Jeff Blaser Photoby Matt Panure
When competing in one of the toughest weekly Late Model classes in the Midwest, it’s important to put your best foot forward. Just ask Rich Schumann Jr.

Having won a Championship at Dells Raceway Park in the same division in 2007, Schumann jumped out to an early point lead and cruised to his second title in the highly competitive Budweiser Late Models.

“I look at the caliber of drivers I was racing against, it was really unbelievable,” said Schumann, of Portage. “It’s not like you’re racing against three or four good drivers. You have 17 drivers who can win. I think this was one of the best Midwest tracks to race at. There was such good, hard-nosed racing.”

“I think this year was one of those years where we came out firing right out of the gate,” Schumann said. “We led from the get-go and that was one of my goals.”

A string of top-ten finishes shot Schumann out to a healthy advantage in standings through the first seven weeks. Schumann finished third in the first two features of the season, sixth in the next two, second on June 25 and July 2 and third on July 9. He also had a three-week string of setting fast time from June 4 to June 18.

During those weeks several Budweiser Late Model features became marred by cautions. While other contenders had their problems in the melees, Schumann was immune. A little luck and a lot of patience kept Schumann out of trouble, he said.

Dave Trute / Jeff Burrows Car (Jeff Blaser Photo)Fourth in a series of five highlighting the 2011 Dells Raceway Park Champions

by Matt Panure
Defending Schultz Small Engine Pure Stock Champion Dave Trute didn't plan to chase another title in 2011. He also didn't plan on watching a fill-in driver snag the crown on the final night of the season at Dells Raceway Park.

Teaming up with Jeff Burrows, a driver he had known since his childhood, Dave Trute etched his name into the history books for the second year in a row as a Pure Stock Champion.

The best laid plans often go awry.

"The initial plan wasn't to chase a championship," said Trute, of New Lisbon. "We were intended to be a really good backup car."

Initially, Trute had planned on working toward the goal of seeing his car owner Bill Zeman capture the title. Although Trute and Burrows had secured a point lead going into the final night, a plan was still in place for Zeman to capture the title.

"I was sitting up in the stands with Dave's dad," Burrows, of Sparta, recalled. "I took my drivers suit off and was in my civilian clothes. Bill's son came and found me in the stands. Dave and I were perfectly able to sit aside and let Bill have it."

However, Zeman encouraged the tandem to stay in the title chase.

Scott Luck (Prairie du Sac) - 2011 RacingOnline.Com Sportsman Champion (Jeff Blaser Photo)Third in a series of five highlighting the 2011 Dells Raceway Park Champions

by Matt Panure
The 2011 season served as a homecoming of sorts for Scott Luck. Having tested himself at other tracks in 2010, the eventual RacingOnline.com Sportsman Champion was certain Dells Raceway Park was the place for him this season.

Luck, of Prairie du Sac, started his career at DRP racing a secondary car of Brad Luck (pronounced "Luke," no relation). As the two moved up the ranks, they jumped up to the Super Stock division. When DRP decided to transition from the Super Stocks to the Sportsman in 2010, Luck headed to venues where he could continue in the Super Stock.

However, this season, he said he decided to make the transition so he could compete closer to home.

"I always liked racing at the Dells. It's my home," Luck said. "Venturing away makes me appreciate more what we have here. I've been to different tracks and seen their facilities and race operations, they're all good, but Dells is by far the best. That's what made me come back."

In just the first week of action Luck started to establish himself at the head of the class. He set fast time and finished second in the feature event. In the following four weeks Luck set fast time each week and reeled off a win, a second, third and fourth-place finish. Luck then went on to reel off four more wins through the season and set fast time all but two weeks.

"I had the confidence that I could do it every time," Luck said of his stellar qualifying efforts. "I had a fast car and could maintain speed throughout the season."

Steven Rozek (Tomah) - 2011 Fire Rescue Supply Bandit Champion (Jeff Blaser Photo)Second in a series of five highlighting the 2011 Dells Raceway Park Champions

by Matt Panure
With seven of the top ten - including the top three - in 2010 Fire Rescue Supply Bandit championship standings moving on or moving up in 2011, an eventual champion was anyone's guess.

While returning top drivers Arch Preston, Kurt Kolden and Haley Kapp seemed to have the edge, a driver with just over a handful of races of experience was poised to take over the class in 2011. On the strength of five feature wins and four fast qualifier efforts, Tomah's Steven Rozek surged to the top of the standings early in the season and held off the pack.

Prior to 2011, not only did Rozek have limited seat time in a Bandit, his racing career had barely begun. Rozek and his dad had raced a season together in the Hornet class at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, a class Rozek said was completely different from the DRP Bandits.

"I came into the season fresh and had all of the pointers from the other drivers," Rozek said. He said help from former Bandit standout Brian Warner and Ren Revels was particularly helpful. "They were giving me pointers on how to set up my car, but I really didn't know too much coming into the season."

With that help, Rozek found immediate success in the Bandits. On Opening Night he set fast time and made a quick ascent through the field to grab a feature win.

"It was pretty exciting," Rozek said. "People were thinking I wasn't competition, but when I came out the first night and won the feature and set fast time, it opened their eyes a little bit."

by Matt Panure
The successful partnership between Dells Raceway Park and the Super Late Model group of the Alive For Five Series from 2011 will parlay into another five-race series in 2012.

Frank Kreyer (Wisconsin Dells) - Alive For Five Super Late Model Champion (Jeff Blaser Photo | Blaser Photography)First in a series of five highlighting the 2011 Dells Raceway Park Champions

by Matt Panure
To say Frank Kreyer was busy when the Alive For Five Super Late Model Series presented by Advanced Engine Concepts was on the tablet at Dells Raceway Park would be a grave injustice to how many angles he had to play.

Kreyer acted as a driver, car owner, crew member, and crew chief for himself and several other teams competing in the five-race series at DRP. Through it all Kreyer was able to take a win and four fourth-places finishes en route to his first championship at his home track. In 2012 he plans to return with a few more additions to the team.

"Having these other drivers aboard, we're building a great team," Kreyer said, deflecting praise from his championship run. "We figured out some technology that's way outside the box and it works for us."

In addition to his own work load planned at Dells Raceway Park this season Kreyer and his partner Wes Coon will help field super late teams for Kelsey Bauer, Corey Jankowski, Amanda Ferguson, Tanner Whitten, and perhaps another driver or two. While the work load may seem astounding, Kreyer said it does have its built-in perks.

Kreyer and his team build their cars in an identical fashion. What works on one car, works on all of them, he said. Unfortunately, that may have cost him a win in the final race of the season when he was bested by teammate and former DRP Late Model champ Corey Jankowski.