The Scoop
NATHAN OTTO – FROM CATCHING SLIDERS TO THROWING THEM
Posted on: Wednesday October 30, 2024
Pulaski’s Nathan Otto poses next to his Wolfe Chassis at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek.
Nathan Otto has transitioned from catching sliders to throwing them on the local dirt tracks.
The former standout catcher for the Pulaski Red Raiders, who once had high hopes of someday playing collegiate baseball, recently wrapped up his fourth year of racing in the ultra-tough IMCA stock car class in northeastern Wisconsin.
The 26-year-old is a second-generation racer. His dad, Darren Otto, still races occasionally after racing himself for several seasons dating back to the 1990’s.
Nathan’s passion for racing began as a youngster, like many second-generation racers. “I remember every Friday dad would pull me out of school a little early and we’d head north where we would go race up at Antigo,” Otto said. “On Saturdays it was usually either Shawano or Sturgeon Bay and Sundays was always Seymour. I grew up with this sport.”
Darren Otto hung up his helmet when Nathan was just 12 years old. “Back then, I’d help him in the shop but I was too young to go in the pits,” Nathan said. “I’d be handling things like hood pins and lug nuts. I pounded out dents. Truth be told I probably put more dents back in the bodies of Dad’s cars back then then I took out!”
During his youth years, Nathan had a go kart at home he’d rip around the yard in. But truth be told, Darren never really pushed his son towards pursuing a racing career. “Looking back, it was probably because of how expensive this sport can be,” Nathan explained.
Otto was a standout catcher for the Pulaski Red Raiders when in high school.
During Otto’s high school years at Pulaski, he was an all-conference catcher who was recruited by several colleges and had his sights set on playing college baseball. “I actually tore my ACL before my senior year but didn’t know it,” Otto recalled. “I wound up having surgery around Christmas of my senior year. I cheated my rehab and came back too soon. What I wound up doing was tearing the ACL in my other knee for overcompensating for the first torn ACL.”
As a result, Otto had four knee surgeries which left his dreams of playing college baseball up in smoke. Yet, Otto and his family took it all in stride. “Dad always jokes that if he wouldn’t have had to pay for those surgeries that he could afford this big toter home,” Otto laughed. “I’m a competitive person by nature and I didn’t want my baseball career to end on an injury.”
Hence, Otto played one year of Dairyland baseball (similar to Legion ball) when his high school career was over with. “When I got done with that season that officially closed out my baseball career,” Otto said. I couldn’t play baseball anymore. I had to do something. I didn’t want to end on an injury. When that season was done, I was officially done with baseball.”
For Nathan Otto, jumping into racing helped feed that competitive nature he possessed.
Nathan Otto poses with his dad Darren Otto in 141 Speedway’s victory lane. (danlewisphoto.net)
“Six or seven years ago, dad had a heart attack,” Otto said. “After he recovered from that, you could say he sort of had a midlife crisis. That’s when he hopped back into Brandon Czarapata’s stock car one night for a Fall special. Then dad bought that car from him and he let me run it twice at Chilton. Then I bought my own car.”
What pushed Nathan to get his own car was the logistics if one or the other wrecks one night. “It just made sense for me to get my own car,” Nathan said. “It’s quite a bit of work when you consider shop time and things like siping and grooving tires. I like to joke that owning and driving a race car is a full time job that’s part time, essentially. And with some sponsor help I own my own equipment.”
Most days Nathan heads straight out to his shop to work on his race car from usually 3:30 P.M. to 4 P.M. “I’m usually out in the shop working on the car until 8 P.M.,” Nathan said. “Sometimes I’ll work later if I know it’s going to get really warm the next day. It all depends what you’ve got going on.”
Nathan Otto in victory lane at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. (danlewisphoto.net)
With a handful of trips to Iowa thrown into the mix, Nathan’s 2024 season consisted of roughly 30-plus nights of racing. That schedule included competing weekly at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek. The team also paid a few visits to tracks in Luxemburg and Seymour. Otto’s car is a 2024 Wolfe Racing Chassis by (Brandon) Czarapata. “Jay Wolfe builds the chassis and then Brandon puts his own twists into it,” Nathan explained. “Brandon scales the car for us. He’s always willing to try new things.”
As far as the local tracks go, Nathan has taken a liking to 141. “I really like racing there and I’ve been told it’s similar to what the old Seymour Tri-Oval used to be,” Otto said. “I never actually got to race the Tri-Oval but I did watch dad race there a lot. Both corners at 141 are completely different. My take is if your car can run well and work at 141 you will usually be fast wherever you go.”
The closest track to where Otto lives is Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. “It’s just 15 minutes from home and it’s pretty much your typical third-mile,” Otto said. “When they have the late models there, it seems like that’s the best racing surface. Those bigger tires blow off the marbles. Sometimes you can have four lanes of racing.”
Nathan Otto battles through traffic at 141 Speedway. (danlewisphoto.net)
Even though the local tracks serve up plenty of great, side-by-side racing, Otto enjoys racing out of town. “It’s all different and better in many ways,” Otto said. “You learn so much. And, as much as racing costs you might as well enjoy it. I really like racing against some new faces versus racing against the same bunch of guys every weekend. So we always enjoy traveling.”
Not to say the local scene still possesses more than it’s share of tough customers, especially in the stock car class. A trio of former IMCA national champions are still competing and remain at the top of their game: Czarapata, “Hot Rod” Snellenberger and Travis Van Straten. “I remember growing up watching those guys race when my dad did and now they are still at it and still as good as ever,” Otto admitted. “They are still winning and still as tough as they ever were.”
Otto’s team of pit crew members includes Justin Kabacinski, his dad Darren Otto, and fellow racer Nick Buckarma. “We also get some help from Brandon (Czarapata), his dad Mike and his son Michael, too. Gavin Henn helps us out too, along with Chantel Guyette.”
When it comes to his sponsors, many of them have had a personal connection to the Otto family for many years. McKeefry and Sons remains one of the main supporters of Nathan’s racing efforts. “I worked at McKeefry in high school and honestly, without their support none of my racing would even take place,” Otto admitted.
Other businesses that support his racing efforts include Twisted Tea, Kelsey Coatings, B & B Racing Chassis, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Services, K and E Sales & Service, One Source Customs, Woody’s Signs, Paint by Shane and Photography by Alexia. “I just tell Woody what color the car is and Woody does his thing and he’s very good at what he does,” Otto said. ‘Jerovetz is great with the shocks and Kelsey sponsors paint for the chassis and body. And Brandon (Czarapata) is always available via the phone whenever and wherever we are racing.” He’s always willing to help. I’m blessed to have some great sponsors. Jason Czarapata is helpful, too.”
When he’s not racing, Nathan performs sheet metal work at Ahern.