Published: May 17, 2013; Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor
Dick Trickle loved life and loved a good party.
That’s why the shocking news of his apparent suicide Thursday in North Carolina is leaving many area racing enthusiasts baffled.
“For a guy that loved life as much as Trickle did,” said Todd Behling, Slinger Superspeedway track announcer for more than 25 years and Trickle’s friend. “For him to do something so out-of-character ... there had to be something.”
What-ever that reason was, it may be a long time, if ever, before adoring fans and drivers find out why Trickle, a four-time Slinger Nationals champion, would do such a thing.
Trickle was 71.
“He’ll be a person who will be missed,” said Rodney Erickson, co-owner of the Slinger Superspeedway. “He was always fun to have around.”
Behling added, “He was a guy that never missed a party ever. He enjoyed the people at Slinger and that’s why he kept coming back. He didn’t want to miss the party at Slinger.
“It’s a pretty devastating day for racers everywhere. It really hits hard here in Wisconsin.”
Trickle’s body was found near his pickup truck at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Boger City, N.C., about 40 miles northwest of Charlotte. Sheriff’s Lt. Tim Johnson said foul play was not suspected.
Trickle was scheduled to make an appearance at the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame golf outing June 18 and potentially be the grand marshal for the Slinger Nationals in July, an event that was created because of him in 1980.
“I think one of the reasons I’m grand marshal is that (former Slinger track owner) Wayne (Erickson) realizes the two of us built this thing,” Trickle said in 2010. “I think he likes for me to be there because I’m a part of it. That makes you feel good.”
Slinger plans to have a moment of silence and other honorary events at Sunday’s race. Dave Magnus, a board member at the Hall of Fame, said there will be discussions about how to honor the late legend.
Erickson, who didn’t return a message seeking comment, wanted Trickle to race at his track, so he created the Slinger Nationals, which today is one of the premier short-track racing events in the country.
“Dick is responsible for creating the Slinger Nationals,” Magnus said. “He made that a nationally recognized event that drew all the best guys from NASCAR that would come up here and race every year. A lot of that had to do with Dick’s connections (in NASCAR).”
Drivers to race at the Slinger Nationals include Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Darrell Waltrip.
According to a statement released by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, the county communications center received a call apparently from the victim that “there would be a dead body and it would be his.” Workers at the center tried to return the call, but did not get an answer.
There just had to be a reason.
“It was so unlike what we would’ve expected from Dick Trickle,” Behling said. “There had to be some circumstances we didn’t know about.”
About 10 years ago, Trickle’s granddaughter Nicole died in a car accident. Trickle died at the cemetery where Nicole is buried.
Behling said her death had taken a toll on Trickle.
Trickle set the bar when it came to success on the short tracks in Wisconsin.
A native of Wisconsin Rapids, Trickle won close to 1,000 races throughout the Midwest. In one season, in which he raced five or six times per week, Trickle won more than 70 features.
“He was a folk hero because of everything he did in his short-track days,” Magnus said.
Trickle was the NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 1989 at the age of 48. He made more than 300 starts at NASCAR’s highest level, but never won a race. His flair for life made him a household name in the racing world.
His impact also carried into pop culture with the Tom Cruise hit 1990 movie, “Days of Thunder.” Cruise’s character was named Cole Trickle.
“It’s a very strange situation, but I guess it’s for real,” Magnus said.
Friday, May 17, 2013
He keeps coming back
Published: July 6, 2010
Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
By NICK DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor
The spectacle they now call Slinger Nationals was originally a ploy for Dick Trickle to race at Slinger.
It was supposed to be a one-time deal. Maybe two.
A generation later, Trickle still comes to Slinger for the annual event, which has become one of the most popular events in the Midwest — if not the United States.
You can say the ploy worked.
"It's a great track; a great show," the 68-year-old Wisconsin Rapids native said by phone from his home in North Carolina. "It separates it from other tracks because other tracks aren't half as special. There's no other track like Slinger. You can bring it up in a Sprint Cup garage and they want to talk about it because it's special."
More than 30 years ago, Trickle was the hot-shot in auto racing, especially here in Wisconsin. Everybody wanted to race with or against him. Every track promoter wanted him at their track.
He was a money-maker. He drew crowds.
One evening in Wisconsin Dells, Trickle, then in his early 30s, met Wayne Erickson, the owner of Slinger Super Speedway then and now.
"Wayne called me and asked me to come to race at Slinger," Trickle recalled. "I said, 'I can't. I'm busy.'
"One night at the Dells, he said to me, 'You gotta get there.' I said, 'I'll tell you what, find a Tuesday I'm available.'"
Erickson immediately got to work. He found the first Tuesday in June that year, which was about 33 years ago, Trickle said, available. Right away, Erickson booked the race and promoted it.
When Trickle arrived at the track, he couldn't believe his eyes. The stands were full. Standing room only — to see him.
Afterward, Erickson told Trickle in the pits that night that they have to do this again.
"I said, 'Let me look at my schedule,'" Trickle recalled.
