April 27, 2002; Seymour, WI - When the gates swing open for the 19th season of racing under N.E.W. Dirt at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway Sunday, May 5 three of the four track champions from 2001 will be defending their respective track titles. Shawano's Troy Springborn, driving the Scott Construction #81, will attempt to become the first WISSOTA late model driver in track history to claim four straight track championships. The second generation driver and 2001 WISSOTA late model champion has been been able to call Seymour his personal playground since 1999, when he won his first track title. In addition to Springborn, Tom Naeyaert won three straight late model titles from 1994-1996 while M.J. McBride won three straight championships from 1985-1987 when the track was still a half-mile. Among the WISSOTA late model drivers expected to give Springborn a serious challenge this year are "Mr. Excitement" Terry Casey, who recently scored a feature win at Fox Ridge Speedway in Arcadia in western Wisconsin. Pete Parker will be back, although not right away. Wisconsin's winningest dirt late model driver is still on the mend from a pair of off-season surgeries. Tim Buhler, Tom Naeyaert and Dean Maurer are also expected to challenge for the points crown. Hometown driver Scott Mullen lives about five miles from the third-mile, clay tri-oval and will defend his 2001 IMCA modified title with his familiar red, Budweiser-sponsored #1. "Heck, this is Seymour. I'd race wheelbarrows there," quipped Mullen, who got his season off to a strong start with an impressive second place finish at Luxemburg Speedway's season opener. "We're looking to pick up one more track to run at weekly in addition to Seymour." 15 of the top 20 modified points finishers from a year ago have indicated they'll continue to run full time at Seymour on Sunday nights. Among the expected heavy hitters to give Scott Mullen a strong run each week are his brother Brian Mullen, R.M. Van Pay, Jared Siefert and Brad Rohloff. Jeremy Christians made the long tow on Sundays from his hometown of Horicon near Beaver Dam. This former Wisconsin IMCA stock car champion and 2001 Seymour Tri-Oval champion has sights of not only a Seymour title but a national stock car title as well. In addition to Seymour he'll race his Vic's Auto Body #99 weekly at tracks in Luxemburg and Manitowoc, as well as his hometrack at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam. Christians competes in what's known locally as one of the most competitive divisions. Chief challengers include Benji LaCrosse, Tim Van De Hei, Jason and Brandon Czarapata. 17 of the top twenty points finishers from one year ago are expected back full time on Sunday nights. The track's street stock title is wide open this year as last year's champion Jamie Colwell has moved up to the IMCA stock car division. To date out of the top five in points from one year ago only Charlie Van Ooyen plans on campaigning weekly in the street stock class as 2nd place points finisher Jeff Treml will take a year off from racing on the dirt. Third place finisher "Dancin' Lance" Arnenson has moved up into the IMCA modified division while Jamie's brother Jesse Colwell may race later this season in an IMCA stock car after finishing fifth a year ago. In addition to the four weekly classes a new, entry level four cylinder class will compete each night at the end of the program. The cars are bare-bones stock, with costs kept to a bare minimum. Rules on this new division are posted on the track's website at www.racingonline.com/seymour. Racing gets underway each Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. For more information call 920 494 5884 or 920 432 5384. The track/raceday phone is 920 833 7726. Seymour Tri-Oval is located 15 minutes west of Green Bay off highway 54 at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds in Seymour. |
