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Runnin' the High Groove

by Paul Kuyawa

Attention drivers, car owners and crew chiefs, High Groove Media Service, has a deal to purchase half of go fast piece for your sprinter read on to view the offer, rules and regulations.

It’s mid-July and like the temperature outside things with in the Interstate Racing Association are getting equally hot. While Australian speed demon Brooke Tatnell leads the series with three wins the IRA boys have been coming to the front quickly. Some of the IRA victory lane occupying notables have been Tommy Sexton with a Wilmot Raceway win, Always fast Mike Reinke bagged the first ever sprint car race win at the now dirt 141 Speedway.

Without a doubt the coolest win so far in 2010 with the IRA has to go to third generation gasser, Scott Biertzer. Imagine trying to reach for something for years getting ever so close to your goal only to see your dreams smashed all to hell. All I can say is super job to the entire 4B team. Scott you looked at home in victory lane. Kenny I know you’re still smiling and my friend Tommy I’m so happy you guys reached your goal. Now let’s see the 4B in victory lane. Now that your winners I need to turn the heat up so I can see you win another. No pressure from me however.

Todd Hepfner drove his number 1 Hepfner Racing Products racer to a Plymouth win. This one was not too surprising as “the Wing Man” always runs up front at this writer’s favorite venue. Scotty Neitzel won the Sue Thiel Memorial at the Dodge County WI. Speedway. Scotty defended the track that sits three miles from his home. Point leader, defending champion and all around good guy (am I describing Super Balog) Billy Balog scored win number 1 in his 17B missile. Balog has been ultra-fast all year running up front everywhere he signs in at.

Ok that’s going to have to be enough as this old guy has dragged out his safety soapbox and with a little help he has crawled up on said box and is ready to speak. Ahem, drivers, crew chiefs, car owner’s ladies and gentlemen that can hear me I have a terrific offer available for you. We will buy, this hurts you all know how cheap we are, for the first driver, team or car owner that currently doesn’t have them, one half of knee guard for your sprint car if you promise to use them. Like all good things there is a catch. Before High Groove Media Service will pry open the wallet YOU drivers, crew chiefs, and or car owners need to, in our opinion, supply a valid reason for not stepping up with a hundred dollars to avoid a Tony Soprano baseball bat, or steering box beating to the knees. Point being either one will hurt like hell. This contest is open to any all sprint car teams even if I we don’t know or like you. However like I said the only way to get us to pick up the tab for this is a VALID reason. High Groove Media Service reserves the right to judge and make the final decision on any answers given us. God I’m looking forward to this one.

Those of you that don’t know the teenager hangin’ with me at the track now is my daughter, Dana. She has started writing with her column being called Cravin’ Racing and will also judge any knee guard answers as she too is part of High Groove Media Service.

Yes my little publicity stunt stems from two friends having gotten the Soprano treatment from their unprotected steering gears. Guys it’s your responsibility to put in some type of protection, condoms don’t work, to keep from going under the knife do from an exposed steering gear. Two smart guys that have driven these cars for years have been under or will be going under the knife to repair a Soprano type beating to the knee cap area. Don’t know about you but this has got to hurt like hell. Right Ricky and Todd.

I do not want embarrass these two so I didn’t use their last names rather I want to call to the participants attention that there is a big lax in safety gear. I am also looking into a torque ball safety sponsor for a similar contest. Man you got to think, ask Brooke or Terry.

Drivers would you roll out for the main event without your firesuit, gloves, boots, seatbelts and helmet? You wouldn’t put your helmet on backwards (although sometimes I swear some do). We’ll be around looking for flagrant KGA’s that is knee guard abusers and drivers with no torque ball housing protection, again no condom here. Maybe I’ll half to publically shame everyone that’s caught.

In all seriousness guys get these items in your car and BUY A DAMN HANS DEVICE and you might make it out the track in the vehicle you came in, not the band-aid wagon.
We will be seeing you at the races until next time screw the concert canceling Jonas Brothers.

