By: Kevin Ramsell
ELKO, MN (Saturday, April 19, 2008) – A great crowd was on hand to witness Jake Ryan lead a trio of hometown drivers to capture the Kwik Trip 125 at Elko Speedway in Elko, MN. It was Ryan’s first win in the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment.

“We were chasing the car all day, and I thought we were just going to be a second place car, but we kept chasing the set up and made some big changes at the break and that got us to the win,” an exhausted Ryan stated in victory lane.

RESULTS • LAST CHANCE • QUALIFYING/HEAT RESULTS • PHOTOS

Ryan and Dan Fredrickson appeared to be repeating the great battle they both displayed at Elko two weeks ago where Fredrickson came home with the win. “We had a good run, we worked all day on making the car better,” Fredrickson stated. “Jake just got out ahead of me and ran away, still had a good time.”

Jacob Goede made it a Minnesota sweep as he came home with a third place finish, “This is a great way to finish with a brand new Lefthander Chassis,” Goede said. “I was real pleased with how the car worked, but I had nothing for Ryan or Fredrickson at the end.”

The fans saw a great first 75 laps as Goede and Tim Schendel put on a great battle while Reuvers watched from the third position and was hoping to join them.

Fredrickson and Ryan battled back and forth for position while working their way to the front.

Only two caution flags flew throughout the entire event. The first came on lap 24 as Adam Royle, Jason Schneider and Billy Mohn were involved in a crash on the front stretch. Royle and Mohn would retire from the event while Schneider was able to continue.

The second came on lap 45 as Matt Koucourek would spin in turns one and two.

At the halfway mark, 23 of the 26 were still running with 20 on the lead lap. At the finish, 13 cars were still on the lead lap with 22 cars running.

Schendel would hold on to fourth while Donny Reuvers would come home fifth.

Andrew Morrissey had another strong run in an ASAMT event with a sixth place finish. Travis Sauter came home seventh with early leader, Nick Murgic finishing eighth. Steve Anderson and Josh Vadnais rounded out the top ten.

In other Elko Speedway action, it was Jason Schmitt of Shakopee, MN winning the Power Stock feature with Jeremy Rypkema, Lonsdale, MN in second with Jay Seiler, Rosemount, MN in third.

Ryan Johnson of Egan, MN won the Legends feature with Mike Tuma, Elko, MN in second with Dirk Henry of Sauk Centre, MN in third.

Mark Berg of Northfield, MN led every lap en route to the Super Hornet feature win, holding off Eric Fick, Hastings, MN and Jeremy Brainerd, Lonsdale, MN, who finished second and third.

The ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment returns to action on Sunday, May 4th at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, WI for the ECHO Chainsaw 100. Along with the best Midwest drivers competing that day, the Big 8 Series will also be in action as part of the Speedway’s 2008 season opener.

To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment and the engine giveaway program, please contact the ASA Midwest Tour office by calling (262) 514-3880 or by e-mailing 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 all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asa-racing.com.