Saturday, May 23, 2026 (Jefferson, WI) - Back in 2018, Paul Shafer Jr. picked up his first ASA Midwest Tour victory at Jefferson Speedway. Eight years later, he was back at Wisconsin’s Action Track to win his second Salute the Troops 100.
“I'd call it winning in a cornfield on a Saturday night. Don't get no better than that,” Shafer said after his fifth Midwest Tour win.
Shafer was in an early battle with Ryan Farrell as the two swapped the lead back and forth among the first 20 laps that were marred by five cautions.
“Went to the top, went to the bottom, thought I liked the top, liked the bottom, back and forth, battled with him, battled with the eight (Shaun Scheel),” Shafer said. “Good car, good people, good everything.”
Shafer took the lead for the last time on lap 24 after battling with Farrell for the top spot. Shafer began to pull away as Farrell faded to an eighth-place finish.
Behind Shafer, three-time Jefferson Speedway champion Shaun Scheel got past Farrell on lap 25, but could never close in on Shafer to challenge for the top spot.
Fast qualifier Casey Johnson moved up to the third spot after starting 13th on lap 27 and appeared to have the car to chase down Shafer and Scheel. Two late cautions would bunch up the field while Shafer had a good lead.
On those restarts, Shafer would get away while they battled behind him.
Scheel held down the second spot, and Johnson couldn’t catch up to his rear bumper.
Levon Van Der Geest completed his solid run by getting by Johnson with 13 laps to go to secure the final podium position.
Johnson was fourth while Ty Fredrickson recovered from being involved in an early caution to finish fifth.
In post-race inspection, Scheel was disqualified for tread width. Elevating Van Der Geest to second and Johnson to third. Fredrickson was fourth and Kody King rounded out the official top five.
Justin Mondeik won the qualifier heat.
Scheel got to the inside of Riley Stenjem going into three and four on the final lap and dragged raced Stenjem to get the odd heat checkered flag. Jordan DeVoy won the even heat.
The ASA Midwest Tour heads to Norway Speedway in Norway, Michigan for a 100-lap battle on Saturday, June 6th