5/9/2024
Travis Arenz
Arenz corrals IRA top-10 at Cedar Lake Speedway
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) May 8, 2024 – With fast and undulating track conditions demanding a cowboy-up driving style, Travis Arenz wrangled his Travis Arenz Motorsports 25T machine to stay as straight and smooth as possible in reining in his second top-10 showing of the young 2024 campaign in Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series A-main competition at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. on Saturday, May 4.
With rain wreaking havoc on the three-eighths mile clay oval racing surface in the days and hours leading up to the second event of the 2024 IRA campaign, Arenz successfully negotiated the highly tacky and challenging track surface to qualify seventh in the 25-car field with a lap of 11.108 seconds.
After starting second in the second eight-lap IRA heat race, the 2021 and 2022 Midwest Sprint Car Association and Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car champion came home third.
The Sheboygan Falls, Wis. driver, who was making his Cedar Lake Speedway debut, turned in a fourth place showing after lining up third in the first four-lap IRA dash to gain the seventh starting spot in the 30-lap main event.
Arenz moved into the top five in the opening laps of the A main, as he managed to stay connected with the leaders’ frantic pace, while keeping his car as stable as possible on the rapid, demanding and uneven track surface.
As the laps wound down, Arenz surrendered three positions on the way to an eighth-place finish, which marked his second top-10 A-main showing of the 2024 IRA season.
“With the track conditions we had, I pretty much went completely opposite of what a normal night consists of with both set-up and driving approach,” Arenz said. “Being in the dash helped with more track time and getting the car better for the rough surface. The A main definitely did not go as planned. While struggling with the car, I tired myself out, honestly, and started missing my marks at the end of the race.”
The team was scheduled to participate in the IRA series’ debut appearance at Ogilvie Speedway in Ogilvie, Minn. on Friday, May 3. However, rain washed out the event.
On Saturday, May 11, Arenz and the 25T team will follow the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series to the Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, Ill. Arenz will be looking to equal a strong runner-up showing in his first Sycamore Speedway appearance in IRA A-main action on June 10, 2023.
The Badger Midgets and IRA Lightning Sprints are also on the card.
Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. with racing at 7:30 p.m.
All 2024 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series events will be streamed live on FloRacing.
The 2024 Travis Arenz Motorsports sponsorship partners include Professional Plating Inc., Service One Transportation Inc., Don and Lynn Kiel, Oostburg Concrete, Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes, Schoen’s Wildlife Removal, Premier Insurance Solutions-Craig Ladwig, Carbliss Hand Crafted Cocktails, Pallet Works, Lake Auto Glass and Service, Roth’s Auto Restoration, Hair Fellers Barbershop, Fastenal of Plymouth, Jensen’s Sales and Service, Amy Bruechert Reality, Duehring's Tax Service, Everhope Show Cattle, Sonntag Plumbing Inc., Kriete Truck Center and Arenz Auto Detailing.
The 2024 Travis Arenz Motorsports team consists of pit crew members Jerrod Gamb, Cameron Fritz, Bobby Bonelli, Jake Van Engen, Keith Fellner and Emily Stadler.
Additional information on the Travis Arenz Motorsports team can be found by visiting the team’s Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.
Travis Arenz Motorsports Sponsor Showcase – Don and Lynn Kiel
Don and Lynn Kiel’s first date was attending a race at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. in June 1998 and they have been together ever since, marrying on Feb. 14, 2005. Lynn spent her working career in the banking industry retiring after 39 years in 2017 as an assistant vice-president at a local Manitowoc bank.
Lynn's interest in racing started when she attended the races at the 141 Speedway as a child with her dad, Andy Endries. RIP ANDY!
Don's interest in racing started when he bought Dean Divine's Modified in the early 1970s. Don's driving experience involved Modifieds and Mini Sprints, as well as 360 Sprint Cars at Manitowoc Expo Speedway in 2011 and 2012.
Don spent four years in the United States Air Force, enlisting the night of his graduation party. He was honorably discharged after four years in 1967 as an Airman First Class. Don was a Minuteman Missile electrician serving as team chief his last year and actually got to take part in the test firing of four Minuteman Missiles at Vandenburg Air Force Base in Lompoc, Calif. Don was based at F. E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo. for 41 months.
Don started flying in Cheyenne at the age of 19, secured his first flying job three days after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force at age 22 and retired at age 60. He retired as Senior Captain on the 300 passenger Airbus A 330-300 flying to London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. He has logged over 30,000 hours of flying time with a lot of stories to tell.
For a glimpse of Don's career, Google Don Kiel Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame. For a view of his favorite aircraft that he owned for four years, check out the Warbird Takeoff by Googling Beech 18 Takeoff Great Radial Engine Sound. Click on the 32 second video. Don and Lynn continue to fly his 1952 Cessna 170B, both on wheels and skis in the winter.
Don loves to say, “It's pretty cool when your vocation and avocation are one in the same!”
“We started out sponsoring Travis Arenz by buying him a set of rear tires five years ago and the rest is history,” Don Kiel said. “Travis is a very talented racer from the tiniest detail to the actual racing. I love to watch Travis feel the track out and then work his magic. I sponsor Travis as I feel he is one of the best!”
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Travis Arenz Motorsports
2024 Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, May 11 – Sycamore Speedway, Sycamore, Ill. (IRA)
Saturday, May 18 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis. (IRA)
Sunday, May 19 – Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, May 25 – Wilmot Raceway, Wilmot, Wis. (IRA)
Sunday, May 26 – 141 Speedway, Francis Creek, Wis. (IRA)
Travis Arenz Motorsports
2024 Statistics
Total Events – 2
IRA Events – 2
A Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 2
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 2
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 2
Heat Race Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 2
Dash Victories – 0
Fast Qualifier Awards – 1
Article Credit: Jeff Pederson-Pedal Down Promotions
Submitted By: Jeff Pederson
