5/26/2021
Josh Walter
Walter turns in career-best IRA effort at Beaver Dam Raceway
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) May 26, 2021 – In six seasons of 410 Sprint Car racing competition, 17th year driver Josh Walter of Plymouth had never previously enjoyed a night quite like the one he and his Torque Racing team put together in a Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series event at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis. on Saturday, May 22.
Not only did Walter earn a heat race victory and a spot in the second IRA dash, he also equaled his career-best IRA A-main finish by placing a strong fourth in the 30-lap main event.
Walter was among 26 IRA 410 Sprint Car drivers to sign in for the program, which marked the Torque Racing team’s third IRA event of the 2021 season.
The former Midwest Sprint Car Association standout qualified 12th with a lap of 12.289 seconds to earn the pole for the third 10-lap IRA heat race. Walter got the jump on outside front row starter Scott Bietzer and survived a brush with the wall to earn his first heat race victory of the season and a spot in the second IRA dash.
After starting second in the second four-lap IRA dash, Walter placed third to secure the sixth starting position in the 30-lap headliner.
Walter used a strong start to settle into the fourth spot in the running order as the laps wound down. With four laps remaining, the second- and third-place cars of Blake Nimee and Scotty Neitzel made contact, which sent Neitzel into the turn four wall.
With Neitzel out of the race, Walter inherited the third position behind race leader Mike Reinke and second-place runner Blake Nimee on the final result. When the race resumed, Jordan Goldesberry worked the low groove to duck underneath the high-riding Walter to assume third.
Walter held on over the final three laps to place fourth, while registering his first top-five A-main showing of the 2021 season and equaling his career-best IRA A-main finish in a race won by Mike Reinke.
Walter and the Torque Racing team will return to action on Friday, May 28 for an IRA event at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam, Wis. The Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Cars and Legends will also be on the card for the inaugural Fuzzy Fassbender Classic
Pit gates open at 3 p.m., spectator gates are set to open at 4 p.m. with warm ups at 5 p.m. and hot laps, qualifying and racing to follow with opening ceremonies slated for 6:30 p.m.
The 2021 Torque Racing pit crew includes Chad DeKarske, Justin Vorpagel, Andrew Rieth, Mike Behr, Noah Koepke, Dean Shelinske, Tiffany Vorpagel and Stephanie Walter.
“Our team is made up of many sponsors, silent sponsors, crew members, friends and family members,” Torque Racing 410 Sprint Car driver Josh Walter said. “That is why we call ourselves Torque Racing. When I first started racing, it was Josh Walter Racing, but I just didn't feel right having my name on the car when so many other people have been involved and take just as much pride in our race team as I do. It all starts with my wife, Stephanie, and kids allowing me the time away to go race and work on the car.”
Torque Racing Pit Crew Spotlight – Jason Vorpagel, car chief
“Justin ‘Duff’ Vorpagel is the car chief,” Walter said. “He takes care of everything on the car for maintenance. On race nights, he heads up tire pressures, fuel, engine heat and overall car preparation.”
Torque Racing sponsors for the 2021 season include Dlapa Construction, Brittany's School of Dance, Sheboygan by Owner, SCA Inc., Cow Pies, Full Throttle Ink, Lakehouse Bar & Grill, Home Transitions, Oostburg Concrete Products, RC Custom Design and Pedal Down Promotions.
Torque Racing Sponsor Showcase – Oostburg Concrete Products
The Torque Racing team is pleased to have Oostburg Concrete Products of Oostburg, Wis. on board as a sponsor.
In 1946, six partners joined hands to form Oostburg Concrete Products. The original owners purchased special equipment to manufacture a wide range of concrete items, which they used during the summer months for construction work.
Oostburg Concrete Products’ recent investment in equipment allows the company to pour concrete through most of the winter months.
One of the original owners, Gordon Veldboom Sr. became the sole owner in 1959. Today, the company is owned and operated by Gordon J. Veldboom Jr., his wife, Helen, and their son, John.
Oostburg Concrete Products offers a complete line of concrete and masonry services, including footings, poured concrete walls, concrete floors, driveways, sidewalks, flatwork, fireplaces and exterior brick in stone.
Oostburg Concrete Products crews cover a large territory, including jobs in Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago counties.
For more information or to inquire about services, call Oostburg Concrete Products at 920-564-3341.
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.
2021 Josh Walter-Torque Racing
By The Numbers
Total Events – 3
IRA events – 3
World of Outlaws events – 0
All Star events – 0
A-Main Victories – 0
B-Main Victories – 0
Top Five A-Main Finishes – 1
Top 10 A-Main Finishes – 1
Heat Race Victories – 1
Dash Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 1
2021 Josh Walter-Torque Racing
Tentative Upcoming Schedule
(Additional dates to be announced)
Friday, May 28 – Dodge County Fairgrounds, Beaver Dam, Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, June 5 – The Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis. (All Stars-IRA)
Article Credit: Jeff Pederson-Pedal Down Promotions
Submitted By: Jeff Pederson
