By Dean Reller
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (August 11, 2007) - Jonathan Eilen of Hampton, MN made himself the answer to a trivia question by becoming the first-ever winner of a American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour Presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment race back in April. On Sunday August 12th, the ASA Midwest Tour travels to Raceway Park in Shakopee, MN for the Shakopee 100 Presented by Prairie Lawn and Garden which is just miles from where Eilen captured the historic first win to kick off the ASA Midwest Tour’s inaugural season.

Eilen hasn’t made it back to Victory Lane since, but has been a consistent top five finisher in the other events and that has elevated him to fourth in the ASA Midwest Tour point standings with just two races remaining. "Winning that first race was awesome, I don’t think that I ever had such a big fan base at my home track," said Eilen. "Not only to win one of these races, but to win one of the biggest races ever at Elko Speedway was great."

In order to repeat the feat, Eilen needs to have a good outing at the tight confines of Raceway Park. "I think we are going to have a really good car at Raceway Park," said Eilen. "We’ve ran there a couple of times and found that if you can start up near the front, you’ll be pretty good. It’s not a very big track, so you hope for the best and get your car to work good on the bottom and hold your own. There is an outside groove there, but very few people can get their cars to work out there."

Eilen enjoys the competition that the ASA Midwest Tour has to offer as it travels to different tracks throughout the area. "It’s definitely very tough because one guy might not be the greatest at one track, but the next track he’s raced there and cut his teeth," said Eilen. "You get a variety of different drivers and tracks, but just to make the show is a huge accomplishment at each race." The learning curve may be tight, but drivers such as Eilen have been gaining experience at the new tracks and then taking that knowledge back home. "We won our last race at home, but we’ve found some stuff on the road that’s worked out even at our home track. It’s definitely an huge advantage racing your home track and picking up some stuff on the road helps you get even better." That's something that Eilen hopes will bring him success in the Shakopee 100 Presented by Prairie Lawn and Garden.

In addition to the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour Presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment race, the Raceway Park Hobby Stocks and Figure 8’s will be participating in the program as well. Spectator gates open at 3 PM, with ASA Midwest Tour Qualifying set to begin at 4 PM. A driver autograph session is set for 5 PM, with the first race of the night taking the green flag at 6 PM.

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 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.