5/23/2024
Travis Arenz
Arenz aims to shake IRA Angell Park disappointment
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) May 22, 2024 – A promising weekend of Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series action at two of Travis Arenz’s favorite tracks didn’t quite play out to the Sheboygan Falls, Wis. driver’s lofty expectations on Saturday, May 18 at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. and Sunday, May 19 at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis.
Arenz and his Travis Arenz Motorsports team opened the IRA doubleheader weekend at his home track – The Plymouth Dirt Track – on Saturday, May 18 by qualifying third overall in the 32-car field with a lap of 11.628 at the familiar facility where he claimed his first career IRA 410 Sprint Car A-main victory on July 1, 2023.
After starting third in the third eight-lap IRA heat race, Arenz came home fourth. In the second four-lap IRA dash, the two-time Plymouth Dirt Track Racing and Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car champion started and finished fifth to earn the 10th starting position in the 30-lap main event.
Contested on a fast and treacherous track surface and littered with six caution/red flag periods, the race found Arenz struggling to find a comfortable and consistent racing groove throughout the race.
Arenz, who owns a total of 37 A-main victories at The Plymouth Dirt Track in four different divisions, battled back and forth inside and outside of the top 10 during the course of the event before settling for a 13th-place showing in a race won by Blake Nimee.
The following night at Angell Park Speedway presented a different set of challenging circumstances, which left Arenz no less befuddled.
Arenz opened the night by qualifying sixth in the 29-car IRA field with a lap of 12.295 seconds before starting and finishing third in the third eight-lap IRA heat race. The 17th-year competitor then finished second after starting on the pole of the first four-lap IRA dash to gain the third starting position in the scheduled 30-lap IRA A main.
After both of the front-row starters got sideways on the drop of the green flag, Arenz bolted into the lead in turn one on the opening lap of the main event.
He then powered away from the rest of the field and maintained the top spot through a pair of caution/red flag periods in the opening laps. As time ticked closer to the city of Sun Prairie’s 10 p.m. curfew, Arenz continued to be in firm control of the race.
However, the third caution flag spelled the end of Arenz’s quest for a second career IRA A-main victory as the curfew prevented the race from being restarted and resulted in its cancellation.
Since the race failed to move past the halfway point, it could not be considered official. As a result, all pay and points were divided equally among all 24 A-main competitors.
“This weekend I learned that I need to stop overthinking and over-adjusting my car when it’s a rough and heavy track,” Arenz said. “At Angell Park, I knew we had a top-running car that had the capability of winning. It sinks that we couldn’t get the entire feature in.”
The Travis Arenz Motorsports team is set for another Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series doubleheader weekend of action starting with the annual Founders' Night program at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. this Saturday, May 25.
The Auto Meter Wisconsin wingLESS Sprint Cars and IRA Lightning Sprints are also on the card. Spectator gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 5:45 p.m. and racing starting at 6:45 p.m.
One night later, Arenz and his team will head to 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wis. for the traditional Memorial Day eve IRA event on Sunday, May 26.
The IRA Lightning Sprints and Midwest Legends Dirt Series are also on the card.
Spectator gates open at 3 p.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 6 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, 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 – Wittkopp Funeral & Cremation Service, Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes
As a local family-owned and operated funeral home located at 928 South 14th St. in Manitowoc, Wis., Wittkopp Funeral & Cremation Service - Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes features a dedicated and compassionate staff committed to offering a variety of funeral options, which will allow families to create a personal and meaningful experience of remembering and saying goodbye at an affordable price.
The Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes staff pledges to provide caring and detail-oriented assistance in planning a traditional funeral service or a memorial service with cremation.
For more information, contact Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes by phone at 920-682-0118, by email at info@lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com or by visiting https://www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com.
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Travis Arenz Motorsports
2024 Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, May 25 – Wilmot Raceway, Wilmot, Wis. (IRA)
Sunday, May 26 – 141 Speedway, Francis Creek, Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, June 8 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis. (IRA)
Sunday, June 9 – Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, Wis. (IRA)
Travis Arenz Motorsports
2024 Statistics
Total Events – 5
IRA Events – 5
A Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 1
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 3
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 4
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 4
Heat Race Victories – 1
B Main Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 5
Dash Victories – 0
Fast Qualifier Awards – 1
Submitted By: Jeff Pederson
