Cambridge, WI (Saturday, May 27, 2023) – Dalton Zehr ended a near six-year winless streak in the ASA Midwest Tour by winning the Salute the Troops 100 at Jefferson Speedway in Cambridge, Wisconsin on Saturday night.
The 2018 ASA Midwest Tour champion inherited the lead with six laps to go after defending winner Jacob Nottestad and fast qualifier Gabe Sommers made contact going into turn one causing Nottestad to spin to bring out a caution with both sent to the rear of the field.
“I knew something was going to happen,” Zehr said after the race. “Everybody was waiting for that last 10-lap dash and I lit the wick trying to get up there and got into third. As soon as I took third, the leaders got into each other and I inherited the lead.”
Nottestad was the class of the field leading most of the of the 100-lap event. Sommers moved himself into the runner-up position with 11 laps to go and went to chase down Nottestad for the lead.
“I had a good run, I thought 97 (Nottestad) was running the top and he came across my nose,” Sommers explained. “I didn’t intentionally get into him, obviously I didn’t want to put myself in that position and get sent to the back.”
After the incident, Nottestad pulled off the track and was not available after the race for a comment.
Behind Zehr, former winner Paul Shafer Jr. and former Big 8 Series champion Max Kahler battled for the second spot with Shafer the position at the checkered flag.
“The car was just tight. He (Zehr) got around me, wish he wouldn’t have,” Shafer said with a smile on his face. “It was one of those deals. Like I said, the car was tight so we did what we could and got what we can get, that is how it shook out.”
Kahler was up front all race, and did challenge for the lead throughout the race with Nottestad, just like the two did long ago at a go-kart track not far from Jefferson Speedway. He would fall back to fifth in the late going, but held on to finish third.
“We just lost brakes, used them up too much in the first half and the peddle went to the floor,” Kahler said. “Lost some spots there, but once the caution came out I kind of got a little peddle back but was still lacking some front brakes. Third place, not what we wanted but can’t complain.”
Ryan Farrell also made a late charge to finish fourth while Justin Mondeik recovered from an early spin to finish fifth.
Farrell won the odd heat while Shaun Scheel won the even heat. Bryan Syer-Keske won the qualifier race.
Sommers beat Kolton Gurlaski for fast time by 0.007 seconds.
The ASA Midwest Tour will once again join with the ASA STARS National Tour for the Father’s Day 100 on Sunday, June 18th at the famed Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, WI. Tickets are on sale now at starsnationaltour.com
