Wisconsin Dells, WI- The ‘Stars and Cars’ of the ASA Midwest Tour head to Dells Raceway Park this Saturday Night (August 30, 2025) for the $10,005 to Win Jim Sauter Classic presented by Habelman Brothers Cranberries and Don’s Auto Truck Center. The $10,005 top prize has attracted a star filled field with drivers from six states and includes three Midwest Tour Champions and a host of both Midwest Tour and Dells Raceway Park Super Late Model winners. Racing begins at 6pm on Saturday Night in Wisconsin Dells during the Labor Day Holiday Weekend.
Former Jim Sauter Classic Winner Gabe Sommers will be amongst the favorites this weekend. The two-time and defending ASA Midwest Tour Champion seeks his first Tour win of the year. Sommers is a two-time Alive for 5 Champion at the Dells and has three top five finishes in this event over the past four seasons. Andrew Morrissey will also be one to watch as the 2011 Tour Champion and two-time Oktoberfest Race Weekend winner has countless victories at the Dells and was the runner-up in this event a year ago.
Current Midwest Tour point leader Casey Johnson charges into the Sauter Classic with three wins so far on Tour plus an Alive for 5 win at the Dells in 2025. The three-time ASAMT Champion is hot off the overall win in last weekend’s Orange Blossom Special at Jefferson Speedway and is a former Alive for 5 Champion amongst other accolades throughout Wisconsin short track racing, but has yet to win the Sauter Classic.
One driver that has won the Jim Sauter Classic is Max Kahler. The youngster from Illinois is a former Big 8 Series Champion and National Short Track Championship winner. Kahler, the 2023 Dells Super Late Model Champion captured his first career Midwest Tour victory in last year’s Sauter Classic after finishing third a season prior.
Dells Raceway Park Super Late Model winners will be well represented. John DeAngelis, Jr has had the strongest showings at the Sauter event from this pool, having a runner-up effort in 2021 and a fourth place finish two seasons ago. He is joined by 2018 Wisconsin Challenge Series Champion Ryan Farrell and former Alive for 5 winner Jeff Storm. Undoubtably the hottest driver at the Dells currently is Mike Lichtfeld who is chasing his fourth consecutive Weekly Late Model Championship on the strength of 6 wins thus far. Lichtfeld has entered his Super Late Model to chase the checkered flag this Labor Day Saturday Night.
August has been good to both Ty Fredrickson and Luke Fenhaus on the Midwest Tour. Fredrickson recorded his first ASAMT feature win two weeks ago during the Wayne Carter Classic at Grundy County Speedway in Illinois. The Minnesota teenager now has his sights set on the Dells where he has one Alive for 5 victory in 2025 after finishing third in the Sauter Classic in 2024. Fenhaus, who is now running much of the NASCAR Truck Series schedule will again be behind the wheel of his family’s Super Late Model. His last Super Late Model start resulted in a $15,000 payday at the Gandrud Auto Group 250 at Wisconsin International Raceway, his second career ASAMT triumph. Fenhaus, like Fredrickson has already won at the Dells this season and has finishes of second and fifth in previous Sauter Classic efforts.
Roltek Rookie of the Year point leader Kody King leads the charge of young talent. King, a former Hawkeye Downs Champion leads past Big 8 and Tundra ROY Mitch Haver, third generation racer Penn Sauter as well as Kulwicki Development Driver Bryce Miller in the Rookie Standings with three races to go. Penn Sauter was the 2023 INEX Bandolero Champion at Dells Raceway Park and will make his second start in the event paying tribute to his Grandfather.
Additional drivers entered for Saturday night with wins under their belts include Central Wisconsin winner and third place points man Levon VanDerGeest, three-time ASAMT winner and fourth place point earner Justin Mondeik, former CARS Tour competitor turned Midwest Tour Ace Joe Valento, Fox River Valley veteran Pete Vandermolen plus weekly Late Model winner Joseph Scholze. Mondeik counts track Championships at State Park Speedway, Norway Speedway and Golden Sands Speedway amongst his accomplishments.
Perhaps the coolest pairing this weekend will be between an uncle and nephew. Former Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year Harley Jankowski underwent surgery just two weeks ago to receive a new kidney. Now his uncle, 2009 Dells Late Model Champion Corey Jankowski will be behind the wheel of Harley’s #95 Habelman Brothers Cranberrys, Kurts Shop, Modern Disposal Systems Chevrolet on Saturday night. Better yet, Harley will assume the role of crew chief at the Sauter Classic.
An unexpected entry for this event is Florida Top Gun Michael Hinde. The Hernando, FL driver will make just his third Midwest Tour start on Saturday night, and first ever start at the Dells, trying to better his third place showing in last year’s Oktoberfest 200 at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. He will be behind the wheel of the Gearheadz Racing Entry, normally driven by former Sauter winner and five-time Tour Champ Ty Majeski. Hinde gained National attention when he won the World Crown 300 last October in Georgia.
Other notable entries for Saturday Night’s Jim Sauter Classic include Big 8 Series point leader and third generation racer Randy Sargent who will be making his Tour debut, former Illiana Motor Speedway (IN) Bettenhausen Memorial winner Scott Tomasik and young guns Weston Marthaler and Alex Hartwig. Marthaler was the 2023 Dells Modified Track Champion and has one Weekly Late Model win at Dells this season while Hartwig was the 2022 Dells INEX Bandolero Champion and will make just his second ASAMT start.
The Midwest Truck Series and 602 Outlaw Late Models will join the racing program which starts at 6pm.
***CLICK HERE FOR THE EXPECTED ASA MIDWEST TOUR ENTRY LIST***
About Jim Sauter: Jim Sauter won back-to-back ARTGO Challenge Series Championships in 1981 and 1982. Over the course of his career he recorded twenty ARTGO feature wins and seven ASA National Series wins before heading south where he made seventy-six NASCAR Winston Cup Series starts, recording four top-tens in the process. Over the course of his career, he won some of the biggest short track races of the day including the North Star 500 at the Minnesota State Fair, Rockford’s National Short Track Championship and the All-American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds.
Schedule of Events for Jim Sauter Classic, Saturday August 30, 2025:
12pm Pit Gate Opens
2pm Spectator Gates Open
2pm Practice Begins
4:30pm Qualifying Begins
6pmRacing Begins
Ticket Pricing: ***CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS***
Adults: $25 advance / $30 Day of Race
Senior (65+), EMS and Military $20 advance / $25 Day of Race
Students (ages 13-17) $12
Kids (ages 6-12) $5
Children ages 5 and under Free
Family Pack (2 adults and up to four youth ages 17 and under) $60
Divisions: The ASA Midwest Tour will be joined by the Midwest Truck Series and 602 Outlaw Late Models.
Location: Dells Raceway Park is located at N1070 Smith Road in Wisconsin Dells, WI. For additional information visit www.dellsracewaypark.com or call 608-253-7223
Past Winners Jim Sauter Classic
2021- Rich Bickle, Jr
2022- Gabe Sommers
2023- Ty Majeski
2024- Max Kahler
Other Past ASA Midwest Tour Winners at Dells Raceway Park
2007- Kenny Richards
2008- Donny Reuvers
2009- Steve Carlson, Frank Kreyer
2010- Tim Schendel
2013- Dan Fredrickson
2014- Travis Sauter
2016- Derek Kraus
2017- Ty Majeski
2018- Johnny Sauter
2019- Ty Majeski
2020- Johnny Sauter
