By: Kevin Ramsell
(Kaukauna, WI) – Levon Van Der Geest was charging hard towards the front in last year’s ASA Midwest Tour’s Gandrud Auto Group 250 at Wisconsin International Raceway.
With 13 laps to go, the Merrill, WI driver passed defending winner Ty Majeski and set his sights on leader Derek Kraus. With eight laps to go, Van Der Geest got to the inside of Kraus in turn one, and while battling side-by-side, there was contact causing Kraus to spin and bring out a caution. Van Der Geest was sent to the rear for his involvement, but recovered to finish fifth.
Van Der Geest was hoping that his first ASAMT win would come in one of the Midwest’s crown jewel events.
But, it’s almost a year later, and he is returning with some unfinished business.
“Yeah, that’s been like a bucket list race for me to win for years. I grew up watching Chris and Jason (Weinkauf) race it, and it just always has such a different kind of feel there,” Van Der Geest said. “It’s kind of like Oktoberfest, you know, it’s like a big race, really highly anticipated.
“Being so close last year, I never, I think I ran fifth in that race three or four years ago, but I was never that close to winning that big of a race. And that was, you know, that was a crazy feeling. We were right there.”
The Tuesday, August 5th date has a big circle around it on his calendar, and he feels that he and his team are ready to go back and lead those final eight laps and get to victory lane.
“So I’m going to be going back there with the same setup. We tried a couple of different things at the red and white race this year. And didn’t find anything good,” Van Der Geest explained. “So we’re going to go back with what we had, and I’ll do my thing, save my tires. Be there at the end, hopefully, and we’ll give it another good shot.”
Van Der Geest comes into the Gandrud Auto Group 250 third in the ASAMT point standings, only 62 points behind current leader Casey Johnson.
Get your tickets now and be a part of an historic night at Wisconsin International Raceway.
ASA Midwest Tour’s Gandrud Auto Group 250
Tuesday, August 5th – Wisconsin International Raceway, Kaukauna, WI.
Tuesday, August 5th Racing Divisions: The ASA Midwest Tour Super Late Models will be joined Tuesday Night by the Midwest Truck Series.
Schedule of Events for Tuesday:
10 a.m. ASAMT Pit Gate Opens
2:15 p.m. Practice Begins
4 p.m. Front Gates Open
5 p.m. Qualifying Begins
6:30 p.m. Racing Begins
General Admission Pricing Tuesday:
Adults $30, Children ages 12 and under admitted free. Advance tickets available on the Ticket Hoss App for $25, click here.
Location: Wisconsin International Raceway is located at W1460 County Rd KK in Kaukauna, WI. For camping and other information visit www.wirmotorsports.com or call 920-766-5577.
Complete List of Past Gandrud Auto Group 250 Winners1981 Mark Martin
1982 Jim Sauter
1983 Dick Trickle
1984 Mark Martin
1985 Butch Miller
1986 Butch Miller
1987 Dick Trickle
1988 Butch Miller
1989 Rich Bickle Jr.
1990 Dick Trickle
1991 Dick Trickle
1992 Steve Holzhausen
1993 Scott Hansen
1994 Joe Shear
1995 Bryan Reffner
1996 Joe Shear
1997 Steve Carlson
1998 Steve Carlson
1999 Scott Hansen
2000 Brian Hoppe
2001 Steve Carlson
2002 Brian Hoppe
2003 Steve Carlson
2004 Steve Carlson
2005 Stephen Leicht
2007 Kyle Busch
2008 Steve Carlson
2009 Steve Carlson
2010 Johnny Sauter
2014 Johnny Sauter
2015 Nick Murgic
2016 Dennis Prunty
2017 Casey Johnson
2018 Chase Purdy
2019 Ty Majeski
2020 Ty Majeski
2021 Paul Shafer, Jr.
2022 Ty Majeski
2023 Ty Majeski
2024 Ty Majeski
