JAN'S STORY - DOIN' IT THE PRIETZEL WAY

Topics:  Jan Prietzel

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
April 27, 2012

Bill and I met when we were just about 16. He took me to Hales Corners Speedway the following summer. Although it took a few trips to the track to get the bug, I finally did get it. I stayed in the stands due to the fact that women were not allowed in the pits and we always brought our kids. In 1976 Bill built a new sportsman and I raced his old one. I finished about 57th that year. That was when we had a field of over 100 cars.

Later when Bill ran the Mid-Am car and Supertruck, I did get to race the truck at Council Bluffs and Road America, both road courses. I have done other racing throughout the years but that elusive checkered flag has never found it's way to me. The closest I got was second in a 200 lap enduro at Hales Corners Speedway, finishing second to Bill Strom, who had 25 years experience in modifieds and late models. I did get my first trophy in an enduro at Madison finishing 5th in that race.

Bill and I started with Mid-Am in 1993 with Gary Vercauteren and his brother Pete. Bill liked the idea of traveling to all the new and different tracks from road racing and the tiny quarter mile all the way to the Milwaukee Mile. We had a new track or two every year. That's what drove us to race in the Mid-Am Series.

My race day duties have changed over the years and today I do whatever needs to be done. Anything from tire changing to making lunch and everything in between. I think my favorite job is being on the radio. It's the only time I get to tell him where to go.

We have been around racing for as long as we have been married. Bill will start his 40th year of racing this year (20 with Mid-Am) and I hope he continues for as long as he can. We have grown up with it and it will be hard to ever stop competing.

I think my favorite track is Road America. It is a laid back weekend and we all get to relax. Bill winning there is probably my favorite experience. (Of course he did win at Daytona and that wasn't bad either) Another great experience was being with Bill when he received his second place series trophy from Trans Am this past year.

As for my least favorite experience: I think it was watching the race from the gravel trap at Road America when I lost it in the carousel. Not fun.

I have enjoyed sewing for many years and started quilting a number of years ago. I love to create with fabric and have made a few picture quilts for friends and family. I enjoy spending lots of time with both of our kids and grandkids. The grandkids are growing up way too fast and I'm getting way too old to miss out on being with them.

When we are not racing we work together at our own business "Prietzel's Quality Repair Inc". We spend a lot of "quality" time together whether we are at work or in our toter home traveling to different tracks.

JAN'S RECIPES

SHRIMP SALAD
8 oz macaroni cooked
3 hard boiled eggs sliced
1 lb shrimp cooked in salted water
1 can Del Monte Peas
3 stalks celery chopped
Kraft Miracle Whip Salad Dressing
about 1/4 cup milk

Add all ingredients except for salad dressing and milk.
Mix milk with the salad dressing until creamy. You don't need much milk, you can always add more.
I use the milk so the salad isn't so rich. I use a wisk to mix the dressing with the milk.
Add to mixed ingredients just before serving.

TURTLE BROWNIES
1 - 14oz package of caramels
2/3 cup evaporated milk - divided
1 box German Chocolate cake mix
1 - 12 oz pkg semi sweet choc chips
3/4 cup melted butter
pecans or walnuts to taste

In sauce pan combine caramels and 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Cook slowly until melted. (leave until later)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine cake mix, butter, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, vanilla,and nuts. Stir until well mixed. Press 1/2 of dough into a greased 9x13 pan.
Bake for 6-8 minutes.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot baked crust. Drizzle caramel mixture over the chocolate chips.
Add remaining dough by spoonfuls over caramel mixture.
Bake 18- 20 minutes. Cool in pan.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour to set caramel layer.
Cut into squares.