Defending ASA Midwest Tour Champion Andrew Morrissey talks about getting his first win in the race honoring his childhood hero.
Doug Hornickel Photo | fastlapphoto.comEarns a top-ten finish in ASAMT opener
Wausau, WI – Chris Wimmer and his Preval Chevy now hold the Madison International Speedway track record. The record fell a few times during qualifying, but it was Wimmer who broke it for the final time with a lap of 17.245 seconds, shattering the previous record of 17.417 seconds.
“The practice times were fast all weekend,” says Wimmer, “So I think everyone had a feeling the record was going to be broken. My car was pretty good in practice, but I was a little surprised to have that fast of a lap. To be able to break a track record feels pretty good and it was definitely an awesome way to start of the 2012 season.”
Wimmer, who is racing a brand new Pathfinder Chassis this year, started the 100-lap feature event from the 9th position. The first 64-laps went caution free, and Wimmer found himself in the 8th spot at the break. “The Prerval Chevy was pretty loose those first 64-laps,” says Wimmer, “We’re on a new tire compound this year, so it’s all about trying to figure out what adjustments will work with this tire. The tire has a lot of speed, which we showed in qualifying, but it definitely races different than the tires we had last year.”
Wimmer made a few adjustment to the Preval Chevy during the ten-minute break and in the final 36 laps worked his way just outside the top-five, for a 6th place finish. “I would have liked to get up and battle within the top-five,” says Wimmer, “But on that final run the car got a little tight towards the end and I just couldn’t quite catch those guys. “
After just one ASA Midwest Tour race in the books, Wimmer sits a comfortable 4th place in the overall point standings. “It’s definitely too early to be worried about points racing yet,” says Wimmer, “But to get a fast time and a solid finish in the first race of the year, especially with a new car and new tires feels pretty good. When you work so hard in the offseason building a new car and can come out and compete, it’s a rewarding feeling. I have a great group of guys that help me and we look forward to staying strong all season.”
TJ Harron Photography | TJHarron.comby Kari Shear-Carlson
May 14, 2012 - The American Speed Association® Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment and Lester Buildings wrapped up its first event of the 2012 season this past Saturday, May12th. Andrew Morrissey won the 4th Annual Joe Shear Classic at Madison International Speedway.
MORRISSEY FINALLY ENDS ASAMT WINLESS STREAK
The 2011 ASAMT Champion, Andrew Morrissey has been looking for that first win for the past six years in the ASAMT. After capturing his first championship last year without a win, he still just wanted to win. He finally did it on Saturday. He started on the outside front row and led the field for all but two laps. It was not until the last few laps that last year’s Rookie of the Year, Skylar Holzhausen, started to make his charge. He had the lead on laps 98 and 99. The two battled side-by-side, swapping positions from corner to corner. It was a replay of last year’s $10,000 to win event at Elko, but this time Morrissey came out ahead at the finish line.
CHRIS WIMMER SETS A NEW TRACK RECORD
The previous track record for a super late model at MIS was held by none other than, Andrew Morrissey with a 17.413 set back in 2004. But records are made to be broken and ECHO and ECHO Bear Cat Touring Star, Chris Wimmer did just that, shattering the record turning a 17.245 and getting his first ECHO Quick Cut Qualifier award of the year. In fact a total of six drivers broke the previous record in qualifying on Saturday.
ECHO AND ECHO BEAR CAT TOURING STARS HAVE SOME HIGHS AND LOWS
Seven of the top ten finishers of Saturday’s event were Touring Stars. Andrew Morrissey and Skylar Holzhausen were one and two. Nick Panitzke was the Hedman Husler Hedders Hard Charger after starting 12th and finishing 3rd. Chris Weinkauf, Nathan Haseleu, and Chris Wimmer rounded out the top six, followed Jonathan Eilen in 9th. Jacob Goede, Tim Schendel, Jeff Storm, and Nick Murgic each struggled a little bit in this first event finishing 13th, 14th, 17th, and 23rd.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS OFF TO A GOOD START
Five Rookie of the Year contenders raced in the 4th Annual Joe Shear Classic. Jason Weinkauf was the highest finishing rookie with an impressive run and 11th place finish. Cardell Potter and Ty Majeski were 15th and 16th followed by Matt Tift in 18th and Jeff Holtz finishing in 24th. The last chance race was a nail-biter for Tift and Holtz as they were both hungry to make it into their first ASAMT event of 2012. With a couple laps to go, Tift started to make his move for the last transfer spot. The two made contact a few times but put on a good show. Tift did not make the pass, but got into the event with a provisional.
by John Wells
Zack Riddle set a new track record in qualifying and then proceeded to go out and win the 30 lap feature as part of the Joe Shear Classic at Madison International Speedway.
