GUTKNECHT PEGS 2010 AS FAREWELL TOUR

Topics:  Bobby Gutknecht

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
April 12, 2010

FORT ATKINSON, Wis. (April 12, 2010) – A mainstay of the Mid-American Stock Car Series will lay it all on the line in 2010. Bobby Gutknecht, a 16-year veteran of the series, has decided this will be his final season – and he wants to cap it off with a championship.

“That would be outstanding,” the Oak Creek, Wis., veteran said. “We really could leave on a high note.”

If the impending end is not enough motivation, Gutknecht pointed to a disappointing 2009 season to keep him charged for the upcoming campaign. A ninth place finish in points was his worst finish since his 1995 rookie season.

Declining in point standings from the past two seasons, Gutknecht can look back to 2007 as one of his strongest campaigns in recent history. Gutknecht won two races that season, one at Wisconsin International Raceway and the other at the Milwaukee Mile. He led the point standings through the midway point of the season, but struggled to a fourth place finish.

Some smaller goals for this season may aid Gutknecht to a championship run. With the bigger picture in mind, Gutknecht also tabbed two tracks he would like to conquer.

“I’ve won at almost every track except Rockford and the Dells,” Gutknecht noted.

With one of two chances to capture a win at Rockford scheduled for Sunday, Gutknecht said he is preparing very carefully. “We’re fast there, but we could never get the right brakes,” he said. “We like our chances; that’s why we’re really going through the car.”

Although the decision to walk away after 2010 was not an easy one, Gutknecht said he feels confident it is the right one. He cited the difficulty in finding sponsorships and in finding time to put the proper amount of work into his racer.

“There have been a lot of highlights,” Gutknecht said of his career. He said one of the main highlights was getting to know many of the drivers who have raced in with Mid-American through his career.

Only one current MASCS competitor was with the series when Gutknecht made his debut. Bill Prietzel also has fond memories of Bobby G.

“He’s just like all the other guys. He’ll help anyone within reason,” Prietzel said. “He’s helped me out throughout the years. We’ve traded back and forth too.”

That willingness to help was rewarded two seasons ago when Gutknecht was named the MASCS sportsman of the year. He shared the award with his good friend, and three-time winner, Lyle Nowak.

On the track, Prietzel remembers one specific incident between himself and Gutknecht. Prietzel was leading at I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., when his ignition began to fail. Gutknecht tried to make the pass and tangled with Prietzel when another driver charged in for the lead.

“I had the left front corner from Bill and the right rear from the other driver,” said Gutknecht.

Prietzel said no harm, no foul. “We knew what was going on. We laughed about it at the time.”

Holding enough memories to fill an encyclopedia, Gutknecht knows that it will be hard to walk away at the end of the year. However, he knows that with his nephew Ryan competing in the series as well, he will more than likely still be visible on race days in 2011.

“I’m not going to disappear,” he said.

The first event for Mid-American’s 18th season is scheduled for Sunday, April 18 at Rockford Speedway in Loves Park, Ill. Mid-American will join the BRP Big 8 late models for the 33rd Annual Spring Classic.

Rockford Speedway is located at 9572 Forest Hills Road seven miles north of downtown Rockford, just two miles west of Interstate 90 at the intersection of Forest Hills Road and Highway 173 in Loves Park, Ill. For more information visit www.rockfordspeedway.com

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

Bobby Gutknecht MASCS Feature Wins*

July 27, 1996 – La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway
Aug. 31, 1996 – Hawkeye Downs Speedway (Iowa)
Jun. 26, 1998 – South Bend (Ind.)
Jun. 16, 2001 – Wisconsin International Raceway
Jun. 30, 2001 – Illiana Motor Speedway
July 1, 2001 – Grundy County Speedway
July 21, 2007 – Wisconsin International Raceway
Aug. 25, 2007 – Milwaukee Mile

*Complete Records from 1999-2000, 2002-2005 unavailable