Full Throttle

The Half-Vast Staff™ of Full Throttle sends its best to you are yours on this Fourth of July Holiday. It’s a time to be with family and friends enjoying thickly sliced BBQ’d Beast, attend parades and fireworks displays and what we all enjoy auto racing events.

For many race drivers the holiday means more of the same, they “celebrate” by enjoying a Busman’s Holiday.

For example, tonight at LaCrosse Speedway (WI) the ASA Midwest Tour Super Late Model Independence 100 will be held on the 5/8 mile asphalt oval.

As part of the ASA Midwest Tour the Independence 100 is one of eleven events held on a like many Midwest short tracks.

In addition to the local hot shoes a couple NASCAR stars and one from the ARCA RE/MAX Series are dropping in to compete on Wisconsin’s only NASCAR sanctioned short track.

Johnny Sauter competing in the Nextel Cup Series in the #70 Chevrolet for Haas CNC Racing was the 2001 American Speed Association National Tour Champion. He will be piloting the #119 Coleman car that his nephew Travis Sauter, normally drives.

Local hero Tim Schendel will make a return to Super Late Model racing driving the familiar black #21 Mathews Solocam sponsored Chevrolet. He has won LaCrosse Speedway’s prestigious Oktoberfest events 3 times, and in 2006 finished second in the ARCA RE/MAX Challenge Series race at the Milwaukee Mile.

The surprise of the evening will be the return 1993 NASCAR Busch Series Champion Steve Grissom. Grissom hasn’t competed at the Cup level since 2002 and has had only limited exposure in the Busch Series with only 2 starts in 2006 and a single appearance this year at Daytona for owner Frank Cicci. He will be driving the #79 Echo Outdoor Power Equipment sponsored Chevrolet.

Also on hand will be two-time NCTS Champion and the winningest driver in Series history Ron Hornaday at the wheel of the #96 Heat N Glo/Settle Inn sponsored car owned by Maynard Motorsports at LaCrosse as a teammate to local star Dave Feiler.

Journeyman NASCAR veteran Rich Bickle, Wisconsin native and ASA legend is also listed among those competing in 100-lap Super Late Model special that celebrates the holiday and will be raising funds for Special Olympics.

So… as you finish devouring that BBQ’d Beast and finish wiping the sauce from your chiney-chin-chin think of all the drivers that give up their holiday at home to entertain us, the Race Fan.

Better yet… get off your butt and buy a ticket to your nearest short track show this holiday.