8/2/2023
Austin Hartmann
Hartmann completes challenging IRA doubleheader, looks forward to 2023 season stretch run
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) August 2, 2023 – One week after turning in one of their most complete efforts of the 2023 season in weekly 410 Sprint Car action at Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, Mich., Austin Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing team showcased plenty of speed, which did not translate to the results column, during a Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association doubleheader weekend featuring the third annual Road America Challenge at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. on Friday, July 28 and the annual Founder’s Night racing program at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. on Saturday, July 29.
Hartmann opened the Road America Challenge event at The Plymouth Dirt Track by recording the 22nd fastest qualifying lap in the 27-car field with a lap of 14.477 seconds on an exceedingly dry and dusty track surface.
The Plymouth, Wis. driver started the first eight-lap IRA heat race from the eighth position and moved up one spot to finish seventh to just miss out on a top-six A-main transfer spot.
The 2020 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing and Midwest Sprint Car Association Rookie of the Year Award winner rolled off fourth in the 10-lap IRA B Main and finished fourth to advance to the 30-lap main event.
After extensive track work during intermission, the track proved to feature multiple grooves in the 30-lap IRA headliner, which saw Hartmann start from the 22nd position.
Hartmann worked the high line through much of the race and was running around the 21st spot when he made contact with the backstretch wall and flipped on the white flag lap of the race, which was won by Greg Wilson. Hartmann was scored with a 22nd place showing.
The 87A Hartmann Racing team returned to action one night later at Wilmot Raceway for Founder’s Night. The event got off to a solid start for Hartmann, who registered the 15th fastest overall qualifying lap in the 38-car field and seventh quickest lap among the 19 Group B qualifiers by touring the three-eighths mile semi-banked oval in 13.091 seconds.
After starting on the pole of the third IRA eight-lap heat race, Hartmann secured a fourth place finish to earn a spot in the 25-lap main event and a berth in the second IRA dash.
Hartmann started fourth in the second four-lap IRA dash and came home fifth to earn the 10th starting position in the 25-lap main event. Hartmann was running in the 15th position when a caution flag was displayed for a spin involving race leader Bill Balog on lap 22.
After another caution flag slowed the pace on lap 29 when Jordan Goldesberry spun in turn two, Hartmann crossed the finish line in 19th place in a race won by Brenham Crouch.
With the IRA idle during the next two weekends to allow competitors to compete in and attend the Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa, the Austin Hartmann and 87A Hartmann Racing team will return to action with the Bumper to Bumper IRA 410 Sprint Car Series for the annual Kenosha County Fair Night-Roger Illes Tribute Night racing program at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. on Saturday, Aug. 19.
One night later, the team will visit Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis. with the IRA for the annual Corn Fest event Presented by Zimbrick Chevrolet.
Pit gates open at 2 p.m. with spectator gates opening at 4 p.m., followed by engine heat at 4:45 p.m., hot laps at 5 p.m. and opening ceremonies at 6 p.m.
Additional information on the 87A Hartmann Racing team can be found by visiting the team’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/87Ahartmannracing.
The sponsorship partners for the 2023 87A Hartmann Racing team include Kristine Hartmann of Pleasant View Realty, Shufflebotham Tree Service, Competition Specialists, Schmidt’s Landscaping, Feldmann Sales & Service, Holler n Hills, Steinpreis Trucking, KSI Supply Inc., Quasius Construction, SwitchGear Brewing LLC, TheD8Dispensary, AF Inc., Hopf Farms, RC Custom Design, Hepfner Racing Products, Berryman Racing Shocks and Maxim Chassis.
The 2023 87A Hartmann Racing team consists of Hunter Annis, Eric Bergschultz, Parker Annis, Karlee Hartmann, Andrew Shufflebotham and Kristine Hartmann.
87A Hartmann Racing Sponsor Showcase – Competition Specialists
Austin Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing team are thrilled to welcome Competition Specialists as a partner for the 2023 season.
Headquartered at 1342 Earl St. in Menasha, Wis., Competition Specialists has been a high-performance race engine builder, specializing in oval track engines, since 1982.
Under the leadership of Steve Blom and Jason Johnson, Competition Specialists aims to carry on the tradition of reliable and powerful racing engines. With Steve's 40-plus years of engine-building knowledge and Jason’s family tradition of building race-winning engines with his Hall of Fame great grandpa and grandpa, this newly formed partnership forged in 2022 brings proven winning power.
Competition Specialists builds a wide range of race engines for Sprint Cars, Dirt Late Models, Asphalt Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Sportsman and road course cars. In addition, the team of engine builders at Competition Specialists can build marine engines (inboard, small block and big block), hot rod engines (Mopar, Ford and Chevrolet) and other V-8 engines by request.
Competition Specialists features a full-service machine shop where detail is the highest priority from drop off to ready-for-assembly, including the ability to mill heads, blocks and injections. The machine shop also includes lathes to turn cranks and cams. The top-of-the line equipment showcased throughout the shop can also balance cranks, rods and flywheels, while providing the ability to flow cylinder heads for maximum horsepower.
Precision and inspection rank as a top priority for every part that comes through the Competition Specialists machine shop doors. Through a thorough evaluation and examination process, Competition Specialists’ technical staff can find cracks invisible to the eye by closely magnifying every inch of every part.
Contact Competition Specialists by calling 920-725-9384, emailing sales@competitionspecialists.com, visiting www.competitionspecialists.com or checking out the Competition Specialists Facebook page.
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Austin Hartmann - 87A Hartmann Racing
2023 Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Aug. 19 – Wilmot Raceway, Wilmot, Wis. (IRA)
Sunday, Aug. 20 – Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, Wis. (IRA)
Friday, Aug. 25 – 34 Raceway, West Burlington, Iowa (IRA-MOWA)
Saturday, Aug. 26 – Federated Auto Parts I-55 Raceway, Pevely, Mo. (IRA)
Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
2023 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 25
IRA Events – 19
World of Outlaws Events – 3
All Star Events – 4
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 1
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 6
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 9
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 17
Heat Race Victories – 2
Dash Appearances – 5
Dash Victories – 0
Fast Qualifier Awards – 0
Article Credit: Jeff Pederson-Pedal Down Promotions
Submitted By: Jeff Pederson
