Posted on: Thursday August 29, 2024
Shawano’s Tracy Wassenberg became Wisconsin’s first IMCA northern sportmod driver to become an IMCA Supernationals champion in 2007. (Derek Sabourin photo)
THE FOLLOWING IS MY SEPTEMBER, 2007 GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE MOTORSPORTS COLUMN WHICH HIGHLIGHTED TRACY WASSENBERG’S 2007 IMCA SUPERNATIONALS VICTORY. REST IN PEACE BATMAN # 3O GONE WAY TOO SOON….
Tracy Wassenberg will be the first to admit he’s not yet a household name in the northeastern Wisconsin racing circles.
But after the Shawano driver captured the prestigious IMCA Supernationals A main in the northern sportmod division down in Boone, Iowa last Saturday, he’s quickly gaining a name for himself not only locally but on a regional level as well. Wassenberg becomes just the second driver from Wisconsin to win the big event, as Luxemburg’s Benji LaCrosse pulled off the victory two years ago.
Wassenberg, the northern sportmod champion at Antigo and also a regular at Shawano Speedway Saturday nights, captured 11 features this year before heading to Boone – nine in Antigo and two in Shawano. Wassenberg is only in his second season of racing the division, but he’s been around the area mod circles for quite some time, serving as a car owner for his high school buddy, former Shawano driver Wade Schutt through the 1990’s up until a few years ago. “Basically with Wade I owned the cars and he owned the motors,” said Wassenberg. “When they came out with this division at Shawano two years ago it got me interested in driving. Because quite honestly, the prices for motors for these modifieds were getting out of hand, big time.”
With the IMCA northern sportmod, a driver can run a crate or “sealed” motor. “I paid $2,800 for a crate motor,” said Wassenberg. “I got 48 nights on one motor. I know some guys who are dumping well into five figures in their IMCA modified motors. I love racing, but I also want to be able to live a little bit. I don’t want to have all that money tied up in motors to race these things, so this class was a great chance for me to get in.”
From his win at Boone Wassenberg pocketed a total of $850 cash, along with a boatload of contingency awards. “We added up the value of all the stuff we won, and the contingencies alone were worth $2,000,” said Wassenberg. During the past week Wassenberg has received no less than four phone calls from drivers inquiring about purchasing his winning racer. “Basically I’ve got three more specials coming up these next three weekends, beginning with Luxemburg this weekend. I’ve told the guys I’ll consider it once those specials are done and over with.”
As for the division locally? Wassenberg sees nothing but growth ahead. The class runs weekly at tracks in Luxemburg and Antigo on Friday nights and at Sturgeon Bay and Shawano on Saturday nights. “With the cost of the mods nowadays I really see this is being a real good alternative for guys who still want to race a mod,” said Wassenberg.”
And with the northern sportmod, you don’t have to have a real big pocketbook.”
BOONE LEFTOVERS – A total of 15 area drivers qualified into the A mains in the four respective IMCA sanctioned classes, a record. Five drivers qualified into both the mod and stock car classes; four drivers made their way into the sportmods while one driver, Casco’s Marcus Moede, qualified for the hobby stock A main.
Green Bay’s Jared Siefert, who’s currently fifth in the IMCA national modified point standings, failed to answer the bell in a last chance race Saturday due to mechanical problems…Dan Ratajczak’s fourth place finish in the mod main
came with a bang, as he was shoved from behind from another car, resulting the Frog Station driver’s mount rolling over as he crossed the finish line…Entries from 25 states comprised the 777 cars that competed during the six day show, including 316 modifieds and a record 101 northern sportmods.
LUXEMBURG TWO DAY SPECIAL – The first of the annual post-season special events kicks off tonight at Luxemburg Speedway for the fourth annual Fall Classic. Nine divisions total will be racing during the two day show. Tonight a full grand national sportsman program will take place. Preliminary heats in IMCA style modifieds, stock cars, hobby stocks, northern sportmods, street stocks Eastern 8’s and sport fours will also take place.
Tomorrow night, a full Fastrak late model program will be run, along with last chance races and main events in all other divisions. If needed, the raindate will be Sunday.
Hot laps begin at 5:30 tonight with the first race beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tomorrow night Hot laps are at 4:30 p.m. with racing at 5 p.m. The raindate, if needed, will be Sunday. A trailer race of destruction will cap off the weekend tomorrow night after all the regular stock car races have been run.
141 OWNERSHIP – Manitowoc businessmen Donnie Murray and Bruce Terp have agreed to lease 141 Speedway in Francis Creek for two years from owner Matt Rowe with an option to purchase. Murray is a former sport four track champion. The new promoting duo’s first official race will be the annual New Year’s Day Enduro. This Saturday the track’s Dynamite Destruction Derby takes place, along with school bus races, double O races, a rollover contest and much more kicks off beginning at 7 p.m.
MOVIN ON UP – Early indications are that the IMCA northern sportmod class could see significant growth at area tracks in 2008. Several names of drivers are being tossed about as drivers moving into the division, including 13-year-old Reagan May of De Pere, who will be 14 by next season. Other drivers moving into the class include Forestville’s Charlie and Jesse Kroll, Troy De Grave of Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay’s Bernie Reinhardt, Algoma’s Ed Anschutz, Kewaunee’s Keith Kickbush and Green Bay’s Troy Jerovetz.
MANTY FINALE – The final race of the season will take place tomorrow night at Manitowoc County Expo Speedway. A full Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car sanctioned program will be run, along with IMCA style modifieds. Winged supermodifieds, limited late models, grand nationals, Eastern 8’s, Mighty 4’s will also be competing. Qualifying is slated for 6 p.m., with racing to follow. The raindate is Sunday, September 16.
IRA SPRINT CARS – The IRA Outlaw Bumper to Bumper sprint cars will compete at a pair of Wisconsin half-mile, clay ovals this weekend. Tonight the Langlade County Speedway will host the winged warriors in a rained out date from last month beginning at 7 p.m. Tomorrow night the sprinters will be at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam for a contest that begins at 6:30 p.m.
