Jefferson’s Salute the Troops 100 Next Up for Midwest Tour Stars and Cars This Saturday
Oregon, WI – The region’s best Super Late Model drivers return to Jefferson Speedway this Saturday Night May 28, 2022 for the ‘Salute the Troops 100’. Leading the charge is former Jefferson Track Champion and two-time Midwest Tour Champion Casey Johnson. He is joined by the ‘Stars and Cars’ including past Tour Champs Jonathan Eilen, Dalton Zehr and Ty Majeski, the defending and two-time winner of this event. A heavy helping of young guns are also in the mix including Slinger Champion and Jefferson Track Record Holder Luke Fenhaus, NASCAR Truck standout Derek Kraus, Tour Winner Gabe Sommers and Kulwicki Driver Development participants Jacob Nottestad and Riley Stenjem, both whom have found success at ‘Wisconsin’s Action Track’. The Midwest Tour prides itself on bringing the Headline Makers to town, Saturday night’s field has no shortage of them, let’s take a look how these drivers stack up heading into Jefferson.
Expected Entries for Saturday May 28, 2022 (23 as of 5/23/22)
SLM CHAMPION 4 Luke Fenhaus Wausau WI Soda Sense/Dun-Rite Exteriors/Zilisch Asphalt/Pioneer/Central WI Vending Chevrolet -Fenhaus recovered nicely during last year’s Salute the Troops 100, after contact with the wall in practice, he set a New Track Record (13.394 sec) before finishing second in the feature. Fenhaus the 2021 Slinger Nationals winner and Slinger Track Champion won the Tour’s opening event in April at Slinger. The Tour Runner-Up and Rookie of the Year has moved to North Carolina to chase his racing dreams, finishing second in Virgina last weekend. Additional accolades a season ago for the 2018 State Park Speedway Champion included the Kulwicki Driver Development Championship as well as the Alive for 5 Series title.
TOUR CHAMPION 5 Casey Johnson Edgerton WI Hougan Farms/Encompass Construction/Dixon Drywall/Wise Guys Auto Chevrolet -Casey Johnson has been tough to beat so far this season. Having won the Joe Shear Classic at Madison earlier this month, Johnson, a three-time Jefferson Speedway Champion returns to his hometrack seeking his second Salute the Troops 100 victory after winning in 2019. The two-time Tour Champion won the Howie Lettow Classic at MIS last August and LaCrosse’s Oktoberfest. Last season he won his second Red, White and Blue State Championship by winning the White and Blue races at WIR. In addition to his Jefferson accolades, Johnson has amassed two championships at Wisconsin International, two in Big 8, two Tundra titles, six Wisconsin State Championships, the 2013 and 2016 MIS Triple Crowns and two National Short Track Championships at Rockford Speedway.
SLM WINNER 7 John DeAngelis, Jr Hubertus WI DeAngelis Construction/JD7 Trucking Ford -Johnny D has been fast this year. A flat tire early in the going of the Miracle on the High Banks spoiled his plans to win his first Tour race during the Tour’s inaugural visit to Slinger, a track he has multiple Super Late Model wins at. DeAngelis has been racing his fair share in the Southern United States but has made his home region starts count including a win in last year’s Falloween at Dells Raceway Park. He topped the speed charts during qualifying at Madison for the Joe Shear Classic, eventually battling to a fourth place effort this May. DeAngelis has three top five finishes in his last four Tour starts including a runner-up in the Jim Sauter Classic last Labor Day at Dells.
ARTGO CHAMPION 8 Eddie Hoffman Wheaton IL Feece Oil/Advanced Generator Chevrolet -The eight time Chicagoland Champion (7 Grundy and 1 at Illiana), Hoffman has two career Midwest feature wins to his credit, both coming at Grundy County Speedway where he is the winningest driver in track history. Looking to join the Midwest Tour full time in 2022, Hoffman has done little touring racing since being a favorite in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when he captured three Oktoberfest titles, Hoffman has remained a favorite each time his familiar number 8 is unloaded in the pit area.
LM CHAMPION 8 Shaun Scheel Lake Mills WI Griffin Ford/Tiry’s Race Engines/Wagner Const/Ryan’s Auto Care Ford -Shaun Scheel won back to back Championships at Jefferson Speedway in 2019 and 2020 after claiming the Late Model title at Slinger in 2018. Scheel is looking to make just his fourth Super Late Model start, his second career start netted him a seventh place showing in last year’s Salute the Troops 100.
PRO CHAMPION 9 Derek Kraus Stratford WI B&K Trucking/Fanetti, Inc Chevrolet -The youngest winner in Midwest Tour history returns to his Midwest roots again this weekend. Kraus is currently third in Midwest Tour standings on the strength of a fourth place at Slinger and a third place showing at Madison. Currently in the mix of contenders each week in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the former K&N West Series Champion is quickly making a name for himself in the NASCAR Garage. Kraus is currently twelfth in the Truck standings. Kraus has three top fives to start his Super Late Model racing season here in the Midwest.
