Family and Racing Go Together Like Peas and Carrots

Monday, July 14, 2008
By: Matt "Night" Rider

Families and racing have been around for a long time. Some famous racing families include the Forces', Petty's, and the Earnhardt's, but family racing is also local.

From the Bunker Hill Dragstrip to the Miami County Speedway, you'll find an abundance of racing within families.

Dan Dishon (Top Left) and his son Nick (Bottom Left), both of Logansport, drag race motorcycles out at the Bunker Hill Dragstrip.

"I think me and the kid are tighter than maybe most parents are with their kids. Having the wife, Tina, here helps out the relationship. She grew up in the sport so she understands what the sport is all about. We actually met here at the track (Bunker Hill Dragstrip)", said Dan Dishon.

His son "Nitro" Nick Dishon said, "Mainly the positive support. They will give you anything you need. If it's not running right, or you're struggling, they'll try to helo you."

Family and racing can alos be found at the Miami County Speedway. Ken Hughes and his son K.C.(Bottom Left), Amboy are just one of many racing families that race out at the MCS. Many local families have deep roots in racing.

Ken Hughes raced micro sprints all over the country. Ken got his son K.C., interested in racing.

"It's something we've (Hughes family) done together for 35 years or more. It's a time for our family to be together. Not just at the race track but the week preparing the car", said Ken Hughes.

The Kimmels (Left Bottom), Mentone, are all into racing. Sam Kimmel (#4 micro sprint) and his little sister Barbie (#44 micro sprint) both race at the Miami County Speedway, while their parents (Cindy and Joe) are there for support.

"Racing brings us together. We are together every weekend when we race", Joe Kimmel said.

Cindy Kimmel said, "It makes it that much better when it's family. When things are going bad, it's better to have family for the support."

Jeff Weideman and his wife Jennie, Sharpsville, take turns racing their #92W micro sprint, each weekend at the one and only Miami County Speedway. Jeff Weideman said, "Racing is something for the family to do together."

The racing reigns are usually passed down from generation to generation. Racing also provides family members with many great memories to look back on and enjoy.

Brandon Rose: An Local Up and Coming Micro Sprint Racer

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
By: Matt "Night" Rider

Peru racer Brandon Rose (Pictured Left) started racing at age five.

"I live in Peru, so I used to come out and watch racing at both the Miami County Speedway and the Kokomo Speedway", Rose recalls.

As for how Rose began racing micro sprints, Rose said, "My Dad decided to buy a car, and let me run here (Miami County Speedway)."

Since then, Rose has become a force to be reckoned with, racing his #29 micro sprint in both the Non Wing and Open Classes at the Miami County Speedway.

Rose has won the Open Class feature in each of the last two weekends at the Miami County Speedway. Rose also took home the Non Wing Class feature victory on May 24th.

"It felt pretty good, because we didn't start out too well", Rose said of his Open Class feature win on May 31st. "It's pretty tiring, but it's great to win", Rose said after his most recent Open Class feature win this past weekend.

After his two recent feature victories, Rose sits in fourth place in the Open Class Points Standings. He is currently in sixth place in the Non Wing Class Points Standings.

Rose has four championships (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) in both the Junior and Stock Classes at the Miami County Speedway. In 2007, Brandon finished second in the Open Class at Miami County Speedway.

"The highlight of my career was when I finished fourth at Nationals in Marion, Ill. in 2006", said Rose.

Rose's Dad Kevin also enjoys racing. "I like auto racing and to be competitive", said Kevin. "It's a thrill to be able to spend time on the weekends with Brandon, and see him compete in auto racing."

Kevin goes on to say, "Racing has taught Brandon the basic mechanical skills of the car. He understands that you're not going to run up front if you don't work on the car during the week."

Brandon wanted to thank all his sponsors for their continued support; Forman Sheet Metal, Steven's Machine, Max Pitts, Simpson, Gamester Racing Products, along with his grandman and grandpa.

"My favorite sport is dirt track racing", Rose said. "My favorite driver is World of Outlaws Superstar, "The King" Steve Kinser."

Other than dirt track racing, Rose enjoys playing baseball and football. He will play baseball at Earlham College this fall and major in pharmesueticals.

GRP Chassis: A Growing Business

Friday, June 13, 2008

By: Matt "Night" Rider

George and Tammy Gamester of Peru started Gamester Racing Products (GRP Chassis) in August of 2005. Gamester Racing Products makes many different styles of frames for racers to choose from. GRP also makes some of the components for the car.

"We make anything from the micro sprints and midgets, all the way up to dirt champ cars", said George.

"We build frames and a lot of components for the car like front axles, bumpers, and nerf bars", said George.

