The Scoop
JARED SIEFERT – LOOKS FOR BETTER LUCK IN ’21
Posted on: Friday February 5, 2021
Jared Siefert pitches it sideways in dirt late model action. The Green Bay native is looking to battle in 35 dirt late model shows around the Midwest in 2021. (JS Designs photo)
For a driver who’s used to racing at least 40 or 50 times a year, Green Bay native Jared Siefert only mustered up 18 races combined in 2019 & 2020. The second-generation dirt late model ace plans on making up for lost time in 2021, with plans to compete in 35 race nights across the Midwest. Read on!
2020 was a year Jared Siefert would just as soon forget and it had nothing to do with the Covid Pandemic.
A year ago, if it weren’t for bad luck the second-generation dirt late model racer, a Green Bay native, would have no luck at all.
Siefert’s time behind the wheel last year was curtailed to just 12 shows as he battled through a laundry list of gremlins including but not limited to motor issues. “We woofed two motors, broke two shocks, two driveshafts and a transmission,” Siefert explained. “We also broke a bell housing and a starter. Then, something broke one night at Shawano and we hit the concrete wall hard. I think we wrecked everything that night but the racing seat. Honestly dealing with the Covid pandemic last year was the least of my issues. It seemed if it could go wrong at the race track it often did.”
With the car bent up and later wrecking the transmission Siefert had no choice finally had to hang it up, ending his 2020 campaign much earlier than planned. “I had wrecked so much stuff I had to push away from the table,” Siefert confessed. “I’ll never borrow money to go racing. Between sponsors and what not, those who had helped me it was greatly appreciated but my season ended early.”
What’s more, Siefert only raced six nights total in 2019. “The luck was almost as bad then but I was in the middle of building a new racing shop so that was sort of a blessing in disguise,” Siefert admitted. “18 nights of racing in two years isn’t a lot. I remember racing three times that when I was chasing the IMCA national title.” (Siefert captured that national crown in 2007).
Siefert’s career has come a long way since he built his first car – a street stock – at his garage on Green Bay’s east side. “Dad was there for advice, but I pretty much built that race car on my own,” Siefert said. “ You learn more that way. We raced a lot of nights with the street stock and when we ran modified for all those years we got as much seat time as we could. Nothing beats seat time no matter what class you are competing in.”
Siefert traded up for a newer Laser chassis and with a chassis with a low amount of nights on it Siefert is hungry to make up for lost seat time in 2021. “Well to start off with the Dirt Kings tour is a big part of what we’re going to run,” Siefert said. “They have a 15-night schedule and we plan on chasing that championship. The shows are all within a fairly reasonable travel distance so for me anyways it makes sense.”
In addition to Dirt Kings Siefert plans on hitting some of the World of Outlaw late model shows that are in Wisconsin., including a ‘home game’ of sorts at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. “We’re also looking at possibly running some of the closer shows for the UMP (United Midwest Promoters) Hell Tour too,” Siefert said. “Add in some local shows when we’re not doing a traveling race and we’re hoping to get 35 nights of racing in this year. We definitely want to make up for lost time. That is the number of races we’re shooting for anyways.”
The last trip the 43-year-old Siefert made to victory lane was in 2018 at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek when he captured the Diamond 40. “That was a big deal to win that because that was the Dirt Kings crown jewel event that year,” Siefert said. “We’re confident with the chassis we currently have because we’ve only got 350 laps on it. We’re itching to get rolling.”
Assisting Siefert on his dirt late model journey includes former Dirt Kings crew chief of the year Sean Merline. “I couldn’t do any of this without Sean,” Siefert said. “He’s the main man. Dad is a really big help when he’s out at the shop and is quick to run an errand or two when I need something.”
Siefert also has plans to play a little bit with some high dollar IMCA stock car races this season. “Last year I got a call from Cody Scray on a Friday afternoon and he asked me if I’d like to race his and his wife Ashley’s car,” Siefert said. “I initially said no but they were persistent and finally I said yes.”
Siefert parked the car in victory lane that night at Shawano Speedway during night number one of the Mid-Summer Classic. “We’re going to hit some of the bigger paying shows in Nebraska, 141 Speedway’s $5,000-to-win show and the $50,000-to-win race in Batesville, Arkansas. And we’ll hit the IMCA Supernationals again down in Boone (Iowa). We had the big race won and we had it taken away from us after Jesse Sobbing turned me. He had one crack at me and took it. We’ll be back there though.”
Acquiring marketing partners for his late model operation remains a challenge in 2021 as it does for everyone. “Ultimately I’d love to chase a major series like Lucas Oil or the World of Outlaws but the funding has to be there,” Siefert said. “With that said we race where we can on our budget and are grateful for the sponsors we have.”
Those marketing partners include Simonar Sports, First Chance Contracting, Chad Roffers Trucking, Victory Sign, Mueller Sales and Service and Line X of Clintonville. “We lost a few sponsors along the way so we could really use some help down the road in that department.”