Those of you that know me have found me to be rather, well thrifty, with money. Ok cheap, slow to pay, deadbeat whatever. So for me to even think of, I can hardly get myself to say, it pay for a ticket makes my skin crawl. Dana, my daughter, found out the NASCAR Nationwide Series was going to be at Road America a mere 100 miles from the compound. After much insistence a couple of puppy pouts and a week of dropping hints good old Dad gave in and we went to an early practice session at Road America with the majority of the ticket money coming from Dana. “Dad she kept telling this adventure was my Father’s Day present, along with the wild shorts now seen on me.
Here is the heart of the column while this extra day of practice was supposed to just that, practice, thanks to the folks at Road America this turned into an EVENT! We were welcomed and ushered within feet of the garage area. I couldn’t sneak us in there but we did our best.
When we went past the huge haulers Dana immediately noticed the number 20 car Joey Logano normally drives and let a whoop about how great Joey was and we received a wave from the crewman working on the right front. Ironically parked within a few feet was the 33 owned by the firesuit fashion queen Delana Harvick. Always one to try to keep a good thing going my honor student let the pit area know that Delana wore the firesuit in the family, sticking up for her favorite Logano.
Not being at Road America since the Penske AMC Javelin days in the early seventies I had no idea where we going. All I knew is I had to get us close. Following the “Yellow Brick Road” we headed for turn one. Around a bend through some campers and following a undisclosed crew member through a very flimsy fence we found ourselves sitting in the first corner right on the crash wall inside of turn one. As the three of us chatted we found our friend to be with Brad Kesowlowski and Justin Algaier. Turns out Gary was a life long Penske man coming over from leading the gearbox department on the Penske Indy Cars to being the man keeping the transmissions happy at the gear grinding four mile Road America. I asked if the guys were asked to be easy on the shifting and he smiled large and said, “Yeh right”. He let us know the first caution of practice day was for a screwdriver on the track, oops someone left the tools on the car. He was from Pennsylvania, the conversation turned to sprint cars and Williams Grove. Of course we quickly let him know we both are into the sport of sprint cars. Always something in common Sprint Cars!
As practice began are ears soon heard and experienced what this Nationwide deal was all about. Loud cars, flames belching, drivers locking up brakes, and the indescribable smell of hot brakes, clutches and mix of rear end grease and engine oil were in the air. Did I go to heaven? Almost two hours were spent in this beautiful spot in turn one at Road America. All good things have to end as a friendly Barney Fife nicely asked to leave, not before securing that pesky hole in the fence. Dana took some great pictures before we asked to go.
We found a new spot, this one legal, at the end of the Briggs and Stratton Bridge in corner two. Again all the comfort and excitement of turn one except for the fence. We ended the first practice there and headed lunch. Except for a detour, we stopped by the motor home lot. Kesowlowski was first out of the lot and gave a quick wave. Then the best, it was a quick blur of blue and like an idiot I yelled Cousin Carl, yep it Carl Edwards himself looking like DW was somewhere. He looked flashed his million dollar smile complete with dimples and gave Dana a wave. Another whoop and an I love you Carl Edwards and she floated off a very happy fan of Carl Edwards.
This may not seem like much, but to us it WAS AN EVENT. What a day, Thanks Carl! You owe me twenty for the shirt.

Getting out visiting racers at their shop is something I really enjoy. Recently my daughter Dana and I had the pleasure to visit one of auto racing’s top shock absorber manufacturers. Located in Grayslake, IL Brian Goscinski is the man behind SUPER SHOX. You’ve undoubtedly seen them on race cars they are the bright purple shocks that champions and race winners have been using since the companies inception in 1996.
Goscinski owns a machine shop with many racers as friends. Some wanted Brian to build aluminum shock bodies to replace the steel ones that were on the market. He also was into modifying the mono-tube shocks that were used on a midget. It was a learning process that took care of a lot of problems faced by racers. His shocks were able to take care of a range of valving (that’s the up and down in your passenger car) heat dissipation and seal drag. He has built SUPER SHOX from his own design and specifications. Today, these shocks are on the leading edge of technology.
Shock absorbers have become the single most tuning tool that any race team can use. Getting the numbers right is critical. It has gotten to the point that short track racers need one guy on their team that does nothing but shocks. It’s the difference between winning and losing.
Numerous racers that I have spoken with have given Goscinski and his purple aluminum shocks credit for turning their programs around by simply bolting SUPER SHOX on their racers on. It wasn’t just instant success however. “I could have the lightest trickest and shock that wouldn’t fade or break in a crash but if I can’t get them on peoples cars the nicest part in the world is useless,”Goscinski said.
Getting a “name driver” to use your pieces is a must. I brought some of our best over to see two time World of Outlaw champion driver Sammy Swindell. Sammy was looking to get more out of his shocks and agreed to give our shocks try. This was in 1999 there have purple SUPER SHOX on all the cars Sammy driven
since. Sammy won that weekend at Calistoga. He won’t drive a car without his shock package on the car. For us getting Sammy as a customer was huge. Following that first night of using SUPER SHOX Sammy peeled his then shock builder’s decal off his car autographed it and gave it to me. I keep it right here. It makes a good conversation piece,” Goscinski said.
Since getting Swindell on board the SUPER SHOX accomplishments have been staggering. Everyone remotely involved with sprint car racing knows of Sammy Swindell’s accomplishments. To list all the races this company has help win would take up the entire column, but here are some highlights. Jack French and Eric Gordon won five straight Little 500 races; from 2001 through 2005 they were untouchable. I’ve been to the Little 500 and hope to go back. Think about 500 laps on a quarter mile to finish is great to win five in row unbelievable, think how many times those shocks went up and down. Dave Steele wins USAC Silver Crown show at Iowa Speedway. Eugene Gregorich wins 9 features and the Marshfield Late Model Championship. Tommy Sexton Jr. won the Wilmot track championship these feats were accomplished in 2007. Brett Anderson wins the POWRi Midget Championship in 2008. Billy Balog is crowned IRA champ in 2008 and 2009. Wayne Modjeski wins the MSA championship in 2008. Of course Sammy won the Chili Bowlin a sweep in 2009. Kevin Swindell Australian midget title,Brian Kristan wins a 410 sprint race with a 360 engine, Tim Kaeding and Swindell both won qualifying events at the Knoxville Nationals this all in 2009. Kevin Swindell win the first race of 2010, the Chili Bowl, Dad Sammy was third after starting last and Mike Hess finished seventh. This was back to back Chili Bowl’s for SUPER SHOX.
All these wins and more have come in 410 winged and non-winged sprints, asphalt sprints both winged and non-winged , 360 winged and non-winged sprints, midgets, Silver Crown as well as late models.
Goscinki and SUPER SHOX have made it to the top of the short track industry by building a superior product. If you’re looking to turn your cars handling around you can get a hold of Brian at www.supershox.com. Or 1-847548-SHOX. God Bless and well see you at the races.

