2020 Slinger Sixers Champion
How did you get into racing?
My dad and my grandfather both raced for years and I grew up going to their races. My dad did the Team Cruisers back when they had that division. When they brought it back [in 2019], I kind of talked him into doing it with me, and that’s how I got into racing.
Describe what it was like to race with your dad. You grew up watching him race, and then you were in the same car racing WITH him.
It was kind of mixed emotions. I was really nervous because I had never done it before, but knowing that my dad was going to be the driver…I’d seen him race so many times and he was good back then so I knew he was going to be good now. I guess you could say I was more confident that way.
What do you like about Slinger Super Speedway?
I mean, everything really! I’ve only been on a few other tracks, but it’s definitely one of the fastest ones you can get going on because of the banking. Overall just the show that Slinger Speedway has been putting on over the years has had me coming back as a spectator alone. Even though the Sixers don’t race every week, I’m still there – I like to watch.
Who do you need to thank?
Crew: My dad, Mark Fogel, and Kory Dittmann. Sponsors: Spring Green Lawn Care, Delta Defense, and Griffin’s Hub Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge in Milwaukee. Anyone else: My wonderful fiance, Rachel
What is your real job?
I work for Spring Green Lawn Care and just got promoted to Production Manager this off season.
Do you have any pre-race traditions/superstitions/foods/etc
Not really. Normally on race days I just ask my dad what I need to do better. Just because last year was my first year by myself. That was my pre race tradition last year. “Try not to race so scared,” as my dad would say. I wanted to tell him, “Hi, you get out there”…but he’s done it.
What do you do to make it affordable to race?”
The Sixers division is pretty affordable as it is and I had sponsorship money. That’s what I would recommend to do, find somebody that can sponsor because it’s such a cheap class and very low maintenance.
What is your favorite racing memory at Slinger?
1) The first one was winning the first feature race with the Team Cruisers a couple years ago. It was just pretty emotional for me since my grandpa raced (my dad’s dad) and we took his number (72). It was just emotional in that aspect of it.
2)My number one racing memory was watching the video of my dad when he recorded one of my races and just hearing how proud of me he was. You could just hear it in his voice. He told me afterward it was just as much fun to watch me race as it was for him to do it himself!
What are you looking forward to in 2021?
Hopefully winning another championship in the Slinger Sixers! And just have fun! I had such a blast last year!
Which Slinger driver (past or present) do you respect the most? Sorry, you can’t say your dad.
Al Schill – back when I was a kid and I watched him, he was pretty dominant and he was the best driver at passing on the high sides at Slinger. I always thought that was super cool because everybody else just passed on the low side it seemed.
