MID-AMERICAN TO RETURN TO MILWAUKEE MILE

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
February 6, 2013

FORT ATKINSON, Wis. (February 5, 2013) – After four seasons without an event at the Milwaukee Mile, the Mid-American Stock Car Series is returning to one of its premier tracks in 2013. The series will be a part of ARCA Fest Monday, July 8 and Tuesday, July 9.

Mid-American is scheduled to qualify early Monday evening and compete in the afternoon hours on Tuesday leading up to the ARCA Midwest Tour’s Howie Lettow Memorial (scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start time). More event details will be released throughout the offseason.

“We couldn’t be more excited about a return to Milwaukee,” said series co-owner Doug Strasburg. “In addition to Road America, the most prestigious events in Mid-American’s 20-plus-year history have been at the Mile.”

The series’ last visit was during Governor’s Cup Weekend in 2008. A total of 33 racers were on hand for what turned out to be a historic upset win by then 18-year-old Ross Zumbach of Racine, Minn., - at the time dubbing him as one of the youngest winner’s in the track’s lengthy history.

In 2007, 48 MASCS racers showed up to test the Mile with a monstrous 25-car last chance race deciding the final ten spots. The feature event was cut short, however, as a massive pile up occurred within the final five laps. Just a short drive from his hometown of Oak Creek, Bobby Gutknecht held off Lyle Nowak for the win.

The first visit under the Strasburg ownership took place in 2006. James Swan was victorious on the way to claiming his second Mid-American title by besting a field or 38. One day later Bill Prietzel picked up his first win at the Mile in a $2,000-to-win dash for cash. The Mile is just minutes away from Prietzel’s business in West Allis.

“In the new era of Mid-American, we’ve had some solid car counts and intensely competitive events at Milwaukee,” Strasburg said. “I hate to use the cliché, but this really is every MASCS team’s Daytona. They all want to race, to be competitive and take home that trophy.”

Strasburg, who as a driver gave Howie Lettow his first Late Model track record and track championship as a crew chief, feels this is the perfect event and venue for Mid-American to highlight its 2013 season.

“What’s more is some of the ties Mid-Am racers have to Milwaukee,” he continued. “Whether it’s Bill Prietzel, whose business is just down the road, Lyle Nowak, who is sponsored by Milwaukee-based Sprechers, or James Swan, winning in ’06 with his sponsor Hankscraft hosting an event at the race, Milwaukee has always meant just that much more for a lot of our racers.”

Drivers were pleasantly surprised by the announcement at the MASCS banquet in mid-January. Earlier this offseason in a meeting at the Midwest Racers’ Expo, drivers assured Strasburg they would be ok with sacrificing a couple days of vacation in order to race at The Mile again.

“Our drivers made it clear that they wanted to return to The Mile,” Strasburg said. “We’re happy that along with the ARCA Midwest Tour and the other support divisions we can give our drivers a chance to take part not only in the history of Milwaukee, but also in part of a great event with those other series.”

The two-day ARCA Fest promises to be more than just a racing atmosphere with announcements on the event coming soon to www.arcafest.com. Along with the ARCA Midwest Tour’s headlining Lettow Memorial, the Big 8 Late Model Series, Midwest Truck Tour and I.M.C.A. Old Timers Vintage will compete.

An all new start time will be utilized to accommodate more racing and to keep from the need of utilizing lights this season.

For more information on the event itself, including announcements and event details visit either www.arcafest.com or www.arcamidwesttour.com

For more information on the Mid-American Stock Car Series visit www.midamericaracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (facebook.com/midamscs) or Twitter (@MASCS).