One month later, Trickle had a Tuesday in July open. Trickle notified Erickson of it and immediately, not even 24 hours after the first go-round, the event was booked and the promoting began.
One month later, the stands were full once again. Trickle again couldn't believe his eyes. The rest you could say was history.
Since then, many of racing's legends have come and gone at Slinger Super Speedway. Drivers like Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Robbie Reiser, Darrell Waltrip, Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace, Matt Kenseth and, of course, Trickle. Daytona 500 champions; NASCAR champions, they've been here.
"The fact that it's still going is a success," Trickle said. "You've got to give it credit. It's really exciting for me (to come back).
"The Slinger Nationals put Slinger on the map."
Up until three years or so ago, Trickle was still racing on short tracks around the state. But hip replacement surgery has taken him out of the car. He still has the itch to race, though.
"You'll never lose that," Trickle said. "Should I? Probably not. Do I want to? Yeah."
Trickle will be the Grand Marshall for this year's event. It's the second year in a row he's been at the nationals in that capacity. He estimated this is the 28th nationals he's been to either as a driver or as a Grand Marshall.
He said if his health was better, he'd still be racing and wouldn't mind getting back behind the wheel of a stock car, something he did for more than 50 years.
"I think one of the reasons I'm Grand Marshall is that Wayne realizes the two of us built this thing," Trickle said. "I think he likes for me to be there because I'm a part of it. That makes you feel good."
Trickle retired from NASCAR in 2000 when the rides weren't as plentiful as they used to be. He said he could've probably continued to race, but would've been for low-budget or bad teams. He didn't want to sacrifice his standing by not being competitive. He believes he wouldn't have had fun anymore. That would've eaten at him.
So he returned to Wisconsin where he planted his roots for a handful of races each year. But so did a lot of today's NASCAR and racing legends. That is sometimes forgotten because of the struggles many short tracks have financially around the United States.
"Those guys, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, in order to get good, they raced a lot in Wisconsin because we have the best racers in the area," Trickle said. "If you wanted to be a great racer, you had to run the Wisconsin circuit. It's so tough. It's the toughest competition, ongoing probably in the United States."
Trickle enjoys that drivers such as Kenseth and Kyle Busch, who will be at nationals once again Sunday, are still strong and outspoken supporters of short-track racing.
"My interest is still in short track racing," Trickle added. "But you take a Kyle Busch, a Darrell Watrip in his day and Earnhardt in his day, they love short-track racing. That's what got them going.
"All these guys remember their roots. It's in their heart. The same with me. I achieved a great deal in short-track racing. I think I was really fortunate."
Nowadays, Trickle lives in Iron Station, North Carolina, which is about 30 miles from Charlotte. It's nothing fancy, he says. It sits on about 8.5 acres of land. But his daughter and one of his two sons live nearby.
He's also a stay-at-home grandpa with three grandchildren. His fourth grandchild, Nicole died eight years ago in a car accident. If she was alive, she'd be 25. His other grandchildren are Luke (23), Courtney (13) and Carlee (7). He's also still married to the love of his life, Darlene. They'll celebrate their 50th anniversary in May.
Trickle said he has been more than blessed with his life and his family.
"I had great 20 years short-track racing and 20 years of racing NASCAR," he said. "I got the best of both worlds.
"I've suited up for a lot of races, made a living doing what I would've done for a hobby."
Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
By NICK DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor
The spectacle they now call Slinger Nationals was originally a ploy for Dick Trickle to race at Slinger.
It was supposed to be a one-time deal. Maybe two.
A generation later, Trickle still comes to Slinger for the annual event, which has become one of the most popular events in the Midwest — if not the United States.
You can say the ploy worked.
"It's a great track; a great show," the 68-year-old Wisconsin Rapids native said by phone from his home in North Carolina. "It separates it from other tracks because other tracks aren't half as special. There's no other track like Slinger. You can bring it up in a Sprint Cup garage and they want to talk about it because it's special."
More than 30 years ago, Trickle was the hot-shot in auto racing, especially here in Wisconsin. Everybody wanted to race with or against him. Every track promoter wanted him at their track.
He was a money-maker. He drew crowds.
One evening in Wisconsin Dells, Trickle, then in his early 30s, met Wayne Erickson, the owner of Slinger Super Speedway then and now.
"Wayne called me and asked me to come to race at Slinger," Trickle recalled. "I said, 'I can't. I'm busy.'
"One night at the Dells, he said to me, 'You gotta get there.' I said, 'I'll tell you what, find a Tuesday I'm available.'"
Erickson immediately got to work. He found the first Tuesday in June that year, which was about 33 years ago, Trickle said, available. Right away, Erickson booked the race and promoted it.
When Trickle arrived at the track, he couldn't believe his eyes. The stands were full. Standing room only — to see him.
Afterward, Erickson told Trickle in the pits that night that they have to do this again.
"I said, 'Let me look at my schedule,'" Trickle recalled.
One month later, Trickle had a Tuesday in July open. Trickle notified Erickson of it and immediately, not even 24 hours after the first go-round, the event was booked and the promoting began.
