The Scoop
BOBBY WAUTIER – “2023 IS A LEARNING YEAR”
Posted on: Monday July 10, 2023
Freedom’s Bobby Wautier has worked the learning curve in his rookie season battling in the late model division at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in 2023.
Bobby Wautier figured it was time for the next challenge in his racing career.
The 27-year-old from Freedom had pretty much “been there” and “done that” in the Wisconsin Sport Trucks at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Wautier had won a pair of track championships wheeling the snowmobile engine-powered trucks on WIR’s quarter-mile, oval. He also scooped up a Red, White and Blue state championship title along the way.
During his six year stint racing sport trucks, Wautier picked up more than two dozen feature wins. (Bobby Wautier photo)
So, after a six-year stint in the trucks which saw him rack up more than two dozen feature wins, Wautier began weighing his options for the 2023 season. Wautier sold his winning machine to Shiocton’s Owen Voight and began nosing around, seeing what was out there.
One of the options on the table was obtaining a Mid-American stock car. “When we talked about that class we decided not to go that route and my mother (Meg) wasn’t real fond of driving down to Slinger every Sunday to watch me race,” Wautier said. “Or to even chase the series. There was quite a bit of travel involved with that too.”
Wautier had heard a rumor that WIR late model division champion Bryan Monday had his second late model race car for sale. “Yeah, we had come to the conclusion that it was time to move up,” Wautier explained. “We as a team had actually talked about it after winning the first truck championship. So, I talked to Bryan (Monday) the final night of the ’22 season.”
Monday let Wautier sit in the cockpit. That alone darn near sealed the deal for Wautier. “That’s basically how I got hooked with racing to begin with when I sat in the sport truck for the first time,” Wautier admitted. Within the next couple of weeks the two parties began talking prices. Eventually the two came to an agreement and Wautier had himself a gently used Lefthander chassis.
The car was owned at one time by Bryan’s brother – WIR super late model champion Andy Monday. The Monday team essentially took the Wautier team under their wing and showed them the ropes. Wautier’s were even able to obtain a pit stall next to the Monday’s. “The Monday’s have been very helpful not only during the off season but also on race day,” Wautier explained. We were ready for a new challenge and those guys have really helped me get at least in the ballpark for starters.”
Comparing a small, snowmobile-powered engine truck to a full-sized, late model on WIR’s famed half-mile is like apples to oranges. “There really is not a whole lot I of what I learned in the trucks to bring up to the half-mile,” Wautier admitted. “They are two, completely different animals altogether. You cannot drive this car like a sport truck, or you’ll spin out. The biggest different is the speed and when you’re trying to slow down a 2,700 lb. vehicle. Sometimes slower is faster. I’m still trying to figure out how to roll through the corners. Being able to trust the car. When I was racing the sport truck I pretty knew exactly what it was going to do pretty much all of the time. I’m still figuring out that part of it.”
Wautier elected to start in the back of his races in 2023, getting comfortable before battling in traffic. (Ricky Bassman photo)
The smaller trucks didn’t come with much of a suspension package at all. “The suspension these late model cars have is really nice,” Wautier confessed. “We had some rough rides overall on the quarter mile and it’s a much smoother ride on the half-mile.”
As for Wautier’s original pit crew members from his sport truck racing days? “My entire pit crew is back, and we actually gained a couple of new pit crew members as we moved up,” Wautier explained. “We all realize this is a year for learning and I’ve been starting in the back beginning early in the season and have just tried from week-to-week getting more comfortable before I started passing cars. The last thing I want to do is wreck because when you’re fixing stuff all the time you’re not learning. It’s critical we bring the car home in one piece.”
After week eight, Wautier sits in the 8th spot in points. A rookie-of-the-year crown would be nice, but according to Wautier it’s far from critical as 2023 remains strictly a ‘learning year.” So far his best finish remains a ninth place in a feature race. “The car is in one piece and I’m still starting in the back for now,” Wautier said. “I’d rather do that, work on passing cars and when I hit the point where I’m comfortable with the car I’ll start in my original spot. I feel there is a lot to learn by doing that.”
Wautier’s pit crew members include his Dad, Bill, Kevin, Isaac, Randy, Nick and Becca.
His team of 2023 marketing partners includes LP Machine, Rendevzous Bar in Green Bay, Schuh Construction, Kurz Industrial Solutions, L.P. Mooradian Flooring, Brabant’s Lawn Service LLC, Rock and Hill Waygu Company, Infinity Machine and Wonder Sign.