Historic Events Await on Second Half of ASA STARS Schedule /

Historic Events Await on Second Half of ASA STARS Schedule

by Zach Evans / Racing America

The first half of the ASA STARS National Tour has featured plenty of excitement, as well as some unique challenges for its competitors.

Whether it was 200 laps at Five Flags Speedway to start the season, taking part in NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway, or 250 action-packed green flag laps at Hickory Motor Speedway, these were events that haven’t traditionally been on Super Late Model schedules over the years and gave drivers some new obstacles to overcome.

The second half of the inaugural schedule, however, is dotted with long-running events that have been staples of Late Model racing for years. To be crowned ASA STARS National Tour champion, performing well in these crown jewel events and adding your name to their history books will be imperative.

That journey begins on July 15 with the Greg Hubler Automotive Group Redbud 400 at Anderson Speedway. The race has changed names and distances over the years, but the annual tradition began on July 15, 1967 when Iggy Katona won the Redbud 500.

This year marks the 57th Annual Redbud 400, and the first under the ASA banner since 1999 when Mike Miller took the win over Tim Sauter. The Redbud 400 was part of the ASA National Tour schedule from its inaugural season in 1973 until that 1999 event.

From there, the series will go to Kaukauna, Wisconsin for the Gandrud Auto Group 250 at Wisconsin International Raceway. Originally known as the Dixieland Challenge and later the Dixieland 250, this event has been part of the Wisconsin racing landscape since 1981 when Mark Martin took the checkered flag.

The 35th running of the Glass City 200 awaits ASA STARS National Tour competitors on September 17 at Toledo Speedway. Joy Fair won the inaugural Glass City 300 in 1968. The event has seen several different formats over the years, most recently featuring 100-lap main events for the ASA/CRA Super Series Super Late Models and for Outlaw Late Models. This year, the event becomes part of the ASA STARS National Tour.

One month later, the ASA STARS National Tour braves the high banks of Winchester Speedway for one of the most grueling challenges of man and machine every year in Super Late Model racing, the Winchester 400. This year’s event will be the 52nd running of the event. Winchester hosted 51 races for the original ASA National Tour, more than any other track.

The inaugural ASA STARS National Tour champion will be crowned at the same event that concluded the ASA season throughout the 1980s, the All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. The All American 400 was born in 1981 as a battle between the stars of the ASA National Tour and ALL PRO Super Series, a battle of North and South. That spirit of drawing top racers from across the country to a battle in the Music City at year’s end has endured over the years, with this year’s event marking the 39th running of the event.

Currently, Ty Majeski leads the ASA STARS National Tour points standings after wins in the Joe Shear Classic 200 at Madison International Speedway and, most recently, the Father’s Day 100 at The Milwaukee Mile. Casey Roderick (Five Flags), Bubba Pollard (North Wilkesboro) and Gio Ruggiero (Hickory) have also gone to victory lane this season.