Wisconsin's Own NASCAR Stars to Compete
in the ASAMT "Dixieland 150"
By: Kari Shear-Carlson
(Friday, July 23, 2010) Tradition is defined as "a system
of behavior followed by people continuously from generation to
generation." In 1981 a Tuesday night tradition was born and
generation after generation have taken part in the annual "Dixieland
150" at Wisconsin International Raceway. On Tuesday, August
3rd, the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour
presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net will
continue to carry on the tradition with a new generation of drivers.
While the event may be a tradition, a Tuesday night race is not
traditional. Who wants to race on a Tuesday night at a track in
Wisconsin? Well, there is one group of drivers that have and will;
the various NASCAR stars that have competed in this event since
its conception. It is because of the night of the week, that NASCAR
drivers, such as Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Ron Hornaday, Mark
Martin, and Kyle Busch amongst others, have been able to compete
in this annual event.
This year, the ASA Midwest Tour is welcoming NASCAR Nationwide
Series competitor, Scott Wimmer, and NASCAR Camping World Truck
Series driver, Johnny Sauter, who is currently third in the NCWTS
standings. Both Sauter and Wimmer are second generation drivers
who have followed the system of behavior of their previous generations.
Johnny Sauter and Scott Wimmer have several things in common.
They were both born and raised in Wisconsin. They are both second
generation drivers. They both grew up watching their heroes race
at Wisconsin International Raceway. They have both competed as
drivers at WIR. Even though they have spent many nights at WIR
as spectators, neither has competed as much as they would like
on the D-shaped 1/2 mile. Both will be competing against family
members in the "Dixieland 150." Finally, they both want
to win at WIR, yet will be quick to tell you that a win at WIR
is no easy task, especially when competing against the ASAMT and
local favorites.
Wimmer and Sauter agree that the ASA Midwest Tour is the nation's
top short track series and has the highest level of competition
in the country. "I think the ASAMT has the greatest competition
anywhere. Racing in the Midwest is really tough. There is a great
mix of guys that have a lot of experience and some younger drivers
that really want to win. It has been like that forever and I think
that is why guys from the ASAMT can run good anywhere. I think
that is what is missing in a lot of other regional racing series," said
Wausau native, Scott Wimmer.
Johnny is no stranger to success in the ASA series. In 2001, Sauter
dominated the ASA National Tour and went on to win the championship.
A lot has changed since then, but the one thing that has remained
the same is the high level of competition. Sauter added, "I
like what I see in the 2010 ASAMT and I hope it continues to grow." Wimmer
also wants to see the ASAMT grow, and even recommends that parents
of young drivers send their kids to race in the ASAMT if they want
them to become better drivers.
This will be Sauter's second time joining the ASA Midwest Tour
in 2010. Earlier this season, he competed in the Elmer Musgrave
Memorial event at Illiana Motor Speedway. Unfortunately he was
unable to finish due to an ill-handling car. His goal for the "Dixieland
150" is to finish, something he has not been able to do in
his last three super late model starts. "If I can finish,
I'm sure it will be a good finish," added a confident Sauter.
Johnny grew up watching his dad, Jim Sauter, dominate for many
years at WIR. Johnny's greatest memory was in 1989. He was only
ten years old, but remembers for that entire season he watched
his dad win almost every time he hit the track. The driver from
Necedah, WI has only competed at WIR twice in his career. The second
of which came last year in this very event. Unfortunately, he was
unable to finish due to mechanical problems, but has a lot of confidence
going into this year's race. "I've been to KK a million times,
but only as a driver twice now. There is no question that WIR is
a place that laps are important, so maybe once every other year
isn't enough. This year, I will keep my car together and have no
doubt it will be fast enough to aggravate some people," said
the 31 year old. Johnny will be going up against nephew, Travis
Sauter, who is also looking forward to competing at the track his
grandfather was so dominant at.
It has been over ten years since Scott has competed at WIR. Ironically
his last event was the Dixieland race in 1998. He competed in a
handful of ARTGO events, a couple weekly races and one REMAX Challenge
Series race. "It is a really hard track to figure out and
when I was racing there, it was tough to beat the weekly guys like
Matt Kenseth, Terry Baldry, Rod Wheeler, and JJ Smith." Scott's
best run at WIR came back in 1997 when Scott finished fourth behind
some of the top competitors of their time. "Baldry won, Joe
Shear was second, Jim Weber was third and I came from the back
to finish fourth. I remember following the two greatest guys that
ever raced there to the front."
Scott has a goal that not many can claim. "I am looking forward
to coming back. I want to keep my streak alive of leading a lap
in every race I run this year. Currently I am 100% in the Nationwide
Series for that." Scott knows that if he can qualify well
and keep improving, he'll have a good night. "Who knows, maybe
I can lead a lap and it will be the final one," added Wimmer.
Scott will also be competing against younger brother and ASA Midwest
Tour Swiss Colony Touring Star, Chris Wimmer. Chris is currently
second in points and has made a statement in the ASAMT this year,
finishing in the top 10 in all but the most recent event in Shakopee,
MN. "I will be relying on my brother a lot. He has a lot of
time in these cars and I'll be racing one of his. He has really
proven how good of a driver he is in the past few years. He got
put in some under-funded teams down south, but didn't give up.
He came back up here, works on his own equipment, knows every nut
and bolt and I'm really proud of how he is running." Scott
is definitely proud of Chris, but brothers are still brothers. "We
still argue about things, but this time, I might just have to listen
to him," joked Scott.
Scott's memories of WIR as a kid are bitter-sweet. Scott's uncle
was the late, Larry Detjens who lost his life at this very track
during a racing event. "WIR has always been a tough track
to go to. I have a lot of memories of my uncle Larry, both his
success and the accident that took his life. I just don't want
to disappoint people. I want to be a winner like my uncle was;
I want to win at WIR and everywhere for that matter, and make him
proud." On Thursday night, July 29th, Scott will be competing
for the first time in WI in 2010 in the Larry Detjens Memorial
race at State Park Speedway in Wausau, WI, a track that he and
his family now own. Fans who attend the Larry Detjens Memorial
can bring their ticket and get $2 off the price of admission for
the "Dixieland 150" on Tuesday, August 4th.
It may be on a Tuesday night at a track in Wisconsin, but it is
the only night that you can come out and see NASCAR stars compete
against the stars of the ASAMT at Wisconsin International Raceway.
In addition, for the first time this year, the NASCAR drivers will
participate in the trackside autograph session along with all of
the ASAMT drivers. So pack up the family, all of your souvenirs,
and an extra Sharpie, and come on out to be a part of a tradition
built on generations of the past and yet to come.
The ASAMT "Dixieland 150" will be another televised
event. The broadcast will air on Saturday, August, 21st at 11:30
AM CDT on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin. Check your
local listings for channel availability and line-up.
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