Siefert's Geared Up for Luxemburg Title Defense! By Joe Verdegan

April 8, 2008; Denmark, WI. -  Things could not have gone any better for Jared Siefert in 2007.

In addition to winning the Luxemburg Speedway IMCA modified track title, the second-generation Green Bay driver secured titles at dirt ovals in Shawano and Seymour. On a bigger scale, Siefert also nailed down the state, regional and national crowns.

Siefert is poised to defend his Luxemburg track title when the season kicks off Friday night April 18. Like many, he's already gotten a head start on things. Wheeling his new GRT chassis, Siefert was leading in Beatrice, Nebraska in March when the gears broke. "We had a six car length lead when we broke," said Siefert. "The car felt pretty good." Siefert also took a pair of tenth place finishes at Iowa tracks in Marshalltown and Boone, respectively, during the Frostbuster
weekend.

"Running these shows out of town are great because you can really tweak the car and try different things, especially when your car is new," said Siefert, who scored 12 feature wins in 2007.

Things were a bit different for Siefert down in Iowa. He's made the "pre-season" trip in the past, pretty much as another face in the crowd. "I was telling my crew chief Shannon Ninham on the way home from Iowa when you're a national champion it seems everyone knows who you are. Before that, I was just another face in the crowd."

As far as 2008 goes, it will be business as usual for Siefert. He will continue to compete three nights a week in northeast Wisconsin, including defending his Luxemburg title. The third mile, clay oval has a reputation for fielding some of the most competitive modified fields in the Midwest on a weekly basis. This year won't be any different.

Two of Siefert's chief foes, Little Suamico's Sean Jerovetz and Seymour's Brian Mullen have already scored pre-season wins. Jerovetz won a special at the Talledega (Alabama) short track in January while Mullen picked up a $2,008 victory at Marshalltown April 4. "As far as Luxemburg goes, you've always got to worry about Benji (LaCrosse, former track and national champion) because he's always tough. Also Jason Czarapata (Pulaski, 2007 rookie-of-the-year) should be fast, along with Eddie Muenster, who looked pretty tough down in Iowa. Things won't get any easier, that's for sure."

In all, 18 of the top twenty modified drivers in the 2007 points will return to compete weekly.
A slight rules change by IMCA during the off season has put a bit of a twist on area teams chasing the national crown. Last year Siefert was awarded bonus points based upon fairly high car counts at the three tracks he scored titles at. This year the number of bonus points for car counts has been capped at 30 cars. "If they would have had this rule last year I would have lost the title by five points," said Siefert. "Basically what it's forcing a driver to do is win more features. That's the bottom line."

The 2008 season will kick off Friday night, April 18 at 7 p.m. IMCA modifieds, stock cars, northern sportmods, hobby stocks and sport fours will compete weekly through Labor day weekend. For more information call 920 863 8446. The track's website is luxemburgspeedway.com. Luxemburg Speedway is located 15 minutes east of Green Bay off highway 54 at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.