(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) July 20, 2022 – Austin Hartmann and the members of the Plymouth, Wis.-based 87A Hartmann Racing team made the most of their 640-mile trek to River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D. for a Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association (IRA) versus Buffalo Wild Wings Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA) King of the Wings doubleheader weekend of action by gaining valuable A-main experience in both Winged 410 Sprint Car events on Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16.
The weekend IRA-NOSA Sprint Car spectacular opened on Friday, July 15 with a stout field of 35 Winged 410 Sprint Cars checked into the pit area for the event, which also featured an appearance by the Morton Buildings World of Outlaws Late Model Series.
Hartmann came out firing by ripping off the eighth fastest qualifying time with a lap of 10.420 seconds around the quarter-mile clay oval bullring.
As the track transformed quickly from fast and tacky in qualifying to dry and slick in the heat races, Hartmann found the going challenging in the fourth eight-lap heat race as he dropped back to eighth after starting third.
Hartmann then lined up on the pole of the 12-lap B main needing to finish in the top four to advance to the 30-lap main event. The IRA rookie contender settled into second behind outside front row starter Tom Egeland on the opening lap.
As Hartmann stuck to the low line, Shane Roemeling used the high groove to sweep around the Plymouth, Wis. driver to move into second and drop Hartmann to third. Fellow IRA competitor Russel Borland then worked past Hartmann on lap 9. However, Hartmann held strong in the fourth-place position to earn the final A-main transfer spot as the checkered flag fell in the B main.
After starting 24th in the 30-lap IRA-NOSA main event, Hartmann endured three caution flags in the first 20 laps before he spun along the front stretch to bring out another caution flag on lap 22. Hartmann recovered to close out the race strong, while passing fellow IRA racer Jack Routson on lap 29 to secure a 19th-place finish in a race won by Grand Forks, N.D. driver Austin Pierce.
“The first impressions of River Cities Speedway were as to be expected,” Hartmann said. “It’s a pretty cool little high-banked track with no walls. Friday night started off great as the track was heavy and hammer down. I knew I had to capitalize on the good pill draw I had. Once the track slicked off, it was a battle to find speed for the rest of the night.”
With dry and slick track conditions greeting the assembled 33-car IRA-NOSA competitors on Saturday, July 16, Hartmann qualified 26th with a lap of 12.004 seconds.
Hartmann started and finished seventh in the second IRA-NOSA heat race, which left him to start sixth in the 12-lap B main needing to finish fourth or better to advance to the 30-lap main event.
The third-year Sprint Car racer put together an impressive performance in the B main, advancing to fifth on the opening lap and then tracking down the fourth-place car late in the event. Taking advantage of slower traffic ahead of the fourth-place machine, Hartmann pulled off a perfectly-timed slide job on the final lap to steal fourth place and a gain spot in the evening’s main event.
After starting 24th, the 30-lap A main proved to be relatively uneventful for Hartmann as he stayed out of trouble en route to a 23rd-place finish in a race won by defending IRA champion Jake Blackhurst.
“Saturday didn't start off too strong with a track that got slick super quick,” Hartmann said. “We were behind right away starting in the back of a solid heat race with a one-lane track. Starting sixth in the B main, I knew I couldn’t hesitate on making moves and got to fifth immediately.
“As the laps counted down, I didn't think I'd have a chance to make it, even though I was catching the fourth-place car,” he said. “When a lapped car held up the fourth-place car on the last lap, I threw a ‘Hail Mary’ slide job and got the transfer spot. In the feature, I lost my tires and just stayed low avoiding the leading cars.”
Overall, Hartmann was pleased with the team’s performance during its first high-mileage, out-of-state, multi-event road trip of the 2022 season.
“All in all, it was definitely a great time and an awesome track,” Hartmann said. “I can't thank my continued sponsors enough for their support and for them believing in myself, as well as this team. Also, a special ‘thank you’ goes to Eric Bergschultz, who was my crew chief for the weekend. He busted ass and always had a positive mindset even when I didn't. I’m excited to have him aboard.
“Finally, this weekend wouldn't have been possible without Gibbsville Cheese, Ozzie Weisner and Fran O’Brien,” he said. “I am beyond appreciative for their help in lending us an engine to run.”
This weekend Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing team will continue their rookie IRA campaign with a pair of closer-to-home events. The IRA weekend doubleheader opens with a trip to Outagamie Speedway in Seymour, Wis. on Friday, July 22 and concludes with another scheduled IRA event at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. on Saturday, July 23.
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 Sales & 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, Eric Bergschultz, Karlee Hartmann, Andrew Shufflebotham, Jarrett Neese, Caitlin Shaw and Kristine Hartmann.
87A Hartmann Racing Sponsor Showcase – Gibbsville Cheese
Located at W2663 County Road OO in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., Gibbsville Cheese has been producing top-quality cheese products since 1933.
Gibbsville Cheese products are Wisconsin-made with only the finest in local ingredients. Gibbsville Cheese makes a large variety of cheeses and cheese-made products on-site for sale at its factory store, which opened in the early 1970s and was enlarged in 1979.
Currently, the fourth generation of the Van Tatenhove family operates Gibbsville Cheese, continuing its reputation as a fine producer of cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack and the famous Gibbsville two-tone cheese.
Customers can find fresh cheese curds most Wednesdays after 2 p.m. in the Gibbsville Cheese factory store.
The Gibbsville Cheese Factory Store is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Sunday and all major holidays.
To contact or learn more about Gibbsville Cheese, call 920-564-3242, email sales@gibbsvillecheese.com or visit www.gibbsvillecheese.com.
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Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
2022 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 13
IRA Events – 11
World of Outlaws Events – 2
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 – 2
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 6
Heat Race Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 1
Dash Victories – 0
Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
Upcoming 2022 Schedule
Friday, July 22 – Outagamie Speedway, Seymour, Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, July 23 – Wilmot Raceway, Wilmot, Wis. (IRA)
Friday, July 29 – Langlade County Speedway, Antigo, Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, July 30 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis. (IRA)