First IRA fast qualifier award highlights Austin Hartmann’s roller coaster tripleheader weekend
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) September 7, 2022 – For the vast majority of regional Winged 410 Sprint Car racing teams competing with the 2022 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series, taking on a stretch of three races at three different tracks over the course of three consecutive days is a taxing undertaking.
Despite enduring a major setback at the mid-way point of the weekend, Austin Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing team overcame the requisite difficult nature of the triple dip, along with the additional challenges thrown their way, to finish out each of the scheduled events in the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series Labor Day weekend tripleheader.
The weekend trifecta saw team take on the Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway “horsepower half-mile” in Beaver Dam, Wis. on Friday, Sept. 2, come back home for another event at the familiar surroundings of the third-mile The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. during the Sheboygan County Fair on Saturday, Sept. 3 and travel north to the 141 Speedway bullring in Francis Creek, Wis. on Sunday, Sept. 4.
Hartmann opened the weekend by making his first appearance at the sprawling Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway for the fifth annual Harry Neitzel Tribute race on Friday, Sept. 2 with a 410 motor under the hood of his 87A Sprint Car. In qualifying, Hartmann turned in the 13th fastest time among the 23-car field with a lap of 17.578 seconds.
In the first eight eight-lap IRA heat race, Hartmann started fifth and fell back one spot to finish sixth.
After lining up 16th in the 25-lap Harry Neitzel Tribute A-main, Hartmann slid back to 18th on lap 5. After engaging in a back-and-forth duel with Alan Gilbertson for four laps starting on lap 6, Hartmann found his stride to power past Dave Uttech to take 17thon lap 12 before the first of four caution flags appeared on lap 14 when Danny Schlafer stopped on the front stretch.
On the restart, Hartmann worked his way around Jack Vanderboom to take over 15thon lap 16 before the second caution flag waved on lap 20 for Zach Hampton, who stopped in turn four with a flat tire.
After Travis Arenz spun in turn two on lap 22 to bring out the third caution flag, Hartmann restarted 13th. Another caution was displayed on lap 24 for Chris Martin, who slowed with a flat tire.
Hartmann restarted 12th and held the position over the final two laps to secure his sixth top-15 A-main showing of the 2022 IRA season in a race won by Scotty Thiel.
“Dodge was a good effort, although it was tough with the smaller engine compared to the other cars,” Hartmann said.
The annual Sheboygan County Fair IRA race at The Plymouth Dirt Track saw Hartmann rip off his first-career IRA Osborne and Son Trucking fast qualifier award, as he topped the 31-car field with a lap of 11.461 seconds around his hometown track, which earned the 87A Hartmann Racing team an extra $150 courtesy of Lake Home Retreats.
Hartmann then started fourth and placed fifth in the first eight-lap IRA heat race before drawing the third starting spot in the first four-lap IRA dash. On lap 2, Hartmann fell back to fifth in his fifth IRA dash appearance of his rookie 2022 campaign before Jordan Goldesberry and Blake Nimee got together in turn two to bring out a red flag.
Hartmann restarted third and went on to finish third to secure the fifth starting position in the 30-lap IRA A main. After a red flag for a flip involving Jake Neuman on lap 8 and a yellow flag on lap 9 when Kris Spitz lost a right rear tire in turn two, Hartmann restarted seventh.
The third-year Sprint Car competitor then engaged in a heated back-and-forth duel with Jake Blackhurst during the mid-way point of the race before slipping back to eighth on lap 21.
Following another caution for a spin involving Travis Arenz on lap 23, Hartmann restarted eighth before disaster struck shortly after the ensuing restart when contact with Kyle Schuett’s car along the front stretch sent Hartmann flipping wildly into the turn one catch fence, ending what was shaping up to be a career-best IRA finish.
Hartmann, who emerged from the accident uninjured, was credited with a 22nd-place showing in a race won by Scotty Thiel.
“I thought setting quick time was definitely a possibility at some point this season, as we are usually really good for qualifying,” Hartmann said. “It was great to accomplish that with the IRA at Plymouth.
