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

By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Wednesday, December 10, 2008) – The 2007 American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment Rookie of the Year didn’t have the typical sophomore slump that some see in racing. Jonathan Eilen finished the 2008 ASAMT season finishing ninth in points and will be a part of the 2009 ASAMT Touring Star program.

“We had a really good year just that we didn’t get that bad luck out of our way. The car was good everywhere we went and it was fast every time we unloaded it. But, a flat tire here, brake line broke there, we blew a motor up at Milwaukee, it seemed like one thing like that,” Eilen stated when reviewing his season. “But all in all, we had a really good season, can’t complain too much on what happened. Now we are working on getting everything 100% for next year.”

His ninth place finish in the points came with a 2008 season record of one win, four top-five’s and eight top-ten finishes. He also started every feature event.

His win came back in May at Jefferson (WI) Speedway, but that win itself almost never happened, “When we broke the oil line there we just worked hard and never gave up under any circumstances and good things came out of it,” Eilen recalled as he ran into problems after his qualifying run.

The team worked overtime to get the car repaired by the time the green flag waved on the feature event. Eilen would hold off a late charge from Jamie Iverson for the win.

While the win is a highlight for any driver, Eilen’s best memory of the 2008 season came at Iowa Speedway where he finished second in the Rasmussen Group Twin 75’s back on July 21st.

“That is probably one of my fondest memories or one of my best memories this year was at Iowa. Just not only to race there but to be so competitive,” Eilen recalled. “At the end of the race, we made a few adjustments that we probably shouldn’t have made, but we will go back there next year and learn from that. Hopefully get that win there.”

His second place finish itself was not the memory he will cherish, “Running with Matt Kenseth (who finished third) and passing Kyle Busch for the lead, by far was one of my biggest memories from this past season,” Eilen stated. “Matt has a Pathfinder Chassis and so do I and we were pretty close to equal. Its just fun to work with guys like that and kind of share information it’s just a lot of fun.”

Eilen, along with being the first ever ASAMT Rookie of the Year, is also in the record books as being the series first ever winner as he won the inaugural event at Elko Speedway in April, 2007. He has been competing in every event and knows a lot about the competition he faces, “It keeps getting harder and harder every year. Every track we went to we either broke the track record or coming within a tenth to two-tenths to making a race, it just shows how competitive this series is.”

And when he was asked what he could provide to a potential sponsor, he had a simple answer, “No matter what the occasion or circumstances are we will give it a 100% from when we unload the car to when we load up the car.”

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.