The Scoop
JAMISON MACDONALD – BAYPORT TEEN RACER POSSESSES DRIVE, WORK ETHIC
Posted on: Thursday June 22, 2023
Bayport junior Jamison MacDonald continues to work the learning curve in the IMCA stock car class at dirt tracks in NE Wisconsin.
Jamison MacDonald’s story in local stock car racing isn’t your typical case of a spoiled kid who gets everything handed to him.
Jamison’s tale is quite the contrary. The 16-year-old who will be a junior at Bayport High School next Fall has a work ethic instilled in him from his admitted workaholic father Mike MacDonald. Jamison is in his second season of battling in perhaps one of the toughest classes locally on the dirt – the IMCA stock cars.
Mike works swing shift at a local paper mill – in addition to doing landscaping through his business Everbreeze Property Maintenance LLC. As such, Jamison’s racing opportunities are limited as to not racing so much anywhere for weekly points but “popping in” wherever and whenever Mike’s (and Jamison’s) work schedule allows.
“The kid has a work ethic,” said Mike MacDonald of his son Jamison. Jamison, who has been an honor roll student the past four semesters at Bayport, helps his dad cut lawns and works at Wade’s Pit Stop helping behind the bar and doing whatever else needs to be done. Oh yeah, and he also works at PDQ car wash, too.
Whether Dad is working 1st, 2nd or 3rd shift at the paper mill, Dad doesn’t have to worry about the routine maintenance getting done on Jamison’s No. 59 IMCA stock car. “I’m starting to get some skin in the game in the shop these days you could say,” Jamison said. The teen racer does everything from checking the oil, measuring, siping, grinding and grooving the tires. They get as much life out their tires as they purchase used runoff skins from the Czarapata and Muenster racing teams, respectively.
In 2022 Jamison raced his IMCA stock car a total of 13 nights. The tracks he was able to hit were mainly The ‘Burg Speedway in Luxemburg and 141 Speedway in Francis Creek. “I probably like 141 the most because it’s a challenging track,” Jamison explained. “Those corners are all different and the competition is always tough.”
There is a reason they call the IMCA stock cars the class “Too Tough To Tame.” “One of the reasons we decided to go with this class it’s got so many good drivers still around in it after 25 or even 30 years,” Mike explained.
Mike and Jamison MacDonald during Jamison’s sport truck racing days.
Like many young racers Jamison got his start racing karts and progressed into the Wisconsin sport trucks. The trucks race with snowmobile engines but not a whole lot of suspension underneath the trucks. “I do think the throttle control I learned with racing the karts is helping me with the stock cars,” Jamison explained. “Smoother is better. I’ve got a long way to go and the more seat time I can get anywhere we go the better. I enjoyed racing the trucks but I’m finding out I really do prefer the dirt. And compared to the asphalt at least with what we run it is more affordable for us. Its more affordable than a modified or even a sportmod.”
Jamison’s hot rod is a 2016 Medieval Chassis out of Minnesota. The car was purchased and driven brand new by Wisconsin’s winningest IMCA stock car driver – Pulaski’s “Hot Rod” Snellenberger, a former national champion. MacDonald and son have leaned on some friends who are fellow racers who serve up some advice for Jamison on occasion with setup and driving tips. “The Karcz and Otto families have been very helpful,” said Mike. “I helped Jerry Leary years ago when he raced street stock in the 90’s. But nothing is even close these days compared to the cars we worked on back then. The suspension and rear ends of these cars are completely different animals than they were 25 or 30 years ago. Back in the ‘90’s it was all about big motors, wet tracks, and horsepower. Today, with these cars, it’s all about finesse.”
141 Speedway and Luxemburg continue to be the main tracks Jamison can compete at in ’23. “We’re looking to get a trip or two up to Sturgeon Bay and Eagle River to get him some more seat time,” Mike explained. “Before the year started, we looked at both of our work schedules and between the two of them, we sort of put together a schedule of sorts with the stock car. When I feel comfortable that Jamison can drive the hauler then maybe he can start going to some races on his own without me. He’s learning more and more but he’s not quite there yet.”
Mike and Jamison MacDonald.
The learning for a 16-year-old in the IMCA stock car division is a never-ending process. Part of that process involves constant communication between father and son. “When we make adjustments on the car, I make sure Jamison understands and explains to me why he wants those adjustments made,” Mike explained. “I mean we don’t make a change just to make a change. The kids getting better with those decisions.”
Part of that learning process for Jamison involved following the best drivers and seeing what lines they are taking. “Whenever he’s around when I’m racing, I always make a point to watch Benji LaCrosse whether he’s in a stock car or a modified,” Jamison explained. “He’s so smooth to watch. I mean this class is probably the toughest one out there if you ask me.”
As for goals Jamison is content on making the show at all places he races. “Top ten feature finishes would be a goal I’d say,” Jamison said. “But ultimately, it’s all about getting that seat time in. I mean you can run multiple lanes on the dirt and have many more adjustments to make compared to when we were racing in the trucks.”
As for pit crew help it’s close to a skeleton crew for this father-son duo. “Our friend Eric Popp and his son Trey help us out in the shop a lot,” Mike explained. “Aaron Karcz helps a little bit too. Soon Jamison will be able to drive himself to the races.”
The team’s marketing partners for the 2023 season include Everbreeze Property Maintenance LLC, Holtger Bros. Inc., Nana & Papa, Advance Construction, Kimp’s Power Center, TileWerx, Van De Yacht Well Drilling, Peters Concrete, Andy’s Auto, Ken’s Sports, Snap-On Tools, Irrigation Doctors, Five Point Fab, Rustique Pizzeria & Lounge, Four Way Bar & Restaurant, All Out Asphalt, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Services, Shoot’s Bar and Grill, PowerHouse Properties 920, Cornerstone Design, Tundra Lodge, Merrill Lynch Ilya Daytor, Bay Insurance Agency, Salon West, Advanced Carpet Care, Auto Body Specialists, Muenster Racing, S & B Trailer Sales and Service, Victory Sign and joeverdegan.com.