April 2015

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Pictures from the Past Going In Circles

Sprint Car 101

Pictures from the Past Going In Circles

Sprint Car 101 NASCAR InsightNASCAR Insight

Page 2April 2015

Page 3 April 2015

Dan Plan

April 2015

P.O. Box 22111St. Paul MN, 55122

651-451-4036www.theracingconnection.com

PublisherDan Plan

Contributing WritersShane CarlsonDale P. DanielskiKris PetersonJacklyn Daniels-NuttlemanJason SearcyDean RellerCharlie Spry

PhotographersJimmy Ambruoso (815-623-3200)Rick Blewett (507-398-9483)Martin DeFries (651-346-1199)Doug Hornickel (920-563-0993)Tom Johnson (612-309-7142)Mark Melchiori (414-463-0131)Stan Meissner (651-428-4717)Jacy Norgaard (612-432-9113)Bruce Nuttleman(612-860-6622)Jerry Zimmer (715-792-2174)

The Midwest Racing Connection is published six timesduring the summer racing season by The Plan Company,Inc. All material is copyrighted 2014 and may not bereprinted without permission. Subscriptions are $20 forten issues. Call 651-451-4036.

Cover photos by: Bob Bergeron, Bruce Nuttleman/Speed51.com & Dean Reller.

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Racing Accordingto Plan

Publisher's Note

continued on page 5

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Once again, unplanned events in the last month lead tothe opportunity for something new to write about forthis column in our latest issue of The Midwest RacingConnection. It wasn’t something that happened in theMidwest, or anything I witnessed in person, but it wasracing nonetheless.

During the Phoenix race weekend, I had theopportunity to watch the NASCAR Mexico series onNBC Universo channel. I didn’t even know I had thischannel until Dale Jr. put out a Tweet the race wouldbe televised. I guess social media can be good attimes.

While I’ve never had the chance to watch aNASCAR Mexico race in person or on TV previously,this race made me realize that racing really is auniversal language. The entire show was broadcast inSpanish. My Spanish is limited to the words, doscerveza por favor.

The cars used by the NASCAR Mexico Seriesactually reminded me of the old ASA National Series.The body style used looked very similar to the oldASA cars and they even had the numbers on the rearquarter panels , with sponsors located on the door on

Page 4April 2015

RaceFabDaniel Navrestad

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Page 5 April 2015

Racing According to Plan from page 3

many cars. I tell ya, that Rex Robbins guy was aheadof his time.

Although I couldn’t understand a single word theannouncers said during the broadcast, and didn’t knowa single driver in the field, the race itself was quiteentertaining. Great on track battles for the lead andthroughout the field happened during the course of therace. There were also the typical, bonehead drivermoves (dumping somebody instead of trying to passthem, or purposely stopping on the track to draw acaution) along with a wreck here or there. Everythingthat a typical oval track race has to offer was seenduring the broadcast.

While the ability to understand Spanish would havehelped, you could tell by the tone of the announcer’svoice when something exciting was happening anddidn’t really need to know what they were saying. I’mnot saying we don’t need announcers any more, but itsure seems (at least to me) that you really didn’t needto understand what the announcers were saying. Theaction on the track should speak for itself.

Miscellaneous news and notes:It had been a few years since I took a trip to visit thein-law’s in Texas. Each of my visits in past years, I’vetried to sneak in a trip to one of the local short tracktracks. Things haven’t worked out well with theweather on past trips, and this year was no differentwith cold, damp, and rainy conditions throughout theentire weekend of our trip.

Since a trip to the local dirt track was cancelled, wejust had to do something motorsports related for partof the trip. Luckily, Texas MotorSpeedway had the Good Guys Rod &Custom Association car show goingon. This event was scheduled to goon rain or shine and we were able tosee some neat cars and theirautocross competition.

