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More
Than Imaginable Opportunities to be a Part of SCSCS Family
Mount
Joy, Pennsylvania (February 8, 2016) – Participants in the Super Cup Stock Car Series originate from
various types of racing backgrounds, work a variety of jobs during
the week, and are within all sorts of stages of their career and
life. All contrasts
aside, they are each a member of more than a touring series.
They are considered part of a family.
Despite
auto racing knowingly being a rather expensive hobby compared to
other sports and pastimes, joining at a short track grassroots level
with the SCSCS can have less of a cost and be easier to achieve than
expected.
While
there are many stories to be shared, three active competitors in the
series coming from a vast range of perspectives provided their
knowledge and first-hand experience.
Getting
Started and Involved
Brent
Nelson has been competing
in the Super Cup Stock Car Series since 2010, but it was not his
first time piloting a steel full-bodied stock car.
After racing weekly for a few years at the former Old
Dominion Speedway in Northern Virginia in the late 1990s, the
current Petersburg, West Virginia resident tried his hand in the
former Pro Cup Series on a limited basis.
However, as expenses continued to rise, Nelson was no longer
having as much fun and made the decision to walk away.
“The
way I got back into it, actually, I was on the internet surfing and
saw there was a race near me,” Nelson recalled.
“I had not been to a race since I sold everything in 2003.
That’s when I went and met (SCSCS Director of Competition)
Joe (Schmaling) and two weeks later I went down and bought a
chassis.”
Nelson
initially purchased a NASCAR K&N Pro Series rolling chassis,
surprisingly off of eBay, for a very low price.
While searching for a motor he spoke with a man, who was
looking to put his son in a K&N car and owned five Pro Cup cars
that were more complete. They
ultimately worked out a deal to trade, in which Nelson acquired
additional equipment including two motors after the swap.
“Literally,
I got back into racing for under $1,000, which is almost unheard
of,” Nelson stated. “But
there are deals like that out there.
My advice is find a car and find out what it needs to make it
work. It was something
to get to be back behind the wheel doing what I like to do.”
Nelson
is not the only driver with prior stock car experience that has
competed regularly in the series.
Kevin Kromer, NASCAR veteran Mike Potter, and 2013 and 2014
champions Todd Peck and JJ Pack are among the talented list.
Jeff
Zillweger was contending
for wins while running the weekly Pennsylvania tracks of Motordrome
Speedway and Jennerstown Speedway.
After seeing what SCSCS had to offer when they came to town,
the 
Pittsburgh
driver elected to give it a shot.
Frequent series campaigner and veteran racer Brent Cross had
one of his machines available.
“I
started in a two race rental program with Brent to make sure I liked
the car before I invest my own money,” Zillweger said.
Additionally,
Zillweger had talked with a SCSCS competitor and continues to
receive expertise from another driver who previously had experience
in this style of machine.
“Lou
(Ansel) used to work close with me in the Street Stock and was a big
influence to make the jump up,” Zillweger, who also mentioned that
a SCSCS car was similar to running his prior Street Stock, said.
“Sam Fullone helps me out with setup and is a great person
to talk to that makes you feel comfortable that you are getting good
advice.”
Ansel
and Bill Ashton are some other competitors who translated experience
around weekly competition in the past to the series.
In addition, many have used existing parts such as engines
that were utilized in the weekly Street Stock and Late Model ranks
thanks to the flexibility of the series rulebook.
Chris
Wenzel entered the series
with little to no laps behind the wheel of a stock car or at a short
track. His 
father
Herman purchased a few cars with the intention to go racing himself
before turning the driving duties over to Chris.
“I
kind of fell into it,” Wenzel, who originally was supposed to
serve as crew chief, explained.
“The three cars we had were average and needed some work.
We saw a car that Wally (Schweizer) ran so well with at the
first race it ran and noticed how complete the car was.
We ended up getting rid of those cars, and ended up getting
that one.”
Additional
drivers that have made their first foray into stock car racing with
SCSCS, many of which from the karting levels, include Kyle Kromer,
2016 rookie Jason Schue, and multi-time past champion Jody Harrison.
Making
the Next Step
Victories
and consistent success rarely occurs immediately; however, the skill
is potentially achievable over time for anyone within the SCSCS pit
area.
For
Brent Nelson, it all came together when he parked his No. 80 on the
front straightaway of Motordrome Speedway during the final race of
the season in 2013 for his first career win in a stock car.
Preparation and a strong and committed work ethic are what he
feels have played the biggest part in recent success.
“90
percent of our races are won at the shop,” Nelson explained.
“Going over every nut and bolt week in and week out,
pulling brakes, checking those bearings; lots of prep-work during
the week where I’m basically a one-man show.”
Jeff
Zillweger had an up and down first few races, but sticking with it
and keeping the car in one piece so he could continue learning have
been his goals.
