Mike Reichenberger:
Determination equals success!
By Jeffrey Sachse

Determination and hard work can sometimes offset the advantages created by high-dollar race teams in racing. The efforts of the budget racer on the short track level can often seem to be the ultimate challenge as those that operate with a little less fight for their moment of glory on the racetrack.

One such driver who enjoyed such a moment this past season is Appleton, Wisconsin, racer Mike Reichenberger. Reichenberger, who began racing at the age of 15 at Shawano Speedway, has slowly worked his way through the ranks over the years and this past season earned a well deserved victory in the Mohican North Star Bingo and Casino Fall 50 during Thursday Night racing action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.

Though for much of his career Reichenberger has run asphalt Late Models in events around the state his career actually started on the half-mile, clay oval in Shawano, Wisconsin.

"I actually started out racing when I was 15 in 1980. I started out at Shawano and ran my first two races. My second race at Shawano I spun out twice and went back to the pits and that was it," laughed Reichenberger.

“I jumped right into a Late Model in 1981 and started racing asphalt at Kaukauna," Reichenberger said of his start on the challenging, half-mile, paved oval.

Reichenberger wheeled a number of cars over the years including a MOPAR. He drove his fathers Plymouth Volare "Kit Car" which Chrysler produced to spearhead its way into short track racing. The car was easily recognizable on the track in a time when the field was dominated by Camaro bodied race cars. "My dad drove it for three years and then in 1984 I drove it for my dad for that year," noted Reichenberger of his turn behind the wheel of the unique race car.

Since that time Reichenberger has served as car owner and driver as he paid the bills to turn the wheel at tracks around Wisconsin, most notable Kaukauna and Slinger Speedway. 1999 marked the first year he was able to turn the role of car owner to another person. "This is the very first year I drove for somebody else and it worked out great. I didn't have the funding to do it myself and teaming up with someone else was just what I was looking for," noted Reichenberger.

The foundation for the team actually began in 1998 when Reichenberger fielded his own car and got financial help from his current car owners. "Last year Stockbridge Engineering, which is Jerry and Cheryl Schneider, came aboard and owned the motor in my car. This year they wanted to own a car so they bought Mark Schroeder's car and motor from the prior season and it was a happy marriage after that," exclaimed Reichenberger.

The combination clicked as Reichenberger made the feature event every night during the 1999 season in Thursday Night action at Wisconsin International Raceway. "This was my most successful season at Kaukauna. We've had some very good ones at Slinger and finished third in points down there one year. As far as Kaukauna and the level of competition there is now, at Kaukauna this is by far the best season."

For Reichenbeger finding a car owner helped him remain on track in an era where it has become and expensive proposition to compete in the Late Model class. "For 15 years I ran Slinger and Kaukauna but, with the competition was getting to where you need two cars. One car is not going to cut it at both tracks. I still have my own car and I took it to Norway this year. We ran real good and lead a lot of laps, just not the right one," joked Reichenberger who also noted he's attempting to sell his car.

The pit work is handled by a small but dedicated crew In addition to driving duties Reichenberger turns the wrenches along with Jerry Schneider and his son Brad.

Reichenberger noted that things look real good heading into the 2000 season as the team really began to run toward the front after the halfway point this past year.

"The last six weeks of the season we were running real well and I figured with the right circumstances we had a shot at winning a feature race," noted Reichenberger whose confidence got an additional boost after winning a big 50 lap feature event towards the end of the 1999 season.

"The level of competition has really improved over the years, so I'd say this last win was more rewarding to me. After the win I had some people come up to me and said they've been loyal fans for years and that was the most excited they had been with someone winning the race. That made me feel real good. It was great,” noted Reichenberger.

Reichenberger knew he had a shot at taking the feature when he noticed he was able to keep pace with the leader of the event, Jim Duchow. "Before the first caution I thought to myself that I was catching him coming off the corners, I could see he was getting looser and looser but I wasn't going to try and push him until it got down to five laps or so. Then after the second caution I could see he really wasn't getting away from me, I just got underneath him for the lead and we were there."

While the victory was a big one for Reichenberger he felt his first career feature win which he scored at Slinger is his most memorable moment behind the wheel of a stock car. "My first win ever at Slinger was a memorable one, but the biggest victory was this 50 lapper. When I was out there racing I said to myself this is really a big race to win”.

Reichenberger and his team's success comes from a group of loyal sponsors who supported their efforts and kept them on the track this past season. "Stockbridge Engineering is the car owner, JBC is a sub-division on Stockbridge Engineering they build parts for race cars. S&S Construction, Auto Gazette, Block Iron and Supply were sponsors Reichenberger listed as being responsible for paying the bills. Also on the side of his car is the name Mark Martin which Reichenberger elaborated on. "Everybody asks me about Mark Martin that's on the side of the car, he actually works at Block Iron & Supply so it's not the NASCAR Mark Martin,” said Reichenberger while grinning.

Plans are already underway for the team for the first season of the new millennium. "We are going to keep the same car we had, we ran so good we're just going to update a few things. I'm going to try and sell my car. Two cars is just too much for what we do. I still would like like to find a ride for Norway Speedway. I enjoy running Norway. Up there, the competition might not be as stiff, but I enjoy going there to relax and have fun.", noted Reichenberger.

Still Reichenberger relishes the thought as far as scoring more wins at Kaukauna where he would like to build upon the success he found towards the end of 1999. "As far as the best in the state, it's Kaukauna, it's really tough, there are 20 fast guys there. It's really intense every Thursday night there. You have to be there to race, because if you not there to race you are not going to win. I go to Norway to relax. I love the intensity at Kaukauna, that's why I work on it really hard all week long , to get the enjoyment out of it by doing well. But to do well you HAVE to concentrate.", noted Reichenberger.

With a solid race team, confidence and dedication look for Reichenberger to be running with the lead pack in 2000 in Thursday night racing action at Wisconsin International Raceway.