Kyle Nuttleman / Ultimate Lap Photo & Mike Ramsell
By: Kevin Ramsell
Oregon, WI – Dalton Zehr has come close to victory when the ASA Midwest Tour visits Madison International Speedway. On Friday night, he got his fifth Tour victory in the Howie Lettow Classic 100.
The Port Orange, Florida native, now residing in Verona, Wisconsin held off a late charge from current ASA Midwest Tour point leader Gabe Sommers in the closing laps to secure the win.
“In racing, you haven’t lost unless you give up,” Zehr said with a smile after the race. “We kept trying here at Madison and we finally got the win tonight. The car was fast and it was enough to get it done.”
Zehr started fourth and fell back to sixth in the early going of the 100-lap event honoring one of the more successful crew chiefs in the Midwest. He worked his way back up to a podium position by lap 39.
After the second of two cautions in the event on lap 58 for Joe Valento’s spin in turn two after making contact with Brent Edmunds, Paul Shafer Jr., who was the class of the field up to this point was leading the field back to the green flag with Casey Johnson on the outside and Zehr behind him.
As the field rolled in turns three and four heading towards the green flag, Shafer slowed and had sparks coming out of his right front side as it appeared he blew his tire. He would go to the pits and return to the field, but would fall out later with mechanical issues.
Per Midwest Tour rules, the inside row moved up a spot, putting Zehr on the front row with Johnson.
The two former Midwest Tour champions traded the lead back and forth with forty laps to go in the race while getting by lap traffic. Zehr would get by Johnson for the final time heading into turn three when the two hit their tires causing Johnson to drift up in three and four, allowing Sommers to get by for second.
Zehr would get out to about a second lead until he hit heavy traffic with five laps to go allowing Sommers to close in, but would not get close enough to challenge as the checkered flag waved for Zehr.
“I was very cognitive about it, I kept saying to myself you got the lead this way, and let’s not lose it this way,” Zehr commented. “I tried to get a little bit of a gap to work the traffic, but we got it done.”
Sommers, who was trying to get the second win in a row, had a good points night with his second place finish, and holds a 25-point lead over Levon Van Der Geest with three events remaining in the season.
“Dalton was good and Casey was good too,” Sommers said. “The car was pretty good, I was happy with the run. Second place here, with a lot of great competition, can’t be disappointed about that.”
Johnson, who last visited ASAMT victory lane two years ago, was hoping for the win but dealing with lap traffic didn’t go his way.
“We had a decent car, just wasn’t enough to run away. Seems like on the long runs with these tires, they kind of flame out and you are just sliding faster than the next guy,” Johnson said. “Ended up catching a lap car who didn’t know where he wanted to go, and lost every advantage I had. It ruined our day.”
Justin Mondeik finished fourth with James Lynch rounding out the top five.
Andy Jones finished sixth with fast qualifier Luke Fenhaus finishing seventh.
Ty Majeski, who started at the rear of the field because of a scheduled autograph session in Pewaukee earlier in the evening, worked his way up to an eighth place finish.
Van Der Geest, second in points, finished ninth with Max Kahler rounding out the top ten.
The ASA Midwest Tour heads to Dells Raceway Park on Saturday, August 31st for the Jim Sauter Classic 200-lap event. Tickets are on sale now at midwesttour.racing.
You can watch a replay of tonight’s race at tracktv.com.