| Laura began her racing career when Mark decided to switch to the Street Stock class and thought his old Hobby car would be a good place for her to begin. Racing only in 2 powder puffs previously....this would definately be a new challenge.....but well worth it!! Starting in 1998...only racing for a few nights.......taking time off for a pregnacy....her real racing adventure began in 1999.
Learning was the key and track time....or seat time was imparative!! Not fairing half bad......she went on to win her 1st feature win her 1st year...with also capturing the Rookie of the year title as well. She finished 5th in points...and was well on her way to another great season. oh yah......did I mention she was the 1st woman to win a feature...clean sweep, even.....at Fiesta City Speedway, in Montevideo......whoo hoo!!
Good luck and determination followed her to her next year in racing as well. Winning 4 Feature wins and 6 Heat races gave her a solid 4th place in season points that year. Laura continued to race the Ford LTD with a 351 Windsor as well. Some of her accomplishments are:
Rookie of the Year, perfect attendance, Sportsmen of the Year (sports woman...would of been more appropriate I think)
Racer of the week.....each season she competed.
Laura had a tough season last year...due to an incident with another car. A broken axle from the car ahead of her....lauched her in the air...causing her car to roll end over end and barrel roll several times. She was ok...but her car had looked better. With much work and determination from her husband and crew members...the car was, well.....race ready the next week. It had not been to the frame shop tho......lets just say it was a hand full. Overcoming her fear....(her husband made her drive it!!) she raced the following week...winning both her Heat race and her Feature for another clean sweep!! Till this day...she cant believe how she got the car to turn.......pure adrenaline and being scared shittless, she claims. :-) Thus earning her another Racer of the Week award for her determination and dedication to racing.....a great accomplishment to her.
Thus ended her season in the Pure Stock division. due to their growing family and the expenses of racing ...Laura had planned on not continuing her racing career. By her great fortune and oppertunity...her sister and father offered her a ride in her fathers B-Modified car her sister had been driving the previous 3 years. Who would pass this up.......and thus is the beginning of her 2001 racing adventure in the Wissota B- Modified division.
Coming from a family of Fords....things were about to change. She is now driving a Cobra Chassi, with a 355 Chevy. This class is a whole new deal...and i will try to keep you informed on her new adventure...but she says...she is out-expereinced and is still adjusting to the whole new handling of this higher powered car and its handling. So far she is having alot of fun...but is racing now with guys with alot of experience...33 years for one...and also against her husband. Whom, which she has to go home with each night after racing........so lets all be nice and yup...we are keeping it in the family!! Waiting for her 1st win in this class as well.....won't that be a sweet one...she says!!
Laura's sponsors are:
VanBinsbergen & Assocaites, LLC - Montevideo
Oftedahl Bros. Seeds/ Dekalb - Perry and David Oftedahl/ HanleyFalls
Lastine Chiropractic - Marshall
Syring Trucking - Granite Falls
Freitag Agency - Granite Falls..........a special thanks goes out to them for helping make her racing season a great one in 2001! |
