Excitement Builds for Friday’s Howie Lettow Classic at Madison

Story Image

Dan Fredrickson Leads Points Chase / Johnny Sauter Returns to MIS

There have been over 700 feature races for the Super Late Models at Madison since the installation of Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile in 1969, and each of those racing events has brought out the best drivers in the region to battle for the checkered flag and a chance to enter their names in the record book. This Friday night will be no exception.

That’s because the Howie Lettow Classic takes center stage on Friday night as the Championship Round of the Super Late Model Triple Crown Challenge. This 50 lap event honors Howie Lettow, a well-respected crew chief who worked with eight ASA Rookie of the Year drivers including six-time NASCAR champion Jimmy Johnson plus one series champion, and three champions in the ASA Late Model Challenge Series. Lettow passed away in 2010 at the age of 62.

This will be the sixth running of the Howie Lettow Classic. There is quite an impressive list of past winners of this event. Ty Majeski of Seymour, Wisconsin, won the 2015 race while Erik Jones (2014), Kyle Busch (2013), and Travis Sauter (2012) also took home checkered flags. The first three events were held at the Milwaukee Mile. Last season’s race at Madison was rained out.

The Howie Lettow Classic is the third round of the Super Late Model Triple Crown Challenge at Madison. Dan Fredrickson and Rich Bickle Jr. won the first two races held in June and July. Overall point standings are maintained with qualifying, heat race, and feature points all calculating into the total. Fredrickson is the current point leader with 237 points followed in the top five by Bickle Jr. (208), Bobby Wilberg (181), John Beale (175), and Paul Shafer Jr. (166). All of these drivers will be on-track Friday night including NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Johnny Sauter, two-time champion Casey Johnson, and the winningest Triple Crown Challenge driver Travis Sauter.

Past champions of the Triple Crown Challenge at Madison are Casey Johnson (2016), Jeremy Miller (2015), Chris Wimmer (2014), Johnson (2013), and Nathan Haseleu (2012) also winners.

Three more divisions will also be in action on Friday night. The Midwest Trucks will be making their fourth appearance of the season with Kevin Knuese, Nick Egan and Chester Ace taking home victories. The trucks have competed in nearly 80 feature events at Madison since 1997. The Central States Region Super Cups will also be in action with Jamie Domski the winner earlier this year. For the first time ever, the Northern Illinois Vintage Stock Cars will also be in action on ‘Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile’.

Adult tickets are $18.00 / Seniors and Whelen Heroes $16.00 / Students 12-17 $10.00 / Children 6-11 $5.00 / Kids 5 and under free. A “Family” ticket is just $40.00 and includes two adults and up to four students / children which can be a savings of up to $36.00.

Expected Entries as of 8/16/17

Car #

Name

Hometown

State

5

Casey Johnson

Edgerton

WI

5

Jeff Holmgren, Jr

East Troy

WI

5

John Beale

Verona

WI

5

Johnny Sauter

Necedah

WI

7

Paul Shafer, Jr

Portage

IN

11

Alex Prunty

Lomira

WI

13

Mikie Breiner

Wonder Lake

IL

14

Austin Nason

Roscoe

IL

15

Dean LaPointe

Marshfield

WI

22

Jeremy Spoonmore

Somonauk

IL

25

Jeff Storm

East Troy

WI

28

Jake Finney

Sycamore

IL

33

Reagan May

DePere

WI

36

Dan Fredrickson

Lakeville

MN

39

Andrew Morrissey

DeForest

WI

45

Jeff VanOudenhoven

Appleton

WI

45

Rich Bickle, Jr

Edgerton

WI

47

Travis Sauter

Prairie du Sac

WI

62

John Heath

Lakeville

MN

99

Bobby Wilberg

Beloit

WI