Scott Owen, Leader Columnist
In 1986, the band Timbuk 3 made the phrase “The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades” famous. This phrase is also be suitable for the local dirt-track racing scene.
Last Saturday night, 14-year-old Jayden Schmidt scored his first feature win at the Shawano Speedway in the IMCA Sport Mods feature. In doing so, Schmidt joined Max Oreskovich, who scored a Mighty Four feature win July 8, as 14-year-old feature winners.
Arguably, not since 2006 when Marcus Yarie, Joe Reuter and Jason Jach, among others, made their debut were so many promising young racers a part of the show. Even though Schmidt and Oreskovich are only 14, they have each shown poise beyond their years. Not so coincidentally, each has a father who also races. In fact, Jamie Schmidt and Matt Oreskovich race against each other in the IMCA Modifieds class.
Jayden Schmidt and Max Oreskovich are certainly not the only rookies making names for themselves.
Adam Rodemeier, another Sport Mods rookie, has steadily gotten better on a weekly basis. Incremental improvement each week has also been the name of the game for Late Models rookies Carl Hidde and Luke Postl. Postl is the latest product from the MJ McBride racing tree, joining Brett Swedberg and Joe Reuter.
Former modifieds racer Chris Pepin, of Escanaba, Michigan, has also been competitive in his first go-round in the Late Models class.
Second-generation racer Cole Spacek is carrying on a family tradition of excellence with a successful rookie campaign in the Late Models. The young racer makes the 143-mile, one-way tow from Phillips and is 10th in track points, having missed one night of racing. Spacek has already made his mark with a feature win on the Dirt Kings Late Models tour at Angell Park in Sun Prairie.
In addition to Oreskovich, the Mighty Four division features rookies Brad Nelson and Brandon Westphal, each in the top 10 in the points standings.
TJ Everard and Jason Stueck have also quickly identified themselves as competitive rookies in the Mighty Fours.
In the IMCA Stock Cars class, Bert Moede Jr. and Tyler Wendt have each done well for themselves as rookies.
The IMCA Modifieds class features two rookies that have run well. JJ Anderson made the move from the Sport Mods class this year and notched his first IMCA Modifieds win last week, while fellow rookie Joe Schwister scored his best finish of the year with a fourth-place run.
Two longtime front-runners are also adapting quickly to new divisions. IMCA Stock Cars rookie pilot Brad Rohloff has a win and a runner-up in the last two weeks. Additionally, veteran Chris Engels, racing in the Late Models class for the first time, has been impressive all season and is fifth in division points.
A number of rookies have already won this season. Many of the others have served notice that they will also be in victory lane soon. Join me at the track to find out whom it will be.
See you at the speedway.