Dan Lewis PhotoUsed with permission by Joe Verdegan

Perhaps one of Green Bay's busiest asphalt drivers is gearing up for yet another hectic schedule this summer.

Brett Piontek maintains two of his super late models he races at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. He also drives a Mid American stock car owned by Jeff and Gary Tisler of Two Rivers on Saturday nights at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, where Piontek is the defending track champion.

With WIR's weekly program on Thursday nights and 141's weekly racing on Saturdays, it makes for some long weekends for the former dirt tracker.

This season will be more of the same. When WIR opens up on May 28, he'll race his Chevrolet Impalas on Thursday nights, while the Mid Am carries a Chevrolet Monte Carlo body and will be raced weekly at 141.

"We will run the Milwaukee Mile with the super late in August in the show promoted by Roy Kenseth (Matt's dad)," Piontek said. "Pretty much Wednesdays through Saturday night are pretty hectic," added Piontek, the defending Mid Am champion at 141. "There is no possible way I could keep up with all three cars if I didn't have a dedicated pit crew to help me out. I wouldn't be racing without those guys."

Piontek relies on a crew of seven or eight guys, most taking turns between nights in the shop and at the race track.

"Some of these guys are my high school buddies," Piontek said. "They are getting to the age where they are getting married and buying houses. They can't afford to be working on race cars every night of the week, like when we were younger. So they pretty much take turns."

Locally, drivers are thankful for every crew member they can get. They are seldom, if ever, paid for their time in the shop and at the track. If you are lucky, the driver may be able to afford to pay your way into the pits. But that's about it.

"I usually get at least two guys at the track every night, so that's huge," said Piontek who cut his teeth racing IMCA stock cars on the local dirt tracks.

Piontek will be the first to admit starting out racing dirt has helped him become a better asphalt driver.

"I think racing dirt helps you get a real good feel for the car, without question," he said. "Especially if it's loose. You don't panic if the car does break loose."

A few years back Piontek logged thousands of highway miles chasing the ASA latemodel series. He raced at several out-of-state tracks. Now, he is content racing closer to home, for several reasons.

"On the plus side, you do learn more when you travel," he said. "It's kind of like playing on a different field every week. I like running WIR and 141. They are both less than a half hour from home.

"The other thing is it was real tough to get family and friends travel to watch you race, when you somewhere like Ohio or Indiana. It's a lot more fun to race close to home. Plus, it cuts down big time on your travel expenses, too."

Piontek's season started off last Saturday at Marshfield Super Speedway with his super late model.

"We timed in 7th and finished 4th in the feature. We brought the car home in one piece, so that was good."

Saturday, Piontek will begin his title defense at 141.

"I've always said if you can get around that place and win you can win anywhere," Piontek said. "It's a drivers track, no doubt."

— Joe Verdegan covers area racing for the Press-Gazette. E-mail him at jverdegan2@new.rr.com