Mid-Am Racing Series
The Mid American Stock Car Series is a traveling Sportsman Series in the Midwestern United States. The series races exclusively on paved racetracks. The cars are based on a 108" metric stock frame, less costly suspension parts and a maximum of 358 cubic inch engine. The car's roll cage and chassis were made of a design very similar to the same chassis ran by NASCAR in the 80's, but have also included more modern chassis safety designs such as plated door bars and the "Earnhardt Bar" which runs from the roof to the dash.
History
The series was founded in 1993 by Gary Vercauteran. The Series was at one time a support class for the famous ARTGO Challenge Series. The Mid American corporation expanded to a traveling Supertruck Series named the Midwest Super Truck Series in 1995 and a traveling Super Late Model Series,[1] named the Midwest All-Star Racing Series (MARS) in 1999. The expansion also included the Stock Car Classics in 2004 and the American Stock Car League (ASL) in 2005. The passing of Vercauteran in October 2005 led to the purchase of Mid-American by longtime employees Doug and Julie Strasburg. The Strasburgs kept only the Mid American Stock Car Series while MARS and ASL were dissolved. The Stock Car Classics split into two groups (Classic Racing Series and Midwest Stock Car Classics). The Super Trucks were absorbed into the United States Super Trucks or USST.
Strasburg ownership era
When the Strasburgs took over Mid American in 2006, the series was struggling with car counts and tracks willing to host races. The average car count average jumped from 20 entrants per race to 27. A season high 39 participants ran at the Milwaukee Mile during the Governor's Cup Weekend. Several tracks have renewed relationships with the Mid-American Stock Car Series such as the Golden Sands Speedway, Marshfield Super Speedway, Dells Raceway Park and Road America.
Quick facts
- The series uses 8" Hoosier F-75 tires.
- Approved fiberglass car bodies include those from FiveStar Bodies, CASCAR and ARP Bodies.
Notable alumni
- Claire Decker - NASCAR driver, first NASCAR start in 2016
- Paige Decker - NASCAR driver, first NASCAR start in 2015
- Peter "Speedy" Hernandez - 2006 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver of the Year
- Eddie Hoffman - 1998 ARTGO Champion, multiple Super Late Model Track Championships in the Chicago area
- Ryan Mathews - Mid-American Super Trucks competitor from 1998 until 2000
- Bill Prietzel - first NASCAR start at Road America on June 23, 2012
- Tim Rothe - 2006 Track Champion at Wisconsin International Raceway
- Brett Sontag - 2004 American Speed Association National Tour Rookie of the Year, 6-time track champion
Tracks
- Elko Speedway[2]
- Grundy County Speedway
- Hawkeye Downs Speedway
- La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway
- Milwaukee Mile
- Rockford Speedway
- State Park Speedway
- Veteran's Raceway Park
Former tracks
- 141 Speedway – Francis Creek, Wisconsin[1]
- Dells Raceway Park – Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin[3]
- Golden Sands Speedway – Plover, Wisconsin[1]
- Lake Geneva Raceway – Lake Geneva, Wisconsin[3][1] (track closed after 2006 season)
- Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis – Indianapolis, Indiana
- Madison International Speedway – Oregon, Wisconsin
- Marshfield Motor Speedway – Marshfield, Wisconsin
- Michigan Ideal Speedway[1]
- Norway Speedway – Norway, Michigan
- Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
- South Bend Speedway[1]
- Wisconsin International Raceway – Kaukauna, Wisconsin[1]
Other tracks held the Super Truck Series events:
List of series champions
- 2015 Jeff Holtz[5]
- 2014 Jeff Holtz
- 2013 Brad Keith
- 2012 Jeremy Spoonmore[6]
- 2011 James Swan
- 2010 Lyle Nowak
