SULLIVAN, WI -- The “Wisconsin Wildman” Dan Schlieper closed out his version of the 2006 racing season with a bang, as he captured the win in the ‘Mason Dixon Dixieland Challenge’ finale last Sunday evening, December 17, at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan! The 162,000 square foot Exhibit Hall inside the DeVos Place was converted into a race track with a quarter-mile asphalt oval. The UMP Late Models were on hand last Saturday and Sunday evening for a pair of shows, which paid $5,000 and $8,000 to the winner respectively.
Dan took home the $8,000 winner’s share of the purse on Sunday evening after starting the 40-lap race from the pole position and leading every circuit of the competitive A-Main. The Sullivan, Wisconsin native earned the pole by virtue of setting fast time in qualifying and winning his heat race earlier in the day. In Saturday’s $5,000 to win preliminary show, Dan hit the wall in qualifying, but won his consolation event to gain access into the feature event. During the course of the A-Main, Dan advanced eleven spots en route to a strong seventh place finish.
“It was a great way to finish our 2006 season,” quoted Dan this week at Port City Racing while working on his car from the weekend. “We had a little trouble on Saturday night, but got rolling pretty good in the feature up on the high side where no one else could run. Then on Sunday, I had fast time in qualifying and that gave me the track position I needed for the rest of the night. It was tough to breathe because of all of the carbon monoxide in the air, but luckily I was able to fight through that and close the season out in victory lane.”
The Dan Schlieper Racing team will now set their sights on heading south in late January for Speedweeks 2007. Dan and the #9 team plans to compete at the Golden Isles (GA) Speedway, the East Bay (FL) Raceway Park, and the Volusia (FL) Speedway Park during there three week stint down south from January 31-February 17. More information on when and where Dan will compete to kick off the 2007 racing season will be made closer to race time. Keep up with www.danschlieper.com to view any late breaking news and/or schedule information!
Dan would like to thank all of his sponsors including: Miller Bros. Construction, Hawkeye Trucking, Pro Power Racing Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Uncle Buck, Hoosier Tires, Five Star Bodies, Integra Shocks & Springs, Stealth Carburetors, VP Racing Fuels, Mr. Moto Products, Out-Pace Racing Products, Sweet Mfg., Crower, Weld Wheels, Dart Machinery, Manley, JE Pistons, Scott Performance Wire, Stiles Headers, Allstar Performance, Wulff Pumps, Delph Communications, T&D Machine, and Champ Pans.
The most up-to-date news and information concerning Dan Schlieper Racing can now be found at www.danschlieper.com.
