TOUGH NIGHT FOR THE EILEN & SONS MOTORSPORTS TEAM

Madison, WI (June 30, 2009)  After the many practice sessions Monday afternoon the Eilen & Sons Motorsports Team was confident for the “All Star Challenge Race Featuring Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart” that would be held Tuesday evening. 

Jonathan was second to qualify Tuesday evening and did well enough to make the main event without running the last chance races.  With a good qualifying run, Eilen found himself sitting on the front row with Matt Kenseth for the feature race.  With rain in the forecast, the Madison International Speedway Officials decided to run the last chance races for both the Big 8 and Super Late Model Series a half an hour early and start the features with “the big race” featuring Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart before the Big 8 feature. 

The feature race started off well for Eilen as he quickly made his move to take over the lead as the green flag flew, but was over come by Kenseth on lap three.  Eilen slowly fell to the fifth position where he would stay until a few laps before the mandatory caution at lap 50, where he fell to the seventh position.  The #77 crew made some small adjustments to the car and noticed the brake pads were beginning to wear down.

Eilen was able to race the car with little brakes until lap 73 when he noticed he no longer had brakes.  This ended Eilen’s night at Madison International Speedway and although he was disappointed; he is looking forward to Saturday’s ASA Midwest Tour Race at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The Keith Fleck/Miller 100 qualifying will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the popular autograph session at 6:00 p.m. and feature racing will begin at 7:00 p.m.

NEW SPEEDWAY FAIRS WELL FOR EILEN TEAM 

(June 22, 2009)  After a rough weekend at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells a few weeks ago, the Eilen & Sons Motorsports team was looking for a better outcome at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana.

Prior to the Elmer Musgrave Memorial 100 at Illiana Motor Speedway, Eilen had to not only fix a car that was wrecked at Dells Raceway Park during the first of three “Race for the Gold” races but also had to replace a motor in the other car and fix up his brother, Jake’s, truck for the upcoming Shell ROTELLA SuperRigs Calendar competition.  With a lot of work ahead of him, Jonathan was up endless hours trying to get everything ready while maintaining his full-time job as a truck driver.  “I do not know how he can do it!  He works so hard all of the time and doesn’t take a break until it is finished” states his girlfriend, Krystle.  “Many times I find myself at the race shop or truck shop helping just so I can see him!”

Although it took a lot of endless hours in the shop, Jonathan and his brother, Pat, were able to finish their brother Jake’s truck before Pat headed down to Missouri for the show.  On Thursday Pat called home to let everyone know that Jake’s truck had made the 2010 calendar.  What an honor!  They would soon wait for the awards on Saturday to see how the truck would fair against the many other trucks.

Along with finishing Jake’s semi truck, Jonathan and crew member, Anthony, spent hours finishing both of the racecars to get ready for the Elmer Musgrave Memorial 100 that would be held at Illiana Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 20.

With a temperature of about 90 degrees, Eilen was able to have two good practices before qualifying Saturday afternoon.  Shortly before qualifying, Jonathan received a phone call from his brother Pat with wonderful news.  Jake’s truck was Runner-Up Best of Show and one of his dad’s trucks, driven by Brat Caton, won Best of Show.  “After getting such great news from Missouri before qualifying, I had a great feeling about my upcoming race” stated Jonathan.

Eilen was able to qualify fifth out of twenty-six cars and would start in the eighth position after the invert.  Eilen quickly moved to a top five position and never left.  At the mandatory break on lap 75, Jonathan was sitting in third and ready to challenge the #9 car of Mark Kraus and the #72 car of Jacob Goede for the top spot.  Eilen was able to get around Kraus on the re-start for second place but was unable to hold him off and settled for third.

“It was a great race.  Everyone was able to race side-by-side cleanly and we are all able to leave tonight with cars in one piece” stated Eilen.  “I have to say a big thank you to my crew.  They worked so hard tonight and helped bring us to a podium finish. I am so lucky to have the great crew that I do and I can’t thank them enough.”