We also used the opportunity on ourTexas trip to visit the Gas Monkeygarage from the popular DiscoveryTV show Fast N’ Loud.Unfortunately, with the all of the rain,the TV taping was taking place

inside, but it was still cool to see the small area ofDallas where the show takes place. One would expectan elaborate location for a TV show, but it’s really justa small shop in an industrial area of Dallas.

And finally, racing season is right around the corner.Our May 2015 issue of MRC will be our first printissue of the year. Look for the May issue to beavailable during the first weekend of the month.

Dan Plan photo

Page 6April 2015

Racing Nuggets

Jacklyn Daniels-Nuttleman

In the racing community, you come across a lot ofdifferent characters. Those who tend to garner a lot ofattention are usually the ones who are socialbutterflies, full of bravado. Once in a while, you’llmeet someone who is quiet—even somewhat shy, butwhen you can get that person to open up—let’s justsay it’s a lot like peeling back the layers of an onion.There are many layers to some of the people involvedin auto racing; particularly those who don’t even pilotcars.

Take Dick Johnson of Onalaska, WI. He’s been afixture around racing for decades; a passion that

started for him at the tender age of four or five yearsold, when he attended his first race at the SouthsideLa Crosse Speedway, which was located where Mt.La Crosse Ski Hill is now. Back then, that nowdefunct track had no grandstands or bleachers.Johnson told me that their family would pull the backseat out of their vehicle to provide a spot to sit for theraces on the hill. It was that little nugget about theimpromptu trackside seating that really drew me intowanting to hear more from him.

Johnson chronicles that track, and several others fromthe La Crosse area on a webpage that can be viewedat www.gotomn.com/racing/history/lacrosse-speedways-d-johnson.htm.

The Northside Speedway in La Crosse, he told me,was his favorite track to watch the racing action. Hesaid it was a real driver’s track that required a lot offinesse, with virtually no front or back stretch—keeping the competitors turning on the wheel all theway around it, while maintaining a sure foot on the gaspedal. That sounds like a track I would’ve enjoyed too.

I kind of envy Johnson, as he grew up during thegolden age of auto racing; watching the sport changingand growing; even witnessing some of today’slegends, as they were laying the foundations for theircareers to fulfill their destinies. Johnson was quiteenterprising too. He began to take pictures and writefor publications, as a way to get into tracks for free,and be close to the action.

He would sit up in the tower and write down resultsfor his articles, which ended upproviding the springboard for hisopportunity to become involved inrace operations. In 1972, hestarted working for Larry Wehrs,helping to run the race programsat both Dells and La CrosseSpeedway.

Johnson has seen andexperienced so much in racing,but the best part is that he hasdocumented nearly all of itthrough photos and his writing.He has been directly plugged intothe racing scene for decades andis a real historian of localracing—yet somehow, mostpeople don’t realize it.

It’s because Johnson is prettylow key, and quiet. He’sdefinitely not the loud and proudkind of character that I’maccustomed to coming across atrace tracks. He has boxes andboxes of photos he has taken,

and stats that he has carefully kept over the years. Hecould write volumes of books with all that he hasexperienced, and I’m hopeful that someday he will dojust that.I’m incredibly grateful that he opened up and startedtalking to me, while I was working at Wehrs Machine& Racing Products, which is where he has an officethat he operates out of still to this day for LarryWehrs.

In true “layer” fashion, I even found out by workingthere, that Johnson is quite the carpenter; havingconstructed all of the work stations and shelvingaround them. I witnessed him modify a section of one,to accommodate a new computer terminal. He evenwhipped up a pull-out shelf for the keyboard in recordtime that rivals store-bought versions. Like the manhimself, his creations all have character.

It has become very clear to me why he had been sovaluable to the patriarch of the Wehrs family inoperating both Dells and La Crosse Speedway.Johnson is a multi-talented individual, with anincredible memory and a true passion for racing. Thecherry on top is that he has a gift for documentingevents, through photos and writing.

Page 7 April 2015

Going inCircles

Charlie Spry

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Wisconsin pavement late model racing legend RonBishofberger has said that he has now retired fromracing, or at least the driving part of it. Few can claimthe success that Ron has had in the modern era ofracing in Wisconsin.

