By Jeff Pederson
Pedal Down Promotions
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) July 17, 2020 – Although he may be just 16 years of age, second-year Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car driver Jack Vanderboom of Dousman has already cobbled together a high-caliber racing resume reflective of a driver well beyond his years.
After finishing second in the chase for Midwest Sprint Car Association and Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car rookie of the year honors in 2019 in a crowded field of 13 rookies, Vanderboom currently stands 24th in the PDTR 360 Sprint Car point standings after two nights of competition and 17th in the MSA standings after four nights of action, including a season-best seventh-place A-main finish in the most recent MSA event at Gravity Park Speedway in Chilton on Saturday, July 4.
“We had some struggles at the beginning of the season,” Vanderboom said. “We were able to figure them out, so the last few weeks have been better. I would like to consistently run the top 10 each week.”
Vanderboom was introduced to the sport of racing at an early age by his father, Rick.
“My dad got me interested in racing,” Vanderboom said. “Going to the races was something we did together when I was younger.”
It didn’t take long for Vanderboom to make the big leap from watching races to competing in them.
“I started racing when I was 5 years old,” Vanderboom said. “I raced Kid Karts and YBX 100 on pavement at Badger Kart Club in Dousman for three years. After that, we made the switch to dirt.
“Knowing a Sprint Car was the goal, we went to winged cars,” he said. “I was successful in both the Junior Sprint and Micro Sprint divisions. I won a number of features, but I kind of lost track of how many. We had a lot of fun racing both the Junior Sprint and Micro Sprint. I raced a Junior Sprint at Beaver Dam for three years and then switched to the Micro Sprint. I ran that for three more years. Last year I was old enough to jump into the 360 Sprint Car.”
During his highly successful tenure in the Junior Sprint and Micro Sprint ranks, Vanderboom collected championships in both divisions, claiming a Junior Sprint title at the Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis. in 2014 and the Badger 600 Micro Sprint Series touring championship in 2018.
“It is hard to pick one particular career highlight,” Vanderboom said. “My championships in both the Junior Sprint and Micro Sprint would be one. Last year I had a couple of heat wins and a second-place A-main finish in the 360 Sprint Car.
“Being a young racer, I consider finishing in the top 5 or top 10 as a good night,” he said.
As a young driver attempting to earn the respect of veteran drivers and the support of racing fans, Vanderboom has enjoyed all aspects of being a part of the tight-knit area racing scene over the past 11 years.
“I just enjoy being at the track and being a part of the racing community,” Vanderboom said. “It is great to have the opportunity to race with great competition each week.”
Vanderboom’s crew includes his dad, Rick Vanderboom, Rick Keller, Sharon Keller, Jim Doughty, Mike Lienberger and Keith Renk. In addition, Vanderboom’s main sponsor is Bluemound Express Moving and Storage of Waukesha.
“I need to mention Walt Keller, who was part of my crew,” Vanderboom said. “He is Rick Keller’s dad. He worked with us for six years when we were in the Junior Sprint and Micro Sprint. He never missed a race. He would work on the car during the week with us. He definitely had a passion for racing.
“Sadly, he passed away before we got into the 360 Sprint Cars,” he said. “That is how our team got started. Walt and Rick would come out to the races and then Sharon started helping out. Rick and Sharon are still at the track with us every week.”
Vanderboom also credits Scotty Neitzel and Rick Lemanski of R&H Enterprises in Beaver Dam with lending a hand to the team’s efforts to grow into a consistent performer in the 360 Sprint Car ranks.
“Scotty and Rick from R&H Enterprises have really been helpful last season and this season,” Vanderboom said. “With us being new the 360 Sprint Cars, we really appreciate it.”
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This Saturday, July 18 will mark the first of four scheduled appearances from the regional touring Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association Sprint Car Series at The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wis. during the 2020 season.
Nine-time IRA champion Bill Balog of Hartland currently stands on top of the 2020 IRA point standings on the strength of victories in the first two series races of the season at Wilmot Raceway on Saturday, June 13 and 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wis. on Sunday, July 5.
Among the other top IRA competitors expected to compete are former series champions Jeremy Schultz of Beaver Dam, Scotty Neitzel of Beaver Dam and Jake Blackhurst of Hanna City, Ill., along with Scotty Thiel of Sheboygan, Russel Borland of Kewaskum and Blake Nimee of Oswego, Ill.
Also on the card will be the PDTR 360 Sprint Cars and IRA Lightning Sprints. Hot laps are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with IRA qualifying and racing to follow.
Jensen Sales & Service is the trophy sponsor for the all-Sprint Car program.
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The Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds is located at 229 Fairview Drive in Plymouth, Wis. For more information, visit www.plymouthdtr.com or check out Plymouth Dirt Track Racing on Facebook.
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