Scott Owen, Special to the Leader
Spring is a great time of year. Baseball diamonds come alive, somebody wins a green jacket in Augusta, eggs get hunted for by young children, and most importantly, racing begins again at the historic half-mile Shawano Speedway.
The 2017 racing season will mark my 14th year behind the microphone at the track that I practically grew up at. Probably the best part of my job is getting to see a racer score his or her first career Shawano Speedway feature win.
As the season approaches, there are a number of drivers on my watch list. First and foremost on my list is IMCA Modifieds pilot Kevin Feck. Feck did pick up a feature win late last year at the Oshkosh Speedzone but has yet to score one at Shawano despite the fact that he has come close many times. Feck is an exciting driver to watch and is not afraid to use the concrete wall to get around the track — sometimes to his detriment.
Others to look for include IMCA Modifieds racer Joel Seegert, the son of former Late Models track champion Gordie Seegert. I would also keep tabs on IMCA Stock Car racer Trent Nolan, who I expect to be a consistent front-runner this year. There is an exciting trio of IMCA Sport Mods racers poised to get to victory lane also in Karah Taycher, Tyler Thiex and Bryce Clements.
The Late Models division is poised to get a boost this year with the additions of former Modifieds hotshoe Chris Engels as well as Upper Peninsula pilots Chris Pepin and Chuck Carmin, second-generation racer Kevin Baldry and true rookie Carl Hidde.
Also on the radar this year is the return to racing by a former Shawano Speedway favorite, Pulaski’s Brad Rohloff. Rohloff returns this year in an IMCA Stock car.
They certainly will be fun to watch and will be a great addition to an already ultra-competitive class.
Some of the particular nights that I’m really looking forward to this year include the return of the Fury at the Fairgrounds on June 24. This $5,000-to-win IMCA Modifieds show was fantastic last year and brought some of the best drivers from around the nation to Shawano.
I’m also really excited about Halloween night on July 15. I think it will be really neat to have kids trick-or-treating in the pits and interacting with their favorite drivers. The rest of the schedule looks promising as well with the return of Ladies Night, Family Night, the Bud Lynn Memorial, Hall of Fame Night and the return of the World of Outlaws Late Models.
Hang on tight, folks. This summer should be another great year at the historic half-mile. See you at the speedway.