Conley Publishing - Special Sections
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Conley Media • April 2018 • RACING INSIDER • 3 800.236.4040 YOU SHOULDN'T SETTLE FOR JUST ANY LIFT FOR YOUR "BABY" America's #1 Hobbyist Lift is built to the highest quality and safety standards just as our parent company has done for over 85 years, and is backed by an industry leading warranty. Why trust your "great machine" to anyone else? 260124002 Brookfield www.banglesons.com info@banglesons.com DISTRIBUTED BY: By BERT LEHMAN For Conley News Service Once the 2018 race season starts, Beaver Dam's Matt Rechek will pull double duty each Saturday at Beaver Dam Raceway — rac- ing a modified and a sport modified. Already one of the top modified drivers in south- east Wisconsin, racing a sport mod will be something new. "Running two divisions will be twice the challenge," Rechek said. "Your time, knowledge and concentra- tion is split in half so we really need to be on our game if we want to be suc- cessful in either one or both (divisions)." Rechek has been around local racing all his life. His dad raced stock cars until Rechek was 4 years old. In 2003, when Rechek turned 14 years old, he started turning laps himself, racing a dirt devil 4-cylinder front-wheel drive car at Beaver Dam Raceway. It didn't take long for him to show his competitors what he could do. "My first ever win was actually my first night rac- ing in a dirt devil," Rechek said. "I started fourth row and ended up winning on a last-lap pass." After only two years rac- ing a dirt devil, he made the jump to the powerful modi- fied division. "It was the fastest, coolest and most exciting division at Beaver Dam each week," Rechek said about why he chose the modified division. It took Rechek a little longer to achieve his first feature win in the modified division, but it's a win he will never forget. "I believe it was 2011, I started fourth and took over the lead early in the race and we ended up having a few cautions which made me nervous, seeing I had never won before," he said. "But I was able to hold off a few heavy hitters and collect the win. That changed racing forever for me." In 2015, Rechek achieved Beaver Dam Raceway's ulti- mate high, winning the mod- ified track championship. "Winning the champi- onship wasn't easy. It was a lot of work making sure the car was in top shape each week," Rechek said. "There were a lot of great cars there each week and consistency was key. It was all worth it when the year was over." Rechek finished second to Middletown's Tim Lemir- ande in the modified point standings in 2017 at Beaver Dam Raceway. But he came close to winning another championship if it weren't for one important event. "We ended up getting into a pretty good points battle with Craig Priewe and Tim Lemirande early in the year and it was neck and neck all the way throughout the year," Rechek said. "Run- ning against those two for a championship was pretty cool for me personally, seeing those two guys were some of the big dogs already when I was little watching mods. I ended up skipping the last night of the year for my wed- ding but still ended up sec- ond in points." To be successful at racing, a lot of time needs to be devoted to it. And the plan to race in two divisions weekly requires more time. Because of that, Rechek hasn't set a track championship as a goal in 2018 — at least not yet. "It's fun to do but takes up too much (time) and there's a lot of other things I enjoy doing on weekends also," he said. Whether it's for a champi- onship or just to have fun, race fans can look forward to seeing Rechek on the track plenty of times this season. "I love how many people come together and get involved in it from friends to family to sponsors," he said. "They all make it so much easier and enjoyable." Editor's Note: Recheck's mother, Sue, is Conley Publishing's Chief Operating Officer. Rechek to double dip on Saturday nights BEAVER DAM RACEWAY Bob Cruse/For Conley News Service Matt Rechek in Victory Lane at Beaver Dam Raceway after winning the Modified feature on July 6, 2013. Beaver Dam Raceway ■ Location: N7086 Raceway Road, town of Beaver Dam ■ Website: www.wismotor sports.net ■ Tickets: $25 per carload, occupants must be belted in; $10 single person; $25 pit pass (prices vary for World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series show) ■ Race night: Saturdays ■ Contact: 920-887-1600; bdraceway@wismotor sports.net ❑ ❑ ❑ 2017 Track champions Grand national: Roger Lee Legends: Cody Apfelbeck Modifieds: Tim Lemirande Sport modifieds: Elijah Koenig Street stocks: Mike Winters "My first ever win was actually my first night racing in a dirt devil." – Matt Rechek Modified and sport modified driver at Beaver Dam