RACIN AROUND TITLETOWN by Joe Verdegan

(04-23-03) As we pound this out on the keyboard from our humble abode on Green Bay's west side the rain continues to hammer away at the siding of our house. We've just returned from a car show minus the practice session at Luxemburg Speedway. All everyone kept saying was "Man, Bobby (Marquis) busted his butt all week, and then to have this."

Actually the track really was in race-ready shape. Just as a few IMCA modifieds took to the track for some hot laps the rains came, and they came hard. It was like something out of a movie. It's frustrating, yet like veteran driver Art Siefert says, "There's not damned thing you can do about it." Once the rains started the tech line kept rolling, except it ran under the grandstands to stay dry.

As always, the lettering companies continue to crank out some ever-impressive lettering jobs on these cars. As one of the judges whom presided over doling out the best appearing car awards, "you could give it to probably 10 modified guys and at least five or six different stock car drivers. The cars look that good." Compare that to even ten years ago, when it was pretty easy to tell which team had the deep pocketbooks and those who barely scraped enough dough together to get to the track, let alone a bangup paint job.

Even though the practice session did not take place the car show alone gave us a chance to talk with some folks we haven't seen since the winter banquet and share tales about seasons past and present. Robert Waechter was showing off his new ride, a brand new Harris modified. "I sold my Pro chassis to some guy down in southern Illinois via the internet," said Waechter, looking around at all the cars rolling in. "If some of the names I'm hearing show up on a frequent basis this will be one of the toughest seasons here ever." Waechter should know. He's competed at the track religiously for three decades now.

Former Sturgeon Bay track promoter Tom Stark was on hand with his modified, with a unique sponsorship in Army (please do NOT delete this part). "It took a lot of legwork between Egg Harbor and Chicago to get this one sealed," said Stark. "I've also got a Manitowoc sponsor this year and I found out recently they weren't going to race. We'll be weekly at Sturgeon Bay, and maybe we'll run weekly at Luxemburg. We'll see how things go."

Speaking of the Lakeshore veteran Jerry Wenzel was another mod driver who'll be returning to Luxemburg weekly. Wenzel has driven just about everything under the sun, including super stocks on pavement and dirt, mid-am sportsman, limited late models and even a stint with a 360 sprint car. Also back is Jerry's son Brett in an IMCA stock car, after running at Chilton in a grand national sportsman the past couple of years on Friday nights. Bruce Jerovetz brought out his sharp-looking WISSOTA late model, with the number 88 decked out on the quarter panels. "I'll be running Seymour Sunday nights and the four late model specials at here at Luxemburg," said Jerovetz. His Rayburn chassis he purchased from Steve Petri. The car was originally driven locally by Mark Weisnicht. Another WISSOTA late model driver, Greg Dhein, brought out last year's MasterSbilt chassis, only to have it rain on his parade. "We've got new tin on it. We'll be at Shawano weekly, and we'll split things up on Friday nights. We'll hit the four shows here at Luxemburg, plus we'll hit Antigo, Monster Hall and Arcadia on occasion."

I also had the chance to speak to a pair of true rookies in the IMCA modified division. One will be Kyle Meyers of Oconto Falls. He's already been out with his number 97 racer a few times this year. "We'll be here weekly on Friday nights and Shawano on Saturday nights," said his father. "We've already been down to Boone Iowa, Nebraska and a mid-week practice at Hales Corners just to help him get some seat time in. That's the name of the game." Nobody waits for April anymore to get some racing in.

According to my driver's sheet I use for reference in the announcing tower at Luxemburg there are 13 regular IMCA mod drivers who've already raced somewhere in the United States this year. And that doesn't even count Mike Wedelstadt and Julie McDermid, who I wouldn't classify as Luxemburg regulars.

In the IMCA stock car class I count eleven Luxemburg regulars who've gotten ants in their pants and headed for the warmer climate for some racing. Can you blame them? Don Aregoni was on hand to get his IMCA stock car inspected. His son Gregg will be running for the points title in the new IMCA hobby stock class. "Next week for the opener we've got to be in Chicago for a wedding for four days, "explained Don Aregoni. "The kid's just praying for rain."

Back to the other rookie in the modifieds. Mark Kowaleski (pronounced kahv-uh-LES-kee) has purchased an old Jerry Muenster modified. "I've been around this game for years wearing a lot of different hats, and it's time for me to have some fun," said Kowaleski, who'll be racing anything for the first time this year. "I bought a pit stall by the Muenster's and they tell me they'll lend me a hand this year." There were three IMCA modified teams who brought two cars to show-and-tell Saturday: Todd Dart, Randy LeMieux Jr. and Mike Klenz.

MJ Hintz is ready for a full season of WISSOTA late model racing this year. The Green Bay driver purchased Danny Gracyalny's Rayburn chassis at mid-season last year. Hintz turned some heads when he pounced on his foes, winning by more than one-half a lap one warm, muggy August night at Shawano. "I'll be running Antigo and Shawano weekly, plus all the specials at Luxemburg and Oshkosh," said Hintz. "I've still got my modified we'll play around with a little bit, too." Hintz also has purchased an aluminum motor. "We'll be going down to Eldora in September," said Hintz. "It's something I've always wanted to try. I wanted to hit Cedar Lake's opener last weekend but I installed a new fuel system in this car and we've been having some problems with it." Not only did Hintz purchase Gracyalny's race car last year, but also his home, shop and many of his tools as well.

Benji LaCrosse will be a busy man this season. LaCrosse will gun for rookie-of-the-year honors at Luxemburg and Sturgeon Bay honors in the IMCA modified class. And, on Friday nights, he'll be pulling double duty, competing in his IMCA stock car from a season ago. "We're going to start the season like that and see what happens," said LaCrosse. "Sponsorship is a little tight this season. We'll go as far as our money can take us. We'll run just the modified Saturday nights at Sturgeon Bay. We're taking Sunday nights off this year."

Speaking of the IMCA stock car class, it's loaded with rookies this season. Among them are 2002 street stock champion at Seymour and Luxemburg Mike Coel of Green Bay. Other former street stockers include Chris Hendricks of Green Bay, BJ Soquet and Laurel Ettien from Luxemburg, former bomber champion Corey Haen of Carlsville, Al Umentum of Pulaski and Jamie Suchowski from Luxemburg. In addition drivers returning to compete in the class at Luxemburg will be "Chargin' Charlie Kroll of Algoma, Shawn Wagner of Pulaski, Corey Lemirande of Gillett and Shawn Olson of Algoma.

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Manning the flagstand this season on Thursday nights at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna will once again be Pat Barrett. And, former Grand National Sportsman driver Tom Schnicke will throw the sticks on Friday nights at Calumet County Speedway in Chilton.