By: Kevin Ramsell
BURLINGTON, WI (Friday, May 2, 2008) – No matter if you are a fan or a competitor; you will need to walk up a hill to see it. Just like Richard Dreyfuss climbed up a hill to see Devil’s Tower in “Close Encounter of the Third Kind”, you climb up to see what you imagined it would look like.
For many, that is how their first experience is when they come to Madison International Speedway the first time. It’s a short drive off of Hwy 138, down a country road to a piece of property that becomes a gathering place to see some of the best racing around.
This Sunday, some fans and competitors will get their first experience of the famous half-mile oval known as “Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile Oval.” It was built in 1969 by famous promoter Sam Bartus. From Jerry Eckhardt taking the first ever checkered flag to present, the track has seen its ups and downs. But, during that time period, a long list of famous drivers has etched their name as feature winners at the track. And winning at MIS, will leave memories that will last a lifetime for some.
Last year, Brandon Hill became the latest driver to etch a memory that he will never forget. While many were predicting that Kyle Busch, Nathan Haseleu, Dave Feiler, or Steve Carlson would visit victory lane, it was Hill who surprised them all by winning the first ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment event at the famed Speedway.
His win made news everywhere. A small feature in Speedway Illustrated, a nomination for a Speed 51 Award and became the talk around the Midwest.
What made the win more special was that it was in front of his fellow employees at Five Star Race Car Bodies, who were enjoying a company outing that night.
“Oh yeah, it’s great to be going back there,” Hill recently stated. “I have only raced at MIS a few times and pretty good runs and last year we ran really well and won.”
Hill led wire-to-wire en route to the win. But, it was probably a nerve wracking 100-lap race as he would keep looking in the rear view mirror watching 2007 ASAMT Rookie of the Year, Jonathan Eilen, and three-time MIS track Champion, Dave Feiler, battling for the second spot, knowing that if one was able to get away from the other, they would have Hill in their sites.
Instead, Hill ran a smooth and concentrated race while Eilen and Feiler put on a great battle that would get the fans rising to their seats on occasion as they would pass each other for position with passes that has been rarely seen there.
“That was pretty cool, I have raced here many times and never been able to pass on the outside like I did that night,” Eilen recalled. “I look forward to having a good finish and hopefully bringing home a win this year.”
This year’s visit of the ASAMT at MIS will be another one for the record books. The driver, who wins the race on Sunday, will have earned it and will know that getting a feature win at MIS is something worth putting on their racing resume.
Plus their name will be added to a list of feature winners that includes: Dick Trickle, Joe Shear, Tom Reffner, Johnny Ziegler, Jim Sauter, Butch Miller, Mark Martin, Gary St. Amant, Robbie Pyle, Tim Sauter, Robbie Reiser, Matt Kenseth, Todd Kluever, Travis Kvapil, Dave Feiler, and many more.
This Sunday, it’s not just a race, it’s an event. And at the end of 100 laps, one driver will stick his head out of his car and realize that they may be joining an elite list or adding another notch to the list they are already on.
As a fan, you have the opportunity to say, “I was there.”
The ECHO Chainsaw 100 ASAMT event will take place on Sunday, May 4th at Madison International Speedway. Along with the ASAMT, the Big 8 Series will also be competing with qualifying at 2:30 pm, an autograph session at 4:00 pm and racing at 5:00 pm. Ticket prices for the May 4th MIS event are $17 for ages 12 and up. 11 and under will get FREE admission. Qualifying starts at 2:30 pm. Autograph session at 4:15 pm with racing at 5:00 pm.
To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and the engine giveaway program, please contact the ASA Midwest Tour office by calling (262) 514-3880 or by e-mailing Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.
To learn more about 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 all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asa-racing.com.
