The Scoop
OPEN TRAILER LATE MODEL RACER MATT WITTMAN – ‘THE TRAILER DOESN’T WIN YOU RACES’
Posted on: Thursday July 22, 2021
Appleton, Wisconsin’s Matt Wittman is one of the rare late model drivers utilizing an open trailer Thursday nights at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
Short track racing is not immune (sadly) from the ‘Keeping Up With The Jones’ mindset.
A shining example of that is the surge in drivers in recent decades using enclosed trailers to tow their cars to and from the racetrack.
Mind you – enclosed trailers most certainly serve a purpose. Especially for those teams who chase a touring series, for example.
But if you look around at your local short track (be it dirt or asphalt) there are still plenty of racers still using an old school style open trailer. Appleton, Wisconsin’s Matt Wittman is just one of many examples of that.
Wittman is one of the very few half-mile, late model racers at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin still utilizing an open trailer. The 29-year-old has been battling in the late model division at WIR’s D-shaped, half-mile since he started in 2012. “The trailer doesn’t make you go any faster,” Wittman acknowledged. “We’d rather stick our funds into trying to make the race car go faster.”
Unlike other drivers who may start their careers in go karts, a four cylinder or even a street stock, Wittman decided to take the plunge and go to WIR’s half-mile right out of the box. “My neighbors are the Anthony’s (WIR super late model racer Mike Anthony) and I’ve known that family forever,” Wittman said. “When the time came when I decided I wanted to race the price of a late model was about the same as it was for a street stock. I decided if I’m going to (go racing) I’m going to do it big. We’d rather stick our resources into the race car.”
Unlike other racers who start out racing go karts or 4 cylinders, Wittman jumped right into the late model class at WIR’s half-mile beginning in 2012.
Not to say the open trailer he’s got is a pooch either. “We purchased that trailer in 2010 from the Mahlik racing family and it pulls really nice,” Wittman said. “It’s gone through a few updates including a new tire rack. Obviously, the biggest issue against having an open trailer is when it rains but other than that, we love our open trailer.”
The best thing open trailer racers have going for them is the race car is an obvious eye-catcher when it’s traveling on the highways to and from the racetrack. It’s a frequent conversation piece when onlookers see it, especially the kids.
The open trailer remains to this day one of the best promotional tools racetracks and drivers have. If an enclosed trailer is traveling down the road with no lettering or decals, it might as well be a construction truck or a U-Haul moving someone’s furnishings.
“Yes, people always notice us when we’re on the road,” Wittman admitted. “Also, where we keep the car at my parents house there is a school two blocks away. We go out there and show the car off to the kids. They love it.”
On the track at WIR Wittman is still searching for that first feature flag. 2021 has been a struggle at times for Wittman. “If I had to give a letter grade so far (mid-July) for myself it would be a ‘D,’” Wittman said. “Things just haven’t gone as planned so far. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs and just when we think we have something figured out something happens and we’ve got to start all over again. So far this year I want to say our best feature finish has been an eighth or ninth. We’ve been struggling to find speed.”
As of July 22, Wittman sits 10th in the Fox River Racing Club’s late model division point standings. Wittman posted a pair of 4th place feature finishes in 2020. “The car we’ve got is actually Mike Anthony’s super late model from 2019,” Wittman said. “It’s a RanderCar chassis with a Right Foot Performance front stub.”
As a cost control measure the late model class employs a one tire rule where teams are limited to purchasing just one new tire per night. “It’s a good rule but those tires sometimes do wear out pretty fast,” Wittman said. “That horsepower can chew up an eight-inch tire pretty quickly.”
Wittman has been attending races at WIR as a kid starting at the age of 4. “I’ve never gone to another track in my life until I caught a race on the dirt at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek in 2013,” Wittman explained. “WIR is nice and close for us with a 10-to-15-minute commute at the most. We’d love to someday travel to another track like Norway (Michigan) or Plover, but our funds are very limited, and we’ve got to focus on our Thursday night racing program. WIR will always be my home track.”
While Wittman toys with the idea of possibly moving up to the super late model class it won’t be happening anytime soon. “That takes a lot more money and a much bigger time commitment,” Wittman explained. “Plus, my wife Katelyn is pregnant so any thoughts of moving up have been put on the back burner.”
For now, the late model class at WIR fits into Wittman’s budget just fine, thank you. “To get a gently used car that remains fairly competitive you’ll likely be looking at something between the $10,000 to the $15,000 range,” Wittman said. “That depends upon what engine package you go with as there are multiple options to choose from.”
For the weeks of racing remaining in the 2021 racing season Wittman said he wants to run up front in the pack for the feature. “We miss doing that and those guys are always fun to race with when you can get up front,” Wittman said.
Crew members who assist Wittman with his racing efforts include Ryan Charles, Jon Holden, Gus Otte, wife Katelyn, and parents Michelle and Marcelino Wittman. Wittman’s team of marketing partners includes Exhaust Pros, Sport-O-Motive and Gus’ Scrap Metal. “They are all very supportive and we couldn’t do this without all of them,” Wittman said. “And we’re always looking for more sponsors.”
Each off season, Wittman and his pit crew toy with the idea of purchasing an enclosed trailer. “I’ll admit we talk about how nice it would be, but it never happens,” Wittman said. “We already have a reliable trailer. And truth be told the trailer doesn’t win you races or make you go any faster.”