OREGON, Wis. — 1977 ASA national champion Dave Watson has accepted an invitation to be a “Guest of Honor” for Sunday’s Joe Shear Classic at Madison Int’l Speedway.
Watson began his racing career on the Midwestern short tracks, winning the 1973 track championship at Rockford (Ill.) Speedway and the 1975 Slinger Super Speedway track championship.
1976 was a big year for the Milton, Wis., racer. In 76 events entered during that season, Watson won 41 races — the most in the United States that year. During that magical summer, Watson claimed the Madison Int’l Speedway (Capital Super Speedway) track championship with his super late model, as well as the Lake Geneva Raceway track championship.
He also won two Red, White, and Blue state championship series races at Wisconsin Int’l Raceway.
Watson began racing on two national tours in 1977 — the American Speed Association (ASA) and USAC stock car. He took the USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year award and won the both the 1977 ASA championship and Rookie of the Year.
After short stint at the NASCAR Cup Level, Watson moved on to road racing and won the Most Improved Driver Award in Trans Am in 1983.
In 2015, Watson was inducted into the Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame, as well as the Madison Int’l Speedway Hall of Fame.
The Joe Shear Classic 200 will mark race two of the inaugural ASA STARS National Tour schedule.
It will be live-streamed on MidwestTour.tv.