April 17, 2023 – Holly, Michigan – The Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series is less than a week away from its 2023 season opener. The fourth year series will kick off its 2023 campaign this Saturday night, April 22 at Lorain Raceway Park in South Amherst, Ohio.
LRP has been the unofficial home to the MSR Lights series. The track has played host to more MSR Lights events than any other track on the current schedule since its inauguration in 2020. LRP has been the sight of several fantastic MSR Lights races over the years. The speedway is conducive of side-by-side racing for virtually every winged sprint car race that is held at the track, and Saturday will be no exception.
The series was designed to be a low-cost, entry-level option, into winged asphalt sprint car competition the last three years. It has been a pipeline to the 410 MSR National Series. The series gives younger drivers much needed seat time at most of the same tracks the MSR National series competes at. Costs to compete are curbed due to the relatively inexpensive 602 crate engines that are currently being utilized.
A solid group of cars is expected highlighted by 2022 and defending champion Cody Gallogly. A handful of new teams will see the series fielding more cars and bigger car counts in 2023. An early list of drivers expected to compete includes Charlie Bauer, Lauren DePasquale, Parker Corbin, Matt Double, John Dale Evans, Bob Komisarski, Dale McQuillen, Todd McQuillen, Joshua Sexton, and Sawyer Stout. 2022 feature winners J.J. Henes and Andrew Bogusz are also expected. Gallogly, Henes, and Bogusz accounted for all eight of last season’s feature victories.
Saturday night’s event will be the Autism Awareness Opening Night/Remembrance Night for LRP. For more info on the Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series please follow Must See Racing of Facebook or visit the website www.mustseeracing.com for updates and additional information.
March 28, 2023 – Holly, Michigan – Leesburg, Florida driver Dude Teate confirmed today that he intends to compete in the Must See Racing season opener at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan May 20. If all goes as planned, he intends to compete in the American Speed U.S. Nationals at Michigan’s Birch Run Speedway the following weekend May 26-27.
“Dude Star”, as he is nicknamed within the Florida racing scene, now becomes the third Florida driver to enter the Must See Racing May 20 event. It will be his first MSR start in over ten years, with his last series start coming March 24, 2013, at Mobile International Speedway in Irvington, Alabama.
“We wanted to get out of town and run some stuff up north “explained Teate. I think we got a good enough piece to come up there and run with them boys. I told my car owners Jason Reynolds and Dallas “Bucky” Scott I wouldn’t mind running some of the Must See stuff. Since we run a lot of winged stuff down here, I feel like we got a chance right out of the gate. We can go up there and do good.
We planned on running the opener originally. Then “Bucky” told me he really wanted to run the next weekend too. I told him ‘Yeah, we’ll handle it’. I think we can go up there and run in the top five or three. But I plan on going to win. I know I can run with ‘em. I’m excited and can’t wait”.
Co-car owner Reynolds is very aware of Must See Racing and the caliber of drivers the series has to offer. He fielded a car for five-time MSR champion Jimmy McCune in 2020 at an event at Showtime Speedway in Pinellas Park, Florida. “We’d like to participate in some racing up north” commented Reynolds. “It’s kind of our offseason. As long as we don’t have anything happen on the opening night at Berlin, we’ll be back the next weekend. The biggest thing for us will be not having anything break that first weekend because we’re so far from home. At the end of the day just having a good opening night and putting some points on the board is our goal. You never know, we may travel to a lot more MSR events. We’re a young team. Were gonna give it our blood, sweat, and tears.”
Jim Hanks of MSR added, “We are really looking forward to starting the season at Berlin Raceway on May 20th followed by The American Speed U.S Nationals on Memorial Day weekend on the 26th and 27th at Birch Run Speedway. These are fast, first class race tracks and we have a strong early registration of top shelf cars and competitors from around the country. I’ve known Dude Teate from way back in my car owner days and it’s really exciting having him adding to what is stacking up to be one of, if not the most competitive line ups in our history. “
With the most recent Teate entry, he joins Davey Hamilton Jr. and Tommy Nichols as the other Florida drivers already entered for the MSR May 20 opener. The early entry list for the event is now over twenty cars.
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March 22, 2023 – Holly, Michigan – The Must See Racing Maxima Racing Oils Midwest Lights Series is set to kick off its fourth season in just a few weeks and today Must See Racing announced its roster of full-time teams for the 2023 season. The list includes a mixture of rookies, youth, and veteran drivers.
The 602-crate winged asphalt sprint car series debuted in 2020 with the goal of creating a cost-effective entry-level sprint car series. The series was designed to give young drivers a chance to hone their skills before advancing to Must See Racing’s 410 national series. The series has done exactly that. In addition, it is creating a pipeline to the national series for young drivers.