Ron is the Son of Fritz Bishofberger, who had his ownshare of success in Wisconsin racing in the 1960’s,racing against the likes of Trickle, Reffner, Back, andso many others. In fact, Fritz purchased a car fromTrickle in the late 1960’s. When Ron wanted to race,he was told by his parents that he had to wait until highschool graduation to go about it, so he got his start in1975 after completing high school. His first car was a’65 Mustang sportsmen class car that he competedwith at Columbus and Jefferson Speedways. The verynext year, Jefferson got rid of the late models andelevated the sportsmen class to the top division. Ronsaw immediate success here, and soon became afeature winner.

In 1977, Ron switched to a 1969 Camaro, and thenbegan helping Pat Schauer in 1978 during his rookieyear with a super late model. About this time, Ronbegan competing in a more unconventional AMCHornet. Ron always had an affinity for AMCproducts.

In 1981, Ron came out with his Buick Century, whichwas the slant-back version similar to what Mike Millerhad in Cutlass guise. He won the Capital Speedway(Now MIS) track title in the “sportsman” division,which would be basically a limited late model in 1983,doing so in dominant fashion.

Some of Ron’s accomplishments include theaforementioned track title at Capital, as well as tracktitles at Jefferson in 1982, 1999, and 2002. He alsowon the prestigious “Wisconsin State Championships”at this track in 1981, 1991, and 2002. The 2002 titlewas won by going through the last chance race andthen winning the feature, something that no one elsehas done. He also won track titles at Columbus 151Speedway in 1992, 1996, 2008, 2011, and 2013. He iscurrently the all-time top feature winner in the latemodel division at both Jefferson and Columbus. Hehas also competed and won at tracks such as GoldenSands, Slinger, and Rockford.

Ron considers his greatest accomplishment is havingthree kids that have all won feature events. Rikki,Bobbi Jo, and Zeke. I had the pleasure of racing withRikki in the past, and she was fun to race with as wellas a very clean driver who respected others’equipment. Bobbi Jo and Zeke currently racemodifieds on the dirt. You never have to fear aboutracing wheel-to-wheel with any Bishofberger. They alllearned to do things the right way.Racing roots run very deep in the family, as Ron

married Melanie Smith, whose Dad is Rick Smith, whoalso saw much success racing late models in southernWisconsin. Ron’s Brother, Don, also raced, andMelanie raced late models as well.

Ron also said that his most fun racing was in winningthe track title at Capital in 1983, and is also proud ofhis four State Championship titles.

Ron was never one to brag about any of his racingaccomplishments. In fact, he always has remainedvery humble, and is very easy to talk with at any time.You wouldn’t know of his vast success by talking withhim, as he never bragged.

While we will all miss seeing Ron wheel to the front offeature events, he won’t be out of racing, as I am surewe will see him around local dirt tracks helping his Sonand Daughter in the pits.

I’d like to thank Ron’s car owner for many years,Chris Zickert, for his information, as well as Melanieand Rikki for their help.

Page 8April 2015

NASCAR Insight

Shane Carlson

Martin Truex Jr. is off to the best start of his career.In the first five points races of 2015, he has scored atop-10 finish in all of them, with a solid 6.2 averagefinish to boot. And if you count the Sprint Unlimitedwhere he finished second, and his Budweiser Duelrace where he was fifth, Truex is the hottest driver inNASCAR not named Kevin Harvick.

It’s a drastic change from 2014, where in his firstseason piloting the No. 78 Furniture Row RacingChevrolet, had just five top-5s, led one lap, and missedthe Chase, eventually finishing 24th in the standings.