One month later, the stands were full once again. Trickle again couldn't believe his eyes. The rest you could say was history.
Since then, many of racing's legends have come and gone at Slinger Super Speedway. Drivers like Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Robbie Reiser, Darrell Waltrip, Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace, Matt Kenseth and, of course, Trickle. Daytona 500 champions; NASCAR champions, they've been here.
"The fact that it's still going is a success," Trickle said. "You've got to give it credit. It's really exciting for me (to come back).
"The Slinger Nationals put Slinger on the map."
Up until three years or so ago, Trickle was still racing on short tracks around the state. But hip replacement surgery has taken him out of the car. He still has the itch to race, though.
"You'll never lose that," Trickle said. "Should I? Probably not. Do I want to? Yeah."
Trickle will be the Grand Marshall for this year's event. It's the second year in a row he's been at the nationals in that capacity. He estimated this is the 28th nationals he's been to either as a driver or as a Grand Marshall.
He said if his health was better, he'd still be racing and wouldn't mind getting back behind the wheel of a stock car, something he did for more than 50 years.
"I think one of the reasons I'm Grand Marshall is that Wayne realizes the two of us built this thing," Trickle said. "I think he likes for me to be there because I'm a part of it. That makes you feel good."
Trickle retired from NASCAR in 2000 when the rides weren't as plentiful as they used to be. He said he could've probably continued to race, but would've been for low-budget or bad teams. He didn't want to sacrifice his standing by not being competitive. He believes he wouldn't have had fun anymore. That would've eaten at him.
So he returned to Wisconsin where he planted his roots for a handful of races each year. But so did a lot of today's NASCAR and racing legends. That is sometimes forgotten because of the struggles many short tracks have financially around the United States.
"Those guys, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, in order to get good, they raced a lot in Wisconsin because we have the best racers in the area," Trickle said. "If you wanted to be a great racer, you had to run the Wisconsin circuit. It's so tough. It's the toughest competition, ongoing probably in the United States."
Trickle enjoys that drivers such as Kenseth and Kyle Busch, who will be at nationals once again Sunday, are still strong and outspoken supporters of short-track racing.
"My interest is still in short track racing," Trickle added. "But you take a Kyle Busch, a Darrell Watrip in his day and Earnhardt in his day, they love short-track racing. That's what got them going.
"All these guys remember their roots. It's in their heart. The same with me. I achieved a great deal in short-track racing. I think I was really fortunate."
Nowadays, Trickle lives in Iron Station, North Carolina, which is about 30 miles from Charlotte. It's nothing fancy, he says. It sits on about 8.5 acres of land. But his daughter and one of his two sons live nearby.
He's also a stay-at-home grandpa with three grandchildren. His fourth grandchild, Nicole died eight years ago in a car accident. If she was alive, she'd be 25. His other grandchildren are Luke (23), Courtney (13) and Carlee (7). He's also still married to the love of his life, Darlene. They'll celebrate their 50th anniversary in May.
Trickle said he has been more than blessed with his life and his family.
"I had great 20 years short-track racing and 20 years of racing NASCAR," he said. "I got the best of both worlds.
"I've suited up for a lot of races, made a living doing what I would've done for a hobby."
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Rookie learning the ropes in bigger cars at Slinger Superspeedway
Daily News Sports Editor
SLINGER — Cody Erdmann is beginning to notice the itch.
Erdmann, a 17-year-old junior at Mayville High School, is in his rookie season with the midwest sportsman division at Slinger Superspeedway. He comes to Slinger after a successful two-year run in the American Super Cup Series.
He’s in racing for three years, but doesn’t have his driver’s license. While he wants to be mature about it and also doesn’t believe he needs it at this point because he lives two blocks from Mayville High School, the itch to get his license is growing.
“It’s starting to,” he said, insisting it’s not that much, though.
Being involved in racing without a driver’s license is quite common. At Slinger, Grant Griesbach won a feature last season in the Bees division at just 10 years old. There are some tracks in the country that will allow drivers as young as 8 years old. There are go-kart divisions for kids even younger than that. To get involved at such a young age, aspiring race car drivers have to go through a test process.
Erdmann didn’t get behind the wheel of a race car until about three years ago and it went quite well.
In 2011, driving in the American Super Cup Series, Erdmann finished second in the Rookie of the Year standings. Last season, he finished second in the overall points standings, won a feature and finished second four times and had seven top fives. He finished 15 points short of the championship to Ken Jones (472 to 457).
“I thought it went good,” Erdmann said about his tenure in the super cup cars. “I think I gained a lot of respect from the drivers.”
This year, Erdmann made the move to the midwest sportsman division at Slinger.
Right away, Erdmann noticed the drastic difference in horsepower. In the American Super Cup Series, the cars are half the size of a regular-sized race car with a Honda GX390 390cc sealed motor and runs at about 2,000 to 2,500 RPMs, similar to that of your car on the road.
In the midwest sportsman division, those cars, which are a slightly smaller version of a stock car can run at around 5,000 to 6,000 RPMs. A Sprint Cup car in NASCAR can get to around 9,000 RPMs.
