By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Thursday, May 15, 2008) – The spirit of competition that is shown at every ASAMT event, is nothing close when comparing the competition shown by the athletes competing in Special Olympic events. The ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment along with its title sponsor, Kwik Trip Stores, continues to show their support with this great organization in 2008.

Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is a statewide organization providing persons with cognitive disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Individuals who are at least eight years old and are identified as having cognitive disability are eligible for participation.

SOWI has seven area offices throughout the state and serves nearly 10,000 athletes in 220 communities statewide. SOWI is one of 50 state programs and one of nearly 130 countries providing this opportunity to more than one million athletes worldwide. Part of its mission is to give individuals with cognitive disabilities the continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Last year alone, the ASAMT raised over $13,000 at select events that was donated to SOWI on behalf of Kwik Trip Stores.

This year, at selected ASAMT events, the series will donate a portion of its ticket sales to SOWI. “We want the fans to know that when they attend one or more of our events, they are not only seeing ‘Certified Super Late Model Excitement,’ but they are giving to a great organization as well,� Steve Einhaus, ASAMT VP stated. At its last event at Madison International Speedway, the ASAMT donated over $1,500 to SOWI.

Christa Gerloff and the Kwik Trip Promotional Team raised just over $1,400 for Special Olympics Wisconsin at the May 4th ASAMT event at MIS through their raffle, which they will be doing again this Saturday night at Jefferson Speedway. They will have a variety of sports and racing related prizes to giveaway including hats, thermo mugs, t-shirts, and special sports memorabilia.

“We are excited to support Special Olympics Wisconsin along with Kwik Trip,� Einhaus stated. “The athletes that this will support, share the same competitive drive and ambition that our own ASAMT competitors show at each of our events. We are proud to associate ourselves with this great organization.�

Jefferson Speedway is located off of Hwy 18 between Cambridge and Jefferson, WI with the running of the Kwik Trip Stores 100. ASAMT Qualifying for the Kwik Trip Stores 100, gets underway at 5:00 pm with racing at 6:30 pm. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and take part in the popular autograph session starting at 5:45 pm.

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.