The Scoop
DEREK MOEDE – BALANCING KID’S SPORTS & RACING
Posted on: Sunday June 25, 2023
Casco native Derek Moede’s racing in 2023 is somewhat limited due to chasing his kids sports around Wisconsin 12 months a year.
Derek Moede isn’t much different than any other family with young kids who also happen to be multi-sport athletes.
But throw an IMCA modified into the mix? And the “Busy Factor” gets amped up threefold. Did I also mention Derek coaches his kids sports at Luxemburg-Casco and is heavily involved in his kid’s school’s booster club. He also puts together that annually popular Luxemburg Racing Show which is hosted at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds each February.
For those reasons mentioned above is why the 39-year-old Moede is content to race whenever and wherever his kids sports schedule allows him too. “We know we’ve got a small window to chase the kids around with their sports and their activities always take priority,” Moede explained. “I can always come back and race when our kids our out of school. Racing will still be around.”
It’s not uncommon for Moede and his wife Stephanie to be pulled in different directions during the summer months, carting their kids (Kiley their 12-year-old daughter and Kane their eight-year-old son) to games and tournaments across the state. “In the month of June for example there are only five days where the kids don’t have some sort of game or tournament going on,” Moede pointed out. Among the many teams the Moede kids are a part of for Luxemburg-Casco, Kiley also takes part in the Purple Aces basketball traveling team based out of Green Bay. The sport of basketball consumes the families lives from October through March.
Derek’s kids sport the No. 99 on their jerseys – same as on their Dad’s racecar.
Both kids sport the number 99 on their jerseys for their respective sports – the same number that’s splashed on their Dad’s racecar. Oh, and did I mention that Stephanie is also a softball coach? “It’s not just the games but these kids need to be brought to all of the practices too,” Derek said. “And in between all that things like lawn mowing still needs to get taken care of.”
All of the above means Moede’s No. 99 IMCA modified often gets put on the back burner. The modified is the latest racing challenge for Moede, whose racing career kicked off as a 17-year-old, battling in the now defunct bomber division with his older brother Marcus at Luxemburg and Sturgeon Bay. “There is nothing even remotely close in terms of technology when it comes to the modified,” Moede said. Moede’s car is built upon a Larry Shaw chassis he obtained from his friend and neighbor Mark Joski.
Moede isn’t afraid to take on a challenge. It’s that ‘challenge’ aspect which lured him to purchase a modified. He’d raced in IMCA hobby stocks and also in the popular stock car division. “(Modifieds) are so fast and a blast to drive,” Moede admitted. “But I honestly wanted the challenge of learning the technology associated with these race cars. They drive totally different than a stock car. With these modifieds you have to keep (the chassis) up on the bars or else the car will push into the corners. A whole different driving style than a stock car.”
Derek Moede learns something new anytime his No. 99 IMCA modified hits the track. (danlewisphoto.net)
Part of what makes the modern day IMCA modified such a challenge to drive is all the multiple adjustments one can make to the car – especially in the rear suspension. One small change the wrong way and you can quickly be out to lunch. As a rule, Moede limits the number of changes he makes to his car, opting instead to get more laps in and feel comfortable behind the wheel.
20-plus years ago when Moede began racing, he was able to scrounge up enough parts from the local junkyard for his bomber and later IMCA hobby stock. Those days are long gone. “It was a very simple process back then but as the cars got more technology in them it was really a big learning curve for everyone no matter what division they raced in,” Moede recalled.
The former Wisconsin IMCA hobby stock champion remains beyond impressed with some of the talent displayed amongst his fellow modified racers. “I respect everyone I race against no matter what the class but especially these modified drivers,” Moede said. “Even though I’ve raced 20 years this modified is an entirely different animal. My first four nights I ran late last year I started in the back of the pack. I didn’t want to be the guy who would spin and cause a wreck. I wanted to be comfortable out there.”
Even with limited opportunities to race, so far this year Moede has competed at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour, 141 Speedway in Francis Creek and his home track The ‘Burg Speedway in Luxemburg, where he was even able to secure a heat win this month. “Once August rolls around my schedule will be a little more open to go racing,” Moede said. “We’ll race into September and hit some of the Fall specials.”
When it comes to his pit crew members, former racer Scott Derenne is one of Moede’s main guys he relies upon. “Scott works at Five Point Fabrication and is a great fabricator who really knows his stuff,” Moede said. “Chad Thiry is a great friend and pit crew guy who helps when he can but with his role as a co-head football coach at Green Bay Southwest, that consumes up a lot of his time. With his kids in sports, his schedule remains busy too.”
Moede’s brother Marcus still races in the street stock division and if Derek ever runs into a jam with his modified, Joski is literally just down the road where he can bounce ideas off him.
The sport of stock car racing will remain a part of Moede’s life. But for the next five years or so the kids and their sporting activities will always trump the racing. “Stephanie and I will continue to do the tournaments the kids want to do and it’s important to us to provide them every opportunity to get good at what they do,” Moede said. “I love watching these kids and seeing how fast they catch on to stuff. I wouldn’t miss their sporting activities for anything. Racing will always be there.”
Moede’s racing effort is supported by the following marketing partners: Gail Thiry Financial, Cobbler Shop, Kroll Racing Fabrication, Vlies Electric, Kinnard Farms, Dahlke Bros Siding and Gutters, Shaw Race Cars, Chad Thiry Painting, Dart Plastering, Red River K9 Dog Daycare, New Franken Sales and Service, Champion Excavating, Joski Sewer Services, Scotty’s Bodies, Demon Race Engines and BIG G Carbs.