Mike Balcaen celebrates 30 years of racing

He’s a fan favorite most everywhere he goes. It could stem from his ability to win races, or it could be because of his friendly Canadian demeanor, but whatever the reason he’s been doing it for longer than I’ve been alive.  Mike Balcaen, driver of the #10 NLRA/WISSOTA Late Model, is racing head on into his 30^th year of racing. In those 30 years, the Winnipeg native has won 37 Championship, 4 NLRA titles, and over 200 wins, making Balcaen one of the most decorated Late Model racers in the upper Midwest.

When it comes down to race day, Mike says he approaches it more like a work day. “Preparation is a big part of it. We spend tons of hours getting prepared for 15 minutes of racing. When you’re organized and your stuff is maintained it makes for a more enjoyable time than if you’re scattering around and you’re not prepared.” Wise words spoken by a true veteran.  Mike isn’t afraid to give out advice to younger racers eithes. Last week in Ada, he was found giving advice to some younger, rookie drivers in between races. He’s a role model to many young drivers, including his 21 year old daughter Amber, who’s been racing Lightning  Sprints for a handful of years and recently made her debut in the much more powerful 360 NOSA Sprint. “This sport is something than you gotta want to do. You can’t be forced into it because it takes so much time, energy, money, effort, and focus. If she wants to do that then we’re gonna support her on it, and we’re excited to see what happens next. It’s always fun to do stuff as a family!”

Even after 30 years of slinging sideways on dirt, 47 year old Mike Balcaen has no intention of quitting anytime soon. He’s still a top driver every night and for the sake of comparing; Tom Corcoran, driver of the #T1 NLRA Late Model, has been racing for 44 years and is still competitive as well. Mike admits that part of the reason he’s still racing is because it’s the only thing he knows, “I really haven’t found anything else better do. It’s extremely time consuming and expensive but it’s something we still enjoy doing. The competition is a fun thing to be a part of. I don’t know when we’ll quit. We won’t say when we do. We’re just going to fade off, but in the meantime we’re trying to enjoy ourselves, put on some good shows, and win some races.” Mike Balcaen can be found weekly at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, and will be a part of the NLRA Late Model series which makes two more appearances this year at Norman County Raceway in Ada.

 

 

Mark Askelson hosts “Racing on the Radio” Thursday nights starting 6:45pm from Norman County Raceway as well as the “Racing on the Radio Review” Saturday mornings at 8:45am. Both can be heard on 106.5 KRJB and krjbradio.com.

 

No "Stranger" to Racing

44 year old Tonja Stranger (pronounced Tonya) made a name for herself racing in a different era. Race fuel was $2.50 a gallon. The first George Bush was in the White House. Her hometown Bemidji State Beavers were still a Division III hockey program. I was 1 year old. It was 1989 when Tanya entered her first race.  She went on to win several heat races and even 2 track championships in the Pro Stock class in 1993 and 1994 at Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon. Following that season, Tonja hung it all up for a different life. She left behind a big presence at the track, both literally and figuratively. She bought a home, bought a new pick up, and “grew up” as she put it. However, despite the track championships, she never won a feature race. But her racing career was not forgotten, nor was it over.

Fast forward about 17 years later. Race fuel is now about $9 a gallon. The 2^nd George Bush was long gone. The Beavers hockey team had just shocked the nation by making the Division I Final Four the year prior. I could now legally be in a bar. The year was 2010 and a familiar name with a different look had returned to racing. Now 175 pounds lighter and still a larger than life personality, Tonja Stranger had returned to racing in a WISSOTA Mod 4. She credits close friend and fellow competitor Conrad Schwinn for getting her back into racing. She’s still in search of her first feature win, but as she stated in recent interview, “As long as I’m improving I’m happy.” She’s finished 4^th, 3^rd, and 2^nd in recent feature races.

Her hometown track is Bemidji Speedway, a ¼ mile clay track her and her family also run. Although she likes to get out and run different tracks when she can. “It’s hard to enjoy racing as much as I’d like to, because being promoter of the track is hard enough. Bemidji is fun, but its nice going to other tracks where the other drivers aren’t always asking you where the pay window is,” chuckled Stranger.  And if you’re wondering how she feels being a female in a primarily male sport, Stranger says she proved herself against the guys in her first few years of racing. “I haven’t set the world on fire. I haven’t won a feature yet, but that’s my goal this year.”  Look for Stranger to make an occasional appearance at Norman County Raceway in the #97 Mod-4.

 

Photo: Tonja Stranger (right) races in a Pro Stock back in the 90s at Buffalo River Race Park. Photo credit to: Corey Litton (Checkers and Wreckers)

 

 

 

Mark Askelson hosts “Racing on the Radio” Thursday nights starting 6:45pm from Norman County Raceway as well as the “Racing on the Radio Review” Saturday mornings at 8:45am. Both can be heard on 106.5 KRJB and krjbradio.com.

Andy Wagner "Racing for a Cure"

For the handful of years that Andy Wagner has been behind the wheel of a race car, he’s been sporting primarily orange and black paint schemes. Even his sunglasses and shoe laces are orange. This year, however, Andy, or “Spud” as he’s been called since a child, is sporting a new color. Not red, not green, not even blue, but pink. Yes, you read that correctly…pink. Not a common color for someone who played football, drives race cars, and bowls an average of 200. Yet I guarantee more people will commend him than tease him for his stereotypically feminine choice of color. That’s because on the front of Wagner’s #3x WISSOTA Midwest Modified is a pink ribbon and the words “Race for a Cure.”

