The Scoop
LOGAN JULIEN – 14-YEAR-OLD SPRINT CAR RACER EARNING RESPECT FROM PEERS
Posted on: Thursday July 20, 2023
14-year-old Logan Julien of Oconomowoc is one of the top rookies in the Midwest Sprint Association (MSA) ranks in 2023.
Earning the respect of his peers was at the top of the list when 14-year-old Logan Julien embarked upon his rookie-of-the-year campaign in his Midwest Sprint Association (MSA) sprint car series this past Spring.
The Oconomowoc racer was pleased to get some well earned ‘props’ from one of the top dogs in the division after a recent podium finish at Plymouth Dirt Track. Recently the MSA’s ran in support of the Interstate Racing Association (IRA) sprinters at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds oval. “I finished third behind Brandon McMullen that night at Plymouth,” Julien said. “Brandon came up to me after the race and thanked me for driving him clean. He said, ‘I know exactly how you’re going to race me and now I feel comfortable racing side-by-side with you.”
Even before Julien got the green light to run the MSA sprinters as a young teen, MSA board members attended some races Logan was competing in with his micro sprinter. “They essentially gave me the green light to race in the series with me being so young,” Julien pointed out. “But they had to come and see me compete in person first.”
Like other MSA rookies, Julien had to sport yellow caution tape on the back of his racer initially, signaling his rookie status. He even elected to start in the rear of his early season races until he became comfortable behind the wheel.
Logan Julien recently got some hot laps in at Eagle River Speedway in preparation for the July 29 special at the third-mile, clay oval in northern Wisconsin. (flintography.com)
After a couple of early season races, Julien no longer needed to sport the yellow tape as his performances were good enough to convince the MSA officials he was essentially “good to go” as Julien had already met their expectations.
With 13 events under his belt so far in 2023, Julien currently sits 7th in the MSA series point standings. Heading into this weekends events Julien is the top rookie in the points, with another MSA rookie T.J. Smith of Greenville sitting in the eighth position in points. To date, Julien’s third place finish at PDTR has been his best so far in ’23.
Julien’s road to racing began at the young age of four where he battled in the karts with the Badger Karting Club located in Dousman, Wisconsin. Over the years Julien racked up a ton of wins and championships. In addition to racing closer to home at Dousman, Julien raced in many national karting events for Franklin Motorsports. That venture demanded quite a bit of out-of-state travel to compete at events in states like Arizona, Nevada, and Florida.
After winning just about everything he could in the karting ranks, Julien jumped into a junior sprint and began competing on the smaller oval at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam. “We even traveled up north and raced at Tomahawk Speedway and Eagle River Speedway on occasion,” Julien said.
When it came to deciding what division to race next, Julien’s, wanting to race somewhat closer to home instead of logging thousands of miles out of state many weekends to race, opted to move up to purchase a full-sized sprint car. “For us we really wanted to find a car and race somewhat closer to home,” Julien explained. “Most of the tracks that race in the MSA series are about an hour and a half from our home in Oconomowoc. It’s just a good fit with Plymouth being the home track base.”
In addition to PDTR, Julien enjoys the challenges he faces at other dirt ovals the series hosts races at. Those tracks include Beaver Dam Raceway, Wilmot Speedway, Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Eagle River Speedway and even the big half-mile at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam. “I have a real fondness for Dodge County Fairgrounds and really love that place,” Julien explained. “They clocked us there at 136 miles-per-hour. And that was with our 360 car. It was a new experience there for me and we went and talked to some people about what we could expect there. We went and qualified second. Big Beaver was our first top five finish we ever had there.”
So far in ’23 Julien recently wound up on his lid for the first time at PDTR. Its almost a given if you’re a winged sprint car racer that flipping is going to happen at some point and time.
Julien recently towed up to Eagle River Speedway to shake down the car and get some seat time in for the MSA’s Saturday, July 29 appearance at the third-mile clay oval. Julien said many sprint car racers have compared Eagle River’s design and layout to 141 Speedway’s Francis Creek oval. “(Eagle River’s) got one sweeping turn and then another corner that is sort of egg shaped,” Julien admitted. “It should be a good show up there. The fans really liked it when we hot lapped there.”
Just like it’s a given that any sprint car driver will flip at some point in his or her career, it’s also a given that races are won and lost in the shop. The routine maintenance on Julien’s number 85 racer falls upon him and his brother Dylan. “When Dad goes to work, we simply have at it,” Julien said. “We unload the car, take it all apart and go through everything. Dad taught me everything I need to know and that routine, regular weekly maintenance falls upon my shoulders mostly. We’re a small team as it’s my dad (Brian), my brother Dylan and myself. When dad gets home from work, we perform any tasks that require two people to complete.”
This Fall Julien will be a freshman at Kettle Moraine High School in Wales, Wisconsin. After his rookie season in MSA’s, according to Julien he’s already been given the green light to battle for a ROY campaign with the IRA sprint car series in 2024. “Logan has been impressive in a 360,” said Sinclair. “Its great to see all the good young talent out there. With the variety of tracks we run in the IRA series, it’s a great way to gain experience at a really high level.”
The team’s 2023 marketing partners include King Racing Products, Simpson Racing Products, Oak Creek Automotive, Maxim Racing Chassis, Northstar Manufacturing, JW’s Car & Racing Photos, Box 3 Media, Rod End Supply, Pit Road Apparel, Hepfner Racing Products, Jax Helmet Designs, Factory Kahne, Behling Circle Track Equipment and Julien Properties.
When the team’s schedule permits Logan still wheels his 600 micro sprint on occasion.
LOGAN JULIEN RESUME
3 TIME TOMAHAWK SPEEDWAY CHAMPION
3 TIME BADGER KART CLUB TRACK CHAMPION
4 TIME JUNIOR SUMMER SERIES CHAMPION
2 TIME BEAVER DAM RACEWAY TRACK CHAMPION
NORTH AMERICAN JR CHAMPION
TULSA SHOOTOUT QUALIFYING RACE WINNER
BADGER KART CLUB MOST IMPROVED DRIVER
BEAVER DAM RACEWAY MOST IMPROVED DRIVER
AMERICAN SUPER CUP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
AMERICAN SUPER CUP QUICK TIME WINNER
8 TIME TRACK RECORD HOLDER BADGER KART CLUB
90-PLUS FEATURE WINS
45-PLUS FAST TIMES