By: Kevin Ramsell
Wisconsin Dells, WI – Many who follow the ASA Midwest Tour on social media like to make an easy prediction when a certain driver is on the entry list for an event in their comments.
Of course, it’s easy to predict Ty Majeski anytime he enters an ASAMT event. Whenever someone sees the five-time time champion with a record setting 38 victories in the Tour, the Seymour, Wisconsin driver is an easy pick.
But this Saturday’s fourth running of the Jim Sauter Classic at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin may not be a simple, “Oh Ty is entered, he will win” post. That is because the entry list is filled with competitors who have had and continue to have success at the 1/3-mile oval.
First, the obvious one is Majeski, who is looking to defend his 2023 victory. He is hoping to rebound after a rare rough outing at the recent Howie Lettow Classic 100 at Madison International Speedway where he finished eighth.
But, one could make an argument for any of these drivers to be going to victory lane on Saturday night.
Luke Fenhaus is the recent Alive for 5 Super Late Model winner at DRP after a strong run in the Gandrud Auto Group 250 at Wisconsin International Raceway. He is also a past Icebreaker winner along with being a two-time Alive for 5 champion.
Austin Nason has won some of the big events in the ASA Midwest Tour from the Joe Shear Classic at Madison, the Father’s Day 100 at the Milwaukee Mile, All-Star 100 at Rockford Speedway, and Wayne Carter Classic at Grundy County Speedway. He finished second in last year’s Jim Sauter Classic and will be looking to improve one spot this year, especially coming off of a pair of runner-up finishes in the last two ASA STARS National Tour events.
John DeAngelis Jr. is a former Falloween winner at Dells Raceway Park. He finished fourth last year, but is always a factor in the Jim Sauter Classic. He had a strong run earlier this month in the Gandrud Auto Group 250 until fell out with mechanical issues.
Gabe Sommers dominated the 2022 Jim Sauter Classic 200 and became the second winner of the event, with Sauter’s grandson Travis Sauter as the crew chief. He comes to DRP with a 25-point lead over Levon Van Der Geest while on his quest to defend his 2023 ASAMT championship. He is currently on a hot streak with a victory in the Hawkeye 100 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and a second place finish in the Howie Lettow Classic 100.
Speaking of Levon Van Der Geest, he was five laps away from the biggest win of his career in the Gandrud Auto Group 250, until his involvement in a late caution took away that chance. He has seen victory lane in his Super Late Model this year, but could be a factor to collect his first ASAMT win on Saturday night.
Andrew Morrissey has also seen past success at DRP and in the limited events he has competed in this year, he has been a factor in each of them. Recently, he finished second in the Gandrud Auto Group 250. The past ASAMT Champion is not a stranger to winning big events as he is a two-time winner of the Joe Shear Classic and the Oktoberfest 200.
Justin Mondeik recently won his second Larry Detjens Memorial at State Park Speedway in Rib Mountain, Wisconsin. He has track titles at State Park Speedway, Golden Sands Speedway and Norway Speedway. Like Majeski, he is getting a lot of assistance from Toby Nuttleman, which always makes fans consider him to be a factor each race.
Riley Stenjem also has had past success at DRP including wrapping up the 2021 TUNDRA Series championship. This year, he helped Chase Motorsports win the Red, White, and Blue Series championship at WIR.
Ryan Farrell is someone you can never count out at DRP. He won an Alive for 5 event last October. The 2018 Wisconsin Challenge Series Champion is always a contender in the ASA Midwest Tour, especially when it comes to racing at the Dells.
While we have some veterans in the field, there are also some ambitious young drivers who are looking to having a giant breakthrough victory on Saturday night.
Many will want to follow what Derek Kraus did back on September 3, 2016, when he became the youngest driver to win an ASAMT event at Dells Raceway Park two days after his 15th birthday. Kraus will be back on Saturday night looking for another victory.
Max Kahler is the defending UMA Super Late Model Champion at Dells Raceway Park. The Caledonia, Illinois driver is no stranger to big events as he is a past winner of the National Short Track Championships and a former Big 8 Series Champion.
Ty Fredrickson started his first full year of racing by capturing the season opening Icebreaker event at DRP to the surprise of just about everyone. He has picked up a few more Super Late Model victories this year, but is looking for his first ASAMT win and make a strong run towards the Rookie of the Year title.
Tristan Swanson held off Fredrickson last month to win the TUNDRA North American Cup 100 at DRP. He finished fifth in last year’s Jim Sauter Classic. He knows this track well as he is also a former Legends Champion at the track and secured the 2021 Midwest Truck Series title over James Swan at the famed Wisconsin Dells facility.
Let the discussions begin and let it decide on the track this Saturday night!
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 31, 2024:
12pm Pit Gate Opens
2pm Spectator Gates Open
2pm Practice Begins
4:30pm Qualifying Begins
6pm Racing Begins
Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $25
Senior (65+), Students (13-17) and Military $20
Children ages 12 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
