The Scoop
LUKE LEMMENS – ‘BRISTOL IS A CROWN JEWEL EVENT FOR US’
Posted on: Monday March 8, 2021
Kewaunee, Wisconsin native Luke Lemmens plans on chasing $$$ instead of points in 2021 with his G Force IMCA stock car. Lemmens season will kick off with the Bristol Dirt Nationals March 15-20 in Bristol, Tennessee. (danlewisphoto.net)
Kewaunee native Luke Lemmens will be joining several dozen other Wisconsin area racers next week in a trek to Bristol, Tennessee.
The Bristol Dirt Nationals are scheduled for March 15 through the 20th. The entire week will be the time for the dirt track racing short track community not only to strut their ‘collective stuff’ but also tackle one of the country’s most famous short tracks.
Twenty years ago, the track was covered with clay as dirt late models wheeled their way around Bristol. This year eight divisions will compete with the week of action being highlighted by a $50,000-to-win super late model feature at the high-banked, 5/8 mile oval which will be covered with clay.
The week after the nation’s weekly short track cars get to shine the clay will remain on Bristol as the big dogs with the NASCAR Cup series will square off in a rare dirt track event.
For most weekly racers to battle at Bristol is a once-in-a-lifetime gig. And that’s exactly how Lemmens is viewing it. “I’ve been racing full-sized race cars since I was 12 and to be able to race at Bristol with our IMCA stock car is a once-in-a-lifetime deal,” said Lemmens, 29 who now calls De Pere, Wisconsin his hometown.
Funny thing is Lemmens has never attended a NASCAR race in his life, but he knows full well the history of Bristol. “We plan on just bumping around this year and not racing for points anywhere,” Lemmens said. “So when we saw this race pop up it’s one we definitely decided upon entering. This is the biggest one we’re looking at all season long and a great way to start the year off for us. It’s a crown jewel race for us.”
The chatter about this event began on Facebook messenger between Lemmens and Iowa IMCA stock car racer Mike Van Genderen. “Mike races and it also helping to promote this event,” Lemmens said. “We were chatting about this months ago before it came to fruition. I never dreamed our stock car division would be able to battle in a race like that. Essentially the rules are pretty much the same as our IMCA rules and USRA but without any sanctioning.”
Lemmens along with his mother Patti and dad and crew chief Rick will make the 15-hour trip one way to compete in their true ‘racing vacation.’ “Actually last year we had planned to go to Eldora (Ohio) Speedway for dad’s 50th birthday for the NASCAR truck race,” Lemmens said. “But that one got canceled because of Covid. So, this is sort of a vacation to replace that. We’re ready to roll.”
Lemmens is quick to give credit to his dad – a former racer himself – for providing him with a top-notch race car on a regular basis. “Dad is my crew chief and he does pretty much most everything for me with this,” Lemmens admitted. “I would not be anywhere if it weren’t for him. I’ll be the first to admit I race for my parents. They own the car. I wouldn’t be able to do this without them. They are a huge part of the program.”
Other crew members going down include Lemmens uncle Brian and aunt Cindy with their daughter Kayla and Lemmens aunt Debbie Lemmens. “The entire ‘G Force’ family including Kraig & Casey Gretz and their children Klay and Charlie will also be in Bristol ready and able to lend a hand.
Aside from the expense of getting down to Bristol the entry fee for this event is $150. The stock car feature pays $5,000-to-win. “I’ve got a great employer in Packer Fastener and I’m able to get off all week for this race,” Lemmens said. “They are a great company to work for and they are one of my sponsors. They know about my racing and have been very flexible with my work schedule to accommodate races.”
In recent weeks there has been a lot of internet chatter regarding adjustments drivers are either highly recommended to or required to change – namely in terms of safety. “We’ve made some reinforcements after talking with our shock guy Troy Jerovetz at KMJ and Rex Merritt and AFCO and Frank at Swift Spring,” Lemmens said. “This whole deal is an unknown for many of us but we’re relying upon what our supporters are telling us in terms of preparing the car and making it Bristol ready.”
Although Lemmens will have a brand-new G Force race car at his disposal in 2021, The team will be bringing last year’s car down to compete with at Bristol. “I’m not sure Kraig (Gretz) would want us bringing a brand-new car down to Bristol,” Lemmens joked. “We know for the most part what this car will do when we make adjustments. With nobody really having a home field advantage we feel our odds are as good as anyone’s and we’re going down there with the attitude that we’re going to win it.”
For Lemmens the Bristol dirt adventure will kick off his season schedule, which has between 16 to 17 big dollar IMCA stock car specials dotted across the United States. “Like I said earlier we’re not chasing points anywhere this year but instead are going after the big money shows,” Lemmens explained. “We’re going to Las Vegas for their big show and there is that $50,000-to-win race in Arkansas,” Lemmens said. “There is a $10,000-to-win race in Minnesota along with two $5,000-to-win races there, too. We’re going to run the Dakota Mod Tour and closer to home of course 141 Speedway (Francis Creek) we’ll run for their $5,000-to-win show. It’s nice that we can run for some decent money in the stock car division. We may pop in once-in-a-while to try something different at The Hill in Sturgeon Bay. I grew up racing there and love that place. We may stop in at Gravity Park USA in Chilton or The Burg. But no weekly commitments this year.”