Jonathan Eilen will have the weekend off, but will have a full week of racing the following week with the “All Star Challenge” featuring Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth on Tuesday, June 30^th and the Keith Fleck Miller 100 ASAMT race on Friday, July 3^rd at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

ANOTHER TOP 5 FINISH FOR EILEN

(May 25, 2009)  Waking up to a morning rain shower didn’t seem too promising for the ASA Midwest Tour race on Saturday, May 23^rd, but it wasn’t long before the clouds pushed away and the sun came out.  Practice sessions began at twelve thirty with over thirty cars taking the track.  The Eilen & Sons Motorsports Team had handling problems during the first session and the second practice session did not go well either. 

Unsure with how the car would handle, Eilen gave it his all for qualifying and was able to qualify in the eleventh position.  After the roll of a three and an invert of eleven, Eilen found himself on the pole for the feature event.

Before the 125 lap feature the Last Chance Race was ran along with the top eighteen qualifiers running the odd/even heat race.  Jonathan started in the second row for this short 15 lap race, but did not stay there for long.  Eilen was able to race his way to a win gaining confidence for the feature event.

The feature event started with Jonathan on the pole and Jacob Goede to the outside of him.  Eilen was unable to hold the lead on the inside and found himself falling as the race began.  Jonathan was finally able to get on the outside groove and start moving up in position.  Eilen followed the #72 of Jacob Goede for a few laps and decided the only way to get around him was on the inside groove.  With the outside being a faster lane, it took Eilen nearly twenty laps to get around the #72 car.

At lap 75 a mandatory break stopped all of the cars on the racetrack to refuel and make adjustments.  The Eilen & Sons Motorsports Team only made a few slight changes to the car before the racing resumed.  Adam Royle put pressure on the #77 car for the last fifteen laps of the race, but Eilen was able to hold him off for a respectable fifth place finish.

“I can’t be happier with the way we finished tonight” stated Eilen. “With the car not running well in practice and then running hot at the end of the race I was worried that we wouldn’t finish well, but thanks to the help of my crew members I was able to come out with a top five finish.”

Jonathan Eilen will travel to Dells Raceway Park on Saturday, May 30^th for the Race For the Gold-Bronze Race that was rescheduled after the April 26^th rain out.  Qualifying starts at 4:00 p.m. and racing will begin at 6:30 p.m, for updates on practice, qualifying, and racing check out www.asamidwesttour.com.

EILEN SURPRISES ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

(May 22, 2009)  The elementary students at Pinecrest Elementary School in Hastings, Minnesota, were surprised to see the Eilen & Sons Motorsports race hauler and driver Jonathan Eilen at their school Friday afternoon.  Jonathan’s girlfriend, Krystle Graber, is student teaching at Pinecrest Elementary School and wanted to surprise her class with the appearance of Jonathan and his racecar. 

At about 2:00 p.m. Jonathan pulled into the parking lot with his big, head-turning race hauler and unloaded the car for the students to see.  “The kids were ecstatic! We could not keep them away from Jonathan and the car,” stated Krystle.

As the school day came to an end, students from every grade level came to see Jonathan and his racecar. “I was definitely surprised to see all of the kids come and see me and ask for my autograph,” stated Jonathan after signing nearly two hundred cards.

“The students absolutely loved Jonathan.  He was the talk of the school for the rest of the day,” said girlfriend Krystle. “I am so glad he was able to come out and visit the kids this afternoon.  It is a new experience for many of the students in this elementary school and he defintitley made a good impression on the elementary students and staff for the sport of racing.”

After visiting the students at Pinecrest Elementary School, Jonathan made his way to Kwik Trip in Lakeville, Minnesota for a special appearance with fellow ASAMT Touring Star Dan Fredrickson.  Both drivers pulled out their racecars for people to see, signed autographs, and were a part of the KRDS 95.5FM radio show.

