ASA Midwest Tour
{{Short description|Racing series}}
{{distinguish|ASA Late Model Series}}
{{Infobox motorsport championship
|name = ASA Midwest Tour
|logo =
|category = Stock car racing
|inaugural = 2007
|owner = Gregg and Angie McKarns
|country/region = {{USA}}
|champion driver = Gabe Sommers (2nd title)
|current_season =
|website = {{URL|starsnationaltour.com/midwest}}
}}
The ASA Midwest Tour (known between 2012 and 2022 as the ARCA Midwest Tour) is a pavement Super Late Model auto racing series based in the Midwestern United States with its headquarters in Oregon, Wisconsin.{{cite news|last=Kallman|first=Dave|title=Midwest Tour joins ARCA stock-car family for 2013|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/179156681.html|accessdate=November 14, 2012|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=November 13, 2012}} It was a developmental series of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), and currently of the American Speed Association, along with the CRA Super Series.
History
File:ARCA Midwest Tour trailer at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway.jpg
The series can trace its roots back to the ARTGO series which was formed in 1975. NASCAR sanctioned the tour from 1998 until 2006. During that time, it was known as the RE/MAX Challenge Series, International Truck & Engine Midwest Series and finally the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series. NASCAR discontinued the series in 2006 as car counts dwindled.
Tim Olson and Stephen Einhaus formed Cars and Stars Promotions in 2006 to begin a separate series that replaced the defunct ARTGO/NASCAR series. It was sanctioned by the American Speed Association (ASA) and was known as the ASA Midwest Tour. ARCA took over sanctioning the series in 2013 when it began to be known as the ARCA Midwest Tour. Tim Olson, President of the ARCA Midwest Tour, announced that he has sold the ownership of the ARCA Midwest Tour to former Big 8 series director and Rockford Speedway general manager Gregg McKarns.{{cite web|title=McKarns Takes Over ARCA Midwest Tour Ownership {{!}} Speed 51 {{!}} 100% Short Track Racing|url=http://speed51.com/mckarns-takes-over-arca-midwest-tour-ownership/|website=speed51.com|accessdate=July 12, 2017}} The purchase of ARCA by NASCAR on April 27, 2018{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/04/27/nascar-acquires-arca-commitment-next-generation-racers/ |title=NASCAR acquires ARCA, affirming commitment to next generation of racers |author=Dale, Holly |publisher=NASCAR |date=April 27, 2018 |access-date=April 28, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.arcaracing.com/articles/2009467-nascar-welcomes-arca-to-the-family |title=NASCAR Welcomes ARCA to the Family |publisher=Automobile Racing Club of America |date=April 27, 2018 |access-date=April 28, 2018}} indirectly reunited the series with the series' former sanctioning body. Bob Sargent's Track Enterprises announced to purchase the ARCA Midwest Tour from McKarns at the end of 2022, and rebranded it the ASA Midwest Tour.
Drivers
File:Ty Majeski and Gregg McKarns ARCA Midwest Tour 2016.jpg|146x146px]]
The series has its "Touring Stars" program, which recognizes the top drivers committed to racing the whole schedule. The "Touring Stars" are featured throughout the year on posters and event fliers promoting the series, as well as are eligible for pay bonuses at each race.
There have also been many NASCAR stars that have made appearances in the ASA Midwest Tour, such as Aric Almirola, David Ragan, David Stremme, Rusty Wallace, Tony Stewart, Kelly Bires, Kevin Harvick, Landon Cassill, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Green, Ron Hornaday Jr., Kyle Busch, Travis Kvapil, Todd Kluever, Johnny Sauter, Erik Darnell, Scott Wimmer, Ken Schrader, Tim Sauter, Jay Sauter, Dick Trickle, Natalie Decker, Rich Bickle and William Byron.
2025 ASA Midwest Tour Schedule
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" |
| Date
!Track !Location !Winner |
|---|
| May 4
|Madison International Speedway | |
| May 24
|Jefferson Speedway | |
| June 21
| |
| July 12
|Hawkeye Downs Speedway | |
| July 25
|Madison International Speedway | |
| August 5
|Wisconsin International Raceway | |
| August 16
|Grundy County Speedway | |
| August 30
| |
| September 20
| |
| October 5
|La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway | |
2024 ASA Midwest Tour Schedule
File:Ty Majeski ARCAMT 2015 WIR.jpg]]
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"
!Rnd !Date !Race Name !Track !Location !Fast Qualifier !Winner |
| 1
|April 21 |Jerry 'The Bear' Priesgen Memorial |Alex Prunty |
|---|
| 2
|May 5 |Joe Shear Classic 200 |Madison International Speedway |Ty Fredrickson |
| 3
|May 25 |Salute the Troops 100 |Jefferson Speedway |Levon Van der Geest |
| 4
|July 13 |Wayne Carter Classic 100 |colspan=2| Race weekend cancelled due to rain |
| 5
|July 27 |Larry Detjens Memorial 125 |State Park Speedway |Levon Van der Geest |Justin Mondeik |
| 6
|August 1 |Gandrud Auto Group 250 |
| 7
|August 17 |Hawkeye 100 |Hawkeye Downs Speedway |John Beale |Gabe Sommers |
| 8
|August 23 |Howie Lettow Classic 100 |Madison International Speedway |Dalton Zehr |
| 9
|August 31 |Jim Sauter Classic 200 |Ryan Farrell |Max Kahler |
| 10
|September 21 |Thunderstruck 93 |Jacob Goede |Justin Mondeik |
| 11
|October 6 |Oktoberfest 200 |La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway |Andrew Morrissey |
Champions and Rookies of the Year
Tracks
File:ARCA Midwest Tour at Wisconsin International Raceway August 2014.jpg]]
The series has raced at 23 different race tracks, mainly in the Upper Midwest:
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://midwesttour.racing/ ARCA Midwest Tour]
- [https://thethirdturn.com/wiki/ARCA_Midwest_Tour_Central ARCA Midwest Tour] at The Third Turn
Category:Stock car racing series in the United States
Category:Automobile Racing Club of America