Sixth in a series of 10

By: Kari Shear-Carlson, ASA Midwest Tour PR
(Monday, March 15, 2010) Jonathan Eilen, driver of the #77 Eilen and Sons Trucking and Landscape Supplies Monte Carlo, started racing in the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and Grandstay® Residential Suites Hotels series in 2007. He captured a victory in the series in both 2007 and 2008. While the Hampton, MN driver was winless in 2009 his performance was nothing short of impressive.

Rounding out the top five in the final series point standings, this was Eilen’s best series finish since he started racing with the ASAMT. Jonathan attended and started all 12 events capturing four top-five and five top-ten finishes. Three of his top-five finishes were podium finishes, the first of those coming at Iowa Speedway. Eilen was in a side-by-side battle with Tim Schendel for the lead in the Pride of Iowa 100. Before either of them knew it, ASA Midwest Kwik Trip Touring Star, Chris Wimmer passed both Eilen and Schendel for the win. Although Eilen knew he had a car to win, he was not disappointed in the Eilen and Sons Motorsports team’s third place finish.

His second top five came at Elko Speedway in one of the most exciting finishes of the season. Eilen was amongst an elite group of drivers all from Minnesota in a position to challenge 2009 series champion Steve Carlson for the win. Carlson held on for the win over the Minnesota challengers and Eilen rounded out the top five.

The driver of the RaceTeamGear.com, B & B Engines, Pathfinder Chassis had another impressive finish in the Elmer Musgrave Memorial at the Illiana Motor Speedway. This was Eilen’s first ever visit to the legendary track. While Jacob Goede and Mark Kraus battled for the top position, Eilen methodically drove his way to a third place finish capturing yet another podium finish.

The ASA Midwest Kwik Trip Touring Star’s success was just getting started. He captured his third and final podium finish in Norway, MI over the Labor Day Weekend. Trailing behind three-time consecutive Norway winner, Jamie Iverson, Eilen made a hard charge late in the race but settled for a solid second place podium finish.

After tragically losing his brother on November 23rd, 2008, Eilen appropriately raced in memory and in honor of his brother Jake. While the BT Design, Mulvihill Excavating sponsored #77 never made it to victory lane, one can be assured that Jake would be proud of his brother’s success in 2009.

Returning as an ASA Midwest Kwik Trip Touring Star in 2010, watch for the Graber Autobody, Rollin’ Transport Monte Carlo to be charging to the front and getting back into victory lane.

To learn more about the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and Grandstay® Residential Suites Hotels, 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.

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

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 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, LLC.