By: Kevin Ramsell
It’s been a while since Steve Holzhausen raced at Elko Speedway in Elko, MN. In fact, its been over 20 years according to the veteran driver from Bangor, WI who hopes that his return will be a golden one.

“I believe so, I haven’t gone back to look and see exactly when it was but its got to be somewhere around there,” Holzhausen said when asked if his last visit to the 0.375-mile facility was in 1985 but a Google search shows that his last visit may have been on July 3, 1989, when he won the sixth Annual Minnesota State Championship ARTGO event holding off Mark Lamoreaux, Jim Weber, Dick Trickle and Joe Shear for the win.

Holzhausen’s return will come this Saturday night, September 26, when he competes in the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment’s Race for the Gold - Gold Race. The third event in the summer long three-race series where he is the current points leader after a pair of runner-up finishes at Dells Raceway Park. On Saturday, May 30 he finished second to Steve Carlson in the Bronze Race and then finished behind Frank Kreyer in the Silver Race on July 18th.

ENNIS, Texas – Every time Tony Schumacher enters the gates of the famed Texas Motorplex a bit of a nostalgic feeling must sweep over his body.
All of the great drivers vividly remember their first time.

For Schumacher, his first career NHRA victory came at the sport’s first super track, during a wild and wacky 1999 season. After four runner-up finishes in ’99, and four straight runner-up finishes spread out over the three previous seasons, Schumacher must’ve been wondering if he was ever going to break through and finally get the job done.

But that lone victory in ’99, a gritty win over two-time Top Fuel world champ Scott Kalitta, provided all the momentum that the second-generation racer needed to go on and close the doors on his first series championship crown.

He had one race victory and one world championship trophy. Life was good.

At the time, he probably didn’t realize that his ’99 season was actually the launching pad for what has turned out to be a very special drag racing career. Since then, his trophy collection has grown. A lot.

Loves Park, IL- The fiercest rivalry in the Midwest short track racing scene will be on display October 3 and 4 during the 44th annual National Short Track Championship at Rockford Speedway. Chicagoland Champions Brett Sontag and Eddie Hoffman have both filed entries for the Super Late Model portion of ‘One Great Racing Weekend’.

Sontag and Hoffman have been involved in hotly contested battles this summer at Grundy County Speedway, bringing the Morris, IL faithful to their feet numerous times amidst a sea of cheers and boos. Now the rivalry travels north to Rockford Speedway for an event both drivers were in contention to win last season. Sontag impressed all in attendance as he charged on the inside twice to pressure the lead pack before mechanical woes sent him out of the race. Hoffman, a three time NSTC Champion was involved in an opening lap incident and battled through the field to finish in the runner-up position to Minnesota’s Josh Vadnais.

By: Kevin Ramsell
WEST SALEM, WI (Wednesday, September 23, 2009) – Oktoberfest Race Weekend officials have announced that two of the popular Super Late Model events at the 40th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend will be competing on the Hoosier 3035 & 3045 racing tire. “The Futures” and the “Dick Trickle 99” will both be competing using these tires.

“The Hoosier 3035 and the Hoosier 3045 tire are the most common used by the Super Late Models,” Mike Panure, Technical Director for “The Futures” and the “Dick Trickle 99” said. “The tires will be available at the race track from an authorized Hoosier dealer.”

“The Futures” is a 25-lap feature event on Thursday, October 8th and is open to Super Late Model drivers under the age 30 or open to any driver who has NEVER competed in the championship Oktoberfest 100, NASCAR AutoZone Oktoberfest Race, ARTGO Oktoberfest, etc and who has never competed in any of NASCAR’s Top Three Series.

FORT ATKINSON, Wis. (September 22, 2009) – In 2009, the Mid-American Stock Car Series’ only four-time champion decided to spread his wings and fly into action with the Big 8 Late Models. This Saturday, September 26 at Madison International Speedway, James Swan will return to nest behind the wheel of an MASCS racer.

