Paul Nienhiser
Chapin, IL
Driver Information
Education
2015-2017 Missouri University of Science & Technology Rolla, MO
2011-2015- Triopia High School Concord IL
Racing Experience and Record
2021 - 46 Starts. 7 wins. 13 Top-5 Finishes. 20 Top-10 Finishes.
Began the season in Florida chasing after a rookie of the year title with KO Motorsports on the USAC National Sprint Car Trail running 410 non-wing sprints full-time. Filling in various open slots in the schedule with winged starts for KO Motorsports, Paul's own familiar 9x Machine, and Scott Bonar's 50 car. During mid summer the decision was made to switch gears back to winged racing, finishing the year very strong.
2020 - 40 Starts. 5 Wins. 12 Top-5 Finishes. 18 Top-10 Finishes.
Season highlighted by running MOWA, IRA, World of Outlaws, Sprint Invaders, and WAR events across the midwest. The season consisted of racing in several different disciplines from 410 Wing and Non Winged Sprint cars, 360 Sprint cars, as well as a career-best run in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in January.
2019 - 50 Starts. 12 Wins. 21 Top-5 Finishes. 29 Top-10 Finishes.
Year of the rainouts. 48 starts. 12 wins on the season to move to 2nd all-time in career MOWA victories. 2019 MOWA champion while racing select World of Outlaws, All Stars, and ASCS events
2018 - 60 Starts. 9 Wins. 14 Top-5 Finishes. 25 Top 10 Finishes.
60 Starts between MOWA, World of Outlaws, ASCS, All Stars, IRA and local 305 sprint car competition. 9 wins on the season including the 23rd and Final Queens Royal and the Lake Ozark Spring Nationals.
2017 - 39 Starts. 3 Wins.
39 410 Sprint Car Starts. Highlighted by a trio of top 5's with the All Star Circuit of Champions including two runner-up finishes.
2016 - 25 Starts. 5 Top-5 Finishes. 14 Top-10 Finishes.
25 410 Winged Sprint Car starts. 3 Quick time awards and 5 top-5 finishes. 14 top-10 finishes and 21 top-20 finishes.
2015 - 33 Starts. 5 Wins. 8 Top-5 Finishes. 16 Top-10 Finishes.
31 410 Winged Sprint Car Starts. Runner up in MOWA points championship with four series wins. Five victories for the season with 4 dash wins.
2014 - 31 Starts. 5 Top-5 Finishes. 15 Top-10 Finishes.
31 410 and 360 Winged Sprint Car starts. 5 top-5's finishes and 2 dash wins. 8 World of Outlaw starts and 2 dash wins
2013 - 43 Starts. 3 Wins. 14 Top-5 Finishes. 25 Top-10 Finishes
Raced the full Sprint Invaders schedule and full MOWA schedule while entering 4 World of Outlaws events, Finished 3rd in Sprint Invader points championship, and 3rd in MOWA points championship, qualified for 3 of the 4 World of Outlaws events, stats include 14 top 5's and 24 top 10's while earning 3 victories
2012 - Age 15 First season in a full-size sprint car, Raced full MOWA 410 Sprint Car schedule and part time POWRi Micro Sprint and World of Outlaws schedules, entering 5 POWRi races, 20 MOWA and 2 professional World of Outlaws events. Finished runner up MOWA Rookie of the Year and qualified for 10 sprint car features including the Iron Man 55 WoO event.
2011 - Age 14 Raced Full POWRi Micro Sprint Schedule. 6 top 5's, 13 top 10's and 7th in POWRi National points. This past January became the youngest driver ever in the 26 year history to qualify for a front row starting position at the famed Tulsa Shootout.
2010 - Age 13 Raced Full POWRi Micro Sprint Schedule. Became the youngest driver ever to win a POWRi Feature and then won his second POWRi Feature two weeks later, finishing the points series 11th. Season totals were 10 top 10's and 8 top 5's and 4 Feature wins. Also won the Micro Sprint points Championship at Jacksonville Speedway, Jacksonville IL.
2009 - Age 12 Raced first full season POWRi Micro Sprint Series, placing 17th in points. Season race stats include 21 top 5's and 12 top 10's, with 2 Feature wins, one at Jacksonville IL and one at New Berlin IL (Shepp's Speedway).
2008 - Age 11 Raced a partial POWRi Micro Sprint Schedule and several local track appearances including Jacksonville Speedway Jacksonville, IL and Pike Speedway Pittsfield, IL.. Feature stats include 2 top 5's and 8 top 10's.
2007 - Age 10 Raced Stock (A) Micro Sprint Class at Pike Speedway Pittsfield IL. 9 top 5's and 12 top 10's including 3 Feature wins and 2007 Stock Class Championship at Pike Speedway.
2006 - Age 9 Raced Restrictor Micro Sprint Class at Pike Speedway Pittsfield IL, and Region 5 Quarter Midgets Light B. Season record for both classes 19 top 5's and 19 top 10's with 7 Feature wins.
2005 - 2003 Age 6-8 I Raced Quarter Midgets Junior Honda, Junior Stock & Light B. Season highlights were: I-70 QMA March Madness Series Light B 1st , Dirt Grands THQMA Light B E Main 1st ALQMA points Light B 1st, CCQMA indoor Dirt Championship Junior Stock.
Career Highlights
60 career sprint car wins
2019, 2022, 2023 MOWA Champion
All-Time Leader in MOWA Wins
20 career Sprint Invader Wins
23rd Queen's Royal Champion
2-Time Carolyn Schuh Memorial Champion
2-Time Tom Knowles Memorial Champion
Herb Barlow Memorial Champion
Top-10 in $100k Silver Shootout at Badlands Motor Speedway
2010 Youngest POWRi micro winner at age 13
2007 Pike County Speedway Track Champion
Most Memorable Moment
First career 410 Sprint Car win in 2013 at Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL.
Hobbies
Golfing, Fishing