7/30/2020
Eric Blumer
Third at BDR, Looking Ahead to a Big Week
The July 26th Race Report and a Salute to “Hutch”
JULY 26 AT BDR
As we type this on Thursday, July 30, we realize that a week ago Eric announced, “We might not be racing Saturday” (the July 26th race last week at Beaver Dam Raceway).
Having survived two weeks of Legends racing, where a bunch of other cars got torn up, the guys had time to do some much needed maintenance on the car and they delved into an area that was previously unfamiliar. It didn’t go well. A $200 part (or was it two ?) was damaged in the process and we were nearing desperation.
Eric called and consulted with one source who was able to diagnose the problem, as he has many times before. But, he was four hours away. The next call was made to Wayne Hutchison. Sure, he’d take a look at it, he said. By Friday evening we had the 6E at his shop where Hutch patiently went over the issue with Eric and showed him how to put things back together for the next time. The pair did a couple of other things and we were on our way, satisfied that the car was right.
As the team was racing with the IRA Sprint Cars at BDR, we were excited to know we’d be seen live on FloRacing, via the internet. Flo does all the IRA shows, with their accompanying classes. We also had several fans in the stands including Mike Hughes (aka BDG on the car) and his wife Stacy. Bill and Bob Kastorff checked in from the stands and Hunter Cardinal and his friends joined us after the races for some cookies. Kevin Weisensel also stopped to wish Eric luck.
As for the racing action, the 6E was fast out of the gate and Eric took second in the heat to Tristian Furseth, after taking a shot at the win.
Eric started seventh in the feature of 20 cars. By the fourth circuit he was in the lead via the high groove. He amassed an almost quarter-straightaway lead when the caution came out, about 11 laps in.
On the restart, Eric jumped to the lead again, but Ryan Sullivan and Ryan Mech were reeling him in. The three had checked out on the field. With about five laps to go Sullivan got Eric on the inside and a lap or two later Mech did the same. Eric ended up third.
Justin, Greg and Eric put a ton of work in on the car this week and that is a lot of why he’s fast. But, without Hutch we may have had to sit this one out.
THE BIG WEEK COMING UP
We are super excited about the week ahead, starting this Saturday, August 1. It’ll be a “5 Division Night,” sponsored by Miller at Beaver Dam Raceway.
Then just three days later, a very special event is slated for Tuesday, August 4 as the World of Outlaws Late Models roll into town. Please see the Beaver Dam Raceway facebook page or website for full details. This promises to be an awesome race, with many of the nation’s top LM teams rolling though on their way to the USA Nationals at Wisconsin’s Cedar Lake Speedway just a few days later. Details on both the BDR race and the USA Nats. can be found here: https://worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels/schedule/
One short turnaround deserves another, as the boys will thrash Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for a Wisconsin Legends Racing Dirt Series event at Gravity Park USA in Chilton, WI on Friday, August 7. Eric finished a close second earlier in the year here and he currently leads this touring series in the points chase. Gravity Park typically runs about five of their own divisions and brings a visiting class (the Legends in this case) also. Please see their website for full details:
https://gravityparkusa.com .
If all goes well, it will be up and at ‘em after a few hours of sleep to clean the car, do some maintenance and head back to BDR for Bud Night and 5 Divisions of racing.
AS ALWAYS, THANKS!
Thanks to the fans who spend their time and money, especially during these odd times to support local racing!
As always, thanks to our sponsors, we couldn’t do it without you: Dog Guard of Wisconsin; BRS Radiator, Machine & Fabrication; Northern Air Systems, Inc.; Phil Espenes; Storage & Handling Systems; Club LaMark; Bullseye Games; Ground Up Lifts; Sieg Law Office; OWL Graphics and Lettering; Grandpa Blumer and Casey Bollig Photography.
We couldn’t do it without the folks who helped put the 6E on the track this season either! Justin Hoium, Big Dumb Guy, Greg Leatherbeary, Joe Wipperfurth, Bill Tefft, Brian Benisch, Cody Weisensel, Hutch, and Stephanie Blumer.
Submitted By: William Blumer