Lackluster performance for the 34-year-old Mayetta,New Jersey native wasn’t the only thing on Truex’smind in 2014; Sherry Pollex, Truex’s longtimegirlfriend, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. WhenTruex heard the news last August, he was prepared tostep away from racing to be with Sherry. Hecontemplated the decision, but ultimately, Sherry toldhim he needed to be at the racetrack, even though shewasn’t strong enough to be there with him. Today,Pollex is in a one-year, monthly chemo treatmentprogram, but she’s been able to get to the track andsupport Martin, as he wants nothing more than to winher a trophy. The treatment plan she is on now allowsher to lead a more normal lifestyle and won’t makeher ill.

A two-time Xfinity Series champion, Truex finallyseems to have found a home. The odd man out atMichael Waltrip Racing following the ‘spingate’situation in 2013, it seemed unlikely that home wouldbe nearly 1,500 miles away from the Charlotte area;he landed at Furniture Row Racing, a self-funded,single-car operation based out of Denver, Coloradoand the only major race team not based in theSoutheast. An alliance with fellow Chevroletstablemate Richard Childress Racing and Earnhardt-Childress Racing engines has been evident this season.

Martin sits third in the standings as of press time, thehighest the team has ever sat in the standings since itsinception in 2005.

Rookie crew chief Cole Pearn now adorns the top ofthe pit box, calling the shots for Truex, and thoughtheir body of work is small, the chemistry alreadyseems to be working.

Everything about Truex, both on and off the racetrackis better; he’s having fun. There’s a smile on his face.

Truex Jr. Back in the Saddle

His attitude is much more positive, his racecars arefaster, and the communication between driver andteam is there, as is confidence. Confidence in himself,and confidence in a race team that can go out andchallenge for wins. Notice the plural there; not just onewin, but multiple.

The recent hardships have granted Truex a newperspective. It’s not only about racing; it’s about therelationships. I guess if we didn’t have to find that outthe hard way, it wouldn’t be life.

Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images

Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images

Page 9 April 2015

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Page 10April 2015

Dale P. Danielski

Auto Racing Facts,Auto Racing Facts,Auto Racing Facts,Auto Racing Facts,Auto Racing Facts,

Observances andObservances andObservances andObservances andObservances and

OpinionsOpinionsOpinionsOpinionsOpinions

continued on page 11

OK. So now if you are leading toward the end of aNASCAR Cup race by 11/2 seconds does the cautionflag just automatically come out?

That’s what happened twice at the race in California3/21/15 and as it turned out it created a totallydifferent outcome when the checkered flag waved.

Matt Kenseth held a secure lead late in the event andappeared to be the only driver if the race went greenthe rest of the way that would have enough fuel tofinish. That must not have been what NASCARwanted for its diminishing fan base to see, as mythicaldebris caution number one came out wiping out hislead. Now of course with the entire field pitting it’s awhole new race for NASCAR competitors andviewers. Again, nearing the end, Kurt Buschestablishes a solid 11/2 second lead with the checkersin sight. But wait, debris caution number two and ofcourse pit stops galore once again. So much forNASCAR’s latest bad boy Busch winning with thenewly shaken up line up for the restart. And so muchfor Matt Kenseth winning as he broke an axle exitinghis pit on a stop he shouldn’t have had to make. Buthere we go, NASCAR has everything aligned for themost exciting finish possible in the race, and who

should, after another caution of course, which tookdrivers who contended for a top finish all day out ofthe event, come out on top, the previous NASCARbad boy himself, Brad Keselowski!

Hard to believe that is what NASCAR envisionedhere but bad boy Brad outlasted bad boy Kurt to winhis first race of 2015. Totally unpredictable andcertainly working to entice all those lost fans andmaybe 6-10 new ones back into watching the Cupraces.

Yes, if you notice a bit of sarcasm here you are rightas NASCAR in our opinion has hit a new low inmanipulating its races to make them less boring. Allapparently to keep the ratings up and the televisioncash cow for the series alive even if not so well.

