Fourth in a series of 14 announcing the 2009 ASAMT Touring Stars

By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Tuesday, December 02, 2008) – He always has a smile and enjoys coming to an American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment event. In 2008, Kyle Calmes and his Thrive to Drive Motorsports team accomplished a goal of becoming a Touring Star for the 2009 season.

“The whole season has been pretty great. 2007 was my first year in super late models, let alone with the series and being the first year for the ASA Midwest Tour. We went into it not knowing what to expect, let alone going up against the best super late model competition,” Calmes stated. “We had a long off-season and geared ourselves up because we knew what to expect this year. Set our goal to getting the Touring Star bonus this year and we accomplished that.”

Calmes finished his 2008 season in the ASAMT with one top-five and two top-ten finishes. His eleventh place finish in the point standings will give the Touring Star status that they were looking for in the upcoming season which opens on April 25, 2009 at Dells Raceway Park, an ASA Member Track, in Wisconsin Dells, WI.

Calmes also competed at the American Speed Association Southeast Tour’s Adam Petty Memorial All-American 400 where he came home with an eighth place finish after starting 21st.

The young driver from Freedom, WI has competed in the ASAMT since the series started in 2007. Competing with the best Midwest drivers, Calmes knew that he had to step it up in the 2008 season.

“It’s a lot like it was in 2007, but everyone stepped it up. You can tell just by qualifying how the track records are being broken still this year like they were last year,” Calmes recalled. “We stepped it up this year but everyone else did as well. So, it’s just as tough as it was last year.”

His biggest highlight last season came at the SCAG Power Equipment Dixieland 150 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI, a home track for Calmes and his team. On that night, he would finish second behind one of his racing heroes.

“Being my home track, we knew that we could, well we were hoping we could win it. We felt that if all of the cards fell right for us and we could get the car set up right for it, we could get away with a top-five finish. With all of the struggles we have had in this series and how tough the competition is, we just knew we could do it. When it actually started happening, got in the top-five and started passing cars it still seemed a little surreal. It was definitely hard for me to keep my composure because I knew I had a lot of family and friends in the stands rooting me on. I had a home crowd in front of me and the pressure was definitely on.”

Calmes would work his way up to second and challenge Steve Carlson for the lead in the latter stages of the event. But, while the veteran took home the win, Calmes had no complaints about finishing behind one of best in short track racing.

“Steve Carlson has one of the best short track records out there and is the 2007 NASCAR Weekly Series National Champion. Hands down he’s got the record and the proof that he is one of the greatest short track drivers ever.” Calmes stated. “Its just fun racing side-by-side with him a lot of times and even to finish right behind him and put the heat on him for a while was a thrill.”

Calmes easily became one of the fan favorites at the autograph sessions, a staple at each ASA Midwest Tour event, as he would hand out unique gifts to the fans from one of his sponsors, Arby’s. Going into 2009, he along with many other teams feels they have the right components for sponsors looking to be a part of an ASA Midwest Tour team.

“If anyone has been to an ASA Midwest Tour race they will see the fans having the Arby’s bags out there. We do a great job promoting, we put everybody on the trailer, on the car and depending how much they want to give us we can give them the whole car. We will put their name all over for as much as they give us,” Calmes stated. “We appreciate our sponsors; we know we can’t do it without our sponsors. So they are willing to support us and we are willing to support them. We will hand out whatever they want us to hand out, do car shows, you know just go the extra mile for them because they go the extra mile for us.”

The ASAMT Touring Star program was developed to help the series promote each special event prior to, during, and after each event. Each year a group of Touring Stars will be selected to the travel bonus program.

In 2009, the top-14 from the 2008 points standing will be eligible for the Touring Star program. Those drivers who are eligible will be required to sign an agreement with a promise to attend all ASAMT events and to participate in all promotional programs or opportunities. Failure to do so will result in removal from the bonus program. Touring Stars will be allowed one (1) excused absence due to unforeseen reasons that is approved by the ASAMT office.

Those eligible drivers must have their agreement signed by February 28, 2009 to be in the program. If an eligible driver declines, then the Touring Star offer will go to the next eligible driver in the 2008 points standing prior to the start of the 2009 season. If a star drops out during the season, it will go to the next eligible driver in the current 2009 points standing.

The 15th spot in the ASAMT Touring Star program is reserved for the highest finishing rookie at an ASAMT event. If they are the highest finishing eligible rookie at any 2009 ASAMT events, they will receive a Touring Star bonus at the next event.

“The Touring Star program accomplishes a major goal that Tim (Olson, ASAMT President) and I set when we started this series. That is we want to have our fans local heroes to compete against the best Midwest drivers,” Steve Einhaus, ASAMT Vice-President stated. “When we come to compete at a track with our Touring Stars, we encourage the local competitors to race with us. This is a win-win for everyone. The fans get to see some great racing and the local heroes get to show their talent against some of the toughest competition in the United States.”

The next event for the ASAMT will be the 2008 Championship Banquet on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI.

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.