Last season Friday nights were the "off night" for Troy Springborn and his hard working pit crew who wrench the Shawano ace's no. 81 Scott Construction-sponsored WISSOTA late model. No racing. Just a night to relax and spend time with the family. Cut the grass. Watch television. Anything but racing. This year, Springborn is letting his crew decide what night to take off. And after a couple of tough luck nights early at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway, the four time champion at the third-mile, clay tri-oval decided Sundays would be the perfect night to take off from racing. "My crew guys have kids and they're growing up real fast," said Springborn, a four time champion at Seymour. "The first couple of nights we damaged the car pretty badly and went home with only $80. That barely covers the pit passes for myself and the rest of the team, not to mention all of the expensive equipment we've wrecked. So we've decided to stay home on Sundays. Financially and personally it just wasn't worth it to race there on Sundays. We've been going there for eight years straight."

Springborn seems to have put the early season gremlins away, at least for the time being. Springborn won a July 4th late model race at Langlade County Speedway in Antigo. It was his fourth feature win of the season. "I tell you the competition has gotten better everywhere," said Springborn, the 2001 state WISSOTA late model kingpin. "At Seymour Doug Klemp and TJ White have really improved a lot. Randy Markwardt is awful tough now, especially at the Luxemburg specials. The wins seem harder to come by these days. We'll take them whenever we can get them." Springborn and his posse will make one slight adjustment to their schedule this weekend. That's because the final of Luxemburg's four race WISSOTA late model series will be run this Sunday evening. They'll be there. "I like the Luxemburg shows because it's something different for us," said Springborn. "The payoff is solid right on down the middle. A lot of racing goes on from 5th through 10th place. That meatier payout in the middle is what brings a solid car count." So far for the three Luxemburg shows the late model car counts have been 16, 27 and 24. MJ McBride and Gordie Seegert won two of the shows while another was rained out.

As part of his sponsors night, Springborn and co-worker and fellow late model pilot Tom Naeyeart will have their race cars on display underneath the grandstand before the racing starts. Razor 94.7 FM will be broadcasting live from 5 to 7 p.m.

PRIZES PRIZES PRIZES - Sunday night's Razor 94.7 FM/Ponderosa/Springborn racing special event at Luxemburg will have a ton of prizes for the race fans. Among them are weekend getaways at Wisconsin Dells, Lee Ann Womack, Cheap Trick and Jethro Tull concert tickets, Kid's bicycles, Car Audio speakers plus a weekend stay to the Country Inn & Suites in Shawano, among others.

MUENSTER IN DIRT LATE MODEL - Green Bay's Eddie Muenster will be doing double duty on Sunday night at Luxemburg. In addition to racing his IMCA modified he'll also wheel the Lee Thyse- owned number 94 WISSOTA late model. It's the car Doug Klemp has piloted all season. Klemp broke his wrist in a crash at Luxemburg in June. "Mark Mitchell has filled in for Doug at Seymour on Sunday nights and has done a great job," said Thyse. "But Mark will be racing his own car at Luxemburg's special. We're glad to have Eddie aboard for this special event." Muenster, who races Thursday nights in a super late model at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, has raced in a dirt late model a handful of times during his career. "I ran one of Bob Zegers cars a few nights some years back," Muenster recalled. "And I drove a car for Ed Bertram of Gold Star Racing Supplies a couple of times. We'll be hot lapping it Friday night to get a feel for things." Thyse's car is sponsored by Givani's Pizza, Red's Tire and Trail's End Saloon.

EARLIER START TIME - Just a reminder that racing for Luxemburg's special event Sunday night will get underway one-half hour earlier than normal at 6:30 p.m. A full points night for IMCA stock cars, IMCA modifieds and IMCA hobby stocks will also take place. On track driver introductions will take place for the WISSOTA late models, time permitting. A full racing program tomorrow night at Luxemburg featuring the four weekly divisions will also get underway at 7 p.m.

SEYMOUR BACK NEXT WEEK - Racing is slated to resume at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway next Sunday night, 20 at 6 p.m.

WHITE RACE - The 32nd annual Red White and Blue state championship series continues this Saturday night at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Qualifying for the Yellow Book USA Mars late models, Mid-Am stock cars, FRRC limited late models begins at 5:15 p.m. with racing getting underway at 7 p.m. Figure 8's and four cylinder sport fours will also be a part of the program.