Alright, I’m an old guy and I do remember someterrible races years ago before all the hype and thepowers that be controlling everything to make thingsinteresting. Like Richard Petty winning races bydouble digit laps. Or Ned Jarrett winning a race by 21laps. Yes, that is very boring, but at the same timeracing is supposed to be about the best driver that daywinning. Sometimes that means an ugly race for fans

and the rest of the field. But those races werelegitimate. That’s how they played out. I guess being apurist I believe that’s how it should be, the heck withthe great powers in the big chair.

Of course many have the conspiracy theory playingout here, as in we can’t allow after all that hashappened to let Kurt Busch win, not this soon anyway.I don’t know that I believe that, I just think NASCARis trying so hard to make a product that is average atbest these days into something the sport at that levelisn’t creating on its own. And of course look at ourother professional sports. The fix on many occasionsappears to be on, yet they thrive. Last secondentertainment value with close finishes due toastounding occurrences that just don’t seem possibleat the end. Really, they aren’t possible, at least notwithout some not so subtle tweaking taking placecreating apparently, the desired result. Creating thatresult in these games/events, even at the risk of losingtheir authenticity and more than a fair amount ofintegrity. Certainly fans of all these sports are wellaware of this, but maybe they don’t care. They justgot entertained for a minute and maybe that’s enoughthese days.

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Page 11 April 2015

Racing Observations from page 10

I don’t agree with this approach in any shape or formin any sport but I guess I’m the minority now. Havingbeen a fan of racing for too many years to rememberI’ve liked the fact it has from what I’ve seen, been onthe up and up. As in, working hard to create a resultrather than having other influences increase the odds.As for NASCAR and their great need to create anexcitement these days that hardly exists anymore onits own, I only suggest you don’t penalize the driverstoo much if they fight after these race enhancing callsat the events. Ratings are spiking for the event at thatpoint in time and I have to admit, purist that I am, Ikind of get a kick out of the drivers taking out a littlefrustration on each other when the race is over. Inmany instances that is the highlight of the race!

In the way, way back portion of our column we seewhere Sam Bartus opened a race track close to ourhometown outside of Wausau, WI. Bartus of course

built, owned and leased many tracks in Wisconsin andis considered by many to be the big drive behindestablishing racing in Wisconsin from the 1950s intothe 1970s. This particular track was called Sam’sSuper Speedway and was scheduled to open onSunday afternoon, May 25th, 1952. According to anewspaper ad Wausau’s newest Super Speedwaywould provide “Thrills with well known drivers andplenty of speed!” The track was 1/3 mile in length andto be covered with granite to create more speed. Theevent was held on the day with Bernie Johns winningthe 12 lap feature. Heat race winners were CarmelloOliva, Ken Baitinger and Bob Sesler. Ray Meyer wonthe consolation race. It was reported 800 peopleattended the event with 24 cars participating. Quite thedebut for racing way, way, way back in the day andunknown to everyone at the time would establish thesport in the state of Wisconsin which continues today.Have to thank Gary Hall for providing this informationand we will touch on more in this time frame inupcoming columns…In some “Newer back in the day”we find on Saturday night, April 25th 1970 that MarvMarzofka won the 30 lap feature race at the Dells

Motor Speedway, Wis. Dells, WI. Marzofka drove his#91 1969 Ford Torino to the win. The 20 lap semi-feature went to Ron Waite with consolation racehonors going to Doug Pate. Heat race victors wereEmmitt “Jerry” Stephan, Buck Linhart, Bill Schorer,and Rudy Bandt. Fast time laurels went to both MarlinWalbeck and Marzofka at 13:51 seconds. A field of 65raced on the night with a $2,500 purse paid out…Andspeaking of Wis. Dells plenty of interest beinggenerated for the Dells Raceway Park Icebreaker 100event set for April 19th. 100 laps of feature racing with$3,000 to win and $630 in starting money. Some of themore notable among the 39 entries so far include; DanFredrickson, Johnny Sauter, Nate Haseleu, TravisSauter, Ty Majeski, Tim Schendel, Andrew Morrissey,Chris Weinkauf, and Brad Mueller…

