2011 Inductee – Southeastern WI Short Track Hall of Fame Slinger Speedway Wall of Fame – Class of 2014 (Special thanks to Gene Schwister for his assistance!) Stop at the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame in Hartford today from 10:00 to 2:00 to join Miles “Mouse” Melius’ 95th Birthday Celebration! Why did you get into racing? I was …
Why is the Team Cruiser division returning to Slinger Super Speedway in 2019? “There are a couple of reasons to bring back the Team Cruisers. Number one is demand, and if everyone that says they want to build and race in the division does it, we will have a good-sized field of cars right out of the box. The second …
Why did you get into racing? Two years ago I was sitting at home, my daughter had moved out, and there was money falling out of the cupboards. I decided I need to find a girlfriend or buy a racecar. The racecar seemed like it would have fewer problems. Who is your favorite NASCAR (or other pro) driver? I’ve always …
Why did you get into racing? I started with a Demo Derby and an Enduro, both at Slinger in the late 80’s. That made me want to buy a racecar! The first one was a Stinger (in 1994 or 95). I bought it on a Saturday from Birdie Shong, and bought a trailer on Sunday morning. That night I took …
(See end of article for the full list of divisions raced) Slinger Speedway Wall of Fame – Class of 2017 How did you get into racing? My dad starting taking me to the races in 1968 at Cedarburg Firemen’s Park every Wednesday night. Before I knew it, Dad and I were going to races at least two times a week …
Why did you stop racing? My last year was 2005, when Kevin Laatsch at Pathfinder, where I worked, was selling his business. I knew I was not going anywhere in racing, and could not move up the ladder on my own. It was time to start working on my own future, so I moved to North Carolina. What have you …
How did you get into racing? I was taken to the track by my father when I was young, so I’ve always wanted to race something. I started as a kid in snowmobiles, then go-karts, and motocross. At Slinger, I started with Enduros in the 80’s, then Figure 8’s a little. I also raced The Futures when they used to …
(with special guest appearances by his wife, Jeanne) Retired Driver of the #72 modified, #1 modified, and #72 late model 2007 Inductee – Southeastern WI Short Track Hall of Fame Slinger Speedway Wall of Fame – Class of 2017 How did you get into racing? I went to Slinger and saw Billy Chitwood in a Corvette, doing jumps – I …
How did you get into racing? I started watching racing when I was really young, as far back as I can remember. But I really didn’t get into it until I started helping Zach Braun [#30] with his late model, and spotting for him. Two years after that, I bought my own car. In 2017, I ran two races at …
What have you been up to since leaving racing? Since I left racing, I packed up and moved to Florida, got a job in engineering to pay off all the racing debt I collected, got married and we had a boy a couple months ago. I spend most of my time out on the ocean keeping the grouper and snapper …
CONGRATULATIONS to Jerry Eckhardt, who will be inducted into the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame tonight! Why did you get into racing? Because I’m crazy, I guess! I never knew my real dad, but in later years I learned that he had a Ford dealership and also raced, so I guess it’s in my blood. I was always …
CONGRATULATIONS to Todd Behling, who will be inducted into the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame next Saturday! How did you get into racing? I was actually a fan and never raced, but basically dreamed up a radio program overnight, and explained to WAUK what I wanted to do. They said I could do it as long as I …
How did you get into racing? Well, I grew up in the garage watching my three uncles (David, Dale, and Dennis) running mods and super lates. I was constantly working in the garage with my dad, and from there I just kind of really started to enjoy everything about racing! I don’t really know anything else, because my life always …
How did you get into racing? My dad smashed his regular street car, he was rear-ended. We bought it back from the insurance company and turned it into a Bee. What do you like about Slinger Super Speedway? That it’s really fast, and that the banking is so great that you don’t even need to get on the brake. It’s …
How did you get into racing? When I was growing up, around 8-10 years old, I watched my uncle, Dale Smith, race at Madison in the Late Model division. I just always followed him, and when I was 13, it was brought to my attention that I could start stock car racing too. That’s how it all began. My dad …
2018 Slinger Super Speedway Bees Champion! How did you get into racing? Twenty-six years ago, my mom and dad met at Slinger Speedway, so it’s kind of in my blood! My mom actually bought me my first racecar while my dad was Up North (he said it was “a very bad investment”). Last year was my first year and I …
