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1/28/08

In Today's Issue
-2008 Mini Sprint Racer, 2008 Midwest Mini Sprint Racing
-American Mini Sprints Salute Jason Soudrette
-MMSA Thanks Swap Meet Attendees

American Mini Sprint Association Salutes 2007 Champion Jason Soudrette - submitted by Jerry Tague

2007 represented a first for Jason Soudrette and FOZ Race Cars with each earning their first championship in American Mini Sprint Association (A.M.S.A.) competition.  Soudrette’s championship run included 5 victories and 7 top five finishes.  However, his assault on the championship appeared in jeopardy late in the season when he blew up his motor.  Soudrette quickly bounced back recording a 5^th and 1^st place finish in two different FOZ Race Cars that he borrowed from fellow competitors Scott Fasse and Mike Willis—a feat that garnered additional attention since both cars were powered by older stock 1000cc Honda CBR motors.   

“Our decision to strictly enforce the weight rule seriously changed the complexion of the series.  Without doubt, the 2007 season proved to be one of the most competitive in our club’s 19 year history.  We saw no less than nine different drivers visit victory lane and a brand new group of faces in the top five”, commented A.M.S.A. club owner, Jerry Tague. 

The fact that Soudrette has set his sights on a sprint car ride at the Burg for 2008 should come as no surprise to onlookers.  Jason’s desire to make the move into sprint cars represents one of the primary reasons that the mini sprints will run in conjunction

with Lawrenceburg’s open wheel shows in 2008.  Jason is taking advantage of everything that Lawrenceburg Speedway has to offer.  Soudrette began his racing career at the age of five on the go-kart/motorcycle track located behind Lawrenceburg’s main grandstand.  Since that time he has worked his way from the go-karts into the mini sprints.  Dave Rudisell, Lawrenceburg’s promoter is hopeful that this is a scenario that will play out over-and-over again during the coming years. 

In the past two years at least three other drivers have used mini sprints as a launch board into sprint car competition.  The drivers have included Brett Burdette, Logan Hupp, Jake Cook and now Jason Soudrette.  Soudrette commented, “the mini sprints are a great training ground.  The suspension is  identical to a full-size sprint car.  You can’t ask for anything better than the opportunity to compete regularly at the same tracks and events as this country’s premier open wheel classes.“

“While I hate to see Jason leave our series, I know that for many drivers in our series, that is what it is all about”, commented Tague.  Fortunately Tague’s series appears to be in a good position to do more than just backfill Soudrette’s spot in the series.  For 2008 the club has published one of the most desirable schedules in the club’s history.  The 2008 schedule includes events at Lawrenceburg Speedway, Twin Cities Raceway Park and Gas City.  Several of the races will be run in conjunction with the USAC Sprints and Midgets as well as the MSCS and KISS Sprints.  Two events will occur during USAC Sprint Week and one event will occur during Indiana Midget Week.  The A.M.S.A. will also compete during the MSCS Nationals.  For more information visit www.americanminisprints.com

Midwest Mini Sprint Association Thanks Swap Meet Attendees - submitted by Bill May.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at the Indy Swap Meet
last Saturday. We apologize that we did not have enough printed
copies of our race schedule. If you did not get a copy, you can
download the schedule from our website www.midwestminisprints.com.

Thanks also to Jeff Barnhart, Tony Broughton and Ryan Broughton for
displaying Jeff's new 1000cc mini sprint.

Our membership roll is growing and we thank the people who signed up
to become a member at the Swap Meet. Plus the many 1/4 midget and kart
racer inquires about the lower cost 1,000cc stock motor rule and their plans to
move up to mini sprints in the near future.

Many of our members are going to Florida for the races on February 7,
8, and 9th. We wish them a safe trip and hope they have a very good
time. We will report on the race results in mid-February.

Don't forget, our first race is Friday night, April 18 at Moler
Raceway Park in Williamsburg, OH. Join us and be a part of history
when the MMSA has its first race. We will be paying $1,000 to win
and $100 to start, plus all the other incentives.

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