By Jeff Pederson – Pedal Down Promotions
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) June 1, 2022 – With just a handful of races to his credit in the seat of 410 Winged Sprint Car, 2022 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association rookie contender, Austin Hartman keyed into some considerable speed behind the wheel of his 87A Hartmann Racing machine, during an IRA Memorial Day weekend doubleheader at Rice Lake Speedway in Rice Lake, Wis. on Saturday, May 28 and 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wis. on Sunday, May 29.
On Saturday, May 28, Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing team made the long trek to Northwest Wisconsin for the IRA’s return to the third-mile semi-banked Rice Lake Speedway for the first time in several years.
Hartmann opened the night by qualifying 12th in the 20-car field with a lap of 14.181 seconds. After lining up the pole of the third eight-lap IRA heat race, Hartmann placed fourth in the race to earn the 12th starting spot in the 30-lap main event.
The third-year Plymouth, Wis. Sprint Car driver drove a steady race in just his third IRA A main in a 410 Sprint Car en route to an IRA career-best 13th place finish in a race won by Scotty Neitzel.
“Pulling into Rice Lake Speedway was like going to SK Speedway I’d say, very comparable,” Hartmann said. “Although I never ran there, I was able to kind of get an idea for what to do. We made very few changes throughout the night, and just made small adjustments as I was comfortable with the car right away in qualifying. It took rubber about midway through the night and once I found that, we were fast.”
On Sunday, May 29, Hartmann was quick out of the box as he turned in the 11th fastest qualifying lap in the 27-car field with a lap of 11.318 seconds. After lining up on the pole of the second eight-lap IRA heat race, Hartmann placed fourth to earn a direct transfer spot to the A main and his first-career berth in the IRA dash field.
After drawing the pole for the second four-lap IRA dash, Hartmann placed fourth to gain the eighth starting spot in the 30-lap IRA main event.
Hartmann held steady in the front half of the field in the early going of the A main by testing multiple lines on the dry and dusty track surface. After dropping to 18th, the lone caution flag of the race appeared on lap 16 for a spin involving Kyle Schuett. Hartmann then held on during the non-stop second half of the race to finish 24th.
“What can I say about 141 Speedway? – I love that place,” Hartmann said. “I was excited for that one, but I didn’t quite expect to have the night we had. We found speed and I got more comfortable in the car. As for the feature, we threw some things at the car to try out and let’s just say we’re going mark those as ‘no good.’ We couldn’t find forward bite anywhere on the racing surface.”
Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing team will continue their rookie campaign with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series this Saturday, June 4 at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis.
“The team is excited to get back to Wilmot, which is another track where we’re pretty decent,” Hartmann said. “We will build off the ups and downs of this past weekend and get after it at Wilmot Raceway.”
Those unable to make it to track can follow all of the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series action throughout the 2022 campaign via FloRacing by visiting https://www.floracing.com.
Additional information on the 87A Hartmann Racing team can be found by visiting the team’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/87Ahartmannracing.
The 87A Hartmann Racing team has assembled a strong group of partners in support of the team’s maiden voyage with the Bumper to Bumper IRA Series, including Kristine Hartmann of Pleasant View Realty, Shufflebotham Tree Service, Call Girls Motorsports, Pallet Works LLC, AF Inc., Bennett Transport Inc., SCA Inc., Gretchen Tillman New American Funding, Classic Title Services, CP Services, Cobblestone Landscaping, Jensen Sales & Services, Lee’s Color Studio, Dave’s Fabrication, Racer’s Hall Sports Bar and Grill, Feldmann’s Sales and Service, RC Custom Design, Hepfner Racing Products, Pit Road Apparel, the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series and Sage Fruit.
The 87A Hartmann Racing team consists of Hunter Annis, Karlee Hartmann, Andrew Shufflebotham, Jarrett Neese and Kristine Hartmann.
87A Hartmann Racing Sponsor Showcase – Classic Title Services
Classic Title Services is proud sponsor of Austin Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing Team for the 2022 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association season.
Located in Sheboygan, Wis., Classic Title Services is a locally owned real estate title company, owned by Hollie O’Neil since 2005, which provides real estate title insurance and real estate closing services to customers in Sheboygan, Manitowoc and Ozaukee Counties.
To contact Classic Title Services, call 920-783-0318 or visit http://www.myclassictitle.com/.
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.
Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
2022 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 6
IRA Events – 6
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 0
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 1
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 3
Heat Race Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 1
Dash Victories – 0
Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
Upcoming 2022 Schedule
Saturday, June 4 – Wilmot Raceway, Wilmot, Wis.
Saturday, June 11 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway, Fairbury, Ill.
Sunday, June 12 – Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, Wis.
June 30 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.