(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) September 28, 2022 – A five-and-a-half-month journey competing against many of the nation’s top 410 Sprint Car drivers at 13 different tracks in three states came to close for Austin Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing Team with a pair of Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association events at the Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway in Beaver Dam, Wis. on Friday, Sept. 23 and The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. on Saturday, Sept. 24.
With 21 IRA Sprint Cars assembled for the annual Checkered Classic honoring the memory of Al Schmidt, Fuzzy Fassbender and Dick Whitt, at the “horsepower half mile” Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway in Beaver Dam, Wis. on Friday, Sept. 23, Hartmann turned in the 13th fastest qualifying time with a lap of 17.193 seconds.
Hartmann started fifth in the first eight-lap IRA heat race and held the spot throughout en route to a fifth-place showing.
The third-year Sprint Car competitor started 13th in the 20-lap IRA Checkered Classic main event and dropped back to 14th in the opening laps. On lap 7, Hartmann drove past Dave Uttech to take over 13th in the running order. On lap 17, Jeremy Schultz got around Hartmann to move the IRA rookie competitor back to 14th.
The Plymouth, Wis. driver held on over the final three circuits to earn a 14th-place finish in a caution-free race won by Dylan Cisney.
“Overall, the night went very well at Dodge County,” Hartmann said. “I’d say I got some good notes for next year.”
The following night Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing team returned to The Plymouth Dirt Track in their hometown of Plymouth, Wis. to complete the team’s rookie season of full-time IRA competition.
With 24 IRA 410 Sprint Cars on hand, Hartmann began the night by qualifying 11th with a lap of 11.718 seconds around the ultra-fast and tacky third-mile clay oval.
Hartmann lined up on the pole position of the second eight-lap IRA heat race. However, a jumbled start was waived off by track officials before Hartmann spun in turn two while trying to slow down his machine. The spin resulted in contact with another car and front end damage to his 87A car, which caused him to retire from the race with an eighth place showing.
After making the necessary repairs, Hartmann started 21st in the 30-lap IRA main event, staying out of trouble throughout en route to a 19th-place finish in a race won by Jake Neuman.
“Our night at Plymouth started rough when I missed my line in qualifying, which put us on the pole in the heat race,” Hartmann said. “I made some mistakes at the start of the heat, resulting in a DNF [did not finish], which is not what we wanted as a team.
“In the feature, I was pretty open-minded and tried a new set up, which turned out to be alright,” he said. “It just needs a little fine-tuning and we should be pretty good with it for next year.”
Hartmann capped his rookie season of IRA competition 10th in the final point standings.
In 26 events, including 24 IRA races, Hartmann tallied one top-10, eight top-15 and 17 top-20 A-main showings in 22 A-main appearances. In addition, Hartmann posted one heat race victory, one B-main triumph, one fast qualifier award and six dash appearances during his rookie IRA campaign.
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 – Bennett Transport Inc.
Based in Manitowoc, Wis., Bennett Transport Inc. provides truck load and LTL service throughout Eastern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and the Chicagoland area.
For more information on Bennett Transport Inc., call 920-860-0962, email beau@benntransinc.com or check out @Bennett Transport Inc on Facebook.
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Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
2022 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 26
IRA Events – 24
World of Outlaws Events – 2
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 1
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 8
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 17
Heat Race Victories – 1
Dash Appearances – 6
Dash Victories – 0
Fast Qualifier Awards – 1
A Main Appearances – 22
Interstate Racing Association Points Finish – 10th