OREGON, Wis. — When the ASA STARS National Tour rolls into Madison Int’l Speedway for the Joe Shear Classic on Sunday, May 7, it will mark the return of the ASA brand to the Wisconsin half-mile oval for the first time in 18 years.
Sauterville
The Sauter family has a played a huge role in the history of short- track racing in Wisconsin and in ASA. Jim Sauter won the first ASA event at MIS (Capital Super Speedway back then) in July of 1984. His son Tim won the last ASA National Tour event at MIS on July 17, 2004, and has been invited back as a “Guest of Honor” by the track and the ASA STARS National Tour. He will also serve as color analyst for the broadcast of the race.
And Johnny Sauter? Well, Johnny was the 2001 ASA Racing Series national champion and is entered to compete in the 16th annual Joe Shear Classic. He took advantage of the open practice at Madison on Saturday, April 29, and will be one of the pre-race favorites to win his third Joe Shear Classic.
Back in the Saddle
Veteran super late model racer Paul Shafer Jr. returns to the driver’s seat at MIS after a year off. A fan-favorite in Wisconsin, Shafer will split driving time for the ASA STARS National Tour races with 2022 Snowball Derby Winner Derek Thorn in the No.7.
Thorn set fast time at the STARS Tour opener at Five Flags Speedway in March before a mid-race crash relegated him to 23rd in the final running order.
Shafer will be seeking his second victory at MIS (Howie Lettow Classic 2017) and fourth win in the ASA Midwest Tour.
Early Returns
Defending Slinger Super Speedway track champion RJ Braun has filed an entry for the Joe Shear Classic, just days after winning the Slinger and Midwest Tour season-opening event on April 23. The Slinger win propels the youngster into the limelight early in 2023 as one of the young guns to watch.
Last Chance
The stacked 41-car entry list will create a very interesting Last Chance race Sunday afternoon. The top 20 cars in Go Fas Pole Qualifying will be locked into the starting field, with the next four starting spots being secured by the top four finishers in the LCQ. The entry blank calls for a 28-car starting field, with provisional filling the final four spots.
Record Purse
The Joes Shear Classic will pay $15,000 to the race winner as part of an event record $65,750. This does not include payout for the Last Chance race, or the $1,000 bonus the fast qualifier will earn for the Go Fas Pole Award.
Stage Racing
The Joe Shear Classic 200 will be run in three stages. The stage breaks will occur at laps 75 and 150, and each of the first two stages will pay a $1,000 bonus to the race leader at the end of the stage – adding to the record purse.
The Joe Shear Classic is both an ASA STARS National Tour points race and an ASA MIdwest Tour points race.
The Joe Shear Classic will be live-streamed on SPEED SPORT affiliate MidwestTour.tv.