“I’m getting used to the horsepower,” Erdmann said. “With these things, there’s a lot more weight thrown around.”
So far, he’s had an uneventful two races in his new car. He has a pair of top-10 finishes to start the 2013 season.
“It’s been good,” he said. “It feels good. I’ve picked it up, in my opinion, fairly quickly.”
Erdmann said, for now, he’s OK with not having his driver’s license. He plans to get his license when he’s 18.
At that time, he knows there will be a lot of pressure on him to pass the test the first time around because of his background behind the wheel by then.
“I walk home so it keeps me in shape,” he said with a smile.
In the super cup series, he learned a lot about reference points, staying conscious to what’s around him, checking his mirrors and driver etiquette, of course all areas covered in a driver’s education class.
“The main thing I learned is patience, take my time,” Erdmann said. “Don’t force anything.”
In his first trip on the track, Erdmann was just a bit too strong on the throttle and almost spun the car.
“I was like, ‘Whoa. Let’s take our time here,’” he said.
“I’ve got a lot more horsepower than I did in that,” he added with a smile, looking at a nearby super cup car.
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Joe Shear Classic
Travis Sauter won the 5th annual Joe Shear Classic on Sunday at Madison International Speedway.
Sauter passed Jacob Goede with two laps to go in the 100-lap feature. It was Sauter’s seventh-straight feature victory at the track and second in a row in the ARCA Midwest Tour, also winning the Howie Lettow Memorial last summer at the Milwaukee Mile.
Three-time Slinger champion Rich Bickle Jr was fourth. Other notable finishes include 2005 Slinger Nationals champion Nathan Haseleu in sixth, Ross Kenseth in seventh, former Slinger super late feature winner Andrew Morrissey in 13th, 2010 Slinger super late model Rookie of the Year Austin Luedtke in 14th, 2013 Slinger Opener winner James Swan in 15th and 2012 Slinger super late model champion Dennis Prunty in 22nd.
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Plymouth and Beaver Dam were each rained out last week and will hope to open their 2013 seasons this weekend.
At Beaver Dam, a $500 prize awaits the winner in the street stock division.
A perfect combo
Daily News Sports Editor
HARTFORD — Brinna Barlow, a fifth-grader at Lincoln Elementary School, was already a fan of Olympic gymnast Chellsie Memmel. The 11-year-old got even more of a reason to adore the former world champion Friday afternoon.
“I read a lot,” Memmel said, adding she reads every day and often finishes books in less than a week.
“Reading is my favorite activity,” Barlow said. “I read as much as I can.”
Barlow guessed she reads about 10 books per month. She’s read the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series.
Barlow and more than 50 of her fourth- and fifth-grade classmates got the opportunity to meet Memmel, a native of West Allis and a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team that won the silver medal in Beijing. Memmel talked to the kids about her decorated career and all things related to reading.
The 24-year-old, who retired after her third shoulder surgery while trying to make the 2012 Olympics, talked about how much she loves to read.
“It’s really cool she spends all that time reading, but she’s a gymnast, too,” Barlow said. “(Reading) is something I’m really passionate about.”
Memmel shares that passion.
“I like to get lost in the stories,” she said, adding it’s a good way to cure boredom on the treadmill.
For a question-and-answer session, the kids asked all kinds of questions: What is your favorite event? What is your favorite movie? What is your favorite book? What was it like to be in the Olympics?
Barlow was all ears on what Memmel had to say. She had a connection.
“I really, really love gymnastics,” Barlow said with a big smile. “It’s so much fun. When I do it, I feel so energized.”
Barlow has been competing in gymnastics for a couple years. Her favorite event is floor exercise.
“I was very excited,” Barlow said when asked if she was excited to meet Memmel. Barlow dreams of being an Olympian.
“It makes me feel so happy,” Barlow added about why she competes in gymnastics.
Lincoln has a monthly reading program called Battle of the Books where students can earn points based on the number of books they read in a month. The point scale is 1, 2 or 3, with one being the lowest and three being the highest. Of the more than 50 students who came to the meet-and-greet, 10 received a special gift and autographed picture of Memmel and took a picture with the 2005 world champion.
“This is a no-brainer,” said Memmel why she chose to speak to the kids Friday, adding her love for reading made it more important and worthwhile for her.
The points ranged from as low as seven points to as many as 24. The most was by Riley Resheski. Allie Sutheimer had 23 points, Bobby Klockow had 21 points and Avery Arndt had 20. Also recognized were R.J. Poulzer, Maddi Kutz, Logan Jossart, Leah Lisowski, Megan Klink and Tyler Wink.
“It was just figuring out a day that was going to work with my schedule,” Memmel said. “This one was fun because I’m so passionate about reading. It’s fun to tell the kids that, too.”
These days Memmel is still active in the gymnastics community. She recently became certified to be an elite gymnastics judge. She also coaches, runs camps and helps at her parents’ gymnastics school, M&M Gymnastics, where Memmel got her start in the sport when she was 2 years old.