Every week we’ve asked the featured person which Slinger Super Speedway driver they respect the most. Tallying up the answers, there was a tie between Brad Mueller and Dennis Prunty, so they are the subjects for the final two “10 Questions” of the season (watch for special editions during the off-season). Brad Mueller’s answers were posted yesterday. Why did you …
Every week we’ve asked the featured person which Slinger Super Speedway driver they respect the most. Tallying up the answers, there was a tie between Brad Mueller and Dennis Prunty, so they are the subjects for the final two “10 Questions” of the season (watch for special editions during the off-season). Dennis Prunty’s answers will be posted tomorrow. Why did …
Why did you get into racing? Growing up, racing was all I knew. My uncle [Bobby] raced at Hales Corners when I was a kid, and every Saturday I was in the stands with my family. I always knew it was something I wanted to do. My whole family is involved in it and all of our longtime friends are …
Why did you get into racing? I got into racing by watching my dad [Ken] and helping him on his Slinger Bee and Thunderstock. I picked #29 for my car because that’s the number he started with. I grew up watching him race and wanted to be just like him! Who is your favorite NASCAR (or other pro) driver? My …
Check out the Memorial Go-Karts running in “prime time” tonight, with features starting at 5:15, Balloons to Heaven at 6:25, and raffles/silent auction items! Why did you get into racing? I grew up around racing! My mom [Tonya (Krueger) Werner] used to race team cruisers (#13) and I’ve been watching NASCAR my whole life. Who is your favorite NASCAR (or …
Why did you get into racing? My whole family did it, it’s in my blood. I raced Enduros a couple times, but had kids early on and that was the end of driving for me. Who is your favorite NASCAR (or other pro) driver? It used to be Matt Kenseth, just because he was from Wisconsin. Now it’s Ryan Blaney, …
Happy 56th Birthday, Leonard!! How did you get into racing? My dad [#00, also named Leonard] raced super late models all around the state from 1974 through 1980. The year I was 14, we actually raced six nights a week! In those days you couldn’t go into the pits unless you were 16 or over. Starting at age 15, I …
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 …
Tell us about Pro4mance Motorsports. Rick: I started it four years ago when I decided I enjoyed building cars and helping see new talent get their taste of racing and Victory Lane. I built some cars with good success and found a lot of people asking for help and knew I could build a reasonably priced car that could win. …
Why did you get into racing? I started coming to Slinger Super Speedway as a kid with a friend and his family, and always thought it would be cool to race. By the time I turned 16 and got my license, I already had a car built and headed to Slinger to start off in the Bee division. I needed …
Why did you get into racing? Cole: My dad [Dave Thomas, formerly #19 Midwest Sportsman at Slinger] raced for as long as I can remember. I used to help him on his car. Sherry: At the age of 16 I started crewing for a Sprint car team. What are your future plans? [Cole is 16 years old and home-schooled.] On …
How did you and Jerry meet? It was 1988 in Nashville, TN. A big group of us, including the Schill’s and Fred Winn, used to go down to the All American 400 [at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville] every year. We were going to dinner and we were waiting on someone. Then this guy came walking in…tall…lanky…black hat, and I said …
Why did you get into racing? I helped my dad [driver of the #13 Midwest Sportsman] a lot with his car as I was growing up. It always seemed interesting, so I thought it would be cool to try. My first time out I was really nervous. The first time I qualified, I spun out and thought, “If I’m wrecking …
A native of Michigan, Steve currently lives in Florida. He has made the 20 hour trek to the Slinger Nationals every year since 2012, except one year when he broke his hand at Anderson. Why did you get into racing? My dad raced late models (in Indiana and Michigan) while I was growing up, so I’ve been around racing my …
Why did you get into racing? My dad has been bringing me here since I was four years old; I’ve only missed two races in all the years since. I actually learned to drive stick shift in the parking lot here during the off-season! When I was 14, I started in the Bee’s, then moved to Thunderstock, and now Area …
Why did you get into racing? I got too many tickets on the street! I’ve been racing for 32 years, starting out at Luxemburg and then Chilton. Kevin Schuh was my crew chief and he raced Figure 8’s. One week he [upset] a lot of people, so he had me get into his car the next week, and that was …
