35th Annual Event up Next for Defending Track Champion
(Slinger, WI) Steve Apel beat a talented field to the checkered flag in last year’s running of the SUPERSEAL Slinger Nationals presented by Miller Lite. He outraced one of his idols, posed for pictures in victory lane and held the prestigious Larry Detjens Memorial trophy. But he didn’t make it out of post-race technical inspection. A tapered carburetor spacer, an oversight by Apel and his team, cost the 25 year-old racer the biggest win of his career. Tuesday, July 15, at Slinger Super Speedway, Apel gets his chance at redemption.
35th Annual Event up Next for Defending Track Champion
(Slinger, WI) Steve Apel beat a talented field to the checkered flag in last year’s running of the SUPERSEAL Slinger Nationals presented by Miller Lite. He outraced one of his idols, posed for pictures in victory lane and held the prestigious Larry Detjens Memorial trophy. But he didn’t make it out of post-race technical inspection. A tapered carburetor spacer, an oversight by Apel and his team, cost the 25 year-old racer the biggest win of his career. Tuesday, July 15, at Slinger Super Speedway, Apel gets his chance at redemption.
“That was the hardest day of my racing career,” said Apel. “You go from the happiest of the happy to the lowest of the low.”
Apel outraced short-track legend Rich Bickle, in an event that was Bickle’s final at Slinger Super Speedway. Including lap leader money, Apel was scheduled to take home over $12,000. Instead he handed the trophy and the winner’s check to Bickle.
“I gave Rich the trophy and he wanted me to keep it,” recalled Apel. “But it wasn’t mine to keep.”
Apel and his team took the decision and used it as an opportunity to regroup and refocus their goals. They hadn’t planned on racing for the Slinger track title. But with the Nationals disappointment as motivation, they rallied and walked away with the 2013 super late model track championship.
As the 2014 Nationals approach, Apel and his team are once again rounding into shape with four feature wins on the season. But the hollowness of last year’s Nationals continues to serve as motivation.
“I would trade every feature win and every championship for the Slinger Nationals winner’s trophy,” said Apel. “The drivers who have raced the Nationals, and won it, are incredible. To put my name on that list would mean the world to me.”
Apel will have his work cut out for him, Tuesday night as 2003 NASCAR Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth returns, after a one-year layoff. Also making the trip to Slinger Speedway will be former Red Bud 300 winner Steve Dorer. Dorer, from Florida, made the long trip to Slinger pay off in 2013 with a fifth place showing. Ross Kenseth joins the band of travelers, returning to the SUPERSEAL Slinger Nationals behind the wheel of the Boyne Machine entry. NASCAR Drive-for-Diversity driver, Paige Decker, recently joined the Nationals field as well.
Five-time SUPERSEAL Slinger Nationals champion Lowell Bennett; 1999 Nationals champion Conrad Morgan; three-time super late model track champion Brad Mueller; and former track champion Dennis Prunty are expected to carry the Slinger Speedway banner.
Advance general admission tickets for the July 15th, 2014 SUPERSEAL Slinger Nationals presented by Miller Lite are on sale now on line at: www.slingersuperspeedway.com. Fans can save $5.00 when they purchase Adult General Admission tickets in advance. The rain date is Wednesday July 16th, 2014.
Slinger Speedway is located off of Highways 41 and 144 at 280 Cedar Creek Road in Slinger, WI. For more information on upcoming events visit our web site at www.slingersuperspeedway.com or call the track office at 262-644-5921.