Full Feature Results

CHAMPIONSHIP STILL ALIVE GOING INTO FINAL RACE OF THE SEASON

By Kari Shear-Carlson
September 5, 2010, The American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net had one of the most exciting races yet this season as the “Short-Track King,” Steve Carlson and seven-time Norway track champion, Jamie Iverson battled nose-to-tail and side-by-side lap after lap. Jamie Iverson came out on top making this his fourth consecutive ASAMT Labor Day victory.

Thirty-one ASAMT Super Late Model drivers made the trek to the 1/3 mile oval in Norway, MI for the “Labor Day 125.” Chris Weinkauf opened up the night qualifying in the top spot and earning the “ECHO Chain Saws and Oregon Chains Quick Cut Qualifer” award. The top eighteen qualifiers made it into the event on qualifying time. The 30-lap last chance race saw many ASAMT regulars fighting for the top five spots to race their way in.

Necedah, WI driver, Travis Sauter led the 13-car field to the green for the 30-lap race. Jeff Storm, Kris Kelly, ASAMT Swiss Colony Touring Star, Nick Panitzke and local driver, Mike Reichenberger started in the top five spots, hoping to hold on in order to earn a starting spot for the 125-lap feature.

Panitze was involved in an early lap altercation sending him to the rear of the field. Sauter, Storm, Kelly and locals, Scott Stanchina and Tom Gee, Jr. were able to hold on to the top five positions, each securing a starting spot in the 125-lap race. Eugene Gregorich, Jr., Mike Reichenberger and Nick Panitzke were the provisional starters for the night.

Official starter, Tom White dropped the green for the “Labor Day 125” as Steve Carlson and Terry Baldry led the 26-car field. Carlson took the early lead on lap one. One lap later, Jeff Storm spun in turn four, bringing out the first caution of the night. Seven-time track champion, Jamie Iverson started in the fifth spot and was trying to make his way to the front putting pressure on the inside of youngster, Nick Murgic.

Murgic was able to maintain his position as he powered around the 9K of Kraus and Iverson fell in line. Another young driver, The #4 of Thor Anderson was pressuring veteran Terry Baldry early in the running. However it was not long before Murgic got under Anderson and took over the third spot on lap 15.

On lap 17, the second caution of the night flew as Gary LaMonte and Jay Baumler made contact causing Baumler to spin with both being sent to the rear of the field. As the field went back to green, fast qualifier, Chris Weinkauf was on the move in the middle of the pack, diving under Rookie of the Year contender Ross Kenseth. On lap 21, Jamie Iverson got under Anderson for the fourth spot.

Meanwhile, Steve Carlson continued to lead as Murgic and Baldry continued to fight for the second spot. Just as Murgic was making his move on the outside of Baldry, another caution flew for a spin involving Eugene Gregorich, Jr., Tom Gee, Jr. and Brandon Hill. With 97 laps to go Murgic made the move to the outside of Baldry and three-time event winner Iverson followed suit.

As the field began to settle in, Carlson kept a healthy lead over Murgic, Iverson, Baldry, Anderson, and Mark Kraus. Ross Kenseth, Michael Bilderback, and Travis Sauter were setting up to battle for positions in the middle of the pack. The fourth caution of the night flew as the #76 of Baumler spun in turn two.

The field once again went to green with Carlson leading the way. Iverson was pacing himself behind the #12 of Murgic while Thor Anderson, Mark Kraus, Nathan Haseleu, and Andrew Morrissey were nose to tail. Murgic went to the outside of Carlson for the lead with 83 laps to go, but could not quite get the job done. Iverson was taking advantage of the battle sliding underneath Murgic. A sheet could have been thrown over all three of them and each was waiting for one to make a mistake. Jamie Iverson got under Murgic and set his sights on Carlson and his fourth consecutive ASAMT Labor Day victory.

The #87 of Nathan Haseleu got around Kraus for the sixth spot and started to reel in the top five. Point leader Chris Wimmer was in the eighth spot as the field once again started closing up. With 70 laps remaining, Iverson tried the outside of Carlson with no success. The battle up front continued as the top 11 were now all in the mix.

Michael Bilderback was able to break away from the back of the pack and begin to join the top 11. He was followed by Sauter. The fifth caution flew as Jeff Storm spun in turn three. Because there were five cautions prior to lap 100, the competition yellow would not be thrown. So it was a 65 lap all-out battle to the finish.

At the drop of the green, Carlson was able to get a good jump on Iverson, but could not keep him too far behind. Carlson continued to run the low groove, but would not give up as Iverson let him know he was there. Iverson continued to do all that he could, but with 50 laps remaining, he was still working Carlson over.

Chris Wimmer was still sitting in the eighth spot as the points battle continued to be on the line. Going into tonight’s event, only two points separated Chris Wimmer and Steve Carlson. Rookie of the year contender, Ross Kenseth was only 98 points out in third. With only one race left to go in the season, tonight was a critical points night for all of the top seven. Both Carlson and Kenseth won their heat races while Wimmer finished fifth, mixing up the top three even more.

However, the feature event was still the one they all wanted to win. As Jamie Iverson was able to close in on Carlson going through the turns, Carlson pulled him on the backstretch. With the fierce battle going on for the lead, the entire field was lined up nose to tail. A huge spin in turns three and involving Travis Sauter, Nick Panitzke, Eugene Gregorich, Jr., Jacob Goede, Mark Kraus, and Kris Kelly drew out another yellow flag.

The field once again went green with 43 laps to go. The question remained, would Carlson be able to maintain his lead and take the point lead over from Chris Wimmer? Race director, Josh Friedrichs gave the command to go green one more time. As they came out of turn four, Carlson tried to get a jump on Iverson. He was able to pull away a little bit, but Iverson was right there once again. Iverson dove to the inside of Carlson and took over the top spot with 40 laps to go. The two made contact, slipping Carlson up a bit and putting Murgic right on his tail.

Iverson stretched out his lead as the rest of the field fell in line. The caution flew yet again for another spin in turn three. Now the field was set for a 37 lap shootout. Chris Wimmer continued to sit in the eighth spot behind the #39 of Morrissey, Nathan Haseleu, Thor Anderson, and Terry Baldry in fourth. Iverson got a good start as the field went to green. Carlson was able to distance himself a little bit from Murgic, but Murgic was not giving up. The top three continued to set the pace pulling way from the remainder of the field.

Murgic ducked to the inside of Carlson on lap 100 and set his sights on Iverson, but Iverson had set a pace that was difficult to catch with 25 to go. With the field stretched out, mid-pack battles started to gain some interest. Fast qualifier, Chris Weinkauf led the pack from tenth on back as Tim Schendel tried to get around him for a top ten finish.

Rookie, Michael Bilderback had a good night finishing in eighth behind Wimmer, Morrissey, Haseleu, and Anderson. Baldry had some late-race issues dropping back from fourth to ninth with less than ten to go. As the checkered flag fell, the crowded grandstand was on their feet as Jamie Iverson continued to make history winning for the fourth time.

The points will be determined October 10th and 11th during the Championship Oktoberfest race weekend at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. As one of the biggest racing events of the year and a points battle as close as this, race fans will not want to miss it. So make your plans now, get your warm clothes out and bonfire wood ready, cause it is going to be a weekend you will not want to and never will forget.

To learn more about the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Residential Suites Hotels and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites, 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 and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites (www.grandstay.net).

To learn more about the Midwest Sportsman Tour log on to www.asamidwestsportsman.com.

To learn more about the ASA Midwest Truck Tour log on to www.asamidwesttrucks.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.

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.