By Jeff Pederson – Pedal Down Promotions
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) July 19, 2023 – In their 16th year of competition, Travis Arenz and the members of the Travis Arenz Motorsports team experienced something new, as they embarked on the first multi-state tripleheader racing weekend road trip of their rookie season with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series Thursday, July 13 at I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minn. and Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D.
The three-race stand of IRA versus Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA) events rolled off with the IRA’s initial visit to I-94 emr Speedway, a three-eighth mile high-banked facility in Fergus Falls, Minn., with a strong field of 38 competitors on hand on Thursday, July 13.
In his first competitive laps at I-94 emr Speedway, Arenz started the night by qualifying 20th overall with a lap of 15.118 seconds. The 2021 and 2022 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing and Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car champion started on the pole of the fourth eight-lap IRA-NOSA heat race before outside front row starter Mark Dobmeier moved Arenz back to second in turn two of the opening lap.
The Sheboygan Falls, Wis. driver then held off Jade Hastings to earn an A-main transfer spot with a second place showing.
After starting 14th in the 30-lap IRA-NOSA main event, Arenz was running in the 13th position when he slowed to bring out a caution flag on lap 13. After retiring from the race with a broken throttle linkage, Arenz was scored 23rd in the final running order in a race won by Mark Dobmeier.
“Once again, drawing for qualifying was not in our favor for any of the nights at I-94 or River Cities,” Arenz said. “I thought I-94 was a neat track. It was the first time I had been there, but I just took it as any normal night of racing.
”I tried to do my best to read the track with the hopes to set up a competitive car,” he said. “The car felt decent for the most part, but I did break a throttle linkage in the feature, which ended our night.”
On Friday, July 14, the Travis Arenz Motorsports team headed northwest to the vaunted quarter-mile River Cities Speedway bullring in Grand Forks, N.D. where a field of 36 competitors signed in for the first half of the two-night Buffalo Wild Wings King of the Wings event.
Arenz opened the program by registering a qualifying lap of 11.361 seconds, which was good for 22nd overall. After starting the pole in the third eight-lap IRA-NOSA heat race, Arenz wound up second behind hometown Grand Forks, N.D. racer Brendan Mullen.
After starting 14th in the 30-lap IRA-NOSA A-main, Arenz endured a lengthy stop-and-start main event, which featured five caution and red flag periods, to record a 12th place showing in a race won by Mark Dobmeier.
The second half of the IRA versus NOSA Buffalo Wild Wings King of the Wings event saw Arenz begin the program by qualifying eighth in the 37-car field with a lap of 11.002 seconds.
Arenz again started on the pole of his heat race for the third straight event, as he rolled off first in the second eight-lap IRA-NOSA heat race and wound up second behind IRA points leader and leading IRA Rookie of the Year Award contender Brenham Crouch.
The 30-lap IRA vs. NOSA tripleheader finale A main saw Arenz start and finish 11th in a race won by Austin Pierce.
“I thought River Cities Speedway was an awesome facility,” Arenz said. “The nights got late because we were fighting with rain and track conditions, but they got everything handled well. We did improve in qualifying and were able to transfer to the feature from the heat. I would have liked to be in a dash, but we will get there.
“This was the farthest I have traveled to race and it was a long haul, but we learned a lot and got to race at new tracks with a different type of racing surface,” he said.
Arenz and the members of the Travis Arenz Motorsports team will return to racing closer to home with a visit to Outagamie Speedway in Seymour, Wis. for a Bumper to Bumper IRA 410 Sprint Car Series event during the Outagamie County Fair on Friday, July 21.
“I’m excited to go back to Outagamie Speedway this Friday night,” Arenz said.
IMCA Modifieds and Stock Cars are also on the card with pit gates opening at 3 p.m., spectator gates opening at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6:30 p.m.
All 2023 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series events will be streamed live on FloRacing.
The 2023 Travis Arenz Motorsports sponsorship partners include Professional Plating Inc., Service One Transportation, Inc, Don and Lynn Kiel, Oostburg Concrete, Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes, Schoen’s Wildlife Removal, Premier Insurance Solutions-Craig Ladwig, Pallet Works, DW Fence, Little Bears Tree Service LLC, Lake Auto Glass and Service, Myhre Construction LLC, Roth’s Auto Restoration, Hair Fellers Barbershop, Fastenal of Plymouth, Jensen Sales and Humphrey’s Turner Hall Bar & Grill, Carbliss Hand Crafted Cocktails, Amy Bruechert Reality, Cornwell Tools-Paul Epping, Advanced Engine Concepts, Inc., Duehring’s Tax Service, Everhope Show Cattle, HRP Wings and Behling Racing Equipment.
The 2023 Travis Arenz Motorsports team consists of pit crew members Greg Piedot, Jerrod Gamb, Emily Stadler, Cameron Fritz, Bobby Bonelli and Trevor Hittman (public relations).
Additional information on the Travis Arenz Motorsports team can be found by visiting the team’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Travis Arenz Motorsports Sponsor Showcase – Myhre Construction LLC
Travis Arenz Motorsports is pleased to have Myhre Construction LLC on board as a sponsorship partner for the team’s rookie season of competition with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series in 2023.
Located in Belgium, Wis., Myhre Construction provides construction contractor services in the areas of concrete, forestry removal land management and ice and snow control.
To contact or learn more about Myhre Construction LLC, call (414) 659-4646 or visit the Myhre Construction LLC Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/myhreconstructionllc/.
Pedal Down Promotions is a full-service public relations and media services company devoted to helping its clients effectively communicate with targeted audiences through press releases, newsletters, profile and feature articles, website and social media content development, printed media, editing and layout, graphic design and book publishing services.
For more information on Pedal Down Promotions, email pedaldownpromotions@gmail.com, visit www.pedaldownpromo.com or call 920-323-7970.
Travis Arenz Motorsports
Upcoming 2023 Schedule
Friday, July 21 – Outagamie Speedway, Seymour, Wis. (IRA)
Friday, July 28 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, July 29 – Wilmot Raceway, Wilmot, Wis. (IRA)
Travis Arenz Motorsports
410 Sprint Car
2023 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 18
IRA Events – 17
All Star Events – 3
A Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 7
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 9
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 12
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 13
Heat Race Victories – 2
B Main Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 4
Dash Victories – 1
Fast Qualifier Awards – 0
Travis Arenz Motorsports
360 Sprint Car
2023 Season
By The Numbers
Total MSA-PDTR Events – 2
A Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 0
Heat Race Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 1
Fast Qualifier Awards – 0