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American Speed Association Informational Meeting Held
Over 125 attendees filled the Chula Vista Golf Course Club House for the ASAMT
informational meeting
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (March 19, 2007) – The American Speed Association Kwik
Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment held its 2007
preseason informational meeting Saturday at the Chula Vista Resort Golf Course
Club House in Wisconsin Dells. The Club House was packed with over 125
attendees.
The meeting covered the areas of introducing ASA Midwest Tour personnel,
special guests, Advisory Board members, 2007 incentive and bonus, programs,
technical procedures and the inspection process, race day procedures, special
events featuring NASCAR drivers, and miscellaneous topics. All registrants in
attendance received a package of contingency stickers, coupons, important
forms, and other giveaways from sponsors. Echo Outdoor Power Equipment brought
several pieces of yard equipment for attendees to get a feel on first hand and
also supplied hats free of charge. Kwik Trip made a splash, unveiling the
design for the 2007 Kwik Trip Racing van, which will be fully outfitted with a
kitchen setup to provide food and drinks to teams on race day. Kwik Trip also
gave each registrant a multitude of gifts ranging from $10 gas cards to in
store coupons and discounts, along with a beautiful piece of luggage that
drivers could use for their driving apparel and helmet.
The ASA Midwest Tour personnel that were present included: Tim Olson
(President/ Director of Operations), Steve Einhaus (Vice President/Race Event
Director/PR Director), Mike Lemke (Technical Director), Natasha Steenbergen
(Media/Publicist), John Heimrel (Tech Official), Eric Peterson (Tech
Official/Flagman/Assistant Race Director) and Faith Olson (Registration).
Special guests in attendance included Gary Gonczy (Director of Marketing and
Advertising, Kwik Trip Stores), Jason Dettman and Ron Freund (Territory
Managers for Golden Eagle Distributing and Echo Outdoor Power Equipment), Jim
Naumann (Competition Race Technology), and Dan Lensing (representing
Lefthander Chassis).
The American Speed Association Midwest Tour Advisory Board is made up of John
McKarns (co-founder ARTGO), Carl Schultz (co-founder Five Star Racecar
Bodies), and Dennis Huth (Owner ASA Racing and the ASA Member Track Progam).
Topics covered under 2007 programs included announcing the standard purse and
special events purse, as well as the points fund and its breakdown; also
explaining the Touring Stars program, Educational Series, sponsorship bonus
programs, contingency decal requirements, hotel discount program, Kwik Trip
incentive programs, and the Echo Outdoor Power Equipment ASA Member discount
program.
Wyndham Worldwide was named as the official hotel partner. Wyndham Worldwide
and its Trip Rewards program allow the race teams to save extensively on
partnering hotel stays while traveling. Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses nearly
6,500 franchised hotels and more than 543,000 hotel rooms worldwide under the,
Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Baymont Inn
& Suites®, Wingate Inn®, Travelodge®, Howard Johnson®, AmeriHost Inn®
and Knights Inn® brands. All hotels are owned individually and operated
independently or by a Wyndham Hotel Group subsidiary.
Wyndham Hotel Group offers membership in its TripRewards® loyalty program,
the largest in the lodging industry based on the number of participating
hotels.
All attending drivers participated in a full uniformed photo shoot. The group
photo will be distributed on 10,000 13”x19” posters across the Midwest and
will be available for fans at Kwik Trip stores and Echo dealerships. “The
posters are just one more way to connect with the fans and get them excited
about upcoming events,” commented ASAMT VP Steve Einhaus.
Members were informed to call Mike Lemke regarding rules questions. Attendees
also received clarification on crate engine and sealed engine requirements,
tire impounding and tire purchasing procedures, the home track rule for local
drivers, body appearance requirements and the need to comply with the Referee,
head and neck restraint recommendations and how penalties will be enforced.
Race day procedures were explained covering protocol from registration to the
Winner’s Circle. The full explanation of race procedures is available
online. Numerous fan programs were unveiled that will serve to create several
opportunities for fan involvement at each event. “We want to do a variety of
different programs to interact with the fans and make our events memorable for
them. Fan involvement is one of the core values of the ASA Midwest Tour and we
have some great plans for this season,” Einhaus added.
Seven of the events are considered Special Events: Elko Speedway April 28,
Dells Raceway Park June 12, LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway July 3, Grundy
County Speedway July 13, Madison International Speedway July 20, Wisconsin
International Raceway August 7, and LaCrosse Oktoberfest Championship weekend
October 5-7. Several of these events will include NASCAR drivers. Driver
feedback was also sought for 2008 event planning.
Attendees learned about car number selection and the procedure for handling
double numbers. Autograph sessions and requirements surrounding appearances
were also discussed, along with rain date policies, driver and sponsor
promotion, spotter requirements and radio monitoring, license requirements,
entry fees and deadlines, and race day events to keep the fans involved.
"We have been in the planning stages for many months now and we are
trying to prepare every bit of information possible so we can allow our teams
to be ready to go for our first event," Einhaus concluded, “The meeting
was fantastic. We were very pleased with the turnout and the response was very
positive from everyone that was in attendance. We’ve developed a great base
for a Tour that people will want to see. It’s going to be fun for the fans
with all of the programs we have slated for their involvement at every race.
We would especially like to thank Doug Hornickel for his expertise in
conducting our photo shoot. We’ve announced his position as the official
photographer for the Tour and he’ll be an integral part in our media
presentation throughout the year.”
To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour
presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment please contact the ASA Midwest Tour
office by calling (262) 514-3880 or by e-mailing Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com
or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.
To learn more of 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 all the racetracks and regional tours involved
in the American Speed Association, visit www.asa-racing.com.
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