"Most of the time we build the frames (Like the above picture) and send them off for other racers to decide which parts they want to use." George went on to explain, "There are a lot of outfits (companies) that make different parts. The racer usually assembles what parts they want on the car. The buyer (racer) can decide what they want."

Amboy native K.C. Hughes drivers the #14 micro sprint in both the Open and Non Wing classes at the Miami County Speedway.

"George Gamester builds chassis's for us, all types of sprint cars", said Hughes. Hughes Racing would like to thank all their sponsors; GRP Chassis, Troy Hollingsworth Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, Edge Graphics in Peru and Hypercoil Springs.

Logansport racer Cody Fogelsong also races his #32 micro sprint in both the Open and Non Wing classes at the Miami County Speedway. Cody uses a GRP Chassis.

"I like the GRP set up a lot", said Fogelsong. "I like the way it drivers and handles. I had three feature wins last year in the GRP chassis. I'd like to thank my sponsors; Gamester Racing Products, TK Graphics, KC's Auto Body out of New London, Ind. and Clem's Cycle Sales, for their great motors and support they give us throughout the year."

Mockler Dreams Big

Friday, July 18, 2008

By: Matt "Night" Rider

Westfield native Stephanie Mockler (Pictured Left) has been racing since a young age.

"I started when I was 6 years old", recalls Mockler. "My Dad raced USAC (United State Auto Club) midgets so he had an interest in it. He offered me a chance to race at the age of five, and at first, I turned it down. I wanted to let my older sister Shannon, try it. Then I thought it looked fun so I started racing."

Since then, Mockler has not looked back. She started her racing career in quarter midgets, where she won three championships, racing in the Kokomo area.

"We have three quarter midget championships", Mockler said. "We also have two second-place finishes in a Ford Focus Championship and a Micro Championship."

Stephanie also races her #52 micro sprint, in the Non Wing and Open Classes at the Miami County Speedway, along with her #6 Clorox sponsored USAC National midget (Pictured Left) for Ford Racing.

On Friday, July 4th, Mockler won the Open Class feature at the Miami County Speedway. Stephanie was able to hold off a hard charging Tyler Stump, to pick up the Open Class victory.

"It's been a long time coming", Mockler said after the win.

She has many racing achievements to look back on in her racing career. In 2004, she was the youngest female driver to win a USAC feature race. Mockler also was the first female driver in USAC history to earn a podium sweep, when she won in 2005, at the Indianapolis Speedrome. She is the winningest female driver in USAC history and in 2005, Mockler (Pictured Bottom Left) finished second in the Midwest Ford Focus Midget Racing Series.

Her greatest racing memory came when she was racing her USAC midget at O'Reilly Raceway Park (Formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park).

"It was the night before the Indianapolis 500," Mockler recalls. "I came from 15th place to finish third at ORP. My teammate, Bobby Santos III won that night. It was a really cool night for the whole team."

Family is also a big thing for Mockler.

"My Dad and Grandpa both raced," she said. "Being around my family while I raced kept me out of trouble. It keeps you out of trouble on Saturday nights, and it's been a lot of fun for me."

Stephanie is currently in a driver development program, and she hopes to someday race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Smoke Lights Up the Night at Eldora Speedway

Friday, July 25, 2008

By: Matt "Night" Rider

ROSSBURG, OHIO- I know what you're thinking. If I saw Smoke, then there must have been a fire at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Actually, that's not true at all. I saw two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart, this past Friday night, when he raced in the Subway 50 late modified World of Outlaws race.

The Subway 50 was the second race of a four-night racing series for the late mods. They raced until Monday night, at four dirt tracks in Ohio.

Anyway the coolest thing happened to me. Smoke as some people know Stewart by, arrived for the race at about the same time that I did. In fact, Stewart was right in front of my Dad and I, as we waited to get pit passes, so I could cover the event.

At first, I didn't believe it was actually Stewart, but then I was like wait, it is Stewart. My Dad didn't realize Smoke either. It was an awesome feeling to know that I was standing in front of such a great racing legend like Smoke. Stewart headed straight to Eldora from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's first practice for Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

Before the races started, my Dad and I made our way to the pits, to interview drivers, take pictures and get to know more about the racing event and series.

No. 25 Shawn Clanton, who hails from Locustgrove, Ga. thought Stewart might have trouble adjusting to the different styles of cars.

"My chances against Tony are pretty good, because Tony doesn't race late mods all the time, like I've done", he said.

I was overwhelmed by the crowds around Stewart's #20 Bass Pro Shops sponsored late modified, that he won the 2008 Prelude to the Dream with, on June 4th.

It was great to see such a legend, and get so close to him. He was helping his crew, figure up lap times during hot laps, so he didn't have a lot of time to talk, but I don't blame him.

