SCHULTZ TO JOIN MID-AMERICAN P.A. TEAM AT MADISON

Topics:  George Schultz

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
September 17, 2010

FORT ATKINSON, Wis. (September 17, 2010) – George Schultz is returning to the Mid-American Stock Car Series in a different fashion than the way he left it. Next Saturday at Madison International Speedway Schultz will trade the steering wheel for a microphone.

Schultz, who was runner-up to James Swan in 2006 Mid-American standings, will join announcer Matt Panure in a two-man gig over the P.A. for the remainder of the 2010 season.

Having experience on the track, Schultz feels he can bring an insight to fans in the stands. “I think I have a good feel for what the listeners would want to know,” Schultz said. “It stems from me watching some races where I would say something that was happening on tv before the announcers were announcing it and I thought maybe I have an eye for this.”

Two weeks ago Schultz got his first taste of announcing while working a webcast for the Traxxas TORC series. Schultz was originally scheduled to race in the Pro Lite division until he was sidelined with mechanical issues.

“I talked to the announcers and told them I’d love to come up and do some color commentary for the Pro Lite race,” Schultz explained. “It was bittersweet. It was cool to do, but at the same time it would have been a lot better to behind the wheel.”

Now that he has jumped back behind the wheel of an off-road racer, Schultz said he is ready to return to the asphalt tracks, as well. “It’s hard as a driver to know that I could be out there running close to the front, which makes it hard to go and watch.”

“But now that I have been back driving, it isn’t nearly as bad to go back and watch,” Schultz said. “I haven’t been to the track since 2006 but I have followed on the internet and I still talk to some of the guys in the series. I’m excited to come back and see it."

Following the series over the internet, Schultz recognized some of the same top names that have raced in the series since 2006, but noticed a new guy at the top. “If you’re from the state of Wisconsin, you know the name Back,” he said. “It’s cool to see how successful Brian has been since joining Mid-American.”

Another name at the top, the one name that surpassed him in 2006, also has strong ties to Schultz. Four-time MASCS champion James Swan drives the car that George Schultz raced in ’06.

“It’s funny because when I was racing in ’06 he was driving the car that I was driving in ’04. He’s been in two of my cars now,” Schultz said. “That car works at Madison and at La Crosse. It was stout. I would say there is a little extra pressure on him to make that car perform as well as I did, but make no mistake he knows what he’s doing.”

Schultz was highly successful at Madison International Speedway, his home track, during his Mid-American racing career. When the speedway hosted Mid-American cars on a weekly basis Schultz won multiple features. In his last appearance at the venue in 2006 Schultz finished third to Bill Prietzel and Lyle Nowak.

Heading into the booth, Schultz knows that the race can be just as entertaining from the booth as it is from the driver’s seat. “Madison will be a fun track to announce because there are a lot of things to watch,” he said. “The track itself is a blast to drive.”

The Capitol Classic is scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 25 at Madison International Speedway as part of the two-day Madison Fall Classic. Qualifying is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday with racing scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Madison International Speedway is located a half mile off of WI Hwy 138 on Sunrise Rd in Oregon, Wis. For more information visit www.madisoninternationalspeedway.com

For more information about the Mid-American Stock Car Series, including the full 2010 schedule, results, standings and driver information visit www.midamericanracing.com.