ASA: Cywinski Leads LaFavre Racing One-Two at Minnesota

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 4, 2001

Texas Roadhouse crew gets veteran out front with 22 laps remaining

ST. PAUL, Minn. – It was a great homecoming for the LaFavre Racing Team, as its veteran drivers Kevin Cywinski and Mike Garvey finished one-two in the annual American Speed Association Labor Day event at the Minnesota State Fair Speedwa y, the Miller Lite 300. But the finish of the race wasn’t without controversy.

In what was a duel of a former ASA National Champion and the current ASA point leader, Cywinski and rookie Johnny Sauter battled all day long, the only two drivers to lead in the 300-lap event. After the event’s fifth caution, Cywinski’s Texas Roadhouse cr ew got the veteran out in front of Sauter, who led the most laps in the race. Only two laps into the restart, Sauter got sandwiched between Cywinski and Garvey, resulting in the rookie to spin up the track and fall back to ninth place.

“I don’t really have much to say right now,” said Sauter after the race. “I guess that is what you get when you get sandwiched between two teammates.” Sauter finished eighth.

The win was the ninth of Cywinski’s ASA career, and second of the 2001 ASA season. He also took the checkers at Montgomery Motor Speedway in May.

“We had awesome pit stops all day long,” said Cywinski. “The crew gave me a strong car for this race and with the great stops, it put me in a position to win. This is really big for the LaFavre Racing team.”

Garvey saw a different side of the bump with Sauter, saying he had the preferred lane.

“I wasn’t going to back off,” said Garvey, who was booed by the 16,000 plus fans in attendance. “It’s time to go at the end of the race. Sauter would have done the same thing. Normally, I’ve been a nice guy in those situations, but I have to do what I need to.”

It was a day for the veterans, as defending ASA National Champion Gary St. Amant finished third, while 2000 Rookie of the Year Joey Clanton finished fourth and three-time ASA National Champion Butch Miller in fifth. Former ASA National Champion Dick Trickl e returned to the series in fine fashion, coming home sixth after running in the top-10 most of the day. Scott Hansen, Sauter, Mike Miller and Wayne Anderson rounded out the top-10 finishers.

The series moves to Memphis Motorsports Park next Sunday, September 9, for the Rev-Up Sports Drink 200. The event is scheduled to take the green flag at 1 p.m. (local) and will be televised live on TNN Sports.

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.