News for the Month of April

Dirt Racing

The current Luxemburg Speedway Point Standings have been posted. (04-28-03)

Finally, the 2003 IRA season got underway Saturday night at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam. Kim Mock won his 2nd consecutive Rick Schmidt Memorial Race edging out Joe Roe. Tough break for Travis Whitney as he looked to have a great chance of winning. He spun out in turn one giving the lead to Mock. "I knew there was no way I would be able to catch Whitney unless something happened in traffic" stated Mock in victory lane. "Then when I saw him turned around, I figured Roe would be right behind me and I knew he would be tough. I knew the only shot I had was to try and run the middle and make him drive around me. It worked! I can't believe it, it worked!". Jeremy Campbell and Bob Bennett who race in the World of Outlaws showed up for the event. Fast time went to Campbell at 17.274 seconds (104.203 mph), but he failed to transfer to the A-main through his heat. IMCA modified and stock results will be posted soon. The Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series heads South to the Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH) on May 2nd and then to the Fremont Speedway (Fremont, OH) on May 3rd for the only Ohio trip of the season. On May 10th, the tour returns to Wisconsin as it stops at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth. A-main: 1. Kim Mock 2. Joe Roe 3. Jeremy Campbell 4. Mike Reinke 5. Jim Melis 6. Scott Neitzel B-main: 1. Jeremy Campbell 2. Todd Hepfner Heats: Todd King, Scott Netizel, Jim Melis, Travis Whitney. Complete results/recap Mock in victory lane New Paul Pittman Column IRA official site (04-27-03)

Defending track champion Eddie Muenster charged from the 20th spot and dodged eight caution periods to win the crash marred 25 lap IMCA modified feature at Luxemburg Speedway's season opening race Friday night. 110 cars took part in the program. The field included 45 IMCA modifieds, 43 IMCA stock cars, 12 IMCA hobby stocks and 10 sport fours. Press Release (04-26-03)

Green Bay's Jared Siefert expects the bar to be raised a bit this season as he prepares to defend his IMCA modified championship at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay when the season opens Saturday, May 3. Press Release (04-23-03)

Woody's Signs of Sturgeon Bay is sponsoring the first of four WISSOTA late model shows on Friday night, May 2. Because the WISSOTA late models do not compete on a weekly basis at Luxemburg it's a real treat for fans when the likes of MJ Mcbride, Pete Parker, Gordie Seegert, Tom Naeyaert and Troy Springborn roll into town. Press Release (04-23-03)

Last night the World of Outlaws battled it out at Powercom Park in Beaver Dam. Joey Saldana took the feature win, top 5: 1. Saldana, 2. Shane Stewart, 3. Craig Dollansky, 4. Haudenschild, 5. Pittman. Complete Results. Wirphotos.net was at the race, look for video from the event possibly by this weekend. (04-23-03)

With drivers in eastern Wisconsin chomping at the bit to get some local racing in, Luxemburg Speedway could very well be looking at a record car count for their season opening race on Friday night, April 25. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. Friday. Grandstand tickets go on sale at 5:45 p.m. Racing is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. Press Release (04-19-03)

Luxemburg Speedway had about 50-60+ cars show up for the car show and practice. When we got there at Noon the clouds opened up, practice was cancelled after the heavy rain fell today. We were only able to get a couple pictures, alot of very nice cars this year! Great show planned for Friday April 25th, the season opener! Press Release Luxemburg Practice Photos (04-19-03)

Shawano Speedway has been cancelled for the second week in a row, pushing the season opener back 2 weeks. (04-18-03)

Despite a deluge of torrential rains in recent days, the planned car show and practice session at Luxemburg Speedway for Saturday, April 19 is still on as scheduled. Press Release (04-18-03)

No word as to an cancellations at area tracks for this weekend, with the rain that is expected to fall this week it might damper some events. We hope to attend Luxemburg's car show and practice session on Saturday, we will have pictures when we return. (04-15-03) AND In the event practice can't be held, the car show will still take place under the grandstands. (04-17-03)

Promoters at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay have announced a dual car show/practice at the third-mile clay oval on Saturday, April 26. Press Release (04-12-03)

There is still hope that the IRA season opener at Powercom Park this Saturday will happen. The sun will be out the next few days to help dry the surface. Plus now that Dubuque will be moved to different date, people have suggested running at Powercom on Sunday if Saturday doesn't work out.(04-08-03) UPDATE: Powercom Park will make a decision by tonight to race or not. Sunny skies will help improve the track. (04-09-03) UPDATE: We are told the event will be officially cancelled tomarrow morning. (04-08-03) CANCELLED: The IRA/Wissota/UMP tripleheader planned for at Powercom has been cancelled. Only the IRA portion will be rescheduled either in June or July on an open date. Turns 1 and 2 still have snow and ice there and plus with the lack of snow this winter, frost has gone deeper than usual. IRA - Steve Sinclair PR (04-10-03)