News, notes and comments welcome to Dale P.Danielski at Starmaker Multimedia 967 10th Ave N SteA, Onalaska, WI 54650, at 608-783-5827, 608-518-2478, or at dale@starmakermultimedia.com ,www.starmakermultimedia.com

Page 12April 2015

The Inside DirtDean & JasonTalkin' Racin'

Dean Reller

New Year, New Things at HistoricPrinceton Speedway

The Snow is gone, racing season is almost here. Ifthat isn’t enough to get anyone’s motor running, Idon’t know what will. This year brings a new racingopportunity for me as I will be taking on theannouncing duties at the Princeton Speedway onFridays this summer. Though announcing is somethingI’ve done in the past, this new opportunity comes as apart of many changes at the ¼ mile track located justoff Highway 169 in Princeton.

The biggest change is the switch in sanctioning bodiesfrom WISSOTA to IMCA. Previously, IMCA hasbeen a fixture in Iowa and southern Minnesota alongwith other parts of the country. The addition ofPrinceton and North Central Speedway in Brainerd

marks some new territory for the sanctioning body.What’s that mean for race fans? It’s nothingnoticeably different for the casual race fan. All theclasses that ran previously will return albeit with someslightly different names and a few rule changes. Thatbeing said, one thing that will probably be noticed isthe competition level will be much more even. TheIMCA rules, specifically the tires, allow for moreconsistency in the cars and should produce a greaternumber of winners, rather than seeing just a few carsdominate week in and week out.

Another change at the Princeton Speedway is thenew Promoter will be Mary Beth Cripe. I’ve had theopportunity to work with Mary Beth in the past at I-94in Sauk Centre and so I look forward to working withher again. Also coming on board will be Buzz Cripe, aformer Track Champion at the Princeton Speedway.Buzz will be handling the flagging duties. I like torefer to members of the racing community as familyand Mary Beth and Buzz are two family membersthat are highly dedicated and very committed toputting on a great running show. Race fans will enjoytheir contributions to the track.

The Princeton Speedway has a long history and partof that involves Sprint Cars. If Sprints are your thing,then this season will be really special as the IMCAWinged Sprints are scheduled for 4 events, plus theUMSS Sprints will visit twice this season as well. The¼ mile high banks produce some great Sprint Carracing and if past shows indicate, this year’s SprintCar shows should be as exciting as ever.

As I anxiously await the start of the season, I realize itwill be a big learning curve for me as I jump back intothe announcer’s seat. There are a lot of names I needto learn how to pronounce and I apologize in advancefor the names that I will botch, especially in the firstfew weeks. I look forward to working the pitsbeforehand and getting to know the drivers and toshare their stories with everyone. So, let’s get thisseason started, I’m ready to roll.

availableMay 2015

Our next issue will be thefirst print issue of the

season

Page 13 April 2015

Page 14April 2015

Dale's Pictures from the PastTop left, Jim Back, #61, new Bemco Chevy Camaro, 1973.Top right, Marlin Walbeck swan song pavement event at the Dells Motor Speedway,

Midwest Championships, 1973. Bottom left, Walbeck driving the Shakey’s Pizza #21 Chevy Nova. The car during the year had been driven by JoeLehman of Colorado. Fitting that it would be a “Pizza car” as Marlin was sponsored throughout his career by Tombstone Pizza. Walbeck finished

22nd in the 200 lap event. Bottom right, Marv Marzofka #91 in the Moose Peterson sponsored days with plenty of trophies for all those wins.

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Page 15 April 2015

Sprint Car 101Photos by John Kaufenberg

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The IMCA Oldtimers group recently held ameeting at the American Legion in Savage, MN

that included many Sprint Car personalitiesthat were part of the history of North Star

Speedway in Blaine, MN. Guests in attendanceincluded Bill Dollansky, Bill Sierks, Phil

Dullinger, Mike Kelly Sr., Butch Bethke, SonnyRichert, and suprise guest Doug Wolfgang.

Page 16April 2015