by Kari Shear-Carlson / Aug 29, 2016 – The ARCA Midwest Tour presented by Scag Power Equipment will return to Dells Raceway Park this Saturday, Sept 3rd for the Bill Meiller 101 presented by Assembly Products. Qualifying for all divisions begins at 5:30pm followed by an autograph session in the grandstands. Racing begins at 7:00pm. The ARCA Midwest Tour will be joined by the Mid-American Stock Car Series, Bandits and Legends.
Rain washed out the event in 2015. In 2014, Travis Sauter won, holding off a hard-charging Ty Majeski. Majeski is the current point leader and winningest driver in the series this season, while Sauter is always a favorite when he comes to Dells Raceway Park. The two will return Saturday night as top picks for victory lane.
The Stars and Cars of the ARCA Midwest Tour will have their hands full of local and regional competition. Dennis Prunty joined the winners list in the ARCA Midwest Tour claiming one of the most prestigious victories in the series. Prunty won the Dixieland 250 back on Aug 2nd at Wisconsin International Raceway. While not a regular on the circuit, Prunty is not to be counted out at any Midwest Tour event. Dalton Zehr will also join the field. In addition to his dominating season throughout the Midwest, he comes off an impressive showing in the last Midwest Tour race at Marshfield Motor Speedway, finishing a solid third behind Majeski and Chris Weinkauf.
Mike Lichtfeld and John DeAngelis Jr have been two guys to beat at DRP all season, but they will be challenged by locals turned Touring Stars, like Andrew Morrissey who closed out the 2015 season at DRP winning the Falloween race. He followed it up with a super late model victory in the Ice Breaker in April of this year. Local fan favorites including, Mikie Breiner, Steve Lichtfeld, Keith Tolf, and Rich Schumann Jr. will also take on the challenge in the 100 lap event.
Rookie of the year contenders, Casey Johnson, Derek Kraus, and Jeff Holtz have each been winners in their respective rights this season. Holtz is one of three drivers to win in the ARCA Midwest Tour this season, taking home the checkered flag at Rockford Speedway earlier this year. Johnson has been atop the Rookie standings for the past few races and is coming off a recent victory at Madison International Raceway. Derek Kraus has been filling up his resume’ with wins and solid podium finishes around the upper Midwest all season long.
The Bill Meiller Memorial 101 is being held in memory of former friend and crew member to many in the short track racing industry. Ed Szelagowski of Assembly Products has orchestrated this event to honor and celebrate his friend, who passed two years ago. The Meiller Family will give the command to start the engines, wife Trisha, daughter Amanda Burby, son James along with Bill’s sister Leela Brink and seven of his eleven grandchildren.
The Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation was important to Meiller, in fact he was awarded with the Purple Heart Challenge Coin from the Foundation for his integrity and friendship to the Hero’s who attended and assisted alongside Bill at various events throughout the region.
Expected Entries
Bill Meiller 101 presented by Assembly Products
ARCA Midwest Tour
Saturday September 3, 2016
Dells Raceway Park, Wisconsin Dells, WI
30 as of 8/31/16
Car # Name Hometown State
5 John Beale Madison WI
5 Travis Sauter Prairie Du Sac WI
7 John DeAngelis, Jr Hubertus WI
7 Paul Shafer, Jr Portage IN
8 Chad Butz
9 Derek Kraus Stratford WI
11 Bobby Kendall Montello WI
12 Brad Kossow Union Grove WI
13 Mikie Breiner Wonder Lake IL
14 Austin Nason Roscoe IL
19 Dalton Zehr Daytona Beach FL
31 Nick Barstad Prior Lake MN
32 Steve Lichtfeld Pardeeville WI
38 Jeff Holtz Franksville WI
39 Andrew Morrissey DeForest WI
42 Dennis Prunty Knowles WI
43 Matt Kocourek Franklin WI
44 Mike Lichtfeld Pardeeville WI
45 Jim Sauter, Jr
47 Casey Johnson Edgerton WI
52 Keith Tolf Union Grove WI
52 Ricky Baker Plainfield IL
54 Rich Schumann, Jr Pardeeville WI
58 Cardell Potter Camp Douglas WI
75 Chris Weinkauf Merrill WI
76 Jason Weinkauf Merrill WI
77 Jonathan Eilen Hampton MN
78 Skylar Holzhausen Bangor WI
90 Duke Long West Bend WI
91 Ty Majeski Seymour WI
For complete event details, log on to arcamidwesttour.com
Be sure to follow the ARCA Midwest Tour on Facebook (/midwesttour) and Twitter (@midwesttour).
To learn more about the Automobile Racing Club of America Midwest Tour, log on to arcamidwesttour.com. The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is among the leading auto racing sanctioning bodies in the country. Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, the organization administers more than 100 events each year in multiple racing series, including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedway.