You could see it in his eyes, Smoke was at Eldora for one thing and one thing only, to race against some great competition, and try to pull out a victory.

Some drivers that you may recognize if you've followed the World of Outlaws Late Modifies Series include, Scott "The Bomber" Bloomquist. Others include "The Mad Man" Donnie Moran, "The Kentucky Kernel" Steve Frances, and "The Hurricane" Earl Pearson Jr., who races the #44 for Bobby Labonte's late modified team.

Unfortunately, Smoke was collected in a three car pile up in the opening laps of Heat #1, but he rebounded nicely, to finish 4th in the Consolation Heat #1. The fourth place finish didn't get Stewart into the 50-lap feature, but he was able to win the crowd's vote to start in the 25th spot in the feature.

"I think the crowd wants to see us both race in the feature", Smoke said as he thanked the crowd for voting him in.

This statement, combined with the excitement from the feature, made the crowd go wild.

Pearson Jr. started on pole for the Subway 50 lap feature, and he dominated the field for most of the race, taking the victory.

"It always feels good to win here. I'm glad I was able to come back, and do such a good job", Pearson Jr. said, after picking up the big win.

"The Muscatine Mad Man" Brian Birkhofer raced his #15B late mod, to a hard fought second-place finish. Taking a strong third place finish was Clanton. Smoke worked his way up to finish in 17th.

You can't get this kind of energy anywhere else other than at the Eldora Speedway. There will never be anything like the atmosphere that surrounds The Big E!!!!

Hanft Brothers Go Back-2-Back at Klassic

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

By: Matt "Night" Rider

KENDALLVILLE- The Noble County 4-H Fair was the sight of the 1st Kendallville Klassic micro sprint race on Tuesda, July 15th. Drivers from all over northern Indiana came to compete in four classes; Juniors, Open, Nonwing, and Restrictor.

Actually, this amazing transformation began at 5 A.M. on Tuesday morning, when track officials from the Miami County Speedway constructed the race track, with help from the Noble County 4-H Fair workers.

The Noble County 4-H Fair Director and Wawaka, IN. native Jeff Cunningham said, "We hauled in about 28 tri-axle loads of dirt this morning. We packed the dirt down, and watered it."

"The track is an 8th of a mile long", said Miami County Speedway Director and Kokomo native Norm Bailey. Bailey went on to explain, "The turns are a little bit tighter, and the straightaways are a little bit longer, than the Miami County Speedway."

The racers didn't quite know what to expect, because this was a new style of race track, compared to the Miami County Speedway. Amboy racerKC Hughes said, "It's going to be very interesting. The Miami and Noble County guys did a good job, with what they had to work with." Columbia City native Blaine Culp said, "I think the track will be fun and slick. It will be different."

Some drivers had suggestions on how to race this new track. Logansport racer Chris Smith said, "It's going to be a drag race down the straightaways." Smith added, "If you're going to get an advantage, you're going to have to get it off the corner or into the straightaway. That's the only place you're going to be able to pass."

Warsaw native Braxton Hanft (Pictured Above) said, "I think the track will be okay, but we need to watch going into turns three and four, because somebody could run you into the safety blocks, and mess up your car."

Warsaw racers Braxton Hanft, and his brother Stuart (Pictured Below) stole the show, winning both the Restrictor and Nonwing features. Braxton raced his way to the win in the Restrictor Class feature, while Stuart took the win in the Nonwing finale.

It feels pretty sweet to win tonight", said Braxton Hanft. "I liked the way the track was set up. I didn't think the track would be this good but it was", explained Hanft. Finishing second to Braxton in the Restrictor final was the #24 of Andrew Moore, while #11J Jason Montel took a third place finish.

Braxton's brother Stuart won the Nonwing feature. "It feels pretty good to win tonight", said Stuart Hanft. Hanft went on to say, "It was hard to keep the car on the bottom." Placing second was #43 Josh Ross, while Logansport native #32 Cody Fogelsong rounded out the top three finishers.

This wasn't the only time the Hanft brothers have won back-to-back features in one night of racing. "We won back-to-back at Stateline Speedway last year", Braxton recalled.

Larwell native Larry Sroufe drove his #21L open micro sprint to the win in the Open Class feature. "It feels great to win tonight. It always feels great to win. Second place is the first loser", said Sroufe. Sroufe went on to say, "The track was rough. It had a lot of holes." Finishing second behind Sroufe was #41 Cole Ketchum, while #73 Aaron McClure rounded out the top three finishers in the Open Class finale.

Huntington's Trenton Bitzel went on to win the Junior Class finale. "It felt good to win tonight", said Bitzel. Bitzel added, "The track was great." Taking second place honors was #66G Jerod Glasford, while #7 Stanley Abbott raced his way to a third place finish.