She tries to go to speaking engagements a few times each year, talking about topics such as sports, training, staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Also, Memmel will get married Aug. 31 to her boyfriend of almost four years, Kory Maier.
“It was hard, but I knew it was time,” said Memmel about her retirement from competitive gymnastics. “I can look back on my career and be very proud of everything I accomplished and how I represented my country.”
In 2005, Memmel ended an 11-year drought for U.S. women gymnasts in the all-around at the world championship when she won gold. In all, she won six world medals. She also has two gymnastics moves named after her, “The Memmel,” on the floor and balance beam. She was on 10 national teams, a record she shares with Dominique Dawes, Nastia Liukin and Alicia Sacramone.
Barlow said she thinks it’d be really cool if she can be just like Memmel 10 years from now, a world champion and an Olympian, then come back home and tell the stories to kids just like Memmel did.
“When you do well in a sport or do well in something else in life, you fall into being a role model,” Memmel said. “I try to take that role very seriously, try to inspire kids to follow their dreams, whatever it might be, and knowing education will help them get there.”
Illinois driver hopes to make mark in Wisconsin
Daily News Sports Editor
SLINGER — Michael Bilderback finally has something to shoot for and that gives him confidence moving into the 2013 season.
For the past four seasons, the 21-year-old driver from South Beloit, Ill., has been jumping from track to track, series to series, building a résumé and hoping to make a move into NASCAR.
As the economy continues to frustrate the racing community, Bilderback’s dream was going slower than he hoped.
"Everybody knows that money takes you a long way in racing," Bilderback said. "I’m not here to cry and complain about it. It’s a family team, a family-paid team with no big sponsors. We’re doing what we can week in and week out, paycheck to paycheck."
He still wants to get to NASCAR and said he’s had discussions with Fortune 500 companies about potential sponsorship deals, but there hasn't been much progress.
This year, he decided to run a full schedule at Slinger Superspeedway, despite the almost two-hour drive to get to the track.
"We haven’t had a goal in five years," Bilderback said. "We just traveled around and raced. It’s something to put on the pedestal for the year and look forward going into for the race."
Bilderback has a history at Slinger, albeit a brief one.
He’s won two career limited late model features there (July 13, 2008, and June 26, 2011) and one super late model feature (Sept. 4).
"For Saturday morning practice, it was the first time I woke up smiling in a long time, knowing I was going to come to this track week in and week out," Bilderback said. "It’s going to make me a better driver, too, just because I’m not having to learn a new track week in and week out. I can fine tune myself and what I can do."
And the lure of Slinger was worth chasing, too.
"Everybody here is fun to race with," Bilderback said. "We’re here to have some fun and hopefully get a couple of victories."
The Bilderback name in these parts isn’t as well known as it is around the Rockford area.
Bilderback’s uncle, Ricky, is a short-track legend in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Bilderback won seven consecutive track championships (2001-07) at Rockford Speedway in Loves Park, Ill.
"I don’t want to be that hometown track guy; I really want to learn multiple tracks," Michael Bilderback said. "It’s why we traveled the last couple of years.
"Now we’ve done our traveling and it’s time to settle down."
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Bill Balog started the 2013 season with a jaw-dropping move in the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprint Car feature Saturday at Beaver Dam Raceway.
Balog made an aggressive move through Turns 3 and 4 and edged Mike Kertscher by 0.009 seconds for the victory in the Jim Wipperfurth Memorial. It was the only "lap" Balog led the whole race.
"I got a good run," Balog said. "I pretty much went wide open through (Turns) 1 and 2; I got a good run and slid up in front of him, or I thought I was going to slide up in front of him.
"Being Mike Kertscher and very hard core, he drove back around me and we were neck and neck at the finish line."
It is believed to be one of the closest finishes in series history.
Kertscher finished second, while Rookie of the Year contender and 2012 MSA 360 champion Jeremy Schultz finished third, followed by Tommy Sexton and Kewaskum’s Russ Borland to round out the top five.
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Jim Melis won the time-shortened 25-lap MSA 360 Sprint Car ‘A’ main Saturday at Beaver Dam Raceway.
Tim Haddy Sr. was second, followed by Ben Schmidt, Kurt Davis and Scott Theil to round out the top five. West Bend’s Paul Pokorski finished 10th.
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The regular race programs at Beaver Dam and Plymouth begins Saturday.
Plymouth Dirt Track on the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds also announced three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart will compete in the IRA Sprints Special on June 15.
"The IRA/PDTR think it’s absolutely great that Tony has the passion for racing that he does, and that he not only gives back to his racing roots, but actually participates in it," according to a news release.
Mueller hangs on for thrilling finish over Apel
Daily News Sports Editor
SLINGER — The bungee cord was only a temporary fix.
Then with 10 laps to go in Sunday’s super late model feature at Slinger Superspeedway, the bungee chord gave way and Mueller held on, driving the world’s fastest quarter-mile oval with one hand.
As if driving with two hands isn’t already tough enough at this track.
Mueller emerged the winner in a thrilling finish, winning by 0.039 seconds over Steve Apel, with both cars spinning across the stripe.
