TUNDRA Series rolls into Slinger to headline championship event

West Bend Daily News: Sept. 6, 2013

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor

Paige Decker got into stock car racing through a spur-of-the-moment situation.
"My uncle bought a stock car for my cousin, but she was too young so I got the car," said Decker, an Eagle River native. "It was spur-of-the-moment thing. It wasn't planned. It was random."
That random moment turned into a historical moment about four years later at Golden Sands Speedway in central Wisconsin.
Decker won the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series event at Golden Sands in July, becoming the first rookie and first woman to win a feature.
"It was awesome to do it," Decker said, adding she is still feeling the aftermath of the historical moment.
A woman hasn't won a late model feature at Slinger since Cindy Peterson on Aug. 4, 2002. Decker hopes to break that drought when the TUNDRA Series hosts its championship event Sunday at Slinger.
"I remember watching the late models and thinking they were fast," Decker said. "I remember being in the stands and cheering for the girl."
Many are now doing that for her.
It is just her second year in late model racing. She competed in the Mid-American Stock Car Series for two years before that.
Before taking on stock car racing, Decker competed in go-karts and snowmobile racing.
The TUNDRA Series averages more than 30 cars per event. For Sunday, the series expects more than 40, where more than 40 championships have been won by the expected drivers.
Decker had a feeling the victory was coming as she said she'd never had as good of a handling race car as she did that night and hasn't had the same fortune since.
"There's no such thing as a perfect car," Decker said. "But it was as close to perfect as it could get. It's rare for someone to have a car that good."
Decker is working with Toby Nuttleman, who has experience in setting up cars at Slinger as he's worked with Becca Kasten, to get ready for the event. In 2011, Kasten became the first woman to lead the Slinger Nationals.
In her trial race, Decker made the feature on qualifying time. She finished 16th.
Decker, 20, races with her younger sister, Claire, 18.
For Paige Decker to win that race, it was a monumental step for both of them.
"I think a lot of people are doubting us," Decker said. "But not only did I win, I won by a long shot."
"It was good to prove to these boys that we're good and we can race with them," Decker added.
They each notice the looks they get at tracks they go to and it's not because they're attractive women.
"I also got little experience compared to what they have," Decker said.
It's also an enjoyable challenge to race against her sister.
"We probably battle harder against each other than anyone else," Decker said. "At the end of the day we're still family.
"There's been rumors we've gotten into a fist fight but that's not true. We've rubbed the fenders a few times though."
q
In addition to the TUNDRA series, it will be championship points day for the limited late model, midwest sportsman, area sportsman, Slinger Bees and Figure 8 divisions at Slinger.
Steve Apel wrapped up the super late model championship Sunday.
Kyle Chwala has clinched the area sportsman championship, and Nick Schmidt has clinched the Bees title, his second straight championship. He is also the division's only two-time champion.
The limited late model, the midwest sportsman and the Figure 8 divisions are still up for grabs.
In the limited late model division, Colgate's Ryan DeStefano leads Alex Prunty, the defending track champion by 32 points. Mike Lichtfeld is 46 points behind DeStefano.
Willy Van Camp, the defending champion, leads five-time champion Scott Goetzke by five points in the Figure 8 division. Goetzke is chasing Mark Ritger's record of seven Figure 8 titles.
Kenny Joosten leads Ryan Gutknecht by 86 points for the midwest sportsman title. Jack Stern is 90 points back. Gutknecht and Stern would need a strong race and a letdown by Joosten to win the championship.
q
The American Super Cup Series will also have its championship event Sunday at Slinger.
It is a close battle for the championship. Brian Baldyga leads Ken Jones, the defending champion, by one point. Erle Hoth is in third place three points behind Baldyga, and Mick Ellis is fourth, 15 points behind the leader.
Baldyga won the series' lone visit to Slinger on May 5.
q
Three-time Slinger super late model champion Brad Mueller will go for his second late model track championship in three years Saturday at Plymouth.
Mueller leads Tim Buhler by 14 points entering the season finale.
Germantown's Nick Strobbe Jr. is four points behind Mark Fieber for third place in the grand national points standings.