By: Kevin Ramsell
As the inaugural American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment champion, Nathan Haseleu hoped that his 2008 season would have been better. But as he goes into the 2009 season, he is very optimistic that he will return to his championship level.

The Marshall, WI native had a tough start to the 2008 season as he had to use a provisional to get in the season opening event at Elko Speedway. But he was able to rebound by having three top-five and eight top-ten finishes in 14 starts this season.

“We have had a couple of good runs and we had a couple more that could have been good runs that didn’t work out. Kind of like everybody else if you look at the year,” Haseleu stated. “It’s been a struggle but I think we are heading in the right direction and hopefully next year we can be a little bit more competitive and run where I think we should.”

At the end of the 2008 season, he and his Swiss Colony/raceteamgear.com team showed that they were heading into the right direction as he collected two second place finishes in the final two ASAMT events at Marshfield and La Crosse earning them an eighth place finish in the points and Touring Star status for 2009.

Not only did he end his season with the ASAMT on a high note, but he also was the overall winner of the Dick Trickle “99” event at the Oktoberfest Race Weekend at La Crosse and was the track champion at Madison International Speedway. And on top of that, he and his crew won the Best Appearing Car & Crew competition at Oktoberfest.

While it was a struggle for Haseleu and his team this season, he realizes that it will only get tougher from here on out, “There was a lot of competition when it started and it has gotten more and more. The best drivers in the area are running. It’s a tough deal and it’s only going to get tougher,” Haseleu explained. “But it’s a lot of fun though.”

While he knows how tough the competition is, he also appreciates the quality of that competition, “There are a lot of experienced drivers that race hard but they do give a little give and take. There really isn’t as many cautions like some other series. I guess it’s just the quality of racers.”

And that quality has also funneled down to his team where it makes them a quality product for his sponsors and future sponsors. “Through The Swiss Colony/raceteamgear.com, the promotions that we do at the track and with us racing, I think we try to be as professional as we can and put the best quality car and most competitive car that we can every week,” Haseleu commented.

As the inaugural series champion, Haseleu has been pleased with the progression of the ASA Midwest Tour as well, “With the ASA Midwest Tour, with what they do at all of the different venues they go too, their website is top notch, the promotions that they do is great.”

The ASAMT Touring Star program was developed to help the series promote each special event prior to, during, and after each event. Each year a group of Touring Stars will be selected to the travel bonus program.

In 2009, the top-14 from the 2008 points standing will be eligible for the Touring Star program. Those drivers who are eligible will be required to sign an agreement with a promise to attend all ASAMT events and to participate in all promotional programs or opportunities. Failure to do so will result in removal from the bonus program. Touring Stars will be allowed one (1) excused absence due to unforeseen reasons that is approved by the ASAMT office.

Those eligible drivers must have their agreement signed by February 28, 2009 to be in the program. If an eligible driver declines, then the Touring Star offer will go to the next eligible driver in the 2008 points standing prior to the start of the 2009 season. If a star drops out during the season, it will go to the next eligible driver in the current 2009 points standing.

The 15th spot in the ASAMT Touring Star program is reserved for the highest finishing rookie at an ASAMT event. If they are the highest finishing eligible rookie at any 2009 ASAMT events, they will receive a Touring Star bonus at the next event.

“The Touring Star program accomplishes a major goal that Tim (Olson, ASAMT President) and I set when we started this series. That is we want to have our fans local heroes to compete against the best Midwest drivers,” Steve Einhaus, ASAMT Vice-President stated. “When we come to compete at a track with our Touring Stars, we encourage the local competitors to race with us. This is a win-win for everyone. The fans get to see some great racing and the local heroes get to show their talent against some of the toughest competition in the United States.”

Haseleu and his fellow ASAMT competitors are now getting ready for the season opening event on Saturday, April 25th at Dells Raceway Park.

For more information on Nate, please visit his website at www.nathanhaseleu.com.