June 30, 2010 - A Podium and Too Much Water
Lemke Off-Road Racing Team headed to Crandon after coming off a big win on Sunday in Antigo. We were excited knowing we can run with the big boys and ready to show them we could do it again.
Coming into Crandon 5th in the point’s race placed us on the starting line in 8th. Not too bad of a spot for the thrilling land-rush start. The green flag flew and we were off, as 20 cars came into the first corner and we were all scrambling for position I was tapped in the rear by a fellow racer and pushed sideways into a skid. I quickly struggled to regain composure and straighten the car out; finally I managed to get control.
I still ended up coming out of the start in 5th position and quickly worked my way to 3rd following Greg Stingle and Jeff Virnig of which it stayed that way to the competition yellow. When the green flag flew for the second half of the race Greg, Jeff and I quickly broke away from the rest of the pack. I had a few opportunities to dip on the inside of Jeff in the 166 car but did not press too hard to make the pass. I felt I was slightly faster than him but did not want to take the chance of using him as an outside rail that may potentially take both of us off the podium. Several times I had a good run on him and pulled up alongside of him but was never able to complete the pass and make it stick. Finally in the gravel pit on the white flag lap he went tight on the inside, which seemed like he was protecting it, and I went slightly outside of him, got some great traction with my BFG’s and had the run on him that I had been looking for, I made the pass and held onto second at the checkered flag.
I was stoked, a win on Sunday in Antigo followed-up with a second place finish in Crandon. When I got back to the pits the celebration began but was quickly shutdown with rumors that were traveling fast. The word was that Lemke in the 109 car caused the big pile-up in corner one at the start of the race. Man I tell you what, I quickly went from excited and celebrating to concern and confused. I did not even know that I had hit anyone in the first corner. I replayed it time and time again in my mind and all I remembered was myself getting tapped and struggling to regain control.
As my good friend and sponsor Jeff Hosking (a.k.a. MyCracken) from HEC was washing the car I took off to find the source of this rumor. After stopping at several pits and talking with the guys that were repairing their wrecks I found the source, Chad Dewall was the one that had been telling others that I cut down on him and sent him into Ryan Stingle. I pleaded my case to him and told him that I had been hit in the rear and may have cut down in the corner in my own desperate attempt to not spin. We reasoned that, as I did this, it caused the car to dart to the right and I tagged the 193 car of Chad DeWall which sent him into another car and cause the several car pileups.
We both agreed that it made sense; I was hoping to find some video to post that would support my plea but have not been able to find any yet, I will keep looking though. I have a good idea who hit me that started the whole mess but will not jump to any conclusions until I have proof. I know too well how it feels to get blamed for an incident that may not be true. When I returned to our pit the car was clean, I usually do not allow that to happen, I get it dirty, I wash it, thanks Haus!
The second place finish put me in 4th for the points and starting 9th with Matt Gerald to my right and Greg Stingle to my left. In my opinion these guys are undisputedly the two fastest in our class, not a real comfortable place to be. The green flag flew and we were off for round 4. This time everyone made it through the first corner without incident that I know of. I ended up in 9th after the first lap, the track was the worst I have ever driven at Crandon. They watered way too much for our class but had places that did not have enough water. It was either a thin layer of mud flying off our open wheels or a thick cloud of dust. I began to go through tear-offs like crazy and two laps into it I was completely out only to be left with my glove to scrape off what mud I could when time would allow.
The completion yellow came out and I was able to clean my goggles pretty well in hopes that I could either duck my head or put up my hand to keep them clean for the second half of the race. Nope, less than a lap into it I could not see a thing once again. Not only that but I had also lost one more position. I was watching my mirror and listening to my spotter and no one was pressing me, figured top ten is not so bad, frustrating but okay under the circumstances. All of a sudden out of nowhere I was surprisingly slammed in the side by the 166 car of Jeff Virnig. He hit me so hard that the steering wheel flew out of my hands and I smacked my left elbow on the chassis. Man was I disappointed in him since I raced him so cleanly the day before and did not force a pass when I could have several times. He takes what I felt like, a cheap pass on me after I showed him the upmost respect the day before. I try hard to be a clean racer, but some people just do not return the same respect and they make it extremely difficult for me to continually maintain it for them.
I was pushing the 126 car of Craig Rabe hard but every time I was ready to make a move I would lose visibility either from the dust or the mist of mud. It just was not worth it trying to make a blind pass even though I was sure I could. With two laps to go I figured I would just hang where I was in 10th and finish the race, several times I thought of taking my goggles off, I did that once before many years ago and quickly learned my lesson. It seems like a good idea at the time but trust me, it isn’t.
For the dry hot weather we had that weekend my car seemed to be dirtier on Sunday than it was at Antigo when it rained all weekend. I am not sure if it was because I was continually racing in the middle of the pack or the guys watering the track just screwed it up for us. The track was great on Saturday and the changes that Crandon made to it in the off season are awesome. Many new lines to take and passing lanes that I have never seen before.
Lemke Off-Road Racing Team would like to thank all our sponsors and fans and look forward to seeing them in Bark River, MI July 10th – 11th.
- Todd Lemke
Name: Todd Lemke
Sport: 1600 Light Buggy
City, State you reside in: Sobieski, WI (20 miles North of Green Bay)
Single/Married: Married to Cori Lemke
Kids: Jadin and Laci
Age: 7 and 4
Age When First Started Competing: 30
Favorite Spot: Any place quiet and outside
Favorite Vacation Spot: Any place where I am away from the normal every day routine.
Inspiration: My family and a drive to suceed.
Career Honors, Awards and Highlights: 1st place finish my first year racing in an old 2 seater.
Took 3rd in the year end points in 2003. (I need to verify the year)
When I’m not competing I like to: Spend time with my family, hunt, fish and snowmobile.
Other interesting Info : My first off road race I rolled my car and broke my wrist but still finished the race. Served in the United States Air Force (1988-1991). I can't dance!
Quote: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail " - unkown
