The Vault
THE VAULT – 2016 “DANCIN’ LANCE” ARNESON GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE STORY
Posted on: Sunday January 3, 2021
It was over a year ago when Lance Arneson started changing diapers in addition to tires on his IMCA modified.
The Oconto Falls driver who for many years chased a three-night-a-week grind battling for track and state championships, has found a balance in his life. Like many IMCA modified drivers locally Arneson is carefully “picking and choosing” when and where he races these days. And for good reason.
Arneson got married to his wife Emily a few years back. His son Greyson is now 2 ½ and stepdaughter Abigayle is 11. Arneson was the 2005 Shawano Speedway modified track champion – the 2003 Seymour Tri Oval street stock champion and the 2011 IMCA modified state champion.
So these days instead of chasing titles, he’s normally found chasing Greyson around his racing shop. “Instead of racing two or three nights a week we stick to one night a week most of the time on average,” said Arneson. “Sometimes its two nights a week but more so we’re not chasing points anywhere. It’s getting into August now and we’re going to tone it down a little bit and stick to Friday nights at Luxemburg Speedway the rest of the year. We’re running the Chase which started last week. With family stuff I don’t run for points anymore. It makes it a lot more fun and a lot less stressful when we aren’t running for points. I’ve learned that over the years.”
With a young son who can be a handful at times like any kid Arneson picks certain weeknights to bring his young son to the shop with him, where he “helps” Arneson prepare his race car for the next event.
“For being two years old Greyson talks about race cars and going to races all the time – he’s 100 percent boy,” said Arneson. “There is a class in karts where they start them when they are four years old. We’ll likely get him into a kart racing soon. He’s got that little four wheeler. I’ve got to hide the keys from our four wheelers and stuff because he already knows how to start everything. He’d take off and go.”
Having “been there” and “done that” when it comes to chasing track championships it didn’t bother Arneson a whole lot when he bowed out one Saturday night from Shawano Speedway a few weeks ago – despite being only 14 points out of first place. “It’s so tough these days because there is so little of summer and there are so many things outside of racing we want to do,” said Arneson. “You could tip over tomorrow. You just never know. I’m glad Eric (Mahlik) scheduled next Friday off at Luxemburg. We are planning a trip to Wisconsin Dells for the weekend.”
With times changing and fewer and fewer drivers willing to commit to a full season of points chasing most anywhere these days, Arneson is hoping local promoters take a look at doing things differently down the road when it comes to crowning champions in their respective classes. “Eric (Mahlik) gets it I think,” said Arneson. “It would sure be nice if a guy could throw out two or three nights a year. That way you can still chase a championship and still not miss a family wedding, or your kids baseball tournaments and other stuff like that. I think smart promoters will take a serious look at stuff like that down the road. It would benefit not only drivers and pit crews but track promoters and track workers, too. I mean I look back on it now I say to myself “how did we ever do that?” when we chasing points. These days I’m usually in bed at 830 or 9 o clock at night.”
BLUE RACE BOOK SIGNING – Local racing legends Roger “The Bear” Regeth, “Mr. Magic” JJ Smith, “Mr. B.” Bobby Bennett, Dave Valentyne and Alan Kulwicki’s former car/crew chief Mike Randerson will be on hand at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna for the Blue race Thursday August 11. They will be signing copies of “Life In The Past Lane” at a book signing beginning at 5:30 p.m. Racing gets underway at 6:45 p.m.
DIXIELAND 250 NOTEBOOK – Seymour’s Ty Majeski placed second in the ARCA Midwest Tour’s Dixieland 250 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna Tuesday. Thursday night WIR regular Bobby Kendall of Montello placed third. Appleton’s Jeff Van Oudenhoven finished 10th, Appleton’s Brandon Reichenberger took 14th while Freedom’s Kyle Calmes finished 16th. 2015 race winner Nick Murgic of Lakeville, Minnesota finished 18th. The race was won by Allenton’s Dennis Prunty. The next ARCA MT event will be at Marshfield Motor Speedway Saturday August 13 for the Mid Summer Shootout 100. Time trials are at 6 p.m. with racing getting underway at 7:30 p.m.
SHAWANO WORLD OF OUTLAWS NOTEBOOK – For the second straight year Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Georgia won the World of Outlaw late model Sundrop Shootout at Shawano Speedway Tuesday. Bonduel native AJ Diemel placed 12th, Navarino’s Nick Anvelink finished 13th, Shawano’s Brett Swedberg took 20th and Seymour’s Mike Mullen placed 23rd. Mullen earned his way into the A main by winning the last chance showdown.
TUNDRA NOTEBOOK – The next TUNDRA super late model series race will be Sunday, August 14 at State Park Speedway in Wausau. WIR Thursday night regular Casey Johnson of Edgerton holds a 49 point edge in the series point standings over Menominee, Michigan’s Dalton Zehr. Joining the TUNDRA super late models for this event will be the Midwest Truck series, TUNDRA vintage cars and sportsman.
LUXEMBURG OFF – There will be no racing at Luxemburg Speedway on Friday August 12. Weekly Friday night racing will resume at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds August 19 for the Joski Trucking Chase Series race number 3. Racing gets underway at 7 p.m.
SEYMOUR BACK ON – After a week off due to the Outagamie County Fair weekly Sunday night racing will resume at Seymour Raceway Park Sunday. Racing begins at 6 p.m.