Why did you get into racing?
When I was younger, I started coming to Slinger Super Speedway on Sundays to watch Scott Ascher (who attended high school with my mom) race. It was then that my love of the Fastest Quarter Mile Oval started! My family has been involved in different forms of racing over the years too: my dad raced motocross, my dad’s cousin, Mike Brue, raced off-road trucks and has worked on many pro off-road and rally teams (most notably for Johnny & CJ Greaves), and my cousin Tom raced 4 cylinders for a while too, before moving to his current gig as a late model driver [#99]. Eventually, building and getting behind the wheel of a car of my own was all I wanted to do!
Who is your favorite NASCAR (or other pro) driver?
I grew up cheering for Jeff Gordon, but currently Clint Bowyer or Kyle Larson would have to be my guys! I love how they worked their way up from running dirt tracks on the weekends to running and winning in the Cup Series.
What do you like about Slinger Super Speedway?
The speed. Not only how fast the cars are because of the banking, but also how fast everything can happen at Slinger. I feel like you have to be pretty “analytical” in a way when it comes to racing here; always thinking a few moves ahead of you. I love that about it, it’s an absolute blast.
Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
Probably the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When I was in college, I played for the University of Wisconsin Marching Band Drumline, and there’s not much else like the feeling of marching on to a field in front of almost 100,000 screaming fans!
How did you pick your car number?
Honestly, there’s not really a big reason behind it! For a bunch of the sports that I played growing up, 22 was my number and it just stuck.
What is your “real job”?
I am a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin, at Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Basically, I am hired across different departments at the hospital to coordinate most aspects of large clinical trials (patient visits, budgeting and contracts, regulatory work, laboratory work, etc.) for doctors conducting human research at MCW. I also play on the Green Bay Packers Drumline (The Tundra Line) at Lambeau in the fall! It’s a professional group of drummers from across the state and various backgrounds (drum corps, college marching band, etc.). We play for every home Packer game (preseason, regular season, and playoffs), as well as a ton of gigs throughout the summer. At Lambeau, we play before the game for tailgates, and during the game on the field and in the concourse; if you’re at Lambeau in the fall, come check us out. It’s a pretty awesome side-gig!
Who is on your crew?
My dad is the main guy on my crew. I learned pretty much everything I know about cars from him when I was younger, and racing is an awesome way for us to hang out, bounce ideas off each other, and spend time together.
Who are your sponsors?
Innovation Mold & Design (Germantown), Helmrick’s Landscaping & Trucking (Sussex), Controlled Pressure Hydraulic Sales & Service (Sussex), Innovation Plastics (Germantown), Sheet Metal Services (Hartford), and Jepp Productions (Madison).
Is there anyone else you need to thank?
First of all, my dad. I would absolutely not be where I am today if it wasn’t for him and all of his help. Also, I have to thank Brian and Craig Helmrick for always being there to support me since I began, my amazing girlfriend, Justine Hansel, for being there to support me and help out every week, Sarah Helmrick for selling me her old Dodge Neon : ), Scott Ascher for helping me get started, Tom Berens for letting me bounce setup ideas off of him, Mike Brue & Brue’s Metal Works, Kevin Scepanski & Performance Metalcraft, Travis Dassow & TD Graphics, Todd Hepfner & Hepfner Racing Products, all of my friends that have come to the race track to support me or help on the car, and most of all, my entire family for coming out to support me at the race track every week!
Which Slinger driver do you have the most respect for?
I would have to say Scott Ascher. I grew up watching Scott race, he was one of the first to give me tips on running the track, and just about racing in general. He’s one of the main reasons I’m racing today!