Tomorrow Jonathan and the Eilen & Sons Motorsports Team head to Elko Speedway for the third ASA Midwest Tour race of the season.  Elko Speedway in Elko, Minnesota is Eilen’s home track and he is excited to be racing close to home for Memorial Day Weekend.  Check out www.asamidwesttour.com throughout the day for live updates on practice, qualifying, and racing. 

JONATHAN TO SPEAK ON KRDS 95.5 FM

(May 18, 2009) Jonathan will speak on the radio tonight between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. He will be sharing about his ARCA/REMAX debut last weekend in Kentucky along with his ASA Midwest Tour Season as it gets ready to race at Elko Speedway. Tune into KRDS 95.5 FM or online at http://www.ontheradio.net/radiostations/krdsfm.aspx to hear the latest from Jonathan Eilen and the surrounding race community.

Rain Postpones Season Opener;

ASAMT Drivers Will Race at Madison International Speedway

The season opener was scheduled to be held at Dells Raceway Park on Saturday, April 25, but due to heavy down pours the season opener was postponed.  The Race for the Gold Bronze Race will now be held on Saturday, May 30th at Dells Raceway Park with qualifying at 3 p.m., autograph session at 4 p.m., and racing starting at 5 p.m.

The first race of the season will now be held on Sunday, May 3rd at Madison International Raceway.  Racing will begin at 4 p.m. with qualifying and the favorite autograph session before.  Updates will be posted during Saturday's practice and Sunday's race day at asamidwesttour.com for everyone to keep up with Jonathan Eilen and the 77 team!

 This year marks a year of changes for the Eilen & Sons Motorsports Team, and driver Jonathan Eilen is anxious to get the racing underway.  After a long winter working in and out of the shop Eilen feels confident in the changes being made for the upcoming season.  “The past few years we haven’t changed much, and with the competition in the ASA Midwest Tour getting harder and harder it was time for change,” stated Eilen.  Among the many changes being made this year for Eilen & Sons Motorsports is the addition of a new Race Hauler that has many heads turning.  “We wanted something that was going to fit the whole crew and we were unable to do that with the old transporter,” said car owner Tom Eilen. 

Eilen & Sons Motorsports is also pleased to announce the addition of two new sponsors, RaceTeamGear.com and Rollin’ Transport, for the 2009 race season.  RaceTeamGear.com is a company “run by race fans, for race fans” selling a variety of officially licensed NASCAR merchandise.  They will be featured on the quarter panel of the car for the 2009 season.  Rollin’ Transport is a privately owned trucking company based out of Richfield, Wisconsin.  Owners, Vinnie and Kim Diorio, own 2 trucks, both of which are shown at numerous truck shows across the United States.  Rollin’ Transport specializes in flat bed/curtain side transportation. They have been friends of the Eilen family for quite some time and will be featured on the rear tail of the car for the 2009 season. 

Eilen & Sons Motorsports would also like to welcome back for the 2009 race season Eilen & Sons Trucking and Landscape Supply, B&B Racing Engines, Pathfinder Chassis, BT Design, Mulvihill Excavating, and Graber Auto Body.  The #77 team is grateful for the support of these sponsors and are excited to have them a part of the team again this year. 

Along with the addition of a new hauler and two new sponsors, Eilen & Sons Motorsports is excited to add two new members to the crew, Jason Shuler and Jason Edmonds.  Jason Shuler will team up with crew chief Jason Cihak to take command of the #77 car for the 2009 season.  Jason Edmonds will serve as the spotter for the Eilen & Sons Motorsports Team.  Joe Wood will also be a part of the #77 team at various races throughout the season.  With a crew filled with Jasons, we are also excited to welcome back Pat Eilen, Mitch Larson, Anthony Lymann, Greg Scheffler, Jeremiah Cihak, and Gene White “Whitey.”   