This years schedule will feature 8 events at 4 different tracks in Michigan and Ohio with an October TBA date to conclude its fourth season.
The series will kick off the 2023 season on April 22 with a return to Lorain Raceway Park. LRP has become the unofficial home to the series as it has hosted more events than any other track on the schedule. The series will return to LRP on August 19 for the “Bob Frey Classic”.
The series will make its debut at Owosso Speedway on June 24 and September 2. It will also visit another Michigan speedway for the first time when it makes its debut at Birch Run Speedway on May 26-27 as part of the American Speed U.S. Nationals. The series will compete on the ¼ on Friday night and then on the 4/10 on Saturday night.
Shady Bowl Speedway in DeGraff, Ohio returns to the schedule after a one-year hiatus on Sunday May 7.
This year’s full-time roster is headlined by defending champion Cody Gallogly and inaugural series champion JJ Henes. The series will feature a significant number of teenage drivers with the focus of youth in 2023. Veteran drivers expected to complete include Joshua Sexton, Charlie Shultz, Todd McQuillen, Bob Komisarski, and JD Evans.
Other drivers returning include Andrew Bogusz, Charlie Bauer, Sawyer Stout, Dale McQuillen, and lady driver Lauren DePasquale. Matt Double will make his series debut in 2023.
For more info on the Must See Racing Maxima Racing Oils Midwest Lights follow Must See Racing on Facebook or visit the series website www.mustseeracing.com
March 7, 2023 – Holly, Michigan – Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro today announced that the Tampa, Florida based Kirk Morgan Racing along with driver Davey Hamilton Jr. plan to compete in a significant number of MSR events in 2023 beginning with the May 20 opener at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan.
The 25-year-old Hamilton Jr. is very familiar with MSR. In fact, he got his sprint car start with the series as a 16-year-old rookie in 2014. In four MSR starts with the series in 2014 he finished in the top five on three occasions including a runner-up finish at Anderson on 8/16/14. Since then, he has claimed the 2015 KOTW Western championship and 2016 KOTW National title. He is the defending 2022 Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series champion. At the time of this press release, he is on a 9-race winning streak dating back to October 8, 2022.
“I know a lot of people who follow Must See Racing” explained car owner Morgan. “It seems to be the premier winged pavement series in the country. We’re excited to be able to go run some of these races this year. I feel we’ve got a good team. We’re a professional team and we work hard on our equipment. Our crew chief Todd Schmidt and Davey work good together. We’re gonna run as many as we can this year.”
Hamilton Jr. is eager to test his skills against some of the toughest winged pavement sprint car racers in the country that call MSR home. Hamilton Jr was victorious in NSRA/KOTW and SSSS events in 2022 and tied Aaron Willison for the most pavement sprint car feature victories in the country last season with 8 total victories. As of this press release, he already has 3 wins to start the season including the 4th annual Dave Steele 125.
“If you look at all the winged pavement sprint car series in the country. They’re good in their own right. But MSR does a really good job with promotion” explains Hamilton Jr. “They have a pretty good television package on MAVTV. It’s the only winged pavement sprint car series in the country with televised races. They also have some of the top competitors with Ryan Litt, Jimmy McCune, Joe Liguori, and others. We’ve shown promise in every winged pavement race we’ve competed in over the past year. For us to do some stuff again with MSR is a direction we need to be in and see where our competitive level is against that series”.
“MSR is entering the 2023 season with arguably the strongest field since our beginning with competitors from all across the America and Canada, plus newcomer South African Quintin Saayman. To best prepare the Morgan Racing team, as with any new competitor, we have carefully reviewed the rules, conditions and expectations required for competing with our teams and series.
Davey Hamilton Jr, with his credentials and winning record, joining this season’s extremely tough line up will certainly be much anticipated, interesting and entertaining for the race fans “added MSR’s President Jim Hanks.
The 2023 Berlin Raceway May 20 season opener is still more than two months away. Be sure to log onto www.mustseeracing.com for all the latest news and announcements.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 – Holly, Michigan – The Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Lights Series will kick off it’s 2023 season on April 22 at the Lorain Raceway Park’s Autism Awareness Opening Night in South Amherst, Ohio.
Defending series champion Cody Gallogly will begin the defense of his title. The Baltimore, Ohio veteran collected three feature wins and four fast times on route to the 2022 Championship that was not decided until the last event of the year.
The Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Lights Series was created as affordable racing for veteran sprint car teams, a venue to provide younger drivers seat time in a winged asphalt sprint car and a MSR National 410 series feeder system of top-notch