The 2023 ASA Midwest Tour champion was crowned on Sunday at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway as part of Oktoberfest Race Weekend. While the race for the championship was firmly in control, the race for the win was anything but.
A battle for the lead between former series champions Ty Majeski and Dalton Zehr ended badly for both drivers after the two made contact and wrecked in turn four with 21 to go. Both drivers would be unable to continue. Johnny Sauter then inherited the lead, but would fall out of the race under yellow with ten laps to go due to a broken axle.
That would open the door for Gabe Sommers, who went on to win the biggest race of his career while clinching the 2023 ASA Midwest Tour championship. The Plover, WI driver to win the Oktoberfest 200 and the ASA Midwest Tour championship at the same time since Ty Majeski did so in 2016.
“Oh man, its awesome. Finally on the other end of it, and was in the perfect position to win it,” Sommers said in victory lane. “I have been on the other end a quite a few times this year and it really means a lot to get the win and the points championship, it’s crazy.”
ASA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year Bryan Syer-Keske earned a career-best runner-up finish after leading the 60-plus laps. Ty Fredrickson, son of past Oktoberfest winner and series champion Dan Fredrickson, finished third in just his second Midwest Tour start.
Oktoberfest kicked off Thursday night with Jacob Goede winning the Knights race and Max Kahler winning the Futures race. The Trickle 99 highlighted Friday night’s action, with Majeski taking the overall win for the fourth time over Zehr and Casey Johnson. Majeski set fast time for the ASA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest 200 on Saturday, while Ty Fredrickson and Syer-Keske picked up preliminary race wins.
For the full ASA STARS National Tour schedule, plus Super Late Model rules and other information, please visit the series website at starsnationaltour.com, or be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: STARS National Series | Twitter: @racewithstars | IG: @starsnational).
ASA STARS National Tour
The ASA STARS National Tour debuted in March 2023 for Super Late Model racing in America. Announced in October 2022, many of the best drivers in America will compete in the ten-race national tour with a minimum $100,000 point fund. The championship team will be guaranteed $25,000.
The ASA STARS National Tour is made up of three races from each of the regional pavement Super Late Model Series under the Track Enterprises banner – the ASA/CRA Super Series, the ASA Midwest Tour and the ASA Southern Super Series.
The Team Construction Winner’s Circle program has been announced as a part of the ASA STARS National Tour for licensed drivers/teams with perfect attendance. The program provides additional financial incentives to those teams who support the series.
Track Enterprises, a racing promotions company based in Illinois, will operate the ASA STARS National Tour. It announced the acquisition of Champion Racing Association (CRA) in January 2022 and followed that up with the purchase of the Midwest Tour in July. In October, Track Enterprises President Bob Sargent announced a partnership with the Southern Super Series, which set the table for the formation of the ASA STARS National Tour.