As for how the overall race went, Miami County Speedway Director Norm Bailey thought it went good. "I think the night of racing went really good. The people in the grandstands really liked it."

Noble County 4-H Fair Director Jeff Cunningham also thought the race went well. Cunningham said, "I'm pretty sure we'll have micro sprint racing next year."

There are already plans set for next year's Kendallville Klassic micro sprint race next summer.

Marsh Wins 2 at MCS

Saturday, June 14, 2008
By: Matt "Night" Rider

It was another wild night of racing at the Miami County Speedway. Saturday night’s sprint program featured the Junior Class Special, which meant double Championship points plus an extra purse that was awarded to the winner of the Junior Class feature. Along with the Junior Class Special was the regular Saturday night program for the sprints.

The #21 Junior Class Sprint of Addison True, Spiceland, came away with the win in the Junior Class Feature. Addison went home with double the Championships and a nice winner’s purse of $125.00. “It feels good to win in the Junior Class tonight”, said Addison. Behind True, taking home a hard fought second place finish was the #11 Junior Sprint of Delphi’s Kolt Kinsler. Rounding out the top three in Juniors, was the #7 of Jake Reif, who races out of Antigo, Wisconsin.

The night belonged to Muncie’s own Tyler Marsh, who drove to not only one but two feature victories on the night, winning both the Restrictor and Open Class Features. “It was awesome to win both the Restrictor and Open Class tonight”, said Tyler Marsh.

Finishing behind Marsh in the Restrictor Class Feature was the #95 Restrictor machine of Garret Miller in second, and the #29 Restrictor of Braxton Hanft finished in third.

Taking home second place in the Open Feature was the #57 Open Class Sprint of Brian Busz, while the #73 machine of Aaron McClure drove his way to a third place showing in the Open Feature.

In the Stock Class Feature, the #19T of Ben Taylor, Kendallville, took home the win. “It feels good to win. It doesn’t ever get old”, said Taylor after the win. The #4 Stock Class machine of Sam Kimmel took home a second place finish, while the #92K of Kris Knox finished the night in third place.

Rounding out the five features was the Non Wing Feature. The #69H Non Wing of Stuart Hanft took home the Non Wing victory. “It feels good to win tonight. I haven’t won here in two years”, said Hanft. Following Hanft in second place was the #23 Non Wing of Jordan Lambert, and in third was the #4 Non Wing of Sam Kimmel.

Rose Wins Again at MCS

Saturday, June 7, 2008

By: Matt "Night" Rider

The weather looked threatening but it cleared just in time for some great micro sprint racing action on Saturday night, from the Miami County Speedway. The program featured racing from five different micro sprint classes; Juniors, Open, Restrictor, Stock, and Nonwing micro sprint racing action.

For the second time in consecutive weekends, Peru native #29 Brandon Rose (Pictured Above) took home another Open Class feature victory. "It's pretty tiring but it's great to win", said Rose, after the win. Taking second place was the #67 Open Class micro of Bob Bourff, while the #14 Open micro of KC Hughes, Amboy, rounded out the top three.

Halen Shafer, Kokomo, raced his way to another impressive Stock Class feature win in his #36S micro stock. "Winning is what we came here to do", said Shafer after his feature win. Following Shafer, taking home a second place finish was the #4 micro stock of Mentone native Sam Kimmel, while third place belonged to the #92K micro stock machine of Kris Knox.

Warsaw racer Braxton Hanft and his #29H restrictor class micro, dominated en route to the Restrictor Class feature victory. Hanft said, "It feels exciting to win here. My Dad and Randy Jackson helped me out a lot. Also Jeremy helped out a lot as well." The #44 restrictor class micro of Barbie Kimmel, Mentone, brought home a second place finish, while #5 Matt McDonald placed third.

In the Nonwing feature, North Manchester native #23 Jordan Lambert paved his way to the win in the Nonwing finale. "My Dad helped me win tonight. He set up a killer car", said Lambert, after his win in the Nonwing feature. Stuart Hanft, Warsaw, raced his way to a second place finish in his #69H nonwing class micro, while the #4 nonwing machine of Sam Kimmel brought home a third place finish.

Rounding out Saturday's five features was the Junior Class feature. The #11 junior class micro of Kolt Kinsler, Delphi, charged through the field, to take yet another awesome victory in the Junior Class final. Kinsler said, "It feels good to win tonight. My Dad helped me to the win." Trailing Kinsler, taking second place honors was the #25 junior class micro of Trenton Bitzel, Huntington. The #12F junor class micro of Hollie Feuquay drove her junior class micro to a third place showing.