Dubuque Speedway has announced that the IRA sprint car race to be held Sunday has been postponed. It will be rescheduled to an later date in the near future. Also, there is still hope that the IRA season opened at Powercom Park this Saturday will happen. The sun will be out the next few days to help dry the surface. Plus now that Dubuque will be moved to different date, people have suggested running at Powercom on Sunday if Saturday doesn't work out. Dubuque Speedway PR (04-08-03)

Dynamic Force, producers of liquid herbal weight loss formulation products, will sponsor the #61 IRA sprint car driven by Fred Ebler for 2003. PR (04-08-03)

An open practice session scheduled for Saturday, April 19 at Luxemburg Speedway will be open to drivers in any division looking for a chance to shake their cars down on the third-mile, clay oval. PR (04-08-03)

MSA held their annual Beaver Dam Mall car show this past weekened. An article and pictures can be found on the MSA sprints site.(04-08-03)

When the gates at Luxemburg Speedway swing open for their season opening race on Friday night, April 25, the IMCA modified title could very well see a new champion when the final checkered flag waves in August. That's because 2002 champion Eddie Muenster's plans to defend his title are currently up in the air. Press Release (04-07-03)

We attended the Shawano car show at the Shawano Expo Center. There were only 7 cars and most were the same cars that were at the Bay Park car show, so we took no pictures. (04-05-03)

The two biggest headline grabbers during the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season are both scheduled to make appearances at the Shawano Speedway during the coming summer months as Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth have both been contracted for separate events. PR (04-02-03)

For defending IMCA stock car champion John Heinz consistency means making the feature each and every week and staying out of trouble at Luxemburg Speedway on Friday nights. Like fellow Green Bay modified champion Eddie Muenster, Heinz was the only one in his division who could claim to have qualified for every single feature race. All that without winning a main event. Press Release (04-01-03)

The question has been asked if Manitowoc will race in 2003, the way it sounds now it looks like theye may not be. (04-01-03)

 

Asphalt Racing

With the help of good friend Bruce Mueller of B&B Racing Engines and the support of his sponsors, Captain Trailer Sales and Seuss Electronics, the 48-year-old driver, originally from Appleton, wanted to be ready when the Fox River Racing Club season opens on Sunday at Wisconsin International Raceway in Buchanan. But those plans are on hold for now as McDonald gets re-adjusted to a normal way of life and gets stronger after spending three weeks in the hospital after having surgery. Appleton Post Cresent (04-30-03)

We are being told that there is a good chance that Kyle Calmes who was gunning up to run for Limited Late Model rookie of the year, might not be able to race this year. His dad had a back injury during the offseason and apparently when Hank had surgery it didn't heal as well as it should have and he might have to go back for another surgery. Hank (Kyle's dad) was going to be doing the wrenching on the car. (04-21-03) UPDATE: We understand the team was out practicing at WIR on Tuesday Night, apparently they are going to race this year. (05-01-03)

The new line up of FRRC officials for the 2003 season: tech officials are--Dave Casper, Tom Rosera, Jay Stadler, Nancy Stadler. Flagmen will be Pat Barrett and Clint Smith. Perry Merckx will take over the Public Relations position for the 03 season. (04-29-03)

Hearing that Mike King Jr. #11 Limited Late Model might not be racing this year. The reason we are told is they were unable to secure enough sponsorship. (04-28-03)

We understand there is a chance you might see two Lamers Racing cars at WIR especially for the Red, White and Blue. Road racer Tony Ave took some laps at the WIR practice session and he might take the wheel of the second car at some WIR races. (04-26-03)

The season opened up at Slinger Super Speedway this afternoon. Brad Mueller was the winner of the first 75 lap feature. Top 5: 1.Mueller, 2. Strupp, 3. Bennett, 4. Loch, 5. Fransen. Dave Feiler won the second 75 lap feature. Top 5: 1. Feiler, 2. Bennett, 3. Strupp, 4. Loch, 5. Mueller. The midwest sportsman feature was shortened due to an accident, Nick Schumacher won the feature followed by Prietzel and Bauer. Rich Bickle was only able to make 3 laps before he was involved in an accident that took him out for the afternoon. Milwaukee Journal (04-27-03)

We understand that there is a chance Greg Haese will run the Red, White and Blue races with the car he ran weekly with last year. (04-26-03)

