, 2009) – It is well documented that Dan Fredrickson had a goal at the start of the 2008 American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment season, a championship. The consistency in the ASAMT makes him one of the top drivers to beat each and every week.

That consistency can easily be seen in his stats from last season. In 14 events, he had two ECHO fast time awards, three wins, nine top-five and 11 top-ten finishes.

The three wins he captured in 2008 each have their own story. The first one came at Madison International Speedway where he held off Steve Carlson for the win. Fredrickson came to MIS hoping to shake a monkey off his back and he did it in front of a huge crowd and beating the best super late model competitors including Kyle Busch, who finished third.

His second win could almost be a mirror image of how he dominated the point standings. At I-94 Raceway, he literally ran away from the rest of the field in the 100-lap event that only saw one caution flag. Fredrickson started tenth in that event and had the lead by lap 12. He would go on to lap just about the entire field except second place finisher Nate Haseleu.

The third win wrapped the championship as he again won in dominating fashion at the Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. It was Fredrickson’s second straight win at the historic event. The first driver to do that since Eddie Hoffman completed it in 1999. In 2009, he will be looking for his third straight win and would join the late Joe Shear as a three-time consecutive winner. Shear accomplished this in 1994, 95, 96.

The championship run did get a little tense near the end of the season as Fredrickson had two bad finishes at Shakopee and at The Milwaukee Mile. This allowed Donny Reuvers to get within five points, but Fredrickson took advantage of Reuvers bad luck at Norway by coming home second to open up his points lead. His dominating run at Oktoberfest sealed the deal.

Along with his championship, Fredrickson will also be one of the Touring Stars to watch this season. It will not be a surprise if he is the one that everyone will be chasing this year.

The ASAMT Touring Star program was developed to help the series promote each special event prior to, during, and after each event. Each year a group of Touring Stars will be selected to the travel bonus program.

In 2009, the top-14 from the 2008 points standing will be eligible for the Touring Star program. Those drivers who are eligible will be required to sign an agreement with a promise to attend all ASAMT events and to participate in all promotional programs or opportunities. Failure to do so will result in removal from the bonus program. Touring Stars will be allowed one (1) excused absence due to unforeseen reasons that is approved by the ASAMT office.

Those eligible drivers must have their agreement signed by February 28, 2009 to be in the program. If an eligible driver declines, then the Touring Star offer will go to the next eligible driver in the 2008 points standing prior to the start of the 2009 season. If a star drops out during the season, it will go to the next eligible driver in the current 2009 points standing.

The 15th spot in the ASAMT Touring Star program is reserved for the highest finishing rookie at an ASAMT event. If they are the highest finishing eligible rookie at any 2009 ASAMT events, they will receive a Touring Star bonus at the next event.

“The Touring Star program accomplishes a major goal that Tim (Olson, ASAMT President) and I set when we started this series. That is we want to have our fans local heroes to compete against the best Midwest drivers,” Steve Einhaus, ASAMT Vice-President stated. “When we come to compete at a track with our Touring Stars, we encourage the local competitors to race with us. This is a win-win for everyone. The fans get to see some great racing and the local heroes get to show their talent against some of the toughest competition in the United States.”

The season opening event will take place on Saturday, April 25 at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells, WI with the Race for the Gold – Bronze Race.

To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment log on to 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.

To learn more of 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 www.asaracing.com.

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