“It’s not really easy,” Mueller said with a smile in victory lane about driving one-handed. “I don’t know if you’ve ever tried it or not, but it’s really not.”
It made for a finish that’ll be talked about for quite some time.
For the final handful of laps, Mueller and Apel battled side-by-side trying to get an edge. Apel led at the line by mere inches as the white flag flew. Both drivers got good runs going down the back straight. Then, going into turns 3 and 4, Apel hit a small patch of water, got loose and slid up the track and into Mueller. Quickly, Mueller and Apel got sideways and Mueller crossed the finish line ahead of Apel, going sideways.
“There’s probably a lot of unhappy (Apel) fans; sorry about that,” Mueller said.
Apel finished second. There was no bitterness on either side for the other driver.
“We were going for the lead; going for the win on the last lap,” Apel said. “Sometimes that’s the way it goes. Being second place to Brad Mueller is not something to be disappointed about.”
Mueller said, “It was good racing. We didn’t wreck each other on purpose. It was just we were both hungry. There’s nothing to feel bad about. That’s just good hard racing.”
Rob Braun had another strong day, finishing in the top five for the fifth straight race, dating back to the final three races of the 2012 season. Braun took third Sunday, 0.163 seconds behind Mueller.
“I was hoping they’d get crossed up and turn to the inside and I’d go around on the outside,” Braun said.
West Bend’s Travis Dassow, who led 11 laps Sunday, finished fourth, and Michael Bilderback, who led the first 30 laps, finished fifth.
Mueller, a three-time track champion, now has feature victories in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Last year’s feature victory was his first since Aug. 31, 2008.
This victory will be saved in Mueller’s memory bank.
The shifter on Mueller’s car wouldn’t stay in fourth gear and the problem developed in practice. To solve the problem, Mueller’s team wrapped a bungee chord around the shifter to keep it in fourth gear. But in the last 10 laps, the bungee chord couldn’t keep the shifter in place.
“I had to hold it in gear with the right hand for the rest of the race; I drove one-handed, left-handed the rest of the race,” Mueller said.
Conrad Morgan appeared to be on his way to his first feature victory since Aug. 2, 2009. He passed Dassow for the lead with 18 laps to go and built a sizable lead on Mueller.
With 10 laps to go, Fred Winn spun in Turn 2 and Morgan clipped Winn’s car, cutting the right rear tire and sending the six-time champion to the pits. He finished 14th.
“I feel so unfortunate for him,” said Mueller about Morgan. “He had a great car and I was not catching him. Anybody but Conrad because he really deserves a win after all the stuff he’s been through.”
Morgan has led 102 laps in 52 starts since his last victory.
Apel got the chance to challenge for the lead when Dassow elected to take the low line on the final restart while running in second and Apel chose the high line to take over second.
“When Travis picked the inside, I was ecstatic,” Apel said. “The only chance I was going to have to win the race was if I got to the outside and got next to Brad.”
Mueller said his dirt-track racing experience helped him keep his car straight while sliding sideways down the front stretch. Thus, the 2011 late model champion at Plymouth knew how to handle his less-than-perfect car when it mattered most.
“This is a top-fiver for sure,” Mueller said about where he thinks Sunday’s victory will rank among the finest in his career.
“I love coming here,” he added. “This is the greatest track in the world to me. This place has been good and so rewarding for us over the years.”
RESULTS
Sunday
Feature winners
Super late model: Brad Mueller
Limited late model: Dan Jung
Midwest sportsman: Ken Joosten
Area sportsman: Kyle Chwala
Slinger Bees: Brandon Tackes
Figure 8: Willy Van Camp
American Super Cup: Brian Baldyga
Fast qualifiers
Super late model: Brad Mueller (11.413 seconds)
Limited late model: Alex Prunty (12.522)
Midwest sportsman: Jack Stern (12.851)
Area sportsman: Kyle Chwala (13.274)
Super Cup: Erle Hoth (15.127)
Point Standings
(After Week 2)
Area sportsman — 1, Joe Shelby 166; 2, Ken Schraufnagel 165; 3, Tim Kreuser 132; 4, Kenny Richards 125; 5, Nick Egan 111.
Figue 8 — 1 (tie), Ryan Lovald and Shane Becker 220; 3, Willy Van Camp 215; 4, Paul Williams 175; 5, Scott Goetzke 170.
Limite late model — 1, Alex Prunty 212; 2, Dan Jung 183; 3, Mike Lichtfeld 178; 4, Ryan DeStefano 163; 5, John DeAngelis 144.
Midwest sportsman — 1, Ken Joosten 188; 2, Jay Shambeau 166; 3, Jack Stern 163; 4, Chris Ratajczyk 158; 5, Brian Holtz 156.
Slinger Bees — 1, Steve Dickson 212; 2, Brandon Tackes 198; 3, Nick Schmidt 194; 4, Jacob Schraufnagel 166; 5, Marty Tackes 141.
