8/26/2004

NO SECRETS TO EARLY SUCCESS

Mike Scott, pilot of the #59 red and black Super Stock at LRP took some time away from his late season activities to share with myself and the visitors of NYRaceZone a little of his racing background, this year’s experience at Lancaster, as well as who makes up the Mike Scott Team. 

Starting out on asphalt, Mike raced Go-Karts, first at Bliss Speedway in 1995 and then later at Chapel Hill Speedway in 1998. It wasn’t long before he became a regular at Western New York’s most popular dirt track Ransomville Speedway in 2000, competing in the Stock Medium division. Along the way he also took part in half a dozen demolition derbies before racing a Super Stock for the first time at last year’s U.S. Open. His first time out earned him a solid 10th place finish. Mike having raced on dirt and asphalt I had to ask, which was better? “I like both, but I would rather work on the car to make it go fast rather than scrape mud from the fender and quarter panels,” he said. 

2004 is Mike’s rookie season and he currently sits 6th in the standings after a heartbreaking last place finish on August 14th, which saw him go from the front to the back on the last lap. “It was in the bag and then we had some type of ignition problem.” His first win came on July 10th, and he has had three heat wins to date. 

According to his goals for 2004 on his NYRaceZone profile I asked if he had any long-term goals since this year’s goals were well within reach. “So far this year we are 1/3 of the way to meeting our goals. We obtained one feature win, but are still a long way from the other two which are Rookie of the Year and winning the U.S. Open.” Since Karl Hehr (Mike’s stepfather) has won in three different divisions and (friend) Todd Hoddick won in his first year of competing in Super Stocks Mike wants to join them in their achievements by winning the U.S. Open. 

With the Race of Champions coming up at Oswego I asked if the #59 team had any plans in attending but Mike said, “I would love to but the way the rules are I don’t think it would be feasible to change the car over to R.O.C rules then change it back the following week for the U.S. Open. It’s a shame since that place has a lot of history and prestige.” 

Karl Hehr, Mike says, has been instrumental whether it be in showing him what to do over the Winter building the car, overall support, or calming him down after things get a little wild on the track. Mike grew up going to the track with his grandfather and mother to see Karl race. “He was always someone who people liked and he helped out whoever asked.” Karl’s relaxed demeanor on and off the track has not caught up with Mike yet as he’s been known to lose his temper now and again due to track altercations. Competitiveness can get the best of any driver on occasion but it can also be an asset. After finishing last on August 14th, Mike came back on the 21st to win his heat. During the feature he started fourth and was shuffled back in the beginning of the race while the top 3 of Mudra, Skora, and Bernhard pulled away. By the time the checked flag flew the #59 car was challenging not only for 3rd but also for the lead as all four cars crossed the line close together. 

Since Mike had not raced at LRP before last year’s U.S. Open I was curious as to why he chose the Super Stock Division as his entry level of competition. “The entire class is extremely competitive. It is a fun class to run and I have to ton of respect for the guys who have been out there year after year doing well such as Bernhard, Evans, Skora, Orr, and Mudra.” Nick Hehr, (brother to Karl Hehr, the #59 Modified driver) bought the car prior to the 2003 U.S. Open which was previously the #94 ride to Kevin Harmon and Brian Lorence. Nick allowed Mike to run the car for LRP’s last race of the season and then sold it to him soon after. Over the Winter the car was entirely rebuilt top to bottom and a new motor was put in. 

There is always much debate and speculation on the cost of racing. In this division I was surprised to find out that after starting from scratch the Mike Scott Team has spent $14,000 to date in order to compete in a division that only pays $100 to win. The cost of racing is proving to be much of a burden and as of now unless the team acquires more sponsors for next year it is hard to say if the #59 will race on a weekly basis in 2005. “Maybe we’ll run a limited schedule or someone else will drive the car, but that is a ways away and right now all I want is to be the Rookie of the Year. We just need to stay consistent and it will take care of itself.” 

The #59 crew consists of Rodney Szczepaniak who used to drive the #77 Super (Street) Stock in the mid 1990s, Dave Lapp, Andy Jankowiak, and Eric Doktor who tows the car to the track every week. Trey Hoddick has been an asset with his vast knowledge as well. Everyone from the 99 Late Model and 59 Modified teams have also helped out along the way this year. 

Special thanks have to go out to Mike’s current sponsors: Airport Collision, Airport Truck and Auto, Casey's Truck Salvage, A to Z Transmission, Neal Winters, Nawojski Racing, The Dutch Mill Family Restaurant, Doc's II and FOAR Score for all that they do, any potential new sponsors, as well as his family and girlfriend Michelle for their continued support. 

Best of luck to the #59 team the rest of the way along with all the other teams at LRP as the season winds down.

Source:  Andy Ticco/NYRaceZone.com PR
Posted:  September 2, 2004