(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) August 24, 2022 – After a three-week break from competition, Austin Hartmann and the members of the 87A Hartmann Racing team got back to the business of traversing their rookie campaign with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series with a fast-paced, fair-themed weekend of doubleheader action.
The weekend twinbill opened on Saturday, Aug. 20 with a 27-car field checked in for the annual Roger Iles Tribute IRA event held during the Kenosha County Fair.
In his first appearance at Wilmot Raceway behind the wheel of a 410 Winged Sprint Car, Hartmann began the night by qualifying 15th with a lap of 13.759 around the tricky third-mile clay oval.
After lining up fifth in the first eight-lap IRA heat race, Hartmann outpowered outside third row starter Jereme Schroeder to settle into the fifth spot on the opening lap. While Hartmann stuck to the low line, Schroeder worked the middle to high groove to reel in the Plymouth, Wis. driver in the closing laps. However, Hartmann held on to record a fifth place showing.
Hartmann then rolled off from the 14th starting spot in the 36-lap, $3,600-to-win Roger Iles Tribute IRA A-main and held tight to the low groove in the early going. By lap 10, Hartmann locked into the 17th spot before falling back to 18th when Kris Spitz worked the high line to power his way around the third-year Sprint Car driver.
After the second of two caution flags displayed to the field during the second half of the race for a spin involving Jordan Paulsen on lap 31, Hartmann engaged in a spirited duel with fellow IRA rookie Tyler Tischendorf over the final five laps with Hartmann eventually coming home with a 20th-place showing in a race won by Jordan Goldesberry.
“It was an alright kind of night for us at Wilmot Raceway,” Hartmann said. “I definitely made some driver errors. I have to look past it and move forward.”
Hartmann came out firing one day later for the IRA’s annual stop at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie during the local Corn Fest event on Sunday, Aug. 21, as he ripped off the seventh fastest time in IRA qualifying with a fast lap of 12.433 seconds in the 26-car field.
After starting on the outside of the front row in the first IRA eight-lap heat race, Scotty Neitzel dove underneath Hartmann on the initial start to move Hartmann back to third in the running order. Hartmann held the position throughout the race en route to a third-place finish to secure his third dash appearance of the 2022 IRA season.
Hartmann started fourth and placed fifth in the first four-lap IRA dash to secure the ninth starting spot in the 30-lap IRA A main. Running the low groove, Hartmann found himself 14th when Jeremy Schultz brought out the first of five caution flags when he slowed along the backstretch on lap 14.
After another caution flag was displayed on lap 17, Hartmann was running 16th when he attempted to duck underneath Dave Uttech for 15th and clipped an infield tractor tire entering turn four, triggering a spin to bring out the third caution period of the race.
Hartmann restarted 16th and endured two more caution flags in the late going to secure a 15th place finish in a race won by Jake Blackhurst.
“We had a great start to the night at Angell Park, but just fell off in the feature,” Hartmann said. “Despite struggling a lot on the feature side, all in all, it was a decent weekend.”
The finish marked Hartmann's fifth top-15 and 11th top-20 A-main showing in the first 16 IRA events of the 2022 season.
With eight races remaining in the 2022 IRA season, Hartmann currently occupies the 10th position in the IRA points standings.
The 87A Hartmann Racing team will make a return visit to Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association on Saturday, Aug. 27, for an all-open wheel program also featuring the Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Cars and Badger Midgets.
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 – Lee’s Color Studio
Located at 3401 Dewey St. in Manitowoc, Wis., Lee’s Color Studio provides a wide array of painting and coating services, featuring a team of seasoned painting contractors utilizing high-quality brushes, rollers and various spray applicators to ensure even coating and a precise paint job at affordable prices.
Services include painting, custom wood finishing and refinishing, vinyl wall coverings, drywall finishing, epoxy floor coating, sandblasting, hydroblasting, exterior and interior line striping.
To contact or learn more about Lee’s Color Studio, call 920-684-7232, email info@leescolorstudio.net or visit www.leescolorstudio.net.
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 – 18
IRA Events – 16
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 – 5
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 11
Heat Race Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 3
Dash Victories – 0
Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
Upcoming 2022 Schedule
Saturday, Aug. 27 – Wilmot Raceway, Wilmot, Wis. (IRA)
Friday, Sept. 2 – Dodge County Fairgrounds, Beaver Dam, Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, Sept. 3 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis. (IRA)
Sunday, Sept. 4 – 141 Speedway, Francis Creek, Wis. (IRA)