ARCA Midwest Tour

The ASA Midwest Tour (until 2022: ARCA Midwest Tour) is a pavement Super Late Model auto racing series based in the Midwestern United States with its headquarters in Oregon, Wisconsin.[1] 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.[1]

Not to be confused with ASA Late Model Series.
ASA Midwest Tour
CategoryStock car racing
Country United States
Inaugural season2007
Drivers' championCasey Johnson (3rd title)
Official websitestarsnationaltour.com/midwest

History
The Midwest Tour under ASA sanction
Trailer in 2013

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.[1]

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.[1] 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.[2] The purchase of ARCA by NASCAR on April 27, 2018[3][4] 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
Ty Majeski

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.

Seasons
2015 car of champion Ty Majeski

2023 season
Rnd Date Race Name Track Location Fast Qualifier Winner
1 April 23 Miracle On the High Banks 75 Slinger Speedway Slinger, Wisconsin Ryan Farrell RJ Braun
2 May 7 Joe Shear Classic 200 Madison International Speedway Oregon, Wisconsin Paul Shafer Jr. Ty Majeski
3 May 27 Salute the Troops 100 Jefferson Speedway Cambridge, Wisconsin Gabe Sommers Dalton Zehr
4 June 18 Father’s Day 100 Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin Ty Majeski Ty Majeski
5 July 8 Wayne Carter Classic 100 Grundy County Speedway Morris, Illinois James Lynch Paul Shafer Jr.
6 July 22 Larry Detjens Memorial 125 State Park Speedway Wausau, Wisconsin Gabe Sommers Brock Heinrich
7 August 1 Gandrud Auto Group 250 Wisconsin International Raceway Kaukauna, Wisconsin Luke Fenhaus Ty Majeski
8 August 19 Hawkeye 100 Hawkeye Downs Speedway Cedar Rapids, Iowa Gabe Sommers Gabe Sommers
9 August 25 Howie Lettow Classic 100 Madison International Speedway Oregon, Wisconsin Derek Kraus Austin Nason
10 September 2 Jim Sauter Classic 200 Dells Raceway Park Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Max Kahler Ty Majeski
≠ September 23 Thunderstruck 93 Elko Speedway Elko New Market, Minnesota Race weekend cancelled due to rain
11 October 8 Oktoberfest 200 La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway West Salem, Wisconsin Ty Fredrickson Gabe Sommers

Champions and Rookies of the Year
SeasonChampionRookie of the Year
2007Nathan HaseleuJonathan Eilen
2008Dan FredricksonNick Murgic
2009Steve CarlsonJacob Goede
2010Steve Carlson (2)Ross Kenseth
2011Andrew MorrisseySkylar Holzhausen
2012Jonathan EilenMatt Tifft
2013Dan FredricksonJames Swan
2014Ty MajeskiTy Majeski
2015Ty Majeski (2)Austin Nason[5]
2016Ty Majeski (3)Casey Johnson
2017Ty Majeski (4)Michael Ostdiek
2018Dalton Zehr[6]Billy Mohn
2019Casey JohnsonGabe Sommers
2020Casey Johnson (2)
2021Ty Majeski (5)Luke Fenhaus
2022 Casey Johnson (3) Harley Jankowski
2023Gabe SommersBryan Syre-Keske

Tracks
2014 race at Wisconsin International Raceway

The series has raced at 23 different race tracks, mainly in the Upper Midwest:

TrackTownStateRaces
Madison International SpeedwayOregonWisconsin21
La Crosse Fairgrounds SpeedwayWest SalemWisconsin16
Elko SpeedwayElkoMinnesota14
Wisconsin International RacewayKaukaunaWisconsin14
Dells Raceway ParkWisconsin DellsWisconsin14
Grundy County SpeedwayMorrisIllinois12
State Park SpeedwayWausauWisconsin12
Hawkeye Downs SpeedwayCedar RapidsIowa8
Marshfield SuperspeedwayMarshfieldWisconsin8
Norway SpeedwayNorwayMichigan8
Jefferson SpeedwayCambridgeWisconsin7
Milwaukee MileWest AllisWisconsin7
Rockford SpeedwayLoves ParkIllinois6
Illiana Motor SpeedwayScherervilleIndiana5
Raceway ParkShakopeeMinnesota5
Iowa SpeedwayNewtonIowa4
Toledo SpeedwayToledoOhio2
Gateway International SpeedwayMadisonIllinois2
Golden Sands SpeedwayPloverWisconsin2
Berlin RacewayMarneMichigan1
I-94 SpeedwaySauk CentreMinnesota1
Nashville Fairgrounds SpeedwayNashvilleTennessee1
Slinger SpeedwaySlingerWisconsin1

References
  1. Kallman, Dave (November 13, 2012). "Midwest Tour joins ARCA stock-car family for 2013". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  2. "McKarns Takes Over ARCA Midwest Tour Ownership | Speed 51 | 100% Short Track Racing". speed51.com. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  3. Dale, Holly (April 27, 2018). "NASCAR acquires ARCA, affirming commitment to next generation of racers". NASCAR. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  4. "NASCAR Welcomes ARCA to the Family". Automobile Racing Club of America. April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  5. Kevin Ramsell & Stephanie Johnson. "Dan Fredrickson's Late Charge Makes him a Four-Time Oktoberfest Winner". LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  6. "Zehr Clinches ARCA Midwest Title Over Upset Nason". Speed51.com. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
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