SLM WINNER 14 Austin Nason Roscoe IL Montgomery Ward/Haase Builders/JRS Shocks/Kar Korner Ford -Nason has had a resurgence as of late, placing third at South Alabama Speedway’s Rattler 250 in March and posting a fourth place effort the April at the Dells. Nason is a two-time Tour point runner-up and has big wins including the 2018 Joe Shear Classic, 2019 Father’s Day 100 at The Milwaukee Mile and Rockford’s All-Star 100 to go along with a 2018 Madison Triple Crown Championship and 2015 Tour Rookie of the Year title. Nason garnered a top five finish in last year’s Salute the Troops 100.
TOUR WINNER 15 Gabe Sommers Plover WI WI Potato & Veg Growers Assoc/DeKalb/Kwik Trip/Rowdy Energy Toyota – Sommers recorded his breakthrough win at the Larry Detjens Memorial at State Park Speedway in 2019. He went on to become the 2019 Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year and backed up that effort with a runner-up points finish in 2020 and fifth a season ago. A winner last June at California’s Irwindale Speedway, the young driver placed second at Milwaukee on Father’s Day in 2021. Sommers found himself in a battle with NASCAR Cup Series winner William Byron during the 2022 World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway in February, eventually finishing second.
BIG 8 CHAMPION 17 Max Kahler Caledonia IL Windsor Auto Sales/Retool/B&K Concrete Ford – Max Kahler had the car to beat at Rockford’s Spring Classic and he delivered for his family operated team, dominating the 88 lap contest to start the Big 8 Season. Kahler led early in just his second Tour start during last season’s Salute the Troops 100 at Jefferson Speedway. The young pilot had quite the week in October of 2020, charging at the end and making a late race pass on Dale Nottestad to win the National Short Track Championship at Rockford and then having trailed in the Big 8 point standings he put together an impressive run at Oktoberfest to claim the Big 8 Series title.
TRUCK CHAMPION 23 Levon VanDerGeest Merrill WI Central Sawdust of WI/Breber Music/Culver’s Chevrolet -Levon VanDerGeest became the youngest winner in Milwaukee Mile history when he rolled to the Midwest Truck Series victory on Father’s Day 2019. Levon went on to become the 2019 Truck Champion and finished second in the 2021 ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year standings. Levon started 2022 on the right foot, finishing ninth at Slinger in Tour action.
LM WINNER 40 Curt Tillman Roscoe IL AllTrucksUSA.com Chevrolet -Curt Tillman is a former weekly front runner at Rockford Speedway, and was named the Speedway’s most popular driver in 1986 where he picked up multiple feature wins. Now back at it with a new found enthusiasm and the help of former Midwest Tour Champion Andrew Morrissey, Tillman scored the last chance win in this event last May and rallied to an eleventh place showing.
SLM CHAMPION 44 Justin Mondeik Gleason WI Powerhouse Lawn & Leisure/Metsa Machines/Merrill Manufacturing/Agra Chevrolet – This past February Justin Mondeik again took his talents to Florida during Speedweeks for the World Series of Asphalt. With four top fives and seven top tens in seven features at New Smyrna Speedway, Mondeik finished fourth in the World Series points. Having won the track Championships at both State Park Speedway and Golden Sands Speedway the past two seasons, he has also been highly successful in the UP of Michigan, posting back to back wins in the Stateline Challenge at Norway Speedway. Mondeik has one Tour win to his credit, the 2020 Detjens Memorial. He has already added to his trophy collection, winning last Saturday at State Park Speedway.
TOUR CHAMPION 77 Jonathan Eilen Hampton MN Eilen & Sons Trucking & Landscape/Graber Auto Body Ford – Eilen was the Hard Charger of the race, charging his way to an eighth place effort after starting twenty-first at Slinger in April. He then put together another strong showing, finishing sixth during Madison’s Joe Shear Classic. The 2012 ARCA Midwest Tour Champion and 2007 Tour Rookie of the Year has a total of five career feature victories including the first ever Tour event in 2007 held at his home track, Elko Speedway. Eilen, who is seventh on the all-time wins list will make his 145th Tour start on Saturday night.
SLM CHAMPION 77 Riley Stenjem Utica WI Sreamin’ Norwegian/Hausz Contractors/Hougan Farms/Direct Networks Chevrolet -Stenjem has adopted quickly to Late Models, the three-time Legend State Champion won the Jefferson Speedway Late Model Rookie of the Year Award along with winning two out of the three Wisconsin State Championship feature events in 2019. With limited Tour starts, he has posted three top ten finishes, with top tens coming during last year’s Howie Lettow Classic and Oktoberfest 200. Earlier this month, the 2021 Tundra Series Champion and 2022 Kulwicki Driver Development Program Driver scored his first top five in Tour competition at Madison, finishing fifth.
SLM CHAMPION 80 Ryan Farrell Big Bend WI Tiry’s Race Engines/Adams Heavy Duty Tow/Jacoby Waterproof Chevrolet – He started his season with a fast time at the Dells Ice Breaker. Farrell’s luck on the Midwest Tour scene thus far in 2022 has been non-existent, a preliminary event wreck and radiator failure in the feature at Slinger was followed by a strong qualifying effort only to be thwarted by brake issues at Madions. The 2018 Wisconsin Challenge Series Champion looks to turn his luck into fortune at Jefferson. With various Super Late Model wins throughout the state including at Dells Raceway Park, Farrell is still in search of his first Midwest Tour victory.
