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Dassow Signs With T.D. Racing Development Group That Buys Former WalTom Racing Team
By: T.D. Racing Development/M.P.H. Promotions
West Bend, Wisconsin (02/09/2007): In one of the most blockbuster deals of the
off season within the ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts;
T.D. Racing Development is teaming up with veteran Crew Chief Howie Lettow and
the former WalTom Racing Team for the upcoming 2007 season and immediately has
to be considered one of the heavy favorites for the 2007 ASALMS Challenge
Division Championship.
West Bend, Wisconsin stand out, Travis Dassow and his T.D. Racing Team have
joined forces with the Two-Time Defending ASALMS Challenge Division
Championship team for the 2007 season! Dassow and his new crew will make a run
for the 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division Championship as well as make select
appearances in the ASALMS Northern Division sporting the #89 that has won the
last two ASALMS Challenge Division Championships!
"I want to thank everyone involved who made this happen. I also want to
especially thank Howie Lettow for choosing me to drive for him." Stated a
very happy Dassow. "This will be the first time that I have ever had a
full time Crew Chief, and I can't believe it is with one of the best in the
business. Being able to race with such a great team has been a dream of mine
since I started racing and I have a real good feeling that we are going to
"click" right away." Dassow added.
The new T.D. Racing Development Team will inherit almost the entire former
WalTom Racing Crew, with the exception of Chris Purdy, who has moved on to
become the new Crew Chief for 5K Motorsports, that helped win the 2006 ASALMS
Challenge Division Championship and Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year
title with Kelly Bires, who will be running for the 2007 Rookie of the Year
title in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series with Wood Brothers JTG Racing, and
the 2005 ASALMS Championship with Stephen Leicht, who's running the full
NASCAR Busch Series schedule for Robert Yates Racing in 2007.
"Words can't explain how excited I am for this opportunity, It came
together so fast that I still don't believe it's happening. I am really
excited to start working with the whole team and can't wait until the first
race in San Antonio." Added Dassow. That first race for the new ASALMS
powerhouse is set for Friday and Saturday March 2-3, 2007 at the San Antonio
(TX) Speedway in San Antonio, Texas for the 2nd annual Alamo 200.
"I wanted a driver that knows the cars inside and out and has and is
willing to work the 60-70 hours week to get the job done." Added new Crew
Chief, Howie Lettow. "Travis knows the ASALMS cars and has done his own
setups in the past, I know he can give me the feedback we need." Lettow
stated.
Over the years, Lettow has an impressive history in working with young
drivers. 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson is one of Lettow’s
former drivers back in 1998 as is David Stremme in 2002. Some of the top notch
pilots that were under the guidance of Lettow also includes; the late Pat
Schauer, as well as Ken Lund, Ted Musgrave, and Scott Hansen, all of whom won
the Rookie of the Year title in the now defunct ASA National Tour.
Lettow was also the Crew Chief for Tony Raines during his 1996 Championship
season in the old ASA tour and over his career, Lettow has also worked with
such talented drivers as Kenny Schrader, Jimmy Spencer, Mark Martin, Harry
Gant and Sterling Marlin during his long and illustrious career. Now Stephen
Leicht and Kelly Bires, the last two ASALMS Challenge Division Champions under
the tutelage of Lettow have both moved on to the ranks of NASCAR.
Lettow raved about his newest driver as he continued; "I felt that Travis
has proven this over his racing career, doing a great job with very little. He
was at the top of our list when we were looking at drivers, and it was a big
plus with someone local that would be in the shop everyday." Lettow
remarked.
As for why WalTom Racing decided to call it quits after the 2006 season,
Lettow explained; "I was surprised when Wally and Tom told us they were
selling WalTom Racing. I appreciate that they did everything they could to
keep the team the way it was, and the same crew working together. Everything
will be pretty much the same as what it was. I couldn't be happier that
everything came together the way it did." Lettow continued.
"We currently have a solid budget to run this year, it won't quite be
what we had in the past, but we are just starting up again." Lettow
added. "Hopefully we will be able to find some sponsorship, and maybe
another investor, so we can do some more races." He ended.
Travis' Father, Mike Dassow was elated after the contracts were signed and now
the potent new team can focus on the upcoming 2007 ASALMS Challenge Division
Championship. "I couldn't be happier for Travis to have the opportunity
to race for Howie and such a high caliber team. It's been pretty stressful the
last couple of weeks with all the calls from friends and racers wondering why
we were selling our team, and if they could help in any way?"
"I especially want to thank the investors who made this all happen in
such a short period of time. They have not made a final decision on the name,
but they are looking at T.D. Racing Development, using their first drivers
initials as a way to incorporate T.D. Racing. Dassow continued.
As for the elder Dassow's new role on the new team, he'll still be involved in
a numerous amount of ways. "I will still be involved with the team with
finding sponsors, maybe some body work if they want me to, and help out with
spotting when needed. I will also help out with some of the business end of
it, but this will free up a tremendous amount of time that I can devote to my
business and Trevor's racing career." Dassow explained as he talked about
his younger son, 14-year-old Trevor Dassow.