Watch for the latest news and updates from the Eilen Pits as the ASA Midwest Tour gets underway on April 25^th at Dells Raceway Park.  With a great crew and wonderful sponsors, everyone at Eilen & Sons Motorsports is excited for the upcoming race season.   We hope to see you all at the races!

On November 23, 2008, my brother, Jake Eilen, sadly lost his life in a one vehicle roll-over accident. The accident occurred on a Sunday evening in front of our home. Jake was 27 years old.

There are no words to describe the pain of losing a loved one. We are left only with broken hearts and treasured memories of a person who lived his life with wide-open passion.

Jake was a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a grandson, a friend, and larger than life to those who had the pleasure of sharing their lives with him. Yet, there are no words that can do justice in accurately describing Jake. He was so many things to so many people.

As owner of Jake Eilen Trucking, he was meticulous with his equipment. His custom Peterbuilt trucks were easily identified by their chrome stacks and flamed paint schemes. He won numerous national truck shows, was photographed for calendars and, most recently, was honored with a replica of his truck due out the week of the accident. In addition to being honored with a replica of his truck, Jake and his family are also featured in one of the largest trucking magazines which can be viewed at tenfourmagazine.com. Jake loved Harley-Davidson too. His motorcycles, as with his semis, were also customized with chrome and flames.

Jake rode to his final resting place on the back of his semi with his motorcycle with him. He was accompanied by his family that he loved so much. His wife Anne, son Jaden, brother Pat, sister Jodie, and I were in the cab for his final trip. We were followed by our parents, Tom and Julie, the remainder of Jake’s fleet, and hundreds of family and friends.

With faith, we know that Jake is home and we will all be together again someday. Until then, our sun may not shine quite the same as it once did but we know that when we look to the heavens, we have an angel with a chrome stack and flamed wings watching over us. “May your soul ride free Jake!”

God bless you all for the thoughts, prayers, and kind words you have given to our family during this difficult time. Our gratitude is immeasurable.

Jonathan Eilen    #77

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SEASON!

Now that the ASA Midwest Tour racing season has come to an end I would like to take the time to thank those who have helped me throughout the year.

My Parents:

Most importantly I would like to thank my mom and dad for their ongoing support throughout my racing career.  No matter the distance I can always count on both of them to be there showing their support. My mom is always helping with the "behind the scenes" things such as coolers being full, booking hotel rooms, and keeping my race suit and crew shirts clean week after week.  My dad is without a doubt one of the strongest guys on my team.  No matter how busy his work schedule is, or how much pain he is in, he makes a point to be at every race.  He is the guy who makes racing possible for me week after week.

The Crew:

Jason Cihak, my crew chief/spotter, without a doubt puts his time into helping me race week in and week out.  He, along with me, puts in 40+ hours a week in at his full time job plus finds time to drive an hour almost every night to help me work on the race car which most times equals to another 40+ hours a week. With all of these hours working he doesn?t have much time to spend with his five-year-old daughter Payton, who does her best to stay awake to watch the late night races and see her dad after he is done working.  Without Jason?s help there is no way I would be able to be as competitive as I have been this year. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Anthony Lyman has put in a lot of time this season into my racing career.  He does a lot of the smaller stuff that not a lot of people like to do, like cleaning the car week after week. He is the guy I can count on to be at every race, no matter what the situation.

 Although they can't always be at the shop during the week I would like to say thank you to Greg Scheffler and Jake Adelmann.  Greg takes time away from his family to help me every weekend, even if it is more than just a Saturday night race.  Jake has been with me racing for the last five years and although he has to work second shift, he always finds time to come to the races. 

 I'd also like to thank my brother Pat.  Although he is busy with his own company he still finds time to drive the hauler or tire trailer to every race.  He not only drives the trucks to the races but also spots for me and keeps me calm during the races.  He too has been with me since the start of my racing career and I couldn?t have gotten this far without him.

I would also like to thank Jeremiah Cihak, Mitch Larson, Gene White "Whitte", and Aaron "Big Show" Haywood for all of their time and effort during this race season.