The stock car class has spawned IMCA national champions from the area, including Pulaski’s“Hot Rod” Snellenberger, Pulaski native Brandon Czarapata and Travis Van Straten of Hortonville. “It’s tough competition and I love it when a guy like Benji LaCrosse comes back to run a stock car,” Lemmens said. “Some guys complain about it but I welcome it. A guy as talented as Benji is just going to make me a better driver and he does bring our entire program up to a higher level. We take the same attitude when we hit the road. When you race against the best even if you don’t win it’s making you a better driver along the way.”
Lemmens returned to the stock car division after toying around with a modified for a couple of seasons. “This is my third season back behind the wheel in the stock car class,” Lemmens said. “When I was running a modified, I was living three hours from our racing shop and to run competitively you’ve really got to put the time in the shop every night. I wasn’t able to do that. Now that I’m closer to home the chances are better that down the road we may make a return to the modified class.”
Team sponsors who lend a hand supporting Lemmens racing efforts include Packer Fastener, First Choice Restoration, Packer Freight, Swift Springs, AFCO Racing Products, G Force Race Cars and JTV Service.
BRISTOL NOTEBOOK – As of March 2 (source the racexr.com website) a total 58 drivers from Wisconsin were pre entered for Bristol among six of the divisions. Three were super late model racers, three in the open modified class and 11 in what’s deemed the ‘modified’ division.
Other classes which include Wisconsinites are 15 sportmods, seven hornets and 19 stock car division racers.
What’s drawing some of these other drivers down to Bristol, Tennessee for a week of racing? It all depends who you talk to…….
“At first I thought it would be a really cool experience, but I do have some doubts,” said Shawano, Wisconsin’s Trent Nolan, another entrant in the stock car class. “I am pretty much leaving my car the same until I get down there and see what I’ve got. I’m going to maybe up some spring rates but other than that I plan on leaving the car pretty much the same.”
Bristol’s high banks haven’t stopped even four-cylinder drivers from entering. A pair of enduro veterans – Jay Orr (South Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and Kyle Stark (Marshall, Wisconsin) – are ready to roll and tackle Bristol’s legendary high banks.
“I honestly haven’t made too many changes to my four cylinder,” said Orr. “I changed the transmission to get the gearing right for the speeds but other than that there will be nothing special we’re doing. I take pride in keeping the car well-prepared wherever I’m running.
12-time-enduro winner Stark has made a few additional adjustments to his four cylinder racer before heading down to Bristol. “We will really keep an eye on the wheel bearings,” Stark pointed out. “That’s a big thing with a high banked track like Bristol. We’ll watch the hubs really close for cracks even though I normally brace my hubs up pretty well.”
BRISTOL DIRT NATIONALS (WISCONSIN ENTRANTS)
58 TOTAL DRIVERS FROM WI
SUPER LATE MODEL (3)
XG Lucas Kallenbach Elk Mound, WI
9T Tim Isenberg Marshfield, WI
44W David Webster Monroe, WI
OPEN MODIFIEDS (3)
07 Cory Crapser Chippewa Falls, WI
22T Michael Truscott Chippewa Falls, WI
27X Calvin Iverson Eleva, WI
MODIFIEDS (11)
K9 Tyler Wilson Little Suamico, WI
2JR Wyatt Block Tigerton, WI
37 John Schultz Appleton, WI
72 Justin Ritchie New London, WI
77 Bill Edler Glenbeulah, WI
88 Josh Long Little Suamico, WI
89 Adam Reed Rubicon, WI
95 Jeff Bodendorfer Waterford, WI
96 Mark Schuenemann Boulder Junction, WI
333 Rob Charapata Oconto, WI
492 Trent Wyssbrod Monroe, WI
STOCK CARS (19)
C19 Jeremie Hedrick Embarrass, WI
D26 Kevin Deneys Pulaski, WI
007 Luke Lemmens Kewaunee, WI
1JR Rob Waechter Jr. De Pere, WI
1R Brandon Ross Oshkosh, WI
3Y Donny Young Manawa, WI
6M Rick Mahlberg Denmark, WI
18 Kevin Hebbe Neenah, WI
19Z Eric Zwirschitz Antigo, WI
21E Clint Evans Brillion, WI
22L Nathan Lauscher Two Rivers, WI
25 Trent Nolan Shawano, WI
34X Shawn Klapps Jr. LaCrosse, WI
40 Aaron Karcz Pulaski, WI
65 Bret Koehler Two Rivers, WI
74 Eric Arneson Oconto Falls, WI
84T Bryan Techmeier Green Bay, WI
91B Daniel Buckwheat Green Bay, WI
121 Andy Kleczka Suamico, WI
SPORTMOD (15)
1R Matt Radtke Marion, WI
4 Jeff Teske Shawano, WI
15X Bret Widdes Marinette, WI
19 James Bohm Oconto, WI
19B Brian Besaw Omro, WI
19D Jerry Duggan Manitowoc, WI
24Z Jacob Zellner New Franken, WI
29M Ryan Mech Oak Creek, WI
32 Scott Swanson Wausau, WI
32X Skylar Woods Beaver Dam, WI
33M Tim Murphy Kaukauna, WI
44H John Holtger Abrams, WI
50X Trevor Van De Hei Seymour, WI
65 Doug Belongia Lena, WI
71B Scott Busch Cuba City, WI
HORNETS (7 WI)
18 Jay Orr Oak Creek, WI
20 Brandon Gleiter Mondovi, WI
21J Justin Finlan Two Rivers, WI
26JK Joey Krentz Kewaunee, WI
111 Devon Dixon Afton, WI
113 Jacob Balk South Milwaukee, WI
192 Kyle Stark Marshall, WI