“The feature was going really well until the incident,” he said. “The car was badly damaged, but fixable. It is down by Maxim now getting repaired. I’m doing well. I only really had shoulder pain from the straps.”
Determined to complete the third leg of the IRA tripleheader at 141 Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 4, Hartmann was able to put a deal together to compete in one of the Schlafer Racing Team’s 360 cars for the night.
Hartmann qualified 25th in the 28-car field with a lap of 12.908 seconds and finished seventh in the first eight-lap IRA heat race after starting ninth.
The Plymouth, Wis. driver rolled off 22nd in the 30-lap IRA main event and steered clear of trouble on the dry slick track surface to notch a 19th-place finish in a race won by Jordan Goldesberry.
“We were able to rent a 360 for 141 from the Schlafers,” Hartmann said. “I would like to thank Al and Danny and the Schlafer team for allowing us that opportunity, so that we could race at 141.”
With four races remaining on the 2022 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series schedule, Hartmann sits 10th in the IRA point standings.
The 87A Hartmann Racing team is scheduled to continue their rookie 2022 IRA season with their first 410 appearance at the Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. for the prestigious Jerry Richert Memorial this Saturday, Sept. 10.
“Now it is time to get back in a 410 for this weekend’s race up at Cedar Lake,” Hartmann said. “I’m super excited to race there.”
Those unable to make it to track can follow all of the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series action throughout the 2022 campaign via FloRacing by visiting https://www.floracing.com.
Additional information on the 87A Hartmann Racing team can be found by visiting the team’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/87Ahartmannracing.
The 87A Hartmann Racing team has assembled a strong group of partners in support of the team’s maiden voyage with the Bumper to Bumper IRA Series, including Kristine Hartmann of Pleasant View Realty, Shufflebotham Tree Service, Call Girls Motorsports, PalletWorks LLC, AF Inc., Bennett Transport Inc., SCA Inc., Gretchen Tillman New American Funding, Classic Title Services, CP Services, Cobblestone Landscaping, Jensen Sales & Services, Lee’s Color Studio, Dave’s Fabrication, Racer’s Hall Sports Bar and Grill, Feldmann Sales & Service, RC Custom Design, Hepfner Racing Products, Pit Road Apparel, the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series and Sage Fruit.
The 87A Hartmann Racing team consists of Hunter Annis, Eric Bergschultz, Karlee Hartmann, Andrew Shufflebotham, Jarrett Neese, Caitlin Shaw and Kristine Hartmann.
87A Hartmann Racing Sponsor Showcase – Hepfner Racing Products (HRP)
For well over a decade, Hepfner Racing Products (HRP) has led the racing industry in innovative designs and manufacturing technology.
HRP is directly involved with manufacturing, sales and design in Sprint Cars, Midgets, Modifieds, Late Models, NASCAR, Indy Car, SCCA, NHRA, karting, road racing, off-road and more. HRP’s continued success is led by a strong team of individuals dedicated to delivering top-notch innovation, technology, pricing and customer service.
Hepfner Racing Products (HRP) services as a sister company to Streeter Super Stands, under the parent company of Glenn Hepfner Incorporated. HRP’s products are made in the USA at its 80,000-square-foot facility, located at 2133 Constitution Ave. in Hartford, Wis.
For more information on Hepfner Racing Products (HRP), call 1-262-457-5015, email hrpsales@ghilaser.com or visit http://www.hrpracing.com/.
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Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
2022 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 22
IRA Events – 20
World of Outlaws Events – 2
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 0
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 6
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 14
Heat Race Victories – 1
Dash Appearances – 5
Dash Victories – 0
Fast Qualifier Awards – 1
Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
Upcoming 2022 Schedule
Saturday, September 10 – Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, September 17 – Beaver Dam Raceway, Beaver Dam, Wis. (IRA)
Friday, September 23 – Dodge County Fairgrounds, Beaver, Dam Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, September 24 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis. (IRA)