Last but not the least my girlfriend Krystle. Not only at the track but also away from it all you have to deal with me and all the ups and down that we might face in a year. And for the wonderful updates you do on the website that keeps everyone updated weekly. Thanks!

The Sponsors:

Without the help of all of you there is no way I would be able to race week after week. Each and every one of you has helped me get as far as I am today and I am so thankful for that. Thank you:

Eilen & Sons Trucking

MAC Trailer

Outdoor Connection

B&B Racing Engines

Pathfinder Chasis

Mulvihill Excavating

Graber Auto Body

Donnelly Farms

Winona Diesel

BT Design

Also, I want to thank Joe Wood and Jason Schuler for making an awesome chassis.  I wouldn't have been able to do as well as I did each race without your help. And who could forget Joe Hunter?  The races wouldn't be the same without the phenomenal cheese he brought every week!

 The ASA Midwest Tour Staff:

Thank you for making the ASA Midwest Tour a great series to race in week after week.  It has truly been an enjoyable season and I can't thank you all enough for everything that you do.

The Fans:

Lastly, I would like to thank the some of the most important people to me; my fans. Throughout the years you have all been there supporting me at each of the races. Racing wouldn?t be the same without the cheering (and air horns) at each race. My family and friends are the most important to me, and there is no way I would be able to race every weekend without the support. I?d especially like to thank my little sister Jodie, my brother Jake, my sister-in-law Anne, and my nephew Jaden for supporting me for the past eight years of racing. Thank you to the fans at Elko Speedway for sticking with me throughout the many changes in my racing career and always being there. I'd also like to thank those of you who have traveled to watch the ASA Midwest Tour Races; I couldn't do it without all of your cheering. Thanks to my family and friends who have been with me through thick and thin, without your support I would have not become the driver I am today. Thank you so much for the ongoing support! 

I look forward to seeing each of you next year for the 2009 racing season! Keep watching for more updates as we continue to compete throughout the winter months.

THE 2008 ASA MIDWEST TOUR SEASON COMES TO AN END AT LACROSSE

With the last race of the 2008 ASA Midwest Tour coming to an end, the Eilen Team is now preparing for the All-American race in Nashville, Tennessee on November 1st.

 "It has been a real tough couple of weeks" stated Eilen "With things falling out at Elko Speedway and now a disappointing finish to the ASA Midwest Tour season; we are all looking for a change."

 The Eilen Motorsports Team had a tough weekend in LaCrosse, Wisconsin for the final ASA Midwest Tour race. Practices went well both Friday and Saturday, but Eilen was unable to qualify fast enough to make the race on Sunday.  He was left to run a qualifying heat race in hopes of a first or second place finish to put him in the feature event.

 As race day came, Mother Nature decided to shower the LaCrosse area with rain causing a rain delay for the final Oktoberfest race events.  The rain delay gave the Eilen Team more time to ponder their choices for the Oktoberfest 100 feature event: risk racing the qualifying heats and using the tires or take a point provisional both of which will put him toward the end of the 30 car feature.   

With the opportunity to save the tires in mind, the Eilen & Sons Motorsports team decided to save the car and tires and take the point provisional.  As the race got underway Eilen found himself fighting with his car. 

"I wasn't able to get bite out of the corner" stated a frustrated driver, "it took awhile to figure the car out, but by the time I did we were already pretty far behind the leader." 

Jonathan was able to drive his way from the 26th position to a 19th place finish.  "Although we struggled at the end of the season we are looking forward to the races this winter and the start of the 2009 ASA Midwest Tour Season" said Jonathan after the race was over. "Hopefully our luck will turn around for the Nashville race and we will be able to finish the year on a good note." 

EILEN ENDS HIS LOCAL SHORT TRACK SEASON EARLY

HAMPTON, Minnesota (September 19, 2008) –It is with great disappointment that Jonathan Eilen and Eilen and Sons Motorsports announces the premature end to their 2008 local race track series season. 

