(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) April 26, 2022 – Third-year Sprint Car competitor Austin Hartmann successfully launched his first season behind the wheel of a 410 Winged Sprint Car in the 2022 Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association (IRA) season opener at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis. on Saturday, April 23.
Utilizing a calm, cool and collected approach in negotiating a lightning fast and tricky track surface, Hartmann brought his Bennett Transport Inc.-sponsored 87A Hartmann Racing machine home to an 18th-place finish in the first 30-lap A main of his rookie season with the regional touring Bumper to Bumper IRA 410 Sprint Car Series.
Hartmann, who earned the 2020 Midwest Sprint Car Association and Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Awards, opened the night by turning in the 22nd fastest qualifying effort among the 25 drivers signed in for the 2022 IRA season-opening event with a lap of 13.282 seconds.
“We started out the night good in hot laps, as those were my first laps under power with a 410 motor,” Hartmann said. “I learned the speed difference and how it's going to react. In qualifying, I didn't intend to, but I burnt my first lap by mess ups. The car handled like I thought it was going to, it just was tricky getting it how I wanted it.”
After lining up eighth in the first eight-lap IRA heat race, Hartmann pulled into the infield on lap 3 with a power steering issue. After retiring from the event, Hartmann was scored with a ninth-place finish.
“In the heat race, I pulled off due to a power steering line that blew off covering the cockpit and myself with fluid,” Hartmann said. “My team went to work and got it fixed up, cleaned up and ready for the A main.”
Later in the evening, Hartmann returned to the ultra-quick, high-banked, undulating third-mile clay oval to roll off 25th in the 30-lap IRA headliner.
Hartmann stayed smooth and consistent, while steering clear of trouble, as attrition helped the Plymouth, Wisconsin driver move up seven spots throughout the course of the race on the way to an 18th-place showing in a race won by Scotty Thiel.
“The team and myself really had one goal in mind for the feature and that was to keep it in one piece and finish all the laps, which we did,” Hartmann said. “All in all, I'm very happy with how the night went and getting everyone back on course with what they had to do within the team aspect, as well as getting laps and learning the car.”
With the Bumper to Bumper IRA 410 Sprint Car Series idle, the 87A Hartmann Racing team is planning to compete in a non-IRA points 410 Sprint Car event at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wisconsin this Saturday, April 30.
“The 87A Hartmann Racing team is looking forward to running a non-points event at Wilmot this coming weekend,” Hartmann said. “We can't wait to build off what we previously learned at Beaver Dam. I can't thank my team and sponsors enough for this amazing opportunity I have been blessed with.”
The 87A Hartmann Racing team has assembled a strong group of partners in support of the team's maiden voyage with the Bumper to Bumper IRA Series, including Kristine Hartmann of Pleasant View Realty, Shufflebotham Tree Service, Call Girls Motorsports, Pallet Works LLC, AF Inc., Bennett Transport Inc., SCA Inc., Gretchen Tillman New American Funding, Classic Title Services, CP Services, Cobblestone Landscaping, Jensen Sales & Services, Lee’s Color Studio, Dave’s Fabrication, RC Custom Design, Hepfner Racing Products, Pit Road Apparel, the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series and Sage Fruit.
The 87A Hartmann Racing team consists of Hunter Annis, Karlee Hartmann, Andrew Shufflebotham, Caitlin Shaw, Jarrett Neese and Kristine Hartmann.
Those unable to make it to track can follow all of the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series action throughout the 2022 campaign via FloRacing by visiting https://www.floracing.com.
Additional information on the 87A Hartmann Racing team can be found by visiting the team’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/87Ahartmannracing.
87A Hartmann Racing Sponsor Showcase – Bennett Transport Inc.
Based in Manitowoc, Wis., Bennett Transport Inc. provides truck load and LTL service throughout Eastern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and the Chicagoland area.
For more information on Bennett Transport Inc., call 920-860-0962, email beau@benntransinc.com or check out @Bennett Transport Inc on Facebook.
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Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
2022 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 1
IRA Events – 1
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 0
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 0
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 0
Top 20 A Main Finishes - 1
Heat Race Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 0
Dash Victories – 0
Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
Upcoming 2022 Schedule
Saturday, April 30 – Wilmot Raceway, Wilmot, Wis.
Saturday, May 7 – Sycamore Speedway, Maple Park, Ill.
Saturday, May 14 – Dirt Oval at Route 66, Joliet, Ill.
Friday, May 20 – Wilmot Raceway, Wilmot, Wis.
Saturday, May 21 – The Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis.
Sunday, May 22 – Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, Wis.
- Jeff Pederson on Apr 27, 2022
- Article Date: 4/27/2022 by Jeff Pederson-Pedal Down Promotions