By Matt Panure
Friday August 10, 2007, (Daytona Beach, FL) -- Parity has been abundant in the inaugural season of the Kwik Trip ASA Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment. Through ten events (nine of which were points events) the tour has seen nine different winners. That list includes drivers defending their territory like Jamie Iverson of Escanaba, MI with his win at Norway, MI, a first time winner in Brandon Hill who won at Madison and even a win by NASCAR Nextel Cup Star Kyle Busch at Wisconsin International Raceway.
Such an even playing field has led to an incredible chase atop the tour’s point standings. Marshall WI’s Nathan Haseleu currently leads Dundas MN’s Donny Reuvers by only fourteen tallies. Lurking back in third is Dave Feiler of Sun Prarie, WI only 35 points behind Haseleu.

The trip to Raceway Park will reverse roles for the three ASA Midwest Touring Stars who are slugging it out for the first ASA Midwest championship. For most of the season it has been Reuvers who was heading into unfamiliar territory and playing catch up to Haseleu and Feiler. The story changes at Shakopee where Reuvers has seven feature wins in 2007. Haseleu and Feiler will be making their first ever trip to the tight quarter mile oval.

Reuvers, who is the current point leader at Raceway Park, has seven feature wins in thirteen events and has only finished out of the top five once. That dominance may change when the drivers of the ASA Midwest Tour head to Shakopee. “It will be interesting to get 26 cars out there all at once. Any of these guys that are in the top fifteen are really good and will adapt just fine,� Reuvers stated.

However, Haseleu and Feiler may not be at a complete disadvantage as the two have many laps at the Columbus 151 Speedway in Columbus, WI, a track very similar to Raceway Park. “That’s where I grew up, on the quarter mile tracks. I feel that I can be a contender at them,� said Feiler. “If it’s anything like Columbus or Norway it will fit our cars as far as what we’ve got (prepared) when we get to the track,� he added. “We’ll do the same things that we’ve doing in the past and do our homework before we go,� Feiler said of his team’s strategy for Raceway Park.

Haseleu also used his experience at Columbus as a confidence booster. “A couple of former (NASCAR) Re/Max touring drivers ran there and compared it Columbus. I’m looking forward to going there,� he said. Haseleu’s strategy is a bit different than Feiler’s. “We’ll try to get the car the best we can on older tires and then try to make it last for the end of the race,� said Haseleu.

Haseleu and Feiler have both enjoyed very successful campaigns on the ASA Midwest Tour. If not for some back luck at the Dells Raceway Park and Elko, Haseleu may have an even bigger point lead. Haseleu won the Jefferson 100 presented by Lancaster Toyota and has added five top fives and six top tens. Feiler is winless but has matched Haseleu’s five top fives and leads all ASA Midwest drivers with eight top tens. In fact Feiler has been so consistent that his worst finish is a 13th place effort at the Hawkeye Downs Raceway in Cedar Rapids Iowa in the Keith Fleck/Miller 100.

With only two races remaining for the ASA Midwest Tour, the points battle is a virtual free-for-all. “Anything can happen. A little luck is going to play into it, that’s for sure,� said Haseleu.

“Obviously that’s our goal (to win the championship) and if we get the opportunity we’ll take advantage of it,� said Feiler. “Both Donny and Nathan are great drivers. Any one of us would be a great champion for the series.�

In addition to the ASA Midwest Tour events, Raceway Park Hobby Stocks and Figure 8’s will joining the racing card for the night. Spectator gates open at 3 PM, with ASA Midwest Tour Qualifying set to begin at 4 PM. A driver autograph session is slated for 5 PM, with the first green flag of the night set to fly at 6 PM.

After the trip to Raceway park, the ASA Midwest Tour will take a nearly two month break until the season concluding event at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, WI as part of the Oktoberfest Race Weekend on Saturday October 6th and Sunday October 7th. For more information about the Kwik Trip ASA Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment including results, standings, driver information and much more visit www.asamidwesttour.com.