Source: Kevin Ramsell
Date: 08/28/2007

DAYTONA BEACH, FLorida -- Dennis Huth, President of Racing Speed Associates and the American Speed Association, earlier this year welcomed the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment into the American Speed Association family. With only one event left on the inaugural season schedule, Huth is impressed with how the season has progressed.

“I have been involved in a lot of start up series, I have seen a lot of start up series over the course of the years,” Huth recently stated. “How do you describe something taking off like the ASA Midwest Tour and making a name it has for itself in such a short period of time? I would call it incredible.”

Huth, one of the architects of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series program, now helps oversee seven American Speed Association series and its ever growing ASA Member Track program. Huth will be the first to tell that it takes a lot of participation from everyone to make a tour like this successful. “This is really a tribute to Tim Olson and Steve Einhaus for the work they have put behind it,” Huth said. “Plus, look how much effort the racetracks have put into the first year tour and how many events have been “homeruns”. That’s a very accurate barometer of gauging whether it’s a successful series or not.”

For Huth, the series also needs a good mix to make it successful. “You’ve got quality cars, talented drivers and great owners on the competition side, but success doesn’t just happen by osmosis.” Huth stated. “When you put that kind of quality together at a first class racetrack, then bottom line, it’s really up to what people think of the on-track entertainment they are seeing unfold in front of them. Reports are positive as the crowds grow and the tour continues gaining ground and gaining momentum. All very positive aspects”

Another item that Huth feels is helping the series grow is how the rules are designed to allow the local competitor to compete. “When we first started talking about this, it was always in the plan to allow the local cars to race against the out of towners as with other great series of the past. It was a great formula then and it’s a great formula now,” Huth recalled. “It also allows a few tweaks here and there, which in turn makes it right for the fans and makes it right for the drivers.”

He also sees a larger benefit from it, “When you see the top notch local cars who have the local knowledge of what goes on at their home racetrack and for them to do as well as they are doing, to me, the formula is working. Everybody wants to be a part of a top notch series and that is what we are seeing within the ASA Midwest Tour. We don’t want to mess with the overall formula because it allows the hometown competitor to compete against the traveler... Plus, we want the fans to walk away and go ‘WOW’; and we have heard that a lot.”

Huth refers back to what he said earlier about the local competitor racing, “When you look at it, it’s kind of the ‘Local Driver’s’ against a traveling group of ‘U.S. Professionals’ or with this series, the ASA Touring Stars,” Huth explained. “Someone racing a local track who wants to move on to a series, this can be a great stepping stone. The experience is invaluable if they want to move up to a NASCAR, ARCA or what have you.”

Overall, Huth realizes that success comes from all angles, “What the tracks are doing from a crowd standpoint; the incredible involvement by Kwik Trip and Echo; listening to the enthusiasm of the fantastic spectators; listening to the sponsors involved; seeing the involvement aimed at next year; and all the positive signs, make it the “right thing at the right time”. It’s got a great future ahead of it.”

When asked about the future, Huth did not hesitate to assert what he feels regarding the prospects. “The ASA Mid West Tour is well ahead of our carefully crafted 5 year business plan. The long-term sponsor talks are extremely positive. The growth of the 2008 schedule looks very promising. The enthusiasm is truly unparalleled. Ticket sales have been way ahead of projections.” Huth also added, “ With all of those crucial factors working in it’s favor, the American Speed Association (ASA) Midwest Tour has a great future ahead of it.”

The ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Equipment’s next event will be on October 6 & 7th at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway as part of the 38th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend. The first ever ASAMT champion will be crowned at the conclusion of this event.

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