For the 2013 race season, Andy has decided to give something back and promote Breast Cancer Awareness. Along with raising awareness, he’s raising funds to go towards Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. A portion of t-shirt and sweatshirt sales will go directly towards that. Wagner also noted that he may throw “a few dollars here and there” from his winnings depending on how he does each night. As of opening night of racing this year, he had sold about 100 t-shirts and great deal of sweatshirts too. When asked why he felt the need to give back Spud stated, “Everyone has been supportive of me so I thought maybe I could support them and do it for a good cause.” 

So even though Andy Wagner can’t personally cure cancer himself by turning laps in a Midwest Modified, he can raise awareness and can raise a few dollars to support the cause. So I will not tease him about his color choice, but rather applaud him for doing so. But if he starts wearing pink shoe laces and sunglasses than its fair game.

Win a FREE trip to Texas Motor Speedway from KRJB!

106.5 KRJB has teamed up with Bursch Travel, Performance Auto, and Norman County Raceway to give you a chance to win a trip for 2 to the November 3rd NASCAR Race at Texas Motor Speedway!

The Trip includes roundtrip airfare for (2) out of Fargo, (3) nights hotel, (2) tickets to "AAA 500" Sprint Cup Race at Texas Motor Speedway November 3rd, and $200 spending cash!

To win you must register at the following locations: TR's Patty Shack in Ada, The Depot in Winger, Subway - Ada, or the Norman County Raceway.

The winners will be drawn during the race at the Norman County Raceway on August 22nd, which is also the WISSOTA Late Model Challenge series night. You need not be present to win. HOWEVER, if you are present at Norman County Raceway when your name is drawn you will also receive (2) season passes to the 2014 NCR schedule!

Mid Season Analysis

Well we're about halfway through racing season at Norman County Raceway, even though it feels like we just got started. If you remember earlier in the year I posted my preseason predictions. Well as I look back there's a couple spots where I was pretty much dead on and other spots where I wonder what in the Sam heck I was thinking. Nonetheless I shall reflect and make right my previous predictions.

Wissota Modifieds
Well I predicted T-Sauer (that's what his homeboys call him) would win the championship, but he really hasn't been here that much and at this point I don't see it happening. He's still in the points hunt, but I think it will come down to Skytland, Borgen, and Arnenson. I didn't expect Skytland to run at NCR every week so I got caught off guard. Borgen is proving that he's a true contender in this class, and does so without the fancy hauler and 6 spare cars. Arnenson is just fast. He just needs a little luck and to get a starting spot.

Wissota Midwest Modifieds
I previously predicted Rob VanMill or Tyler Hall to be the top dawgs. And up until recently both those guys have had pretty unfortunate years. However, they've got their car figured out now, but keep in mind its a short season. Tyler Peterson has been mad fast. Rich Pavilcek has been too. Actually those two hooligans have been battling all year long. As the summer nights get hotter, I think that rivalry will too, and not like in a "Tom Cruise on a Crotch Rocket" kinda way. (Pardon the Top Gun reference)

Wissota Mod 4's
I'll be honest. I kinda #$%* the bed on this one too, but not that bad. I expected Derek Vesedahl to be dominant this year. But he's been anything but that at NCR this year. Now I mean no disrespect to the #22. Things just haven't went his way this year. Lucky for Derek, nobody has had a dominant season in those angry little bumblebees disguised as racecars. I'm pulling for VanMill, the old one to be more specific.

Wissota Street Stocks
My exact words when I made my streeter predictions were "I have no idea." So in that case I win. For most of the season its been Ryan Pommerererererer and Adam Burrows going back and forth.  I was really hoping for better car numbers this year so that's been one of my biggest disappointments in this class.  Racing has been pretty good though, ya know if you're in to that sort of thing.

Pure Stocks
The Crane Train has left the station and left the competition behind, just like I thought it would. BAM!

Other predictions/thoughts
-Well I also was right about mother nature being a pain in the behind. I feel really sorry for tracks like River Cities Speedway who have gotten a whopping 3 races (actually 2 1/2?) in so far this year. NCR and BRRP have been pretty lucky.
-Car counts and Crowd attendance have been pretty good throughout the region. Whoever said "local racing is dying" can suck it.
-There's a lot of big races coming up. Pretty much every week is a special of some sort. The racing is only going to get better and better.

Also big thanks to all those who have been tuning in to "Racing on the Radio" Thursday nights. We have a lot of great sponsors and a lot of great listeners. Thanks to all of you!!

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Rich Pavilcek and Tyler Peterson battle it out on the last lap at the "Bull Ring" in Grand Forks.

Racing on the Radio 7-5-13 with guest Corey Litton

Well I typically don't podcast my shows because I don't have the time, I figured this week I would because Corey Litton was my featured guest. If you don't know Corey, he's the Justin Timberlake of Victory Lane interviewers. He's even got his own show on KFGO, but don't listen to it because mine is better. Technically he is the enemy and should be destroyed. BUT since the racing community is a very close group I'll allow him to live, and hell, I'll even let him be own my show. So here ya go!

https://soundcloud.com/oncloud8/racing-on-the-radio-with-gues