Chuck Garetson and Shane Morrissey brought the ten car field to the green flag for their thirty lap feature. Morrissey would take the lead over Garetson on the backstretch with Wilberg moving up to second before the caution flag would come out on lap 2 for a spin in turn four. The caution sent Morrissey and Casey Johnson to the back.
On the restart Wilberg would inherit the lead and choose the inside lane on the restart while John Baumeister Jr. would line up next to the leader on the outside. When the green flag waved Wilberg would take the top spot followed by Baumeister Jr. and Zack Riddle only to have the yellow come out again for a spin back in the pack.
Wilberg would retain the lead following the restart. Baumeister Jr. would stay a car length behind while Riddle and Johnson would fight it out for third. On lap 11 Nate Oppliger would power by Johnson to take the fourth position but still many car lengths behind the top three.
Out front Wilberg continued his leading ways with Baumeister Jr. and Riddle close behind. On lap 16 Baumeister Jr. looked to the inside of Wilberg for the lead but would lose momentum and surrender second place to Riddle.
On lap 21 Riddle would move to the inside of Wilberg coming down the backstretch and nudge his way to the lead while coming out of turn four. Riddle would increase his lead to two car lengths while Wilberg and Baumeister Jr. would fight it out for second. This would allow Riddle to expand his lead and cruise to victory lane followed by Wilberg, Baumeister Jr., Oppliger, and Kevin Knuese.
“It was a good race. Everyone respected each other out there and it was good racing,” said Riddle in a post race interview with Eric Huenefeld. “I’m really looking forward to this season racing with these guys and some good side by side action with the new tires.”
Doug Hornickel Photo | fastlapphoto.comPhoto Gallery by TJ Harron
Photo Gallery by Doug Hornickel
by Kari Shear-Carlson
May 12, 2012 - Andrew Morrissey broke his winless streak in the American Speed Association® Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment and Lester Buildings after taking home the victory in the 4th Annual Joe Shear Classic at Madison International Speedway this afternoon.
“I’ve waited a long time for this,” said a very happy Morrissey from victory lane.
The 4th Annual Joe Shear Classic started off with a blistering pace. Chris Wimmer set a new track record with a 17.245 out of the 33 cars that qualified.
Travis Sauter lead the field to the green for the start of the 100 lap feature. Last year’s champion, Andrew Morrissey started on the outside of the front row. Morrissey took the early lead, but Sauter kept him within a car length along with Skylar Holzhausen until the 64 lap break.
A mid-pack battle between ECHO and ECHO Bear Cat Touring Star, Tim Schendel, along with Dan Fredrickson, Jeff Storm, Chris Weinkauf, Chris Wimmer, and Jeff Choquette were battling side-by-side and bumper to bumper trying to get clear to head to the front.
ECHO and ECHO Bear Cat Touring Star, Nick Panitzke was on the move after starting in 12th. He was charging through the field finding himself in the fifth spot at the break.
Meanwhile, up front, Holzhausen was looking for second on the outside of Sauter as Haseleu patiently waited in fourth to see how it shook out.
Morrissey continued to lead with 70 to go by only a 3/4 car length over Sauter as he kept him just in his sites. Morrissey started putting cars a lap down with only 40 laps into the event. Sauter closed his lead in on Morrissey’s bumper as the 10 minute break closed in.
Eilen started in the rear but charged his way into 11th by the break. “The car is really, really good,” said Eilen during the 10 minute break.
The 36-lap dash was set as the field lined back up with Morrissey taking the top spot once again. The cone came out for the “choose-rule” allowing all drivers on the lead lap to choose the inside or the outside at the restart.
Dean’s Satellite to sponsor the #21 Chevrolet for the 4th Annual Joe Shear Classic
Sparta, WI (May 2, 2012) - Tim Schendel, super late-model racer and part-time NASCAR Nationwide driver of the #52 Means Chevrolet, will run an Iron Eagle Racing prepared car in the season opener of the ASA Midwest Tour this weekend. The 4th Annual Joe Shear Classic will be run at the Madison International Speedway in Oregon, WI. Schendel has been a regular in the series for the past four years and has finished in the Top 10 in overall series points each of those years. He is looking forward to getting back in the driver’s seat of the his own super late model - the #21 Chevrolet.