“I
wanted to finish every race and not wreck the car, and we did
that,” Zillweger said. “The
turning point was in 2014 when we were running for fifth and sixth
instead of 12th or 13th.”
Those
accomplishments netted the team the Most Improved award when 2014
concluded, and gave his group the confidence to continue that trend.
Chris
Wenzel enlisted the help of a former SCSCS racer to guide him along
through the rookie season.
A
supporter of the operations in the series, Neil Gacom, began helping
at an event in Ohio that Wenzel ironically was unable to travel due
to his full time job.
“It
started when Megan Reitenour drove our car at Columbus,” Wenzel
noted. “He was
interested in how the car was set up at the track.
When Neil came on board and pointed things out we kind of
clicked. He was all for
teaching a new driver and I was willing to listen to what he was
saying.”
The
improvement has been noticeable since his first start, which
consisted mostly of simply getting track time and staying out of the
way. Another Ohio race
was where Wenzel claimed to gain the most knowledge.
“Midvale
is really where I learned to drive that car and learned a lot about
managing the brakes,” Wenzel said.
“It was the turning point on how we ran.”
The
Competitive but Friendly Atmosphere
Brent
Nelson takes his work toward success in a racecar seriously, but has
also found the appropriate balance the second time around partially
thanks to the nature of the Super Cup Stock Car Series.
“My
escape from the pressure of the job is to go into the shop and make
sure my car is prepared when I get to the track,” Nelson
commented. “But the
race dates are spread out and I have regimented so well working on
the car for an hour and a half a night and also being able to
schedule family nights.”
Additional
significance shows in every part in the travels to and from each
event and on race day, including having his brother serve as a crew
member and spotter.
“We
have made it a point to make Super Cup into a family operation,”
Nelson stated. “It’s
a family deal and we’re all going together.
One of the most important tools when we get to the track is
the fold out chairs for each member of the family.”
The
impression on others has also added to the competition including his
fellow hometown drivers, Codie Rohrbaugh and his grandfather Larry
Berg, who have both enjoyed recent SCSCS success.
“Codie’s
senior year of high school we were running Motordrome and I invited
them up, and the rest is history,” Nelson documented.
“The following week Larry said ‘find me a car’ and we
knew the caliber of car they wanted.
They get the car and the first race the next season the kid
finished fourth in it. That’s
our relationship. We are
going to run each other lap in and lap out, and I feel I have played
a big part in it and they are grateful.”
Nelson
is only one of many examples of drivers that have coached fellow
racers, friends, and family members to join the competition.
Kevin Kromer introduced stock car racing to his son Kyle, as
did Harvey Harrison to his kids Brian, Brandon, and Summer.
Jeff
Zillweger agreed that the conservative schedule throughout the year
helps when it comes to the various commitments every day in life.
“I’m
a landscaper and work a lot, my wife is a teacher, and with the kids
playing sports it’s a good balance,” Zillweger said.
He
added the enjoyment of having his family being part of his racing
endeavors. His father
and friends work on the team as well.
“The
kids are at an age that they can come along and feel like they are a
part of Super Cup.”
Race
day is often a regular family outing for more than the fans that
attend the facility grandstands.
2015 champion Dan Bainey’s wife, kids, brother and his
wife, parents, grandparents, and many more are often in attendance
to support his season-long effort and is only one of the prime
examples.
Chris
Wenzel appreciates the flexibility that the series has, especially
when traveling from Northern New Jersey for every race and an
occupation with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at
such sites as the Lincoln Tunnel.
“My
dad and I are blessed with an awesome job,” Wenzel said.
“We usually work different shifts and end up going through
the car and do one final prep when we are both off.
The series is based on Fridays and Saturdays so we can ask
off in advance of scheduled race dates.”
Wenzel,
among many others, is also thankful for the availability and
willingness of everyone to pitch together in times of need.
“It’s
great that you can call someone during the week with a question, or
guys like Kevin Kromer, Bill Ashton, and Lou Ansel coming over to
help get back on track when something happens,” Wenzel mentioned.
“Off the track we’re all sitting there talking, laughing,
joking, and get along. It’s
cool to be able to have that camaraderie.
You don’t see that anywhere else.”
Anyone
looking to join what has evolved into one big Super Cup Stock Car
Series racing family can head over to www.supercupstockcarseries.com
for rules and more materials. Additional
questions regarding how to get started can be directed to Director
of Competition Joe Schmaling at scscs@att.com.
Organizations
looking for information about taking part on a sponsorship or
marketing level, including events scheduled to air on MAVTV and LucasOilRacing.tv,
can contact Marketing Director Bruce Baker at brucescscs@gmail.com.
Additional
updates and information are available on the official Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/SCSCSRacing)
and on Twitter @SCSCSRacing.
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