Andrew Morrissey Crowned the 2011 ASAMT Season Champion and Skylar Holzhausen Crowned ASAMT Rookie of the Year
by Kari Shear-Carlson
Johnny Sauter was crowned the 46th Annual Oktoberfest Champion in American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Hospitality season championship this afternoon at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway.
“This is a pretty big win for me. It’s a very nostalgic one, seeing my brothers race here and having raced here weekly in ’97. This means a lot to me,” said the Oktoberfest Champion.
Johnny Sauter and Matt Tift led the field to green for the start of the 46th Annual Oktoberfest Championship 100 lap feature. Sauter pulled out to the early lead as the rest of the field started to file in line. Nick Murgic did not waste anytime moving to the inside of Tift for second on lap three.
The first caution fell on lap four when the #25‘s of Jeff Storm and Ross Kenseth and the #51 of Becca Kasten all got tangled together on the front stretch. Bryan Reffner had nowhere to go and hit Kasten in the passenger’s side door. As Jonathan Eilen was trying to get through he caught a piece of it as well.
As the field went back to green, Johnny Sauter led Murgic with Travis Sauter on the outside in third. Matt Tift had pulled into the pits under caution. Travis Sauter dove to the inside of Murgic to take over the second spot with sights set on his uncle Johnny.
Point leader Andrew Morrissey, and last year’s Oktoberfest winner, Dan Fredrickson, were working their way through the middle of the pack as the field began to stretch out with ten laps into the event. But the second caution of the day fell on lap 15 when Fredrickson and Jacob Goede made contact on the backstretch, ending Fredrickson’s chance at another Oktoberfest victory.
After the extensive speedy dry was worked in, the field took the green flag again with the two Sauters leading the way, both choosing the bottom line. Chris Weinkauf charged for the lead on the outside, but was unable to seal the deal. Travis tried the low side, but could not make the move either. Johnny continued to pull away.
As the two Sauters continued to pull away from the rest of the field, Nick Murgic and Chris Weinkauf led the rest of the field in a side-by-side battle for third. Travis was making slow gains on Johnny as the race reached the half-way point and the two started in on lapped traffic.
After the altercation with Fredrickson earlier in the race, Jacob Goede returned on a mission and was charging through the field picking off a car about every lap and a half. Skylar Holzhausen and Chris Weinkauf were pacing themselves in third and fourth with Nick Murgic rounding out the top five.
As they maneuvered through lapped traffic, Travis was catching Johnny for the top spot with only 35 laps remaining in the 100 lap event. Last year’s points champion, Steve Carlson’s day ended early due to mechanical problems. Goede had charged up to sixth with less than 20 laps to go.
Johnny and Travis continued to lead the field picking off lapped cars as they closed in on ten laps to go. With 15 laps to go, Johnny and Travis caught Tim Sauter, brother to Johnny and father to Travis and worked around him, putting yet another car a lap down.
It came down to the last lap but Johnny Sauter led green to checkered and took home his first ever Oktoberfest 100 Championship. Travis finished behind him in second. Chris Weinkauf, Skylar Holzhausen and Erik Darnell rounded out the top five.
For complete results log on to asamidwesttour.com
Become a Fan of the ASA Midwest Tour at www.facebook.com/asamidwesttour
To learn more about the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Hospitality, log on to asamidwesttour.com. For questions call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (630) 212-6022 or Tim Olson at (612) 327-5831 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.
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Feature Results
# Driver Name Hometown
1 - 43S - Johnny Sauter - Necedah, WI
2 - 5 - Travis Sauter - Necedah, WI
3 - 75W - Chris Weinkauf (TS) - Merrill, WI
4 - 78 - Skylar Holzhausen (R) - Bangor, WI
5 - 99D - Erik Darnell - Beach Park, IL
6 - 72 - Jacob Goede (TS) - Carver, MN
7 - 22P - Nick Panitzke (TS) - Sauk Centre, MN
8 - 9K - Mark Kraus - Stratford, Wi
9 - 99T - Tim Sauter - Necedah, WI
10 - 64 - Griffin McGrath (TS) - Cedar Rapids, IA
11 - 76 - Jason Weinkauf - Merrill, WI
12 - 12 - Nick Murgic (TS) - Rosemount, MN
13 - 21 - Tim Schendel (TS) - Sparta, WI
14 - 53 - Boris Jurkovic - Orland Park, IL
15 - 52 - Chris Wimmer (TS) - Wausau, WI
16 - 77E - Jonathan Eilen (TS) - Hampton, MN
17 - 87 - Nathan Haseleu (TS) - Marshall, WI
18 - 75T - Joel Theisen (R) - Maple Grove, MN
19 - 58 - Cardell Potter - Camp Douglas, WI
20 - 39 - Andrew Morrissey (TS) - DeForest, WI
21 - 89 - Matt Tift - Hinckley, OH
22 - 63 - Gary LaMonte - West Allis, WI
23 - 70 - Neil Knoblock - Wausau, WI
24 - 25S - Jeff Storm (TS) - Waterford, WI
25 - 66 - Steve Carlson (TS) - West Salem, WI
26 - 34 - Brandon Hill - Genoa City, WI
27 - 36 - Dan Fredrickson - Lakeville, MN
28 - 51K - Becca Kasten - Mecquon, WI
29 - 25K - Ross Kenseth (TS) - Spring Valley, IL
30 - 80 - Bryan Reffner - Steven’s Point, WI
Lap Leaders: Johnny Sauter (1-100)
ECHO Quick Cut Qualifier presented by VDL and B&B Racing Engines: #64 Griffin McGrath (1st of the Season)
Hedman Husler Hedders Husler Zone (Winners Circle): 1) #43 Johnny Sauter; 2) #5 Travis Sauter; 3) #75W Jason Weinkauf
Hedman Husler Hedders Hard Charger presented by Tesar Engineering: 76 Jason Weinkauf (+11)
Provisional Starters: 77E Jonathan Eilen; 66 Steve Carlson; 63 Gary Lamonte; 34 Brandon Hill
Next Race: 2011 Season Complete; Watch for 2012 Schedule Details to be released soon.
Rookie of the Year Points: 1) #78 Skylar Holzhausen (R) 1602; 2) 75T Joel Theisen (R) 1303; 3) #22S Jeremy Spoonmore (R) 513
Championship Points: 1) 39 Andrew Morrissey (TS) 1,757; 2) 72 Jacob Goede (TS) 1705; 3) 87 Nathan Haseleu (TS) 1,700; 4) 21 Tim Schendel (TS) 1,674; 5) 52 Chris Wimmer (TS) 1646; 6) 77E Jonathan Eilen (TS) 1612; 7) 64 Griffin McGrath (TS) 1612; 8) 78 Skylar Holzhausen (R) 1602; 9) 75W Chris Weinkauf (TS) 1602; 10) 66 Steve Carlson (TS) 1,596
This article was posted to the website on October 9th, 2011 • Click to view all related content in the following categories
