2004 News and Rumors - December
Dirt Racing
An opener of Friday night, April 29 has been scheduled for Luxemburg Speedway's third-mile, clay oval located at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg. As in 2004 IMCA modifieds, IMCA stock cars, IMCA hobby stocks and four-cylinder sport fours will compete each Friday night beginning at 7 p.m. Weekly racing will resume through Labor Day weekend. Press Release (12-28-04)
An informational meeting for driver's planning to compete at Luxemburg Speedway in 2005 will be held at Rendezvous Pleasure Palace in the town of Nueren Friday night, February 11 at 7 p.m. Press Release (12-28-04)
Top drivers will be honored at the 2004 Luxemburg Speedway awards banquet slated for Saturday Feb. 5 at the Rendezvous Pleasure Palace in Nueren. Champions in the IMCA modified, IMCA stock car, IMCA hobby stock and sport four divisions will be crowned. Drivers finishing in the top 10 in points in the modifieds and stock cars will receive awards while the top five points finishers in the hobby stocks and sport fours will also be honored. Press Release (12-28-04)
More than 100 dump truck loads of clay have been put down at Seymour. Attempts are being made to convert the tri-oval into a regular oval for the 2005 campaign. The tri-oval was converted from the old half mile back in the late 1980's. Joe Verdegan Column (12-9-04)
Speaking of Shawano, drivers who compete there will be glad to know the backstretch has been widened by about five feet on each side and the old, rickety guardrail which claimed a few victims this year will be replaced by the interlocking-type of concrete barriers on each side. Joe Verdegan Column (12-9-04)
Art Siefert, who's coming out of retirement after a year of flagging at area race tracks. Siefert will compete three nights per week at Luxemburg, Sturgeon Bay and Seymour and may even travel down south this spring to give his car a shakedown. Replacing Siefert in the flagstand at Shawano Speedway this year will be Josh Effenberger, who shared some time with Siefert in the stand late last year. At Chilton Tracy Thrun of Horicon will replace Siefert on Friday nights. Joe Verdegan Column (12-9-04)
Brian "Woody" Wodack, promoter of Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. This season Woody will be the sole captain of the ship, as his business partner of two years in the venture Brian Duquaine is out. Joe Verdegan Column (12-9-04)
Asphalt Racing
The second year I drove a Pepsi Late Model I was going about 90 miles per hour down the back stretch trying to stay on Bob Iversons back bumper. I thought if I could follow him for a few laps I could find the fast line around the track. We were half way down the backstretch and I saw a car going slower than normal. Bob Iverson didn't "lift" off the gas pedal and neither did I. Complete Column by John Osterman (12-28-04)
We understand Bob Danes will head down to New Smyrna Speedway for the 9 straight nights of racing. Bob will have Mike Butz crew chiefing for him at these races. (12-20-04)
Sources tell us that Andy Casavant will move up from Super Stocks to the Limited Late Model division at Wisconsin International Raceway in 2005. (12-20-04)
Sources tell us that JJ Smith will run the #50 Anthony Brothers car again in the 2005 season. (12-18-04)
Rod Wheeler is in the process of building his own car to run weekly at Wisconsin International Raceway after driving for Maynard Motorsports in 2004. (12-18-04)
There appears to be alot of rumors surfacing around the Maynard Motorsports car that was driven by Rod Wheeler during the 2004 season at Wisconsin International Raceway. We have heard rumors the teammaybe running at Madison International Speedway in 2005 instead of running at WIR. If the team runs at Madison we have heard the driver could be Dave Feiler. If the team continues to run at Wisconsin International Raceway we have heard Rod Wheeler could stay in the car or Terry Baldry could jump into this car. (11-19-04) UPDATE: Sources tell us that there will be a new driver behind the wheel of the #96 Mayard Motorsports car. Terry Baldry will jump behind the wheel of the #96 weekly, at which track is yet to be determined. (12-18-04)
