Dave Trute / Jeff Burrows Car (Jeff Blaser Photo)Fourth in a series of five highlighting the 2011 Dells Raceway Park Champions

by Matt Panure
Defending Schultz Small Engine Pure Stock Champion Dave Trute didn't plan to chase another title in 2011. He also didn't plan on watching a fill-in driver snag the crown on the final night of the season at Dells Raceway Park.

Teaming up with Jeff Burrows, a driver he had known since his childhood, Dave Trute etched his name into the history books for the second year in a row as a Pure Stock Champion.

The best laid plans often go awry.

"The initial plan wasn't to chase a championship," said Trute, of New Lisbon. "We were intended to be a really good backup car."

Initially, Trute had planned on working toward the goal of seeing his car owner Bill Zeman capture the title. Although Trute and Burrows had secured a point lead going into the final night, a plan was still in place for Zeman to capture the title.

"I was sitting up in the stands with Dave's dad," Burrows, of Sparta, recalled. "I took my drivers suit off and was in my civilian clothes. Bill's son came and found me in the stands. Dave and I were perfectly able to sit aside and let Bill have it."

However, Zeman encouraged the tandem to stay in the title chase.