Scott Owen, Leader Columnist
As I spoke to Joey Taycher following the races Saturday night he said, “I don’t want to win a race like that.”
He was referring to the fact that numerous racers were knocked from contention following an early-race incident. The fact of the matter, though, is that someone will win, so why not Taycher?
Though the Mackville resident has raced for a number of seasons, he is a rookie in the IMCA Modifieds class. The win Saturday was his first in the ultra-competitive division. Taycher led all 20 laps of the feature race and was relatively unchallenged for the win. This season has not been the easiest for the racer nicknamed “The Dirt Flirt.”
Taycher’s sister Christine passed away during the offseason. She was a big supporter of Taycher and his wife, Karah, who races an IMCA Sport Mod. Coming up next week, Taycher plans to race the entire Cheesehead Triple Crown series. The series begins with a practice night June 20 at the 141 Speedway. The winner of the two-day Clash at the Creek on June 21-22 will take home $10,000. The series then moves to the Oshkosh Speedzone on June 23, where the winner will get a $5,000 prize. The series will conclude on June 24 at Taycher’s home track, the Shawano Speedway, with the $5,000-to-win Fury at the Fairgrounds.
Over the duration of the series, Taycher will be competing against some of the best IMCA Modifieds racers from across the country. After last week’s win, Taycher has some momentum on his side. If he can keep it going this week in the Cheesehead, he might stand a chance to make some noise.
Much like the stick and ball sports, racing success can be greatly impacted by momentum. A driver who gets hot at the right time and has confidence in the equipment and himself or herself is a force to be reckoned with.
Saturday’s racing menu at the Shawano Speedway features the Dirt Kings Late Models tour. It will pit many of the top late model racers from the southern part of the state against our local favorites. The series has held two races so far this season.
Mitch McGrath scored the opening win at the Oshkosh Speedzone. Late-model rookie Cole Spacek, of Phillips, secured his first career late model win Sunday at the Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie. The race held additional significance because it was the first-ever late model show at the track, which has hosted racing since 1939.
Gear up, folks! There is lots of top-notch racing coming your way in the next few weeks.
See you at the speedway.