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ANDREW MORRISSEY BREAKS HIS WINLESS STREAK IN THE ASAMT
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.
Sauter took the outside, lining up next to Morrissey for the restart. The restart was a little dicey as drivers were all looking to make a charge to the front.
As the field started to spread out, Morrissey continued to lead, followed by Sauter, Holzhausen, a hard-charging Panitzke and Nathan Haseleu.
Haseleu was starting to making his move after being patient during the first 64 laps. Haseleu took the fourth spot with 25 to go.
Holzhausen powered by Sauter for second with 16 laps to go. Morrissey’s lead started shrinking by the lap as Holzhausen was all over his bumper with 10 to go.
Morrissey and Holzhuasen were side-by-side for the last final laps. They touched on the backstretch on the final lap giving Morrissey the edge.
Skylar Holzahausen, Nick Panitzke, Chris Weinkauf, and Nathan Haseleu rounded out the top five.
Drivers have less than a week to prepare before heading up to State Park Speedway for the World Wide Packaging State Park 125 on Saturday, May 19th.
Be sure to follow the ASA Midwest Tour on Facebook (asamidwesttour) and Twitter (@asamidwesttour).
To learn more about the American Speed Association® Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment and Lester Buildings, 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.
To learn more about the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association® Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association®, visit www.asaracing.com.