Swan will be driving the number 8 Ford Taurus which is owned and normally driven by Muskego, Wis. driver Brian Holtz. In one guest driving appearance two weeks ago at the Slinger Speedway, Swan was victorious.

The victory was not Swan’s first encounter with that particular Mid-American car, however. When Swan returned to MASCS action in 2006, he was chased on the way to his second championship by that machine, which at the time was driven by George Schultz.

After the victory, the two former rivals were given a chance to reconnect. “I had to call George right away and let him know that I won in another one of his cars,” Swan said. The car Swan drove to championships in 2006 through 2008, owned by Adam Berge, was also previously owned by Schultz.

By: Kevin Ramsell
WEST SALEM, WI (Tuesday, September 22, 2009) – With the 19 divisions competing over the four days at the 40th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, WI, six of those will decide their 2009 Champion. Two champions will be crowned on opening night, three on Saturday night and one on Sunday afternoon.

The La Crosse Speedway’s North Country Contractors Sportsmen will come into the opening night of action with six drivers within 100 points for the championship. Jes Tenner of Melrose, WI has a 24-point lead over Rick Schermerhorn of Westby, WI. Randy Humfeld of Chaseburg, WI is only 38 points behind the leader with John Olson of Sparta, WI in fourth sitting 77 points back. Jimmy Glister of West Salem, WI is in fifth, 91 points back with Dan Glister also from West Salem in sixth only 97 points behind Tenner. The Sportsmen championship will be decided in a 20-lap feature on Thursday night, October 8th.

By John Wells

It's time for the third annual MIS Fall Classic this Friday and Saturday at Madison International Speedway.

Seven Divisions on Track for Friday Night

The pit gates will open at Noon on Friday with practice starting at 2:00 PM. We will be rotating divisions all afternoon long before starting qualifying at 5:00 PM.

Late Models, Area Sportsman, Hobby / Pure Stocks, Bandits, Legends, International Four Cylinders, and Short Trackers will all be in action. We are going to try to group divisions together in the pits if possible. I would recommend arriving early since the pits will be crowded.

Qualifying and qualifying races will take on a new look in 2009. All cars will compete in a dash or qualifying race this year.

In all divisions except the Late Models the fastest eight cars will compete in an eight lap "Dash" with the finishing positions used for determining the starting lineup in the feature.

Odd and even qualifiers will be held for the remaining cars with their finishing positions also playing an important part in determining the feature lineup.

16-Race Schedule to Visit New Tracks and Current Ones, Too

Series PR Report
A companion race with NASCAR's Nationwide Series at Iowa Speedway, a return to Bristol Motor Speedway, and the addition of five tracks highlight the 2010 USARacing Pro Cup Series schedule that will visit nearly a dozen venues in eight states, it was announced Saturday by series officials.

The season for the nation's premier short-track series also was increased to 16 races next year with the Championship Series consisting of five events.

“The 2010 schedule represents our continued commitment to expanding the geographic footprint and the elevation of quality venues,” Larry Camp, the series managing partner, said. “We are tremendously encouraged by the support of the tracks on the schedule. They have exhibited their true partnership with the series. We believe the schedule will pay great dividends for all of our stakeholders.”

New Motorsport Concept Pits South Africa Against America: “Two Continents – One Winner”
“CHAMPIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CONTINENTS FOR ASA TRANSCONTINENTAL SERIES”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Monday 21, September 2009) – The American Speed Association (ASA) is taking another innovative step by creating an international motorsport contest for stock cars with the “Championship Between the Continents – South Africa versus USA Motorsports.”

This new event, tagged with the “Two Continents – One Winner” moniker, created with the help of the Free State Provincial Government of South Africa, will feature a 207-lap, 500-Kilometer event at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom. The race will take place on January 29 – 31, 2010.

By Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., Sept. 20—Dilan Wenzel took the lead with ten laps to go and drove to victory in the 30-lap Super Stock feature Sunday afternoon at the Slinger Super Speedway in the Future’s program while Aaron Cain, Brandon Junget, and Phil Malouf each captured main event victories in the Hobby Stock, Four Cylinder, and International divisions respectively.