Super late model — 1, Rob Braun 197; 2, Brad Mueller 193; 3, Michael Bilderback 165; 4, Travis Dassow 140; 5, Al Schill 134.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Showin' some love for 'Double D'
By
NICK DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor
Jessi Puerling waited.
She paced all night. She couldn't sit down.
She was nervous.
Then the nerves hit a new level when Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver walked into the room.
Oh my goodness.
Her friends fanned her with their programs and hands. They joked the paramedics would need to revive her.
"This was the best night of my life," she excitedly announced moments after meeting Driver. "I've always wanted to meet him."
She and more than 100 people got to do just that Friday night, and for many it was a long, long wait for this opportunity.
Driver was on-hand at the West Bend Mutual Prairie Center for the Y Sports Night fundraiser. All money raised from the event would benefit the YMCA's Strong Kids Scholarship Campaign program, which aids underfunded members with membership and program fees.
For example, $1,500 raised could pay for a fifth-grader to attend a summer camp at the YMCA. Or $600 would cover a single mother's membership and her children's. Or $1,000 would cover before and after school child care.
Jennifer Schlefke, one of the organizers for the event, said the goal was to raise about $4,500 for the program.
With a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, a verbal auction and ticket prices for the event, the goal seems to be achievable. Schlefke said she won't know the amount raised until Monday.
Fans who wanted to meet Driver and get his autograph had to pay $80 ($60 for the fundraiser and $20 for the autograph voucher). The first 100 people to sign up for the event, got the voucher to get Driver's autograph and get a picture taken with him.
YMCA Executive Director Rob Johnson said the 100 tickets available for autograph vouchers were popular. They sold out within three days.
Gayle and Rick Steiner said they took just 15 minutes to sign up. Laura Balkevich and Julie Mitchell, both of West Bend, were in the right place at the right time for their tickets. They both work at the YMCA. They didn't hesitate to get their tickets.
"That's the advantage for working at the Y," Mitchell joked.
Puerling's reaction to meeting Green Bay's all-time receptions leader was not unusual.
One fan, moments after sitting on Driver's lap, let out a big holler, whistled and fist-pumped. Oh, her husband was just a few feet away, smiling. Another fan snuck in a peck on Driver's cheek.
Puerling, a 20-year-old West Bend native, got Driver's autograph then leaned over to Driver behind that famous bright pearly white smile and asked if she could hug him.
Of course he agreed. She embraced him long and firm. Then she stood shaking and blushing.
All she thought about Friday was how she was going to meet one of her favorite players on her favorite football team.
Driver also spent about 20 minutes talking to 50 of the kids in the scholarship program. The kids also got a chance to grill the Packers receiver with their own questions.
How much longer are you going to play? What size shoe do you wear? Does your jersey number 80 have any significance? Who are the Packers going to beat in next year's Super Bowl?
Many fans admitted its his personality and values are the reasons why they admire Driver.
One fan also admitted, "He's cute!"
His smile certainly is a soft spot for many of the women, especially Puerling.
Driver arrived at the event in black stretch limo at about 10 minutes to 7 p.m. Everybody who had a camera within reach quickly snapped a photo of him as he flashed that famous smile.
"Oh my God that was so exciting," one fan exclaimed.
Daily News Sports Editor
Jessi Puerling waited.
She paced all night. She couldn't sit down.
She was nervous.
Then the nerves hit a new level when Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver walked into the room.
Oh my goodness.
Her friends fanned her with their programs and hands. They joked the paramedics would need to revive her.
"This was the best night of my life," she excitedly announced moments after meeting Driver. "I've always wanted to meet him."
She and more than 100 people got to do just that Friday night, and for many it was a long, long wait for this opportunity.
Driver was on-hand at the West Bend Mutual Prairie Center for the Y Sports Night fundraiser. All money raised from the event would benefit the YMCA's Strong Kids Scholarship Campaign program, which aids underfunded members with membership and program fees.
For example, $1,500 raised could pay for a fifth-grader to attend a summer camp at the YMCA. Or $600 would cover a single mother's membership and her children's. Or $1,000 would cover before and after school child care.
Jennifer Schlefke, one of the organizers for the event, said the goal was to raise about $4,500 for the program.
With a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, a verbal auction and ticket prices for the event, the goal seems to be achievable. Schlefke said she won't know the amount raised until Monday.
Fans who wanted to meet Driver and get his autograph had to pay $80 ($60 for the fundraiser and $20 for the autograph voucher). The first 100 people to sign up for the event, got the voucher to get Driver's autograph and get a picture taken with him.
YMCA Executive Director Rob Johnson said the 100 tickets available for autograph vouchers were popular. They sold out within three days.
Gayle and Rick Steiner said they took just 15 minutes to sign up. Laura Balkevich and Julie Mitchell, both of West Bend, were in the right place at the right time for their tickets. They both work at the YMCA. They didn't hesitate to get their tickets.
"That's the advantage for working at the Y," Mitchell joked.
Puerling's reaction to meeting Green Bay's all-time receptions leader was not unusual.
