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Change is Upon Us
"The Infield" by Paul Pittman - October 8, 2005
Stevens Point, WI (Oct 8, 2005): Now then, have you ever experienced
that feeling where the weight of the world was seemingly lifted from your
shoulders? Sure you have. We all have! Whether it’s
getting that test that you studied for weeks and seeing your efforts paid off
with that A or in my case, the 2005 Indian Summer Classic and the FATTFRO
Challenge, which both took place this past weekend at the Langlade
Speedway. Yeah, it was a late model race but in case you haven’t heard
lately, my interests lately have broadened to include a track that everyone
thinks so highly of. Why has been the question I have been getting most
often and the answer is actually very simple. Because I AM still a fan
of racing and have been fortunate enough (so far) to make some correct
decisions and been in a place to make a difference in things and do you know
what? It feels good. For years, I have challenged those out there
who choose to look for fault to step up to the plate and make a
difference. I think you will agree that when it comes down to it, it is
far easier to complain and try and generate a negative image towards the
things that you feel it is important to cut down. There are very few
that can actually put up or shut up. I would like to believe that I am
one of them and when this did occur, although I have to admit the reasoning is
still a bit unclear, I am not one to back down from a challenge. My
words so to walk make me no better then those critics and give them enough to
feed on for the next two years. Better to give them actual results to
complain about. It’s a LOT easier to fight their complaints with
actual facts anyway. So to you ladies and gentlemen out there who are
looking for someone to point a finger at, here I am. The bar has been
raised.
To the rest of you who have stuck by me and are wondering just what the heck
is going on, all I can tell you is that as a race fan myself, I will do
everything I possibly can to help provide the best show possible. You
already know my position and my feelings toward the fans that have come out to
see IRA shows over the past few years. Rest assured that Steve Sinclair
and I have discussed this in depth and both of us feel that it is a good move
and also, I am by no means gone, quitting, fired or anything else.
Simply stepping back a bit to insure my responsibilities (there a key word)
are fulfilled. I will still be at as many IRA shows as my schedule
allows. Steve has a firm grip on the deal and I wouldn’t have even
done this if there was a doubt. It just will not be every
night.
NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE INFIELD:
• Last week, I inadvertently identified Scott Young as driving Mike
Brecht’s #20 at the Frank Filskov Memorial. The way it should
have actually been written was that Scott was driving the car driven by Mike
Brecht and owned by Verl Warnimont out of Findlay, OH. I can tell you
that Scott was very appreciative of the deal that at least gave him a shot at
the 2005 title and I’ll give Scott credit for at showing up and giving it
his best effort despite the lack of equipment, specifically motors, on his
end. Scott has announced that he will be teaming up with WISSOTA shoe
Jimmy Kouba for an assault on the sprint car title in New Zealand for car
owner George and Mary Ann Cruse of Coastline Imports & Exports. I
gotta admit, it’s nice to see drivers that compete in the IRA now gaining
some recognition at these levels. We have been saying it for years and
now it looks we finally got someone’s attention. Good luck to both
Scott and Jimmy. We’ll keep you updated on their performance and
progress on the IRA’s website throughout the winter.
• The FATTFRO Challenge made it’s debut in style with USAC driver Davey
Ray wheeling the #114 FATTFRO Motorsports around Antigo’s clay oval on
Friday and Saturday night. The Challenge is designed as a tool for
promoters to help raise the fan’s interest in the racing event by offering
both monetary and dramatic effect to the event at hand. IT WORKED!
Saturday night’s crowd that gathered were eager in anticipation of who would
be the first to take the challenge. Passed on by the front row,
Cumberland (WI) Late Model ace Steve Larsen couldn’t pass up the additional
$5,000 to win by giving up his 8th starting position to start 14th. As
Steve answered the challenge with a resounding yes, the huge crowd went nuts
with approval. Gordie Seegart Jr was probably the only one disappointed
in the answer. Scheduled next in line for the challenge, Gordie related
later that he would have given up his 9th starting spot for the shot, feeling
very confident with his car and setup. Larsen gave it his all but in the
end, the fierce competition would win out with Ron Berna coming out on top and
picking up the $5,000 winners share of the purse. Track champion A.J.
