I grew up in Jackson, Minnesota, where I learned to maintain and operate heavy equipment on my Grandfather's farm. We always had dirt bikes and ATV's around the shop; I guess that's where I developed my need for speed.
When I was approximately 10 years old, a friend of my Dad's took me to a sprint car race, at the Jackson Speedway. I distinctly remember the intense roar, captured by the old wooden-covered grandstands, and cheering at the top of my lungs for local favorite, Tim Monson. Little did I know then that I would have the opportunity to race against Tim some years later.
I started my own racing endeavors in 1999, when I traded an old Ford pickup for a beat up IMCA Hobby Stock. I ran a partial Hobby Stock schedule in 99, 00, and 01. In 2001, I won 3 features before my season was cut short due to an engine claim.
In 2002 I pieced together my first sprint car. I won a rookie feature at the I90 speedway in Hartford, South Dakota my second night out and finished 7th in points at the Jackson Speedway. I was also Jackson's 2002 rookie of the year. In 2003, I won my first sprint car feature at the Jackson Speedway and was Wissota's (a regional sanctioning body) rookie of the year. I also ran a partial season in 2004.
In 2005, life happened and I moved to Massachusetts for work. During my MA stint, I helped Midge Miller (former URC driver and official) off and on during the 06, 07, and 08 seasons. In 08 and 09, I also ran a handful of mini sprint races at the now defunct Whip City Speedway and at the now defunct Mototown USA (indoor arena), winning once at Whip City and once indoors at Mototown.
In 2009, I was transferred again to the San Diego area, where I sat idle for a few years. In 2012, I had the opportunity to move East again. I pieced together a fresh car in the fall of 2013 and ran a partial URC schedule in 2014 and 2015. I'm hoping to build on that experience again in 2016.
I always enjoy meeting new people! If you're in the work area, feel free to stop by and say hello!
Regards,
Willie