The Scoop
LUKE FENHAUS – MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY
Posted on: Friday January 14, 2022
17-year-old Luke Fenhaus of Wausau, Wisconsin graduated from high school early in January, 2022. His goal is to go Cup racing in NASCAR. (photo courtesy of Luke Fenhaus Racing Facebook page)
Despite being just 17-years-old Luke Fenhaus is preparing to take the steps necessary to what is ultimately his primary goal – someday driving in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The Wausau, Wisconsin native even graduated early from Wausau East high school in January, 2021, in part to begin pursuing his dreams. After having a banner 2021 short track season which culminated in winning the prestigious Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP), Fenhaus will get his crack at the high banks of Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5 mile, Tri-Oval January 14 and 15.
By winning the rookie-of-the-year honors in the ARCA Midwest Tour, Fenhaus was awarded the test session in an Andy Hillenburg-prepared ARCA Menards ride. “We’re excited to give it a whirl and make the most out of this opportunity,” said Fenhaus, who also copped wins at the Slinger Nationals and the Dells Icebreaker in ’21. “We know it’s a long road ahead and if you want to keep moving up in this sport you’ve got to bring money to the table. But I also feel that if you keep winning honestly, I think you can make it and that money can and will eventually show up. You’ve just got to keep opening eyelids every day and make a bad day a good day whenever it happens.”
At just 17, Fenhaus became the youngest ever Slinger Nationals winner in the event’s 42-year history. (Sleeveless Bob Photography)
That word opportunity. It’s crucial in our everyday life – but even more so when you’re trying to climb that proverbial racing ladder. That ladder has been known to many to be more of a hurdle that anything to many who have chased that dream.
But Fenhaus does appear to have an “Ace In The Hole” so to speak. That “Ace” would be Fenhaus’ appearance in racing in Tony Stewart’s Camping World SRX Racing Series at Slinger Super Speedway last summer.
The Wausau teen got the chance to network with not only Stewart, but Ray Evernham, Marco Andretti and others. The Slinger special was televised on CBS. “When we got to be in that deal for winning the Slinger Nationals it really did open up some doors for me,” Fenhaus admitted. “I mean I went to Tony (Stewart) for some information and I can still call him up on the phone and talk to him as a friend. He’s working to get in the right connections for me when the time is right.”
Fenhaus has something bigger cooking down south but cannot yet announce it. “Obviously getting that SRX deal played a big factor in my future at racing as to what is leading up to next year,” Fenhaus confessed. “It’s helped me 100 percent from a marketing standpoint. We can’t yet say what we’re doing but I can tell you I do have a 15-race schedule with the short track late model up in Wisconsin with a brand new Fury car and I do want to do more short track racing down south and possibly attract bigger sponsors. I’d also like get my feet in the water a little bit in the ARCA Menards series to help get our name out there, too. Maybe one, two or three races. Our plans will be released pretty soon.”
Back home in Wausau, Luke’s dad Al Fenhaus, a former snowmobile racer, has been one of the driving forces behind maintaining the Justin Schultz-owned, Dun-Rite Exteriors sponsored number 4 Fury chassis that Luke barnstormed the state with scoring big wins a year ago. “Dad works his tail off driving for Fed Ex at night and he works on the race car almost every day,” Fenhaus explained. “He’s a big part of what I’ve done up to this point and continues to be supportive. Dad has always been a very busy man and that hasn’t changed much, either.”
Up until now, Fenhaus and his family have been soliciting sponsors for their racing program. They’ve been handling that tedious chore all on their own. “That’s an uphill battle no doubt,” Fenhaus explained. “I’m not going to lie. And anybody who’s been in this game knows that full well. We are currently continuing to do all that stuff on our own. Maybe once we can get established down south someday we can hire somebody to do that for us. But that costs money too to hire someone. None of this is cheap.”
Fenhaus is also realistic about the entire deal as well. “I realize there are only so many NASCAR Cup rides available,” Fenhaus said. “That is my ultimate goal, and I’ve got a long way to go to get to that point. As far as a backup plan for a career – I’m sure I’ll have one. But for right now, as I look at the 2022 racing season, I’m 100 percent focused on continuing to build upon Luke Fenhaus Racing.”
Traditionally folks from Wisconsin who seek employment in Charlotte – the hub of NASCAR-land, have been well sought after. Whether it was a driver or a pit crew member. The work ethic of the Wisconsin stock car racing community has paid off for many who were able to make careers in the biz.
Fenhaus will turn 18 in April. The average age of the top 10 Cup drivers in 2022 is 33. That window to crack into the big leagues is often small and it takes not only significant amounts of cash to bring to the table to prospective teams but a few lucky breaks as well. “We know full well what we are trying to accomplish and the hurdles we might face,” Fenhaus admitted. “There will likely be a lot of moving parts to our racing program in 2022 and we’re very excited to announce specifically what those plans are very soon.”
Whatever 2022 may eventually bring to Luke Fenhaus Racing one thing is for certain. For us Midwesterners, relish the chance to catch him if he’s ever at your favorite paved short track, whether it’s in an ARCA Midwest Tour event, the Slinger Nationals or whatever race Fenhaus may be competing in.
A few race insiders told this ‘scribe over a year ago that this “Fenhaus kid is the real deal.” After interviewing a 17-year-old who during the interview was scrambling to get his luggage from the airport in Florida but still made time for me on the phone – that told me all I needed to know about Fenhaus and his character.
LUKE FENHAUS 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
*Winner of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP)
*Youngest ever winner in the 42-year history of the Slinger Nationals
*Slinger Super Speedway track champion
*ARCA Midwest Tour rookie-of-the-year
*Dells Raceway Park champion
*Dells Raceway Park Icebreaker champion