Diemel picked up the $500 Hard Charger money that was also posted by the
FATTFRO Challenge for his efforts.
• Davey Ray’s laps around Antigo marked the end of a very long dry spell
in Wisconsin Motorsports history. It has been way too long since a champ
car, big car, or whatever you want to call them, silver crown car, spun wheel
on a Wisconsin dirt track. That period ended on Friday night. The
initial reaction of the crowd that gathered behind the grandstand was what
happened to the car’s wing, however, when Davey fired off, it quickly became
apparent that this was yet another style of race car. One that the fans
could readily identify with. Watching Davey throw that non-winged car
into the corners was a thing of beauty and the space provided gave ample
opportunity to showcase the car. “This place is awesome,” stated Ray
on Saturday night to the crowd before pulling the lucky FATTFRO Challenge fan
tickets. “We have all heard so much about this place and Al (Christoffer)
wanted to come up and see it for himself. When he asked me if I wanted
to bring the crown car up for this, I jumped at it and I am glad I did.
This was a lot of fun.”
• Just because the IRA threw the checkered flag on the season last weekend,
it didn’t mean teams had to stay idle. Just ask Rick Kelsey.
Rick joined the FATTFRO Challenge team in Antigo this past weekend as part of
the Indian Summer Classic with Davey Ray behind the wheel of the FATTFRO
Silver Crown car for an exhibition. Rick and crew-chief Rob Jankowski
made the trip in support of the 2006 Summer Sizzler in Antigo with the
Wenger’s St. Martin Inn #11KD. To say that this was a Late Model
oriented crowd would be an obvious mistake. This was a racing crowd that
enjoyed racing period. There was just as much enthusiasm when Davey
tooled around the huge half mile without a wing on Friday night as there was
for the Late Models who were vying for $5,000 on Saturday. And how do
you make a big deal better? After consulting with car owner and FATTFRO
Challenge head Al Christopher, you put both cars out there and knock the crowd
over. “The track is just awesome!” commented Rick after the Saturday
night session. “It was great in August when we were here and it’s
great now. The only thing better would be for you (referring to myself)
to hook me up with a Late Model ride to be able to race for the $5,000 plus
the (FATTFRO) challenge on the line. I just want to race!”
• Congratulations to all of the winners in the 3rd Annual Indian Summer
Classic on Saturday night. All five divisions provided plenty of
dramatic action with a hint of desperation mixed in for good measure. As
Pete Parker, winner of the Frank Filskov Memorial race stated, “It’s
getting towards the end of the year and every driver wants to go out on a good
note.” He couldn’t have predicted the fierceness any better.
Again, congratulations to all of the winners: Track Champ J.P.
Remmington in the trucks; IMCA Style Stock Cars went to Jason Czarapata; Ron
Hanestad picked up the win in the WISSOTA Stock cars and Wade Schutt picked up
the victory in the IMCA style Modifieds. Picking up the big $5,000 Late
Model win was Green Bay’s own Ron Berna, and maybe it was just a coincidence
that the Green Bay Packers also found their way to victory the following
day. Who knows?
Well, there you have it in a nutshell. Certainly a full weekend of
racing and hopefully enough to stave off those racing blues and methanol
withdrawals for a little while anyway. A special thank you goes
out to Alvin Weso (Fire-Up Fireworks) for all of his help to put an
exclamation point on the 2005 season as only he can do. ANYONE who was
there will tell you that when this man puts on a fireworks display, it is
something to witness! Even though I personally missed the grand finale,
believe me I felt its thunder! Everyone I met were just beside
themselves afterward. In addition, I want to send off a personal
thank you to everyone else at ASCI including the track staff and board for
making my first race up there such a success. I also want to personally
thank all the IRA board members, staff and officials as well for not only the
2005 season but for the past 10 years which helped build this thing to a point
where the IRA sprinters are so readily accepted nearly everywhere I
stop. It says a lot for a club with that kind of reputation. I
look forward to working with both in 2006. The initial outlook looks
promising for both! Finally, thanks Peggy for all your help this weekend
too! I promise to relax a bit now! Until next time, (and I’m taking
next weekend off to catch up some) you can email me at paul@arppix.net
(yes, it changed so make a note!). Until then, keep it shinny side up
and don’t ever forget that this IS supposed to be a fun sport!
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