SLM WINNER 81 Bryan Syer-Keske Lakeville MN Advanced Diesel Power/Fredrickson Signs/Bros Jorgenson Chevrolet -The former Elko Speedway weekly Super Late Model winner has a strong Oktoberfest last fall finishing eighth overall in the Dick Trickle 99 and qualifying for Sunday’s ARCA Midwest Tour 200 lap Championship Feature. Syer-Keske believes he is in the best position he has ever been in to compete with the ‘Stars and Cars’ of the ARCA Midwest Tour and will join them Saturday at Jefferson.
TOUR CHAMPION 91 Ty Majeski Seymour WI iRacing.com/Ken’s Sports/Lucas Oil/CRC Industries/PFC Brakes Ford -The five time ARCA Midwest Tour Champion is a two-time Salute the Troops 100 winner including last year’s event. Majeski, the all-time Tour win leader will run a partial schedule in 2022 when his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule allows. He was the fast qualifier for the Trucks at Daytona and has a season best finish of third at Atlanta. Majeski, recorded his record fifth Rattler 250 victory in March at South Alabama Speedway and continues to be amongst the elite in Super Late Models. Majeski has 29 Tour wins and won the 2020 Snowball Derby.
LM WINNER 95 Harley Jankowski Sparta WI Hableman Brothers Cranberrys/Kurts Shop/Modern Disposal Sys Chevrolet -The former LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway competitor has made the move to Super Late Models and has found victory during Central Wisconsin Racing Association action. Having recently acquired the former Skylar Holzhausen mount, Jankowski plans on running for the ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year in 2022.
SLM WINNER 97 Jacob Nottestad Cambridge WI Kearns Motor Car Co/Hougan Farms/Wagner Const/Quality Harvesting Chevrolet -Also representing Wisconsin in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program this season is Jacob Nottestad. Having won the 2019 and 2020 Slinger Pro Late Model Championships, Nottestad wheeled a John DeAngelis prepared car to Futures victory lane at Oktoberfest in 2020, his first Super Late Model start. He quickly backed up that performance by winning in his first career Tundra Series start, checking out on the field at Jefferson in July of 2021.
TRUCK CHAMPION 97 James Swan Lake Geneva WI Lingford Construction/PMF Landscape/JK Tools/Obermeyer’s 141 Chevrolet -The 2013 ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year intends to make his second Tour start of the season on Saturday Night. He most recently visited Jefferson Speedway Victory Lane during Midwest Truck action last year. Swan is a four time Midwest Truck Series and five time Mid-American Stock Car Series Champion, recording over 40 wins in those support divisions.
TRUCK CHAMPION 100 Tristian Swanson New Market MN Marthaler.com/Country Joe Homes/Gumm Farms/Hamke Toyota -A second generation driver, Tristian looks to make his third Midwest Tour start on Saturday and has his sights set on the Tour Rookie of the Year Award. Last season, a win at Madison’s Joe Shear Classic put him on everyone’s radar in the Midwest Trucks. Swanson went on to win four features and was crowned Midwest Truck Champion and Rookie of the Year at season’s end. Tristian is a former Legends Track Champion at Dells Raceway Park and started his Super Late Model season by competing in the Chilly Willy at Tucson Speedway in AZ.
TOUR CHAMPION 119 Dalton Zehr Verona WI Gildan/First Business Bank/American Apparel/Comfort Colors/Make-A-Wish Chevrolet -The 2018 ARCA Midwest Tour Champion has a long list of accolades when it comes to racing. Zehr was the 2013 ASA Member Track National Champion, having won the track title at Michigan’s Norway Speedway that season. In 2007 he finished second the Pro Late Model standings during the World Series at New Smyrna, recording one win. A year earlier, he nearly won the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division Championship, finishing second even though he missed one race. He was part of the Battle at the Beach held on the backstretch of Daytona International Speedway. Zehr has done a lot in his racing career, the three time Tundra Series Champion also won the 2019 Alive for 5 Series title at Dells Raceway Park. His three Midwest Tour wins have come at Elko, Grundy and Golden Sands.
OO Chris Pulera Burlington WI AJ Electric/JK Tools Ford -Jumping into a Super Late Model with the help of past Lake Geneva Raceway friends, the 1992 Lake Geneva Raceway Street Stock Champion climbs back behind the wheel Saturday night.
Schedule of Events for Joe Shear Classic 200 presented by Keen Parts
1pm Pit Gate Opens
3pm Spectator Gates Open
3pm Practice Begins
4:30pm Qualifying Begins
6pm Racing Begins
Event Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $20
Senior/Youth: $15
Kids (ages 8-11): $5
Children ages 7 and under Free
Active and Reserve Military save $5 on admission and get a $5 concession voucher
Divisions: The ARCA Midwest Tour will be joined by the 602 Outlaw Late Models and Midwest Dash Series
