Driver Bio
Like many racers, Jim got involved in the sport by being exposed to it as a youngster, as his Dad, Al, raced a street stock at area tracks from 1988-1993
In 1994, Jim took over the wheel of the family race car, a 1965 GTO, a bit of an unusual ride, even at that time. In 1994 and 1995 he concentrated on racing at Columbus 151 Speedway in the street stocks, getting his first career heat win that first year, and being named “Rookie Of The Year”. His second season he was able to grab fast time honors twice, proving that he was one of the faster drivers in the division.
In 1996, Jim once again raced the same car at Columbus, but also branched out a bit, racing at the Dells track as well. The hard work and patience was paying off, as Jim was rewarded with his first career feature victory in July at Columbus. Later in the year he would then get two more feature wins at the Dells track. He also won several heat races that year and was voted “Boy Scout Favorite Driver” at Columbus, and finished third in points at that track.
In 1997, Jim would concentrate mostly on racing the same car once again at the Dells in the super stock division. Consistency led him and his team to the track championship that year, as he had two fast time efforts and two dash wins.
In 1998, He would continue to race at the Dells, but would once again branch out to another new track, the Madison International Speedway. Jim would grab a feature victory at both of these venues, along with some heat race wins.
In 1999 he would concentrate on racing at the Madison track, starting off the season with an early heat and feature win, then close out with a flourish, garnering four feature wins in July and August. This strong finish to the season would place Jim in third place in season points in the sportsman division at that track. The year would end on a sour note, however, as his GTO racer would get destroyed at the Oktoberfest races at LaCrosse. It was a sad end to a great race car that had served the family so well. Jim still misses that car!
With his race car totalled, Jim would take a year off from racing in 2000 to help on the crew of Frank Kreyer’s super late model. This would prove to be a valuable experience for the future. The following year he raced only five times at Madison in his new car, a limited late model, still carding two top five feature finishes in those five race nights.
In 2002, Jim would race only part time once again, racing his limited late with the super late models at the Dells. While he didn’t record any feature wins or even top tens, he gained a bunch of respect from fellow competitors, as he merely bolted on the bigger tires and changed carburetors to run with the supers. Even just MAKING the feature under these circumstances was considered outstanding, so much so that one of Jim’s favorite memories that year is when several other crews stood and applauded as he drove through the pits after qualifying for a super late feature.
After taking a year off in 2003, Jim returned full time once again in 2004 in the limited late model division at the Dells, grabbing one feature victory and one heat win. Consistency once again was his hallmark, as he was able to get nine top 10 feature finishes, with six of those being top 5’s.
Switching tracks in 2005, Jim would race full time at Columbus in the limited lates, finishing seventh in final points with five top 5 feature finishes, but getting shut out in the feature win column. The following year he started strong, and had won two features at Columbus and was leading the points at mid-season when needed funding failed to come through, putting an early end to a very promising season.
In 2007, Jim is back once again on a part-time basis, racing mostly at Columbus and the Dells in his limited late model, but also with plans on racing at Marshfield and LaCrosse. Jim and crew really like to travel around and aren’t afraid of the challenge of a new or different track. These experiences have helped both driver and crew as they look to the future!