13th in a series of 14 announcing the 2009 ASAMT Touring Stars

By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Wednesday, March 11, 2009) – When you look at each of the point standings from the first two seasons of the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Power Equipment you will notice something. The driver listed as finishing second in points is the same driver.

Donny Reuvers, of Dundas, MN, has been a consistent runner in the ASAMT since the beginning. It wasn’t until last season that he finally got himself into victory lane, in fact he had three victories.

The first victory came at Dells Raceway Park as he literally fended off a late challenge by Steve Carlson to take the win. To prove that he was a serious contender, he followed that win up by winning the next event at Grundy County Speedway. Later in the year, he scored a huge victory at Raceway Park in Shakopee, MN, a track that he purchased during the off season.

The championship battle was a tight one in the last five races last season as both Reuvers and Dan Fredrickson ran into problems. As Reuvers won the Shakopee event, Fredrickson fell out with engine problems. A week later at the Milwaukee Mile, Fredrickson again had problems and finished 29th while Reuvers came home with an 11th place finish. This allowed Reuvers to get within five points of Fredrickson for the championship.

But Fredrickson would battle back to take a second place finish at Norway while Reuvers was involved in an early accident to finish 22nd. Both had decent runs at Marshfield where Reuvers finished fifth and Fredrickson finished seventh.

Fredrickson’s solid run and win at Oktoberfest sealed the deal. Reuvers came home eleventh to lock up his second place finish in the final standings.

With his consistent runs, three wins, one ECHO fast time award, eight top-five and nine top-ten finishes, he did earn “Touring Star” status for 2009.

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 season opening event will take place on Saturday, April 25 at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells, WI with the Race for the Gold – Bronze Race.

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.

ASA™, ASA Racing™ and American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC.  Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.