Recently announced, the Interstate Racing Association, schedule is out and does hold a few surprises. With the quality of cars and drivers the IRA has, club president Steve Sinclair once again has had to turn down requests from promoters for an IRA show. This schedule would appear to have 19 dates that are within a two hour ride for most of the IRA teams. April 17 will be the big day for 2010. Tradition mandates the Dodge County Fairgrounds is the track that will see the 2010 version of the always exciting IRA traveling circus first. A cast of thousands will pack into the Beaver Dam location to see the sprinters terrify the fans on the huge half mile. This is the Rick Schmidt Memorial. This is one of five shows that will be held at Dodge County
Others schedule highlights include the IRA sprinters invading the Knoxville, IA Raceway on May 8th. Wilmot Raceway hosts it’s first of five IRA battles on May 29.
Up the road towards Green Bay IRA sprint cars take to the 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, WI. This track has been a paved quarter mile for ever; I raced my go-kart there in the late 1970’s! It is going to be transformed into a high banked clay third mile! I can’t wait to see this place again. If I remember correctly the fine facilities at 141 include a sports bar that overlooks the race track. Let’s see a new high banked third mile race track dirt track, IRA sprint cars, a sports bar for relaxation following the races and its Memorial Day weekend! This has all the ingredients for a superb weekend. May 30 is the date.
With the start of the 2010 already underway down south it won’t be long before we are out enjoying the racing in our part of the country. Obviously the biggest story during the off season has been the resurgence of Goodyear Racing Eagles into sprint car racing. For years Goodyear was the hot ticket. To go fast meant you better have had Goodyear’s on your racer. Goodyear has a lot riding on their return to sprint car racing mainly money. They have poured gobs of cash into the sport, not only have the major sanctioning bodies seem to have benefitted so have tracks running without a sanction.
Sure some teams have been hurt because their deals for Hoosiers are no longer valid. In our area the Interstate Racing Association rule reads Goodyear tires will be on the drive wheels. This is a three year contract with series cash being poured into the local scene. Goodyear will also sponsor the IRA Rookie of the Year award. In addition to the tremendous financial windfall two tires will be awarded per night at the drivers meeting to those teams that are eligible. Free tires if that doesn’t grab the participant’s attention nothing will. If anyone is interested in my opinion I like the Goodyear deal purely because of a nostalgic reason, I like the way the Goodyear decal looks on the roll cage of a sprint car.
Members of the IRA should be proud of all the incentives that are being rolled their way. Think about it, there’s tow money, tire rebates, a fabulous insurance package for the racers, a contingency program that have left most organizations drooling. Cash awards for setting quick time, as well as heat race and B-main awards. IRA members are treated to one of the best point funds in sprint car racing and that just got better thanks to Goodyear. Let’s not forget the IRA’s biggest and best attribute they have to offer. It doesn’t make a race car faster nor does it put money in any team’s pocket. This positive gives peace of mind to wives and girlfriends alike. It is the Midwest Safety
A 33 race schedule awaits the drivers of the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association. This schedule is one of the most racer friendly schedules in some time. There should be roughly 20 races within a two hour drive for most of the teams. There are a couple of two day shows at the same speedway The Masters at the Cedar Lake, WI Speedway which is becoming one of the IRA biggies and two nights of action packed racing at the clay covered Elko MN, Speed way . This is the second year the sprints will dirty up the immaculate Elko facility.
As always I seem to offend someone even when I try to get them positive ink. Last column, I know it has been awhile, I mentioned the great job Nick Alden was doing driving for Scott Lenz. I was contacted by Alden who was miffed that I didn’t mention that part of the deal for piloting Scott’s car was for him to participate by pulling maintenance on both the Lenz cars each week . He also let be known that he has had to purchase tires and some other pieces in exchange for the privilege of driving one of Scott’s car. Seems like a pretty good deal to get a ride in real nice race car. Alden will fielding his own team this year. I wish him luck. Know he is really going to see how much it costs to race sprint cars.
Sorry Scott.
That’s it for now, reach us at rthg@wi.rr.com. God Bless.

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