(May 8th, 2003) It took seven long years for the checkered flag to finally fall for Eddie "The Eagle" Anschutz. After countless fender benders, blown engines and second place finishers over the years this young Algoma driver wound up winning his first main event in the IMCA hobby stock feature at Luxemburg Speedway Friday night. What's more, Anschutz turned around 24 hours later and accomplished the same feat at the season opening show at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. "I tell my wife Molly to pinch me sometimes," said Anschutz. "Then I look up at the mantle and see the trophies. I've worked awfully hard to get those awards." You see, Anschutz has faced challenges in life much tougher than any foe he's traded paint with on any dirt bullring in the area. Anschutz was born with a rare muscular disease called arthygrosis. It severely limits the movement of joints and muscle development. "When I was born with it at the time there were very few cases of it in the country," Anschutz pointed out. "I've never tried to feel sorry for myself. You simply play the cards you're dealt and go on from there."

If you think his competitors might cut him some slack because of his disability, think again. On the track it's no quarter asked, none given. "It really is a dog eat dog world when the helmets are strapped on," said Anschutz. Standing barely 5 feet tall, Anschutz has had to make some special modifications to his race cars over the years. "For starters I have the floorboards raised," said Anschutz. "Most drivers pivot their ankle between the brake and the gas pedal. I put axle grease in the bottom and pivot at my knee. It was kind of awkward at first but I've had to do it because of the leg braces. I've gotten the hang of it over the years." Anschutz has also installed extra heavy throttle springs to take the extra force from his whole leg and not just his foot.

After driving in the street stock division the past several seasons Anschutz decided to rebuild his car to make it legal for the new IMCA hobby stock class in the area. "With the costs of a street stock way out of hand I felt this was the way to go," said Anschutz. "Basically I had to change motor mounts, put a two barrel carbuerator and change tires and rims. Heck, the motor I won with this weekend was a junker I yanked out of my pickup truck last year. I've got a total of about $2,500 in this race car." Also, with the IMCA sanctioning, Anschutz and others can accumulate not only track points but state and national points, too. "Between Luxemburg and Sturgeon Bay it's a good bet to say the state champion will probably come from this area. (Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam is the only other track in the state running IMCA hobby stocks this season). They've got the claim rulefor the motor, shocks and carb. It keeps everybody on a level playing field."

More than 30 drivers in the division are signed up to compete in the newest division at Luxemburg and Sturgeon Bay. So far 18 of those have finished their cars and made it out early in the season. "The rest will be out in due time. That's when things will really start to get fun."

LATE MODELS - Shawano veteran MJ McBride proved he still knows his way around Luxemburg's third-mile, clay oval. McBride led all 40 laps en route to victory in the Woody's Signs 40 for WISSOTA late models last Friday. McBride also won the only late model show at the track one year ago. McBride currently leads the track point standings in the four race series. The next late model show will be Friday night, June 6 for the "Battle of The 'Burg II".

STREET STOCKS - The street stock division, which still competes weekly at Sturgeon Bay and Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway, will make the first of five special appearances at Luxemburg Speedway this Friday night. The full slate of IMCA modifieds, stock cars, hobby stocks and sport fours will also be on tap. Regular admission prices will be in effect. The program starts tomorrow at 7 p.m.

SCHROEDER WINS - Green Bay's Mark Schroeder has made winning season openers at Wisconsin International Raceway a habit. The 1996 WIR track champion scored the super late model victory at WIR Sunday afternoon. He also won last season's lid lifter. The half-mile, paved oval will run two more Sunday afternoon shows in an effort to boost fan attendance before returning to Thursday night racing May 22. In addition to existing sponsor Miller Lite, Schroeder has picked up The Golf Shack as a sponsor for the 2003 campaign.

MULLEN DOUBLES - Seymour's Brian Mullen doubled up on IMCA modified feature wins last weekend. Mullen captured wins at Luxemburg and at a rare appearance at Sturgeon Bay. Green Bay's Ron Berna won in a WISSOTA late model at Shawano as did Eddie Muenster in an IMCA modified.

ROAD TRIP - Gordie Seegert Jr. of Oostburg will make a trip to the frozen tundra for a special Monday, May 12 event at Superior (WI) Speedway. The Extreme DirtCar Series (formerly the Hav-A-Tampa series) will host a $10,000-to-win event on the high-banked, three-eighths mile red clay oval. The show will mark the first Wisconsin appearance of colorful Scott Bloomquist, one of dirt late model racing's winningest drivers. Other Wisconsin drivers committed to the show include series points leader Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, Danny Schlieper of Milwaukee and John Kaanta of Eau Claire. This scribe will be taking a couple of vacation days to catch the show, some six hours north of Titletown. We'll return with any stories that may evolve of local interest. We'll be sure and pack the long johns!