April 15, 2002; Luxemburg, WI. - After 20 years of chasing points R.M. Van Pay has decided it's time to make racing fun again. For the Green Bay veteran that means defending his 2001 IMCA modified points championship at Luxemburg Speedway will not be in the cards. While he will still race at Luxemburg and other area tracks frequently this year, he will not compete for a points title. "I'm still going to race this year just not for points anywhere," said Van Pay. "If I want to run Beaver Dam some night, I will. Same thing with Shawano, Manitowoc or Sturgeon Bay. When you run for points you are afraid to try different setups and stuff. We're going to try some radical things with our K-Mod chassis." Another obstacle facing Van Pay is his job. Van Pay works swing shift at a Green Bay paper mill and often arrived at the track late, having to start in the back of the consolation race without running a heat. "Yeah that got old sometimes," Van Pay admitted. "I'm just looking to make racing fun again. I'm looking forward to possibly finding a ride for the June 7 late model show at Luxemburg, too. We'll do some different things this year." In his nearly twenty years of racing Van Pay can count the number of shows he's missed at Luxemburg on one hand. His five track titles at the third-mile, clay oval are more than any other modified driver. Seymour's Brian Mullen captured four modified titles, as the two have accounted for nine of the eleven track championships in that division dating back to 1991. Entering the 2002 season it's a true crapshoot as one of perhaps six, even eight drivers have a shot at the title. In addition to Mullen, Third place points finisher Dan "The Frog Station Flash" Ratajczak will be back to battle, as will soon-to-be 61-years-young Jerry Muenster, who won a track title at Luxemburg back in the 1960's. Along with these drivers you've got 19 of the top twenty drivers coming back to compete on a weekly basis. "Luxemburg has always fielded a tough modified class and this year will be no exception," said track manager Rick Goral. "Our car count will be pushing close to 40 in this division most nights." Among the newcomers who will contend for modified rookie-of-the-year honors are former street stock champion Freddy "Andretti" Davister of Luxemburg, Green Bay's Eric Van Iten, a former IMCA stock car champion, front-running stock car driver Jay Matthias who now calls De Pere home and Krakow's "Dancin' Lance" Arnenson, a former street stock competitor. The season opener is set for the 105.7 FM WAPL Lid-Lifter on Friday night, April 26 at 7 p.m. In addition to IMCA modifieds IMCA stock cars and street stocks will make up the weekly card. Joining them on a rotating basis will be the sport trucks, bombers and the track's newest entry level division the four cylinder sport fours. Luxemburg Speedway is located 15 minutes east of Green Bay off highway 54 at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds. For more information call 920 863 8446. The track phone is 920 845 2300. The track's website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com. |
