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New SportMod Class Brings Diverse Mix Of Drivers To Luxemburg
(Luxemburg, WI) - When Luxemburg Speedway's newest weekly division rolls onto
the third-mile, clay oval for the season opener on April 20 a very diverse
bunch of drivers will emerge.
Among the contestants signed up for IMCA's newest entry level, open-wheeled
class are former modified and stock car drivers, along with drivers with
backgrounds in street stocks, hobby stocks, four cylinders and flat out pure
rookies who've never before climbed behind the wheel.
"It's quite an oddball assortment of drivers, that's for sure," said
track manager Rick Goral. "It seems darn near every week I keep hearing
of another driver who wants to dig their old modified out of the mothballs and
come race with us on Friday nights."
In a nutshell, the northern sportmod is poorman's modified. The track's
regular IMCA modified has evolved over the years into somewhat of an expensive
animal. The northern sportmod gives competitors the chance to race a modified
at the lowest possible cost.
"For me, it was pretty much a no-brainer," said Mishicot's Mark
Christensen, a driver who struggled as a rookie in the modified division in
2006. "With the level of talent at Luxemburg in the mods, it was tough
for me to make the show. Now, I only have to change a couple of things to my
car to make it legal. And, there's much less maintenance on them, too."
Among the main differences between the regular modified class is that the
northern sportmod runs on pump gas, and drivers have the option to run a
"sealed" or crate motor. Rules with regards to some of the
suspension parts are much more limited than the regular modified class.
Those drivers who've signed up to race in the class from the modified division
include Kewaunee veteran Eugene Gregorich, a five time IMCA modified champion
at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. Gregorich spent last season in the
IMCA stock car class. Other former modified drivers include hometown driver
Jeff DuBois and Chad Nelson of Little Suamico, who'll race a car owned by
Muenster Racing.
Others include former hobby stockers Tom Brumlic of Denmark and Little
Suamico's Adam White. Luxemburg's Dave Davister has a former national
championship modified at his disposal, while former street stocker Jamie Berg
of Green Bay will compete as well, along with pure rookies Colen Graf of
Mishicot and Dennis Meisler of Luxemburg.
"Plus we'll be getting some other drivers popping in on their off nights
to race by us, especially early in the season," said Goral. "I can
see this class continuing to grow as the season moves on."
The 2007 season will kick off Friday night, April 20 at 7 p.m. IMCA modifieds,
IMCA stock cars, IMCA hobby stocks, IMCA northern sportmods and sport fours
will compete weekly through Labor day weekend. For more information call 920
863 8446.
The track's website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com.
Luxemburg Speedway is located 15 minutes east of Green Bay off highway 54 at
the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.
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