by Kari Shear-Carlson / Sept 7, 2015 – This past Saturday night, Ty Majeski did what he does best these days…win. Majeski won the ARCA Midwest Tour presented by Scag Power Equipment’s Coors Light Summer Shootout at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, IA for the second year in a row. It marked his fourth Midwest Tour win of 2015 and 13th feature win overall this season.
Majeski’s season has been one of the most dominating seasons the Midwest has seen in recent years. Along with his 13 victories throughout various series, he has set fast time 14 times. His recent success puts him in the company of some of Wisconsin’s winningest drivers, such as the late Dick Trickle, the late Joe Shear, and current and actively winning driver, Steve Carlson, each who had his fair share of dominating seasons.
On one of the hottest days of summer, the Stars and Cars of the ARCA Midwest Tour rolled into Cedar Rapids, IA for the Coors Light Summer Shootout presented by McGrath Powersports and Liz Girl Logistics to kick off the Labor Day weekend. The field of drivers was filled with rookies and veterans alike, and seven states were represented including; Wyoming, Georgia, Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. It was the most diverse line-up the Midwest Tour has seen all year.
Earlier in the day, current point leader, Ty Majeski, turned the fastest lap with an 18.374. Nick Barstad and Caleb Adrian were the winners of the odd and even heat races, and Claire Decker won the qualifying heat.
As the cars rolled out onto the track, Wisconsin’s James Swan, and Indiana native, Paul Shafer, lined up at the head of the field. They set the pace as starter, Tom White, waved the green flag for the 100 lap Summer Shootout. Shafer grabbed the early lead as Swan drifted back a bit. Local favorite, Griffin McGrath, started in sixth and moved into the third spot by lap four.
On lap 10, Touring Star and fast qualifier, Ty Majeski, was up to third after starting eighth. As Shafer started to stretch out his lead, McGrath looked to the inside of Jason Weinkauf for the second spot. But on lap 13, Majeski caught McGrath and secured the second spot. Shafer had about a 15-car length lead over Majeski, but Majeski quickly closed the gap.
Travis Sauter was now on the bumper of McGrath for third and took the spot on lap 15. Another local favorite, Caleb Adrian, who was making his first ever ARCA Midwest Tour start, was looking strong as he had moved into eighth from his 12th starting position.
Touring Stars, Skylar Holzhausen and Jason Weinkauf, were side-by-side battling for fifth and sixth. As that battle continued, Majeski caught Shafer and made a pass to the outside to take the lead on lap 22. In dominating fashion, Majeski immediately pulled away as the rest of the field continued to battle.
Travis Sauter caught up to Shafer for second and made the pass. Chris Weinkauf and Holzhausen were side-by-side for sixth for a few laps until Weinkauf secured that spot. Adrian moved into seventh over Jason Weinkauf.
Sauter was now in second a straightaway behind Majeski. Chris Weinkauf, had passed McGrath for third and just as quickly caught Sauter for second and made the pass. He set his sights on Majeski.
Halfway into the 100 lap event, Majeski continued to hold a straightaway lead over the field. Chris Weinkauf was up to second, followed by Sauter, and Holzhausen who had taken over fourth from Shafer on lap 52. Adrian also closed in on Shafer. He took the fifth spot and focused his sights on Holzhausen for fourth.
Claire Decker, who had started 13th, was coming on strong in the final 30 laps. She was up to sixth with about 30 laps to go.
With 25 laps remaining, Holzhausen caught Sauter and took the final podium position.
Majeski won in dominating fashion a full straightaway ahead of Chris Weinkauf, who had the best race of his season so far. Skylar Holzhausen was third, followed by Travis Sauter, and Caleb Adrian.
Majeski continues to lead the ARCA Midwest Tour point standings over Skylar Holzhausen and Chris Weinkauf. Austin Nason and Ricky Baker are fourth and fifth in points and continue their battle for the Rookie of the Year.
Only two races remain on the ARCA Midwest Tour schedule for 2015. The next event is the Thunderstruck 125 at Elko Speedway on Saturday, Sept 26th.
The season will close with the annual Oktoberfest 200 at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway, Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th.
For more 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.
