By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Tuesday, October 13, 2009) – The 2009 American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment season ended this past Sunday with a first time winner going to victory lane. Travis Sauter not only claimed his first ASAMT victory but was also the first member of the famous Sauter family to win one of the Midwest’s premiere racing events, the 40th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend.

SAUTER HISTORY AT FEST

Travis is a member of the third generation of drivers from the Sauter family to race at Oktoberfest and is the one to put their name in the record books. His grandfather Jim, father Tim, and uncles Jay and Johnny also have competed at previous Oktoberfest events.

Jim’s best finish came in 1982 when he finished third behind winner Jim Back and Tom Reffner. Tim’s finished sixth twice (1998, 1999). He was having a top-five run this past Sunday until he ran out of gas near the end of the race and ended up finishing tenth. Jay’s best finish was 9th in 1980 and Johnny’s best finish was 10th in 2002.

This was Travis’s third time competing in the feature event. His previous finishes were a fifth in 2007 and a third in 2008.

The Oktoberfest website has complete finishes of all 40 Oktoberfest Race Weekend Championships features and Dick Trickle “99” at www.oktoberfestraceweekend.com.

Travis and Tim are also featured on the latest Motorsports Minute broadcast. You can listen at: http://www.racingonline.com/podcast/131009/motorsports-minute-dennis-kra....

HOW CARLSON WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS PAST WEEKEND

Steve Carlson entered Oktoberfest only ten points behind Nathan Haseleu in the ASAMT Championship standings. But at the end of Saturday’s qualifying and preliminary race, he was four points ahead. After Sunday’s second place and with Haseleu’s fifth place run, Carlson won the championship by 19 points.

Both drivers started the weekend by each receiving 20 points for participating in the event. Carlson received 20 points for being the fast qualifier while Haseleu received two points after qualifying 17th. At the end of qualifying, Carlson was eight points ahead.

Both Haseleu and Carlson competed in the same fast dash where Haseleu finished second and received 18 points and Carlson was fourth and received 14 points, Carlson’s lead was down to four points heading into the main event.

Carlson received 93 points for his second place finish while Haseleu earned 78 points, giving the final margin for the championship, 19 points.

Carlson’s margin is the closest in the three years of the ASAMT. In 2008, Dan Fredrickson won the championship over Donny Reuvers by 102 points and Haseleu’s margin over Reuvers in 2007 was 40 points.

With winning the Championship, Carlson was personally extended an invitation by Dennis Huth, American Speed Association President, to compete in the “Championship Between the Continents – South Africa versus USA Motorsports” on January 31, 2010 at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, South Africa.

ASAMT DRIVERS COMPETE IN THE DICK TRICKLE “99” AND OTHER EVENTS AT FEST

Several ASAMT drivers competed in the Dick Trickle “99” on Friday night at Oktoberfest. The 99-lap feature event has a unique format that was borrowed from the famous Milk Bowl event that is held each fall at Thunder Road Speedway in Barre, VT. The event is broken down into three 33-lap segments where drivers earn points. The driver with the lowest amount of points after the three segments is the overall winner.

Chris Weinkauf won this year’s event over Eddie Hoffman and Boris Jurkovic.

Several ASAMT Touring Stars and competitors also competed. Tim Schendel was sixth while Steve Carlson was ninth. Dan Fredrickson was tenth and Jacob Goede was eleventh. Race for the Gold Champion Steve Holzhausen was 14th and Jamie Iverson was 18th. Jeff Storm was 24th.

Nick Murgic won the 30-lap “Stubby” feature with Andrew Morrissey in seventh.

ASAMT Rookie Nick Panitzke finished second to Dennis Prunty in Thursday’s “Futures” race. Carlson also won a 100-lap late model feature on Saturday night with Goede in second.

UP NEXT…

The ASAMT officials have announced that the 2009 ASAMT Championship Banquet will take place on Saturday, January 23rd at a location to be announced at a later date.

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 toinfo@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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