9/21/2022
Austin Hartmann
Austin Hartmann secures career-best A-main showing in IRA Scott Semmelmann Memorial
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) September 21, 2022 – Throughout his rookie season on the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association trail, Austin Hartmann has piled up a number of “firsts” behind the wheel of the 87A Hartmann Racing 410 Winged Sprint Car, and the Scott Semmelmann Memorial Night at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis. marked another of these special accomplishments as the Plymouth, Wis. racer notched his first top-10 IRA A-main finish with a career-best sixth place showing in the 30-lap headliner on Saturday, Sept. 17.
With 27 IRA Sprint Cars on hand for the annual Scott Semmelmann Memorial event, Hartmann opened the night by turning in the 10th fastest lap in IRA qualifying with a tour of 11.913 seconds around the lightning-fast high-banked third-mile clay oval.
After starting on the pole of the first eight-lap IRA heat race, Hartmann came home fifth to gain his sixth IRA dash appearance of the 2022 campaign. The third-year Plymouth, Wis. driver started on the pole of the second four-lap IRA dash before finishing fourth to nail down the eighth starting spot in the 30-lap main event.
On the opening lap of the A-main, Hartmann slipped to ninth before the first of two red flags was displayed to the 25-car field after Jordan Paulsen flipped his machine along the thick cushion in turn two.
When the race resumed, Hartmann took advantage of lapped traffic to power past two-time IRA champion Scotty Neitzel with a nifty low move on lap 15 to move into eighth. Hartmann settled into the eighth spot on the fast and narrow racing surface until the second red flag appeared when race leader Justin Henderson flipped along the backstretch, following contact with a slower car.
After restarting seventh, Hartmann ducked underneath Dave Uttech to take over sixth in the running order in turn two. Hartman then held on over the final 11 laps to earn a career-best sixth-place main-event finish and his first-career top-10 IRA A-main showing in a race won by Danny Schlafer.
“The car was great in qualifying,” Hartmann said. “We made a couple changes over the week trying new things and it felt great. The heat race was interesting. We lost brakes on the first lap and the rear brake hung up, but we still salvaged a fifth-place finish. The dash was good with more laps turned with the best in the area, which will only help me.
“The A main was a patience game,” Hartmann said. “I stayed calm and waited for the opportunities to pass. All in all, it was great to finally put together a solid night. This team has worked so hard to get this car to the front. I’m glad I could put it together for them.”
With two races remaining in the 2022 Bumper to Bumper IRA season, Hartmann continues to hold down 10th in the point standings.
The 87A Hartmann Racing team’s rookie 2022 IRA campaign will wrap up with a doubleheader weekend of action at the Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway in Beaver Dam, Wis. on Friday, Sept. 23 and at The Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wis. for the IRA season-ending Wisconsin Sprint Car Championships on Saturday, Sept. 24.
“The good run at Beaver Dam Raceway has me super excited coming into the final weekend,” Hartmann said.
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.
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, PalletWorks 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, Racer’s Hall Sports Bar and Grill, Feldmann Sales & Service, 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, Eric Bergschultz, Karlee Hartmann, Andrew Shufflebotham, Jarrett Neese, Caitlin Shaw and Kristine Hartmann.
87A Hartmann Racing Sponsor Showcase – Kristine Hartmann of Pleasant View Realty
KRISTINE HARTMANN, REALTOR of Pleasant View Realty, better known as “Every Race Fans Realtor,” has 24-plus years of experience selling real estate throughout Wisconsin.
Kristine’s passion for the sport of racing connects with her competitive drive and ambition as a Realtor in the community.
Contact Kristine Hartmann with all your real estate needs and ask her for the special Racing Rates!
You can find her on Facebook @ KRISTINE HARTMANN, REALTOR. Also, she can be found at the 87A trailer at any IRA race and would be happy to chat racing and real estate!
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/PVRKRISTINE, call/text 920-980-5542 or email kristine@pleasantviewrealty.com.
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Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
2022 Season
By The Numbers
Total Events – 24
IRA Events – 22
World of Outlaws Events – 2
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 0
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 1
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 7
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 15
Heat Race Victories – 1
Dash Appearances – 6
Dash Victories – 0
Fast Qualifier Awards – 1
Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
Upcoming 2022 Schedule
Friday, September 23 – Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway, Beaver, Dam Wis. (IRA)
Saturday, September 24 – Plymouth Dirt Track, Plymouth, Wis. (IRA)
Article Credit: Jeff Pederson-Pedal Down Promotions
Submitted By: Jeff Pederson