The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts is set and ready for the Bryden Motors 100, to be held this Friday night, May 27th at the Madison (WI) International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin. Perhaps no other track on the 2005 tour offers an opportunity to give the local cars and stars an opportunity to run on a competitive level with the ASA Late Model Series. With that in mind, the state of Wisconsin also wants to show the racing world that when you come to their state, you better be prepared to run against some of the best talent that short track racing can offer anywhere in the country. For this Friday’s race, it seems that the "Cheese State" has called on a few pinch hitters to ensure a Wisconsin victory.
One name that really stands out as you go over the entry list for the Bryden Motors 100 is that of former ASA National champion, Bryan Reffner! The Stevens Point, Wisconsin veteran will definitely be the crowd favorite to win as the 1995 ASA National Champion will be making his first ever ASA Late Model Series appearance. The former Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks series in 1996, and the son of legendary Wisconsin driver, Tom Reffner will be amongst the heavy favorites throughout the evening. "Flyin Bryan" is very tough to beat in his own back yard and the cars and stars of the ASA Late Model Series will definitely have their proverbial hands full with the former Miller Classic champion. Reffner already has had a good start to the 2005 season as he won the inaugural ASL event a month back down at I-70 (MO) Speedway in a series that utilizes the old ASA National Tour machines.
A regular competitor on Friday nights at the Oregon, Wisconsin speedplant, Nathan Haseleu also looks to be a favorite for the win. A regular competitor as well on the NASCAR Elite Division’s Midwest Series, the Marshall, Wisconsin driver won the last regular feature for the ASA Late Model Division at Madison last Friday night and hopes to take advantage of home track status and continue his early season winning ways against the star studded field expected. Haseleu currently sits sixth in the ASA Late Model Division points chase at Madison with his one feature win.
One of the more prominent names on the entry list is that of Eau Claire, Wisconsin star, Charlie Menard. The Team Menard pilot will also be making his first ever appearance with the ASA Late Model Series. The 2004 NASCAR Midwest Regional Champion hopes to continue his winning ways as well. It all started in February of this season when Menard traveled down to the USA (FL) International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida for the Speedfest 200 and walked away with the biggest win of his career against some of the top drivers in the country. Already in 2005, Menard has three wins, in addition to his big win in Florida; Menard has chalked up victories at the Wisconsin Challenge Series opener in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin as well as a win at the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway, where he is the defending track champion. Menard is definitely one driver to keep an eye on throughout the Bryden Motors 100.
Two more drivers looking to make some noise this Friday night against the cars and stars of the ASA Late Model series includes Pete Moore. The crafty McFarland, Wisconsin veteran has seen time with the NASCAR Elite Division’s Midwest Tour in recent years and one of his career highlights was beating the late Joe Shear for his first ever ARTGO (Now NASCAR Midwest Tour) feature win at Wisconsin Dells Speedway. Moore is also a former track champion at Madison and hopes to use his experience to his advantage this Friday night.
A name synonymous with racing in ASA over the years as well as in the state of Wisconsin is that of Sauter! Travis Sauter has filed an entry for this Friday’s 100-lap feature as the Necedah, Wisconsin star hopes to add his name to the ASA record books and in doing so, joining his Father, 1999 ASA National Tour Champion, Tim Sauter in the permanent logs of history with ASA. The legendary Jim Sauter as well as current NASCAR Nextel Cup driver, Johnny Sauter are just some of his siblings that will be riding with him and giving the fans in the great state of Wisconsin another Sauter to cheer for. Sauter runs regularly on Friday nights in the tracks ASA Late Model Division and currently sits fourth in the season long points chase. He will be one to watch throughout the 100-lap grind
One of the more innovative creations in all of short track racing in recent years is the development of the ASA Late Model Division at the Oregon, Wisconsin speedplant. Several drivers who call the ½ mile high-banked paved oval home on Friday nights will look to use the home track advantage against the traveling cars and stars of the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts. In addition, these drivers will only have to make minimal, if any changes (Tires) to their machines to compete with the series. In addition to Haseleu and Sauter, Beau Bavery, Tom Gille, Jesse Saunders, John Wood, and Nick Hammer are but a few of the Madison regulars hoping to show the ASA Late Model Series stars how it’s done in front of their home town crowd.
In addition to the Wisconsin "Invaders", drivers from the Cheese State that are running the full season with the series are looking forward to coming home for the weekend. Some drivers who have ran Madison on ASA Late Model off weekends include, Dan Lensing, the last series event winner at Madison in September 2004 and Chad Wood who looks to use some home cooking as a springboard towards a potential first career series victory. Also Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year contenders, Ryan Carlson, Brett Piontek, Travis Dassow, and GM Performance Parts Shootout winner at Baer Field (IN), Jason Tyler look to take advantage of the comforts of home to establish themselves as bonafide Rookie contenders with a good showing during the Bryden Motors 100.
The ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts will invade the beautiful ½ mile of the Madison (WI) International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin on Friday May 27th for the running of the Bryden Motors 100. A field of 50+ cars is expected as the traveling stars of the ASA Late Model Series will go head to head with the ASA Late Model Division that runs regular on Friday nights at the Madison speedplant. In 2004, current NASCAR Nextel Cup star and the last ever NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, Matt Kenseth won the 2004 series opener in May 2004, while Dan Lensing picked up the win during the second event at Madison in September 2004.
For more information on the 2005 season for the ASA Late Model Series, log on to: www.asalatemodels .com