Newsmaker of the Week

The racing world awoke Sunday morning shocked and saddened by the news that popular Bryan Clauson has been severely injured in a crash at the Belleville Midget Nationals in Kansas. Perhaps, many reasoned, he would grit his teeth, pull through, and come back better than ever. But the Monday morning reports of the death of Bryan Clauson cast a pall …

From wrecked race car to feature win. That was path traveled by second generation 410 Sprint Car driver Freddie Rahmer, Jr., who wadded up a car Tuesday night at Grandview, then, three nights later, won on one of 410 Sprint Car racing’s most legendary stages, Williams Grove Speedway. It’s hard to imagine what must have been going through young Rahmer’s …

Williams Grove’s Summer Nationals World Of Outlaws 410 Sprint Car race is a very big deal. It pays $25,000 to win. It brings out the best in the region’s Sprint car teams. It’s a race they all want to win, to beat the World Of Outlaws at their own game. Lance Dewease, Don Kreitz, Jr., and Davey Brown won it …

Oswego Speedway in upstate New York was built 65 years ago. Unlike most such tracks, it has stood the test of time. It’s unique Supermodified class gives the track a reputation for lightning fast speeds. Its International Classic, first run in 1957, is one of the nation’s premier races. Its embracing of Asphalt Modifieds has been a long standing tradition. …

Stewart Friesen has made news before in weekly racing circles and for that reason, his personal accomplishments have to be truly grand in order to qualify as a Newsmaker. It’s a higher standard. But with consecutive mid-week wins at Accord, Albany-Saratoga and Mohawk, Friesen hit new heights. That’s three totally different tracks, two wholly different sanctioning bodies, and a unique …

Among any group of athletes are the clutch performers, those who rise to the occasion when the stakes are the highest and the odds the longest. The Annual Pennsylvania Speedweek showcased dozens of good, competent drivers, winners all, each capable of taking down the most coveted race wins and the prestigious Speedweek championship. Danny Dietrich was the the Clutch Performer …

What a week it was for Scott Bloomquist! First. he received news from World Racing Group that his Eldora Dream victory was being questioned for post-race tire irregularities. The penalties, if upheld, will be extraordinarily expensive. Displaying the steely resolve, that is his trademark, Bloomquist, who is no stranger to beating back the potential adversity of such situations, proceeded to …

Billy Pauch. Jr. never expected to fully emerge from his father’s shadow. But that’s not to say that ‘The Kid’s Kid’ is any less passionate about his racing. He long go shrugged off the inevitable comparisons with his famous father and cut his own niche in the sport. Pauch, Jr. as become a good, solid wheelman in his own right. …

USAC – the United States Auto Club – came east this past week for six nights of racing at six different speedways. Five of the races were for USAC Sprints, one for its Silver Crown division in a series known as the Eastern Storm. While the drivers, notably race winnes Bryan Clauson, Chris Windom, Chad Boespflug and Landon Simon were the …

Keith Kunz doesn’t spend a lot of time in the Northeast. And that’s a good thing for dirt track Midget racers because his team of Midgets is unstoppable. Kunz cars have been the ones to beat to win the Chili Bowl for several years, so it’s no real surprise that in the just concluded Indiana Midget Speedweek, Kunz’s cars did …