By: Kevin Ramsell
Daytona Beach, FL (Monday, February 18, 2008) – When you talk with Andy Monday, you can tell that he his riding a wave of momentum that he started at the end of 2007 racing season. He hopes to take this momentum into the 2008 ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment season.

“I have always looked up to this series, last year we really wanted to do it, but it was more of a money thing,” Monday recently stated. “But, we are building a new car so the budget may be tight, but with their base payout ($600 to start, $3000 to win at each 2008 event) it’s going to be affordable to run the series. It’s just a matter of finalizing the sponsorships for 2008 and see where we end up.”

The new car that Monday mentioned is a new Hamke Chassis through Steve Strasburg at Race Car Help in Janesville, WI. Not only will he be driving a new car, but has also partnered up with long-time racing fan, Dennis Chase of Appleton, WI, to create the Chase’n Monday Motorsports team.

With the new partnerships, Monday hopes to achieve a childhood dream, “We are really excited, had a great time when we ran the ASAMT event at Kaukauna last year,” Monday stated. “I hope we can do it all, it would be one of my dreams ever since I was little kid watching the ARTGO series and all of those guys. To be able to compete in this type of a series would be the ultimate thing.”

Monday realizes what the competition is like in the ASAMT, “If you want to be the best you have to beat the best and the only way to do it is race with them,” Monday explained. “There are a lot of guys who rather not go out and race against them and get beat, but that is the only way you get better. You have to push yourself, and keep pushing yourself by racing against the tough competition to actually get better.”

He also likes the direction that the ASAMT is going. “They definitely have their ducks in a row and everything going in the right direction,” Monday stated. “Always when something new comes in everybody is skeptical at first. How long is this going to last, is this all for real or just blowing smoke. They followed up with everything they say they are going to do and going into 2008, it’s going to look even better. Just can’t say enough for what they have done for the series and I hope it continues to grow. With the way they promote drivers and teams, that is what we need up here in the Midwest.”

“Andy is a great marketable driver that could really excel by competing in the ASAMT,” Steve Einhaus, ASAMT VP stated. “Our goal is and always will be to show the rest of the United States the talent we have in the Midwest. Andy has the talent and we think he will make a great impression in the ASAMT. He has a great looking car and his personality that will fit right in with the rest of the ASAMT talents.”

Monday had a great 2007 season as his team set six fast times at three different tracks. He won his very first Super Late Model feature at Norway Speedway, a Thursday Night Feature win at Wisconsin International Raceway and capped off the season by winning the Wisconsin Challenge Series feature at Madison International Speedway in September. He finished third in 2007 season points at WIR. He came up eight points short to winning the 2007 Red, White, and Blue Championships and was fourth in WCS standings.

In his nine year racing career, in which he has driven Wisconsin Sport Trucks, Limited Late Models and Super Late Models, he has recorded 28 fast times, nine feature wins, and won two championships (2003 Limited Late Model at WIR and Red, White, and Blue). One of those fast times came in 2006 when he set a new track record at WIR with a lap time of 19.228 seconds. That same year, he became the first driver under the age of 25 to finish in the top-five in WIR points since Matt Kenseth did in 1994.

Monday still has some sponsorship opportunities available for 2008. For more information, please visit his website at www.andymonday.com.

The first ASAMT event of the 2008 season will take place on Saturday, April 19th at Elko Speedway in Elko, MN.

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 to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asaracing.com.

Andy Monday History…
Monday started racing in the Wisconsin Sport Trucks at WIR in 1999.  He set a new track record in 2001 for the truck class and moved into the Limited Late Model division in 2002.  Monday finished 5th in points and took Rookie of the year honors and followed that up in 2003 with 2 Championships, both the Thursday Night title at WIR and the Limited Late Model Red, White & Blue Title.  He also broke the track record for the division the same season.  Monday moved to the Super Late Model ranks in 2004, driving for Mike Butz Racing who once owned cars raced by NASCAR Champion Matt Kenseth.  Monday took Rookie of the year honors in 2004, but then parted with Butz to start his own team in 2005.  Monday moved from 12th in points to 8th in 2005 and won the division’s most improved driver award.  2006 would prove to be even better as Monday broke the Super Late Model track record at WIR with a blistering lap of 19.228 seconds and rounded out the season 4th in the standings, becoming the first driver under the age of 25 to finish in the top 5 in points at WIR since Kenseth.  Monday would also finish 3rd in the Red, White & Blue Standings.  Monday finished the 2007 campaign 3rd in weekly points at WIR, 2nd in Red, White & Blues just 8 points shy of the title, and 4th in WCS competition. (Courtesy Chase’n Monday Motorsports)

2008 Sponsors: B&B Racing Engines, Appleton, WI; Race Car Help, Janesville, WI; Monday and Associates Insurance, Appleton, WI; Signs Now, Appleton, WI; The 10th Frame Bowling & Spirits, Appleton, WI; Fox River Equipment Depot, Appleton, WI; Al Huss Auto, Kaukauna, WI; Jeff’s Northshore Auto, Menasha, WI; Automotive Supply Company, Appleton, WI; Rick Bahr AMSOIL, Appleton, WI; AM 1570 “The Score”, Appleton, WI; Chalmers Jewelers, Middleton, WI; Kolosso Toyota-Scion, Appleton, WI; Cooney’s Sportswear & Embroidery, Appleton, WI; Kidzland Child Care Center, Appleton, WI.