Sources tell us that last evening at the Norway Speedway Monthly meeting it was mentioned the financial books came up short. Apparently there is upwards of $4,000 that is unaccounted for. (12-14-04) UPDATE: Norway President gave the following response "In a conversation during the business meeting of the Norway Speedway, it was discussed that a few years ago some radios were missing and $4000.00 was spent to replace them. The Norway Speedway is in better financial shape than it has been in years and I want to put an end to any misinformation that has been spread concerning this matter." (12-16-04)
Were told that Jay Kassera recently suffered a heart attack and is undergoing 3 shunt surgery. (12-9-04)
Seems to be lots of rumors and speculation as to where and who Terry Baldry will drive for in the 2005 season. Only thing we can know for sure is he will drive the #96 at Midwest Allstar Racing Series races in 2005. (12-4-04)
Sources tell us Kyle Bauknecht of Reedsville will be the new driver of the # 26 Limited Late Model at Wisconsin International Raceway in 2005. Kyle has raced go carts for 3 years before moving up to hobby stock division at 141. He won Rookie of the Year and was second in points. For the 2004 season he raced in the Mid American Super Truck Series. Kyle will race the Limited Late Model and the truck in 2005. (12-1-04)
Touring Racing
John Luedtke and his years of experience and knowledge has brought him to the point of buying out GTR Motorsports in late October 2004 and putting Josh Bauer under contract, with the team's intent of campaigning full time in the NASCAR ELITE TOURING SERIES in 2005. The team is prepping 2 Lefthander -Monte Carlo's for 2005 season and will run B & B Racing Engines in 2005. Josh Bauer.com (12-21-04)
We understand that EDS Motorsports the #45 Nascar Touring teams plans are up in the air for the 2005 season. As it stands now who ever can bring the money needed to run the schedule will be in the car. Other than that no details or plans have been set. (12-21-04)
Sources tell us that Dexter Bean and team have purchased the hauler and alot of the equipment from the Star Motorsports team that went out of business recently (12-21-04)
Darnell Motorsports would like to welcome Simply Wow Cleaner and Degreaser as a sponsor for 2005 and beyond. Erik Darnell.com (12-21-04)
The 2005 Midwest Allstar Racing Series rules have been posted. (12-15-04)
The 2005 PROPOSED Midwest Allstar Racing Series Schedule (12-15-04)
Look for CRA (Previously known as Sunoco Super Series) to have an event at Winchester Speedway with the USAC Sprints in April. Herald Bulletin (12-9-04)
ASA champion Kevin Cywinski said at the Snowball Derby in Florida this past weekend that he is looking at running with the Hooters Pro Cup North Division in 2005. Cywinski said the plan is to run enough races to qualify for the Hooters Pro Cup five-race championship shootout. Cywinski, who is acting as an coach for Joey Miller in the ARCA ReMax Series, could be expected to run a limited number of ARCA events. Herald Bulletin (12-9-04)
Sources tell us it's looking really good for Wisconsin International Raceway to hold a ASA Late Model Series race in 2005. Were told there are only some minor things to be ironed out. (11-19-04) UPDATE: Were told that the ASA Late Model Series is interested in holding a race at Wisconsin International Raceway, but it appears WIR isn't interested at this time. (12-7-04)
The Star Motor Sports team announced Monday the decision to leave the racing industry. Star Motor Sports, owned by John R. Beale, fielded the #51 Chevrolet for Brian Hoppe in the NASCAR Elite Series & other super late model events. “Brian Hoppe worked hard for us on and off the track. Our crew chief, Joe Wood, and all of the crew who worked on the team contributed endlessly and I am proud of their efforts. We have been together a long time and have shared many great memories” said Beale. 51Racing.com (12-3-04)
Roush Racing announced today its line-up of drivers for the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck season. Nextel Cup veteran Ricky Craven and Roush’s “Race for the Ride” winner Todd Kluever will pilot Roush’s two Ford F-150s next year. Todd Kluever.com via Speed 51 (11-19-04)