The Scoop
KYLE FREDERICK – TESTING THE LATE MODEL WATERS IN ’24
Posted on: Friday June 21, 2024
Kyle Frederick poses next to the late model he plans on wheeling a handful of times in 2024.
In 2024 Kyle Frederick can finally claim his age matches his car number – 50.
But this season also brought some new challenges for the IMCA stock car ace known affectionately as the “High Side Hustler.” Frederick, who’s raced IMCA stock cars and won a lot of features and track titles over the years (and even raced a modified for a bit) has had a new racing ‘toy’ to play with as he has gotten his feet wet this year in the local dirt late model ranks.
So how exactly did this late model deal come about? “C.J. Betzner owns car and has had it for a couple of years,” Frederick explained. “(The car) was in the hands of a couple of different people. Maybe they didn’t have the resources to make it work? I don’t know but the car never really got finished.”
Betzner had talked to brothers Butch and Pete Laska about obtaining some parts to finish the car and Betzner was looking for a driver. Enter Ed Bertram into the picture. “I talked to Ed of K & E Sales and Service and Ed asked me if I was interested,” Frederick said. “Before I could give them an answer the car was already in the shop.”
According to Frederick there is absolutely no comparison between racing a dirt late model and an IMCA stock car. “The two biggest factors that I noticed with this late model was the speed and the traction with a wider, real tire,” Frederick explained. “There really is no comparison. I couldn’t break the tires loose at Shawano and couldn’t get myself to drive it into the corners all the way so running the late model is still taking some getting used to.”
With all the rain we’ve experienced so far in May and June, Frederick’s opportunities to wheel the late model have been limited. Shows where he was ready to race the late model have been rained out a handful of times – leaving him with just three nights out with the car. “We’re still trying to figure stuff out with the late model but that’s hard to do in only three races,” Frederick explained.
When it comes to Frederick’s plan with the late model, Outagamie Speedway on Friday nights is the main focus. The Seymour oval added a handful of late model shows to their 2024 schedule. During their first outing (which was not a Dirt Kings Tour event) a respectable field of 18 machines showed up to do battle.
One of the track’s Frederick has won IMCA stock car titles at is at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds in Seymour. (danlewisphoto.net)
One of the tracks where Frederick has remained “snakebitten” sort of when it comes to securing track championships is Shawano Speedway. “That’s why we are running there weekly with the stock car,” Frederick explained. “We’ve won titles at other tracks around here like 141 Speedway, Luxemburg and Seymour. For some reason Shawano’s half-mile has been a struggle to nail down that track title.”
As of June 21, Frederick sits fourth in Shawano’s IMCA stock car point standings, eight points out of first. He’s got three heavy hitters in front of him in the Shawano points – including the current point leader and former national champion Travis Van Straten of Hortonville. Shawano’s Trent Nolan and Marion’s Dan Michonski sit 2nd and 3rd ahead of him, respectively.
Frederick swept action at Shawano Speedway first “Too Tough To Tame” series put together by Ed Bertram and Mike Hammond. So far in 2024 that win remains his only one so far.
Oconto Falls, Wisconsin’s Kyle Frederick shown here in his first outing of 2021 – a heat win at Shawano Speedway on April 17.
Frederick remains at the top of his game in the local and regional IMCA stock car ranks. As this story goes to print, Frederick sits 7th with 76 career sanctioned victories among Wisconsin drivers. 2024 marks Frederick’s 27th year behind the wheel. “As long as I can still compete for a win I’ll keep racing,” Frederick said. “I do feel we’re at the top of our game yet. We haven’t really plateaued at all yet. You’ve got to remember too I didn’t start racing myself until I was 24.”
Pit crew members who help out Frederick include Kevin and Brad Ruege, Brandon Gagnon, “Shaggy” Brantmeier, and Frederick’s sons Sawyer and Grayson Frederick. “Ed Bertram is a big driving force behind the entire gig, too,” Frederick said. “Ed is well connected and has aligned everything to make this gig work.”
The marketing partners assisting in Frederick’s late model effort include Galloping Ghost Motorsports & Transport, K & E Sales and Service, Behnke Transport, NHC Homes and Buildings, KR 2 Designs, ASAP (Affordable Sandblasting & Painting, Sandy Corners Bar & Grill, 1 Human Fund and Big D’s Nutz.