"Trevor is really excited about the whole thing, and is looking forward
to helping out at the shop and the track. I am currently trying to find some
sponsorship for both of the boys, that's almost another full time job."
Dassow added.
The younger brother of ASALMS Challenge Division stand out, Travis Dassow. The
now 14-year-old Trevor Dassow became the youngest driver in ASALMS history to
start a feature when, at 13 years old, the younger Dassow took the green flag
for the Adirondack 200 at the Adirondack (NY) International Speedway on August
12, 2006.
Both Dassow Brothers are now managed by Brad Weber and Weber Sports Marketing
of Los Angeles, California and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Weber represents and
manages some of the most talented young drivers in racing today including Cale
Gale, driver for Kevin Harvick Incorporated as well as 2006 ASALMS Challenge
Division Champion and Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year, Kelly Bires,
Tim Schendel, the 2006 NASCAR Midwest Series/Toyota All Star Showdown Champion
and now Travis and Trevor Dassow.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Travis in his young racing career
to drive for a crew chief with Howie Lettows wealth of knowledge.” Brad
added. "For young drivers who want to make it to the next level it's
important to not always jump at the first opportunity that comes across your
plate, but to make sure it's the right choice for your career as a driver.”
Weber explained.
“This is a partnership we've been working on for awhile, the two of them
have a great relationship together. A few of the things that really impressed
me about Travis is that he's attending college on a Mechanical Engineering
Scholarship, so when he's in the car he knows what's underneath him.” Weber
added.
“He understands how to set up a car to run to it's limits in qualifying and
communicating with his team the changes that need to be made throughout the
course of a race". He has an incredible work ethic and is determined to
succeed as a driver." Weber ended.
As for Travis Dassow's racing career; the outgoing "Patriarch of the
Young Lions of the ASALMS" will pass that torch on in 2007 as the
19-year-old, who will turn 20 on March 17, 2007, completed his Sophomore
season in the ASALMS in 2006, running in the top 5 most of the season and an
impressive seventh place finish in the final ASALMS Challenge Division Points
Standings.
Dassow collected One Top Five finish, an impressive third place showing at the
Oswego (NY) Speedway on June 10, 2006 during the Fleet Pride 200. Overall,
Dassow racked up Eight Top 10s and also won Two Fast Qualifier Awards at the
Adirondack (NY) International Speedway and again at the brand new Iowa (IA)
Speedway. He also racked up an amazing twenty five straight ASA races without
a DNF [Did Not Finish] over the 2005 and 2006 season.
During the 2006 ASALMS Awards Banquet, Dassow's Team, T.D. Racing won the 2006
ASALMS Best Appearing Crew Award. In addition, Dassow competed part time at
his home track of the Slinger (WI) Super Speedway and despite those limited
appearances, finished 13th in the final points standings. Travis is also
planning on on racing once again at Slinger for the 2007 season.
During the 2005 season, Dassow was a strong contender all season for the Pat
Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title, Dassow earned three Top five
finishes including a season high third at the Sandusky (OH) Speedway on August
20, 2005. Overall Dassow picked up five top 10 showings during the season to
finish ninth overall and fifth in the freshman title chase.
Dassow began his racing career in snowmobiles at age five, he accumulated 10
points and five world championships. At age eight Travis began racing go-karts
at a variety of tracks through the Midwest and won two track championships.
Dassow advanced to stock car racing at the Wisconsin Dells Motor Speedway (Now
Dells Raceway Park) in 2002, earning the Super Late Models Rookie of the Year
honors and backed it up the following year with a top 10 points finish. Dassow
capped off another great season with a top 10 points finish in 2004 at the
fast 0.250 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval of the Slinger (WI) Super Speedway.
Also in 2004, Dassow made two appearances in what is now the ASALMS Challenge
Division and won the Fast Qualifier Award and still holds the track record for
the ASALMS at the Rockford (IL) Speedway.
For the 2007 season, Dassow will carry sponsorship on the side of his machine
from: Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, as well as Nestle and Willy
Wonka Candy, Osborn and Sons Trucking, Bob Fish Pontiac/Buick/GMC, G&W
Vendors, Choice Equipment, V.S.A. Vi-Star, Seven Mile Fair, Schaeffers Oil,
Gary's Auto Repair, Weber Sports Marketing, M.P.H. Promotions, and T.D. Racing
Development will also sport decals on Dassow's efforts.
For sponsorship inquiries, please contact Mike Dassow at: 1 (414) 690-2215 or
e-mail Mike at: mdassow@aol.com or you
can also contact Brad Weber with Weber Sports Marketing at 1 (310) 699-2919
and you can e-mail him at: weberswebb@aol.com.
Finally you can log onto the teams website at: T.D.
Racing Development
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