Special from Speed51.com
Austin Nason picked up the biggest win of his career last Sunday in racing’s return to The Milwaukee Mile for the ARCA Midwest Tour Father’s Day 100. Just one day after that win, the 2018 Midwest Tour points runner-up accepted an invite to the Inaugural Speed51 Super Select while on The Morning Bullring.
Nason was invited to last year’s race after winning the Joe Shear Classic at Madison International Speedway, but it was postponed due to a poor forecast. The Roscoe, Illinois driver had the Speed51 Super Select marked down on his schedule from the onset of the 2019 season, but was relieved to get an invite and to earn his way into the race.
“I was excited to go down there last year, but the weather had different plans,” Nason told Speed51.com. “I’m excited we got a win to be accepted back this year. It was on the list, no matter what. We were going to go down there even if we didn’t win a race, we were going to go down just to try to get in. I think we did it the right way, so I’m excited to be going down there. It’s going to be a crazy race with the winner-take-all.”
It will be the first time Nason will have set his eyes on Lucas Oil Raceway when he arrives to the Speed51 Super Select. However, he has taken laps around the .686 mile oval on iRacing in the past to prepare for last year’s Super Select before Mother Nature pushed the inaugural running of the race to this year. He plans on using iRacing once again to get ready for the race.
“I’ve never seen it, never been there. The only thing going for me is I’ve been there a couple times on iRacing, so hopefully that’ll work,” he said. “I’ll definitely have to get on iRacing to do some more practice.”
Nason says the biggest challenge will also be the biggest draw to the Speed51 Super Select. The competition is expected to be stiff come race day, and he is looking forward to seeing how he stacks up against the country’s best Super Late Model drivers.
“You just got the best guys from all around the country,” he stated. “We’ve all won big races to be invited, it’s the best of the best going for the win.”
It would be a big win for Nason if he were able to go to victory lane at Lucas Oil Raceway. His win at Milwaukee showed what he and his team are capable of doing on track, and they are excited to show it once again at the Speed51 Super Select on September 7th.
“It would be pretty big,” he said. “You’re going to beat the best of the best in the country, so if you can go win the thing, it would be pretty special.”
Each invitee from the “Select Team” that accepts their invitation prior to July 1, 2019 will receive a guaranteed starting spot in the race held Saturday, September 7. Those who accept the invitation will also receive free entry into the race and one free set of tires to use during the race.
The Speed51 Super Select winner will have a chance to win a minimum of $10,000. Additional bonuses and contingency awards are to be announced prior to the race.
A pair of features will be contested on September 7, one for the Super Late Models (ARCA/CRA Super Series sanctioned) and a 100-lap race for the USAC Silver Crown Series. There will also be a 50-lap race for Super Late Model drivers who don’t earn invitations to race their way into the Super Select field. The event is being promoted by Track Enterprises.
More information regarding the 2019 Speed51 Super Select will be announced soon. Stay tuned to Speed51.com for more details about the event.
-Story by: Koty Geyer, Speed51.com State Editor (IN & MI) – Twitter: @kgeyer3
-Photo credit: Speed51.com photo