- 2009 Paul Neisius
- 2008 James Swan
- 2007 James Swan
- 2006 James Swan
- 2005 Bill Prietzel
- 2004 Peter Hernandez[7]
- 2003 Bill Prietzel
- 2002 Rod Brewe[8]
- 2001 James Swan[8]
- 2000 Bill Prietzel
- 1999 Rick Corso[8]
- 1998 Jeff Storm[8]
- 1997 Jeff Storm
- 1996 Mark Pluer[8]
- 1995 Eddie Hoffman[8]
- 1994 Eddie Hoffman
- 1993 Eddie Hoffman
List of Vercauteran Memorial winners
The series honors its founder Gary Vercauteran with a race each year after beginning as an event honoring his parents.[9] The race was often held as part of the Red, White, and Blue state championship event at Wisconsin International Raceway (WIR). The 2007 event at WIR was rained out, so it was held at 141 Speedway which is the track next closed to Vercauteran's hometown Chilton.[9] The 2010 event was held at Road America.[9] It began in Vercauteran's hometown dirt track in Chilton before the series' origin.[9] It has been held at a variety of tracks since then. The 25th annual Vercauteran Memorial winner returned to WIR and was won by Tyler Bauknecht (whose family had traveled with the Vercauteran family in the early days of the series).[10]
- 2015 Lyle Nowak (State Park Speedway)[11]
- 2014 Tyler Bauknecht (Wisconsin International Raceway)[10]
- 2013 James Swan (Rockford Speedway)
- 2012 Kenny Joosten (Rockford)
- 2011 Jacob Finney (Norway Speedway)
- 2010 Bill Prietzel (Road America)
- 2009 Gregg Haese (141 Speedway)[9]
- 2008 Jacob Finney (WIR)
- 2007 Kevin Damrow (141 Speedway)
- 2006 James Swan (WIR)
- 2005 Brett Piontek (WIR)
- 2004 Bill Prietzel (WIR)
- 2003 Jeremy Spoonmore (WIR)
- 2002 Peter Hernandez (WIR)
- 2001 Peter Hernandez (WIR)
- 2000 Mark Pluer (WIR)
- 1999 Gregg Haese (WIR)
- 1998 Pat Kelly (WIR)
- 1997 Bill Prietzel (WIR)
- 1996 Pat Kelly (WIR)
- 1995 Eddie Hoffman (WIR)
- 1994 Brian Lambie (WIR)
- 1993 Eddie Hoffman (WIR)
- 1992 Jerry Wenzel (Chilton)
- 1991 Larry Richards (Chilton)
- 1990 Wayne Strand (Chilton)
Other divisions
Mid-American Super Trucks champions
- 2005 Mark Storlie[7]
- 2004 Jamie Farrell
- 2003 Donnie Woller
- 2002 Jeff Steenbergen
- 2001 Jerry Seibel
- 2000 Danny Heinritz
- 1999 Gordon Swanson
- 1998 Terry Marzofka
- 1997 Terry Marzokfa
MARS late model champions
- 2005 Jeff Van Oudenhoven[7]
- 2004 Jeff Van Oudenhoven
- 2003 Jeff Van Oudenhoven
- 2002 Terry Baldry
- 2001 Todd Kluever
- 2000 Lowell Bennett
- 1999 Lowell Bennett
Midwest Stock Car Classics champions
- 2005 John Vassh Jr.[7]
- 2004 Gary Stein
- 2003 Chuck King
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Mid American Stock Car Series official website, March 7, 1998
- ^ "2013 Official Schedule". Mid-American Stock Car Series. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ a b Mid-American Stock Car News; January 2006; racingwisconsin.com; Retrieved October 22, 2007
- ^ a b c d "1998 CENEX Mid-American Super Truck Series Schedule". March 7, 1998.
- ^ "Brian Back Best at Fest in Mid Am Finale". Mid-American Stock Car Series. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
- ^ "Mid-American Officially Puts Season 20 in the Books". Mid-American Stock Car Series. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Mid-American Stock Car Series, dated 2005; Retrieved October 22, 2007
- ^ a b c d e f LaCrosse Speedway race report, La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway; 2002; Retrieved July 10, 2007
- ^ a b c d e Panure, Matt (June 7, 2010). "Mid-American to Hold Vercauteren Memorial at Road America". Mid American Stock Car. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
- ^ a b Wagner, Tom. "Bauknect Rules Vercauteren Memorial". Mid-American Stock Car Series. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ "The 2015 Mid American Stock Car Series in Review". Mid American Stock Car Series. Retrieved March 5, 2015.