Following the feature event at Elko Speedway on Saturday, September 13, 2008 it was deemed by Elko’s tech officials and management that the intake and motor combination on Eilen’s # 77 Monte Carlo was illegal thus ending Eilen’s night with a disqualification. 

It is the firm position of Jonathan Eilen and Eilen and Sons Motorsports that their car was legal and the decision to disqualify Eilen was based on personal agenda rather than inspection results and series rules. 

Prior to the start of the ASA Midwest Tour Series and Elko Speedway Series the intake and motor combination in question had been inspected and approved by ASA, CRA, and Sunbelt Racing Series.  All engine rules are applied the same in every series, which should include the series run at Elko Speedway.  Eilen has since sent the intake out to the part manufacturer/engine combination engineer for further inspection.  “I take these accusations very seriously.  I stand behind my car and am confident that the part will come back clean.  If there had been a legitimate concern with the intake, the track officials would not have allowed me to keep the part” stated Eilen.  

Due to the decision made by Elko Speedway, Eilen and Sons Motorsports has decided to end their local season early and concentrate their efforts on the All American Race in Nashville, Tennessee and the ASA Midwest Tour Series; a series where rules are applied equally to all drivers. 

RAIN DELAYS MAKE FOR A LATE NIGHT AT ELKO SPEEDWAY

Elko, MN (September 13, 2008)  With steady rain falls throughout the day the races looked as though they were going to be cancelled for the evening.  But with a break from mother nature around 8 pm the staff at Elko Speedway ruled that instead of double features for the evening the drivers would be racing one heat race and one feature.  

Eilen was able to turn his luck around from last weekend to pick up a much needed win in the heat race.  He was placed on the third row for the feature which would turn out to be an advantage for him.  The Eilen & Sons Motorsports team was able to push through the cold rainy weather to finish in the fourth position.

EILEN FINDS HIMSELF SITTING IN SIXTH PLACE GOING INTO THE FINAL RACE

 Marshfield, WI (September 7, 2008)  Clouds filled the sky as qualifying got underway at Marshfield Speedway Sunday afternoon.  Eilen qualified in the fifteenth position after trying to free up the car a little too much after practice.  The Eilen & Sons Motorsports team thought that the car would be good in the long run, so no changes were made before the heat race.

 An hour long rain delay washed off a lot of the rubber on the track giving the drivers another challenge for the heat races.  Eilen's car did not respond to the longer distance and he ended up finishing seventh in the heat race.

 "We were super loose out there," stated a frustrated driver "we definately need to make a few changes before the feature."

 The Eilen & Sons Motorsports team had plenty of time to make changes as the Kim Parsons Memorial 100 would be delayed again due to rain. 

Jonathan started the feature in the fifteenth position and found himself falling back as the race started.  As the tires heated up the car reacted positively and Eilen was able to move his way up through the pack.  The Eilen & Sons Trucking sponsored car was able to make its way up to eigth place and ready to challenge points leader Dan Fredrickson for the seventh position before a caution would come out at lap 20.  It was at the restart that Eilen felt a tire going down and was then forced to do all he could to hold on to the car.   

Although Eilen ran into some rough luck at the end of the race, he was able to hold on to the car for a 12th place finish.  "We were definately hoping for a better run here with the series coming to an end," said Eilen "But we can't complain too much being able to finsih with a tire going down."

 THREE WEEKENDS COMPLETE; TWO REMAIN FOR THE CHASE 

 Elko, MN (September 5, 2008)  It was an average night for the Eilen & Sons Motorsports team Friday night at Elko Speedway.  The evening started out with Eilen qualifying sixth putting him in the third row for both the heat and feature races.  As the heat race got under way it was evident that Eilen's car was not handling the way he had hoped.

 "Hopefully we are able to get the car running better for the feature" stated Eilen as he climbed from his car.