The ASA STARS National Tour schedule has brought new tracks aplenty for the stars who have competed with the series through its first six races. However, Wisconsin International Raceway just might be the most unique of the facilities so far.
Wisconsin International Raceway features a dogleg on the frontstretch, unique compared to just about any other track in the country. With the dogleg comes two vastly different corners – one and two wide and sweeping, while three and four is short and tight.
Five drivers that are on the entry list are making their first-ever appearances at WIR. Four of them are full-time ASA STARS National Tour competitors – Cole Butcher, Gio Ruggiero, Billy VanMeter and Albert Francis. The other is Wisconsin native Joseph Scholze, who is in the midst of his rookie season in a Super Late Model.
Ruggiero has already won at a track in his first try this season, picking up the win at Hickory Motor Speedway in a season of firsts for the Super Late Model rookie. VanMeter finds himself in the same boat, visiting multiple new tracks for the first time in his second full-time season in a Super Late Model. Having seen several venues all over the country, Albert Francis and Cole Butcher still have a handful of new tracks to experience during the season.
While the aforementioned drivers are making their first-ever appearances at WIR, drivers such as Bubba Pollard and Bryan Syer-Keske are making second trips to the half-mile. Pollard’s lone start came in the 2020 Gandrud 250, while Syer-Keske’s other trip to WIR was for a TUNDRA Super Late Model Series race in 2015.
Tickets for the Gandrud Auto Group 250 are now for sale on the Ticket Hoss app. Advanced tickets are $25 on Ticket Hoss, and $30 at the gate. Kids 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at https://tickethoss.com/event/531.
The Gandrud Auto Group 250 will be co-sanctioned with the ASA Midwest Tour, which will be race number seven on the season. Gabe Sommers currently holds the Midwest Tour points lead over Justin Mondeik.
The ASA STARS National Tour opened the ten race, six-state schedule at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL on March 11. Cole Butcher is the most recent winner, claiming the victory in the Redbud 400 at Anderson Speedway.
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.