One fan, moments after sitting on Driver's lap, let out a big holler, whistled and fist-pumped. Oh, her husband was just a few feet away, smiling. Another fan snuck in a peck on Driver's cheek.
Puerling, a 20-year-old West Bend native, got Driver's autograph then leaned over to Driver behind that famous bright pearly white smile and asked if she could hug him.
Of course he agreed. She embraced him long and firm. Then she stood shaking and blushing.
All she thought about Friday was how she was going to meet one of her favorite players on her favorite football team.
Driver also spent about 20 minutes talking to 50 of the kids in the scholarship program. The kids also got a chance to grill the Packers receiver with their own questions.
How much longer are you going to play? What size shoe do you wear? Does your jersey number 80 have any significance? Who are the Packers going to beat in next year's Super Bowl?
Many fans admitted its his personality and values are the reasons why they admire Driver.
One fan also admitted, "He's cute!"
His smile certainly is a soft spot for many of the women, especially Puerling.
Driver arrived at the event in black stretch limo at about 10 minutes to 7 p.m. Everybody who had a camera within reach quickly snapped a photo of him as he flashed that famous smile.
"Oh my God that was so exciting," one fan exclaimed.
Standout Kewaskum athlete hurt in crash
By NICK DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor
KEWASKUM - Friends of Cody Nuernberg hope this doesn’t derail a bright future.
The 18-year-old Kewaskum High School senior was seriously injured in a car accident late Sunday, but wasn’t discovered for another seven hours.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department was first notified of the accident at 7:12 a.m. Monday. But according to police, the accident happened at about midnight near the intersection of Highway 28 and Highway HH.
“That was the first time he could physically get to his phone,” Sgt. Randy Boudry said.
According to the investigation, Nuernberg, who is Kewaskum’s starting quarterback and a pitcher and outfielder on the school’s baseball team, was driving east on Highway 28, just west of Highway HH. He left the pavement, entered the gravel shoulder, hit a guard rail, went across the road, up an embankment and crested a hill.
When the car stopped, it was on top of a 20-foot fill approximately 40 feet off the road, which is why Boudry believes no one saw the car.
Dave Lemke, a friend of the family, said Nuernberg suffered a broken back, a fractured neck and suffered frostbite with golf ball-sized blisters on each toe. It is believed the accident will not paralyze him.
Nuernberg was cited for driving too fast for conditions and failure to wear a seatbelt. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital and transferred to Froedert Hospital where he is listed in satisfactory condition.
Kewaskum junior Kayla Bastian drives past the site of the crash on her way to school every day, including the morning of Nuernberg’s discovery. She said she drove past the site about 10 minutes before paramedics arrived.
“I didn’t think anything of it,” Bastian said. “There was just two cars there.
“I saw a guy walking up the hill with a bag. I thought he was going to check some meat or something. I had no idea.”
Many, including Bastian, are amazed Nuernberg is still alive.
“He’s a real lucky man,” said Doug Gonring, Kewaskum’s baseball coach. “The community is going to have to work together to help this young man get back.”
Friends of Nuernberg know him as a well-respected individual by all those around him and someone with a bright future.
The star athlete hadn’t decided on a college yet, but he was considering the possibility of playing football and baseball in college next fall.
“He’s a pretty damn good athlete,” Gonring said.
Bastian said the mood has been quiet at school the past couple days. But it’s gotten better. There’s a sense relief for everyone knowing that Nuernberg survived the accident and will be OK.
However, there’s a concern among friends that Nuernberg may never play sports again.
Bastian learned about the accident through friends, but was speechless when she found out where it was.
“You don’t think anything of it,” she said. “Everybody’s really concerned.”
Austin Luedtke graduated from Kewaskum last semester. He and Nuernberg grew up good friends. They played youth baseball and football together. But, by the time they got to middle school, their relationship dwindled.
Yet, Luedtke, a Super Late Model stock car driver at Slinger Superspeedway, was stunned by the news.
“That’s one person I didn’t think anything would happen to,” Luedtke said. “He had a bright future ahead of him and I hope he still does.”
Gonring voiced the same sentiment.
“I’ve been with him since he was in sixth grade,” he said. “It’s tragic, but we’ve got to step forward and make some changes, take one day at a time, put his career on hold for a while.”
Kewaskum athletic director and head football coach Jason Piittmann said there’s a genuine concern for Nuernberg.
“He’s a good student,” Piittmann said. “He’s a well-respected kid.”
Sadly, this isn’t the first time this community has had to deal with horrific car accidents. In the past couple years, this community has been rattled with the accidents of four students, including two of them fatal.
Bastian believes the community will rally around this tragedy.
“I think it brings (the community) together more,” Bastian said. “I can never imagine that happening to me.”
As for Luedtke, he had to deal with a similar situation in November 2009.
Nate Strobel, a student at Hartford Union High School, died in a car accident. He was a good friend of Luedtke’s.
Thankfully, Nuernberg didn’t lose his life, but the feeling of shock was just the same.
“Nobody ever saw it coming,” Luedtke said. “Every day I get up and count my blessings.”
Kristine Walden of the Daily News Staff contributed to this report
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