While at the WIR practice today one of the topics that was being talked about was the car count at Madison. We don't receive any information from the track as they don't want to be associated with us, but we were told that there were only 24 Late Models there and a total of 51 cars for the 3 divisions. (04-26-03)

During today’s annual practice day, fans and drivers had their first taste of what’s to come in at Slinger Super Speedway 2003. Representatives from all divisions of competition, including more than 30 Late Models, were on hand to get an early feel for the improvements made to the track during the off-season. Press Release (04-26-03)

We just returned from WIR's season opening practice, alot of cars and lots of new names. We took over 100 pictures and have put a batch up them online, if you want more just email us. WIR Practice Photo Gallery (04-26-03)

We have the complete 2003 WIR Schedule posted with all the up to date information. (04-25-03)

When it was announced that Budweiser was taking there sponsorship to another car, many wondered who. We mentioned almost a month ago that Budweiser would be on John Meidam's car this year. Meidam Motorsports now has pictures of the car up. (04-25-03)

We understand Andy Kluck will be running a new experimental Randercar front end. Supposely a new front end that Randercar has built and Andy will be testing it this year. (04-25-03)

Chris LaRocque was at WIR this afternoon for a test session, we were not able to get any pictures as he was having some problems. We are told that the car is brand new, purple body with a green chassis. Car appeared to have a motor problem as he only made a few laps before the hood went up. (04-24-03) We understand they were having an oil pressure problem. (04-25-03)

There appears to be some question as to whether Jeremy Lepak will be able to drive the #28 car for Jerry Schnieder (Jeremy had planned to run about 8 races or so, not the full schedule). Jeremy has alot of races scheduled for this season and top priority is the #45 EZ Lube ITEMS car. (04-22-03) Understand it all depends if the car is competitive at the season opener with Jerry Schnieder behind the wheel. (04-25-03)

WIR is ready for the 2003 season to start, everything seems to be going smoothly so far. A fresh layer of paint is being placed on the retaining walls of the track, some new sponsors are appearing on the walls for this year and there are even some new things for the fans. In turn 1 on the hill there is a patio being put in, the patio will have tables and chairs on it. Fans can rent the table each week or for the whole year. We understand 6 of the 8 tables are rented out for the whole year already. (04-24-03)

Look for Jerry Van Handel to be a contender this year at Wisconsin International Raceway. We are told that Jerry brought the car to Winner Circle Chassis for updates this winter and they found the rear end was knocked out of wack and all bent up. (04-22-03)

On April 26, 2003 fans will have the opportunity to view representatives from all divisions of competition during the annual practice day at Slinger Super Speedway. General admission on practice day is free for all fans interested in watching the warm-up action. Press Release (04-22-03)

We are being told that there is a good chance that Kyle Calmes who was gunning up to run for Limited Late Model rookie of the year, might not be able to race this year. His dad had a back injury during the offseason and apparently when Hank had surgery it didn't heal as well as it should have and he might have to go back for another surgery. Hank (Kyle's dad) was going to be doing the wrenching on the car. (04-21-03)

After losing the feature event at Rockford last week, Eric Fransen had something to prove and he did by taking the $5,000 to win feature at Madison International Raceway. Top 5L 1. Fransen, 2. Breese Jr, 3. Feiler, 4. Morrisseey, 5. Wilberg. Car Count: Late Models - 56 cars, Limited Late Models - 18 cars, Midwest Trucks - 11 trucks. Who Won (04-19-03)

Bobby Bemmels has purchased the car that Brent Strelka drove last season and will race fulltime every Thursday night at WIR. (04-18-03)

We have added a whole bunch of information to our 2003 FRRC Plans page and updated the drivers list (04-18-03)

Hearing that this could very well be the last year of racing for Appleton's Rod Wheeler. (04-17-03)

Mahlik Motorsports and ASA driver Doug Mahlik will debut a 2003 Chevy Silverado in a limited number of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events starting June 28th at The Milwaukee Mile. Mahlik Motorsports has run a limited schedule in the ASA Series for 3 years and plans on running a full CTS Season in 2004, competing for Rookie of the Year. Truck Series (04-08-03) We have pictures of the Mahlik Motorsports Chevy Silverado. Front Right - Front Left (04-18-03)

WIR tidbits - Pat Barrett will once again be the flagman, while Dennis Piepkorn will make a return as assistant flagman. Inspectors are Dave Casper and Tom Rosera with Clint Smith coming on board. Clint will also train to be a flagman in the event one is absent. (04-17-03) Perry Merckx will take over the Public Relations position for the 03 season. (04-18-03)

We understand Zoomin Randy Neuman will drive Brett Bauer's Late Model weekly at WIR. They will be running with a 2 year old motor, it might end up being a short season if the motor comes apart. (04-17-03)