Van De Hei Heads Luxemburg 2004 Rookie Class! By Joe Verdegan

April 4, 2004; Luxemburg, WI. -- Tim Van De Hei admits he would sometimes ridicule some of his buddies who raced in the IMCA modified class in eastern Wisconsin whenever they'd spin out or crash.

But after climbing behind the wheel himself a few times himself late last year the Green Bay driver and former IMCA stock car champion has a whole new respect for those fenderless race cars. Van De Hei is one of the top newcomers who will compete for the rookie-of-the-year crown at Luxemburg Speedway this season in that division. Last year Van De Hei finished fourth in the IMCA stock car points after becoming the only driver to qualify for every feature race.

"Racing in the stock car class at Luxemburg is just real tough," said Van De Hei, who also won a street stock title at Luxemburg in 1997. "You're almost always two or three wide. And I haven't run real well on wet, muddy tracks. I've gotten used to racing my way into features through the consi's. So I'm real used to starting in the back nearly every week. It's called doing things the hard way, I guess."

Last season Van De Hei purchased a Harris chassis from Suamico's Mike Broekman. The car will be white and orange and will sport Van De Hei's number 4. "I ran Oshkosh a few times last year. Those cars are real tough to get a handle on. I've got a lot of respect for the guys in that class because with that hard tire they're real hard to drive."

In addition to chasing the R-O-Y crown at Luxemburg he'll do the same at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway on Sunday nights. "I'm not really sure what I'll do on Saturday nights but I'm leaning towards Shawano," said Van De Hei. "I like the track there. but I've also see it tear a lot of modifieds up there last year. We'll see how it goes."

Other rookies who'll challenge Van De Hei in the upcoming campaign include Kewaunee's "Smokin' Joe" Lebotte, who purchased a Harris chassis from Art Siefert and will compete weekly, along with Algoma's James Tebon, a former street stock champion at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. Oconto Falls' Keith Meyers will also compete for the Luxemburg Speedway R-O-Y.

Others who are not necessarily "rookies" but will compete at Luxemburg more frequently include Krakow's"Dancin Lance" Arnenson, Sturgeon Bay's Ricky "Rock N' Roll Over" LeMieux, Seymour's Shannon Ninham, Green Bay's Norb Van Pay, Pulaski's Brad Rohloff and New London's Paul Thorpe.

"Each year we always pick up a few drivers here and there who we didn't figure planned on running here weekly," said track manager Rick Goral. "With the driver's we know are returning here our car count should provide us with another year of at least four, sometimes five mod heats and a pair of consis. As always the fans will get their money's worth on Friday nights."

Luxemburg Speedway's season opener is Friday night, April 30 at 7 p.m. IMCA modifieds, IMCA stock cars,IMCA hobby stocks and sport fours will compete weekly at the third-mile, clay oval. For more information call 920 863 8446. The track phone is 920 845 2300. The track website is www.luxemburgspeedway.com. Luxemburg Speedway is located 15 minutes east of Green Bay off highway 54 at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.