Original American Speed Association Has History At Wisconsin Oval
Oregon, WI (March 31, 2023) – When the ASA STARS National Tour rolls into Madison International Speedway for the Joe Shear Classic on May 7, it will mark the return of the ASA brand to the Wisconsin half-mile oval for the first time in 18 years.
The original American Speed Association sanctioned a total of eight national tour events at the venerable speedway located between Oregon and Stoughton, WI, just ten minutes south of the Badger State capital. Some of the biggest names in ASA history found success at the track.
Three-time ASA national champion Butch Miller was victorious in ASA’s second visit to the track, then known as Capital Speedway in June 1985. A year later, four-time ASA national champion Mark Martin found his way to victory lane en-route to his final ASA Title.
After a seven year hiatus, including a five year span during which the track was shuttered, Scott Hansen claimed victory in the Wisconsin 200, a year after the track reopened as Madison International Speedway.
Another seven years would pass before Gary St. Amant won in 2000 en-route to his second ASA ACDelco Challenge Series championship. St. Amant was denied a second victory a year later after late-race contact with Mike Eddy knocked St. Amant from the lead with just a few laps remaining. Robbie Pyle would sneak past both St. Amant and Eddy for the win, a race often remembered for St. Amant’s sprint through the infield to confront Eddy post race.
1997 ASA Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year Steve Carlson won in late July 2002, with Butch Miller becoming the only two-time winner at the track the following year, July 18, 2003.
2009 ASA ACDelco Challenge Series champion and Wisconsin native Tim Sauter claimed victory at MIS on July 17, 2004. Later that year, the ASA Racing Series collapsed and was shut down after the 2004 season, and the National Tour folded.
Coincidentally, Madison International Speedway hosted the first ever ASA Late Model Series event in 2005, a crate Late Model tour which would eventually evolve into what is now the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour.
ASA History at Capital Speedway / Madison International Speedway
July 28, 1984 – Jim Sauter
June 23, 1985 – Butch Miller
June 22, 1986 – Mark Martin
September 12, 1993 – Scott Hansen
August 19, 2000 – Gary St. Amant
August 17, 2001 – Robbie Pyle
July 28, 2002 – Steve Carlson
July 18, 2003 – Butch Miller
July 17, 2004 – Tim Sauter
The Joe Shear Classic 200 will mark race two of the inaugural ASA STARS National Tour schedule, set for 2:00PM CT on Sunday, May 7. Advance tickets are available by visiting the track website at misracing.com/tickets, or at the track office during regular business hours. Madison International Speedway is located ten minutes south of Madison, on Sunrise Road off of Highway 51 between Oregon and Stoughton.
The Joe Shear Classic will be live-streamed on both MidwestTour.tv and TRACKTV.com. MAVTV will air the event on a tape-delayed basis.
The ASA STARS National Tour opened the ten race, six-state schedule at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL on March 11. Georgia racer Casey Roderick won the Sunshine State 200. Roderick is expected to enter the Joe Shear Classic 200, along with the rest of the top Super Late Model drivers in the country.
For the full ASA STARS National Tour schedule, plus Super Late Model rules and other information, please visit the series website at starsnationaltour.com, or be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: STARS National Series | Twitter: @racewithstars | IG: @starsnational).
ASA STARS National Tour
The ASA STARS National Tour debuted in March of 2023 for Super Late Model racing in America. Announced last October, many of the best drivers in America will compete in the ten-race national tour with a minimum $100,000 point fund. The championship team will be guaranteed $25,000.
The ASA STARS National Tour is made up of three races from each of the regional pavement Super Late Model Series under the Track Enterprises banner; the ASA CRA Super Series, the ASA Midwest Tour and the ASA Southern Super Series.
The Team Construction Winner’s Circle program has been announced as a part of the ASA STARS National Tour for licensed drivers/teams with perfect attendance. The program provides additional financial incentives to those teams who support the Series, thanks to Team Construction.
Track Enterprises, a Racing Promotions Company based in Illinois, will operate the ASA STARS National Tour. It announced the acquisition of the CRA sanctioning body in January and followed that up with the purchase of the Midwest Tour in July. In October, Track Enterprises President, Bob Sargent announced a partnership with the Southern Super Series which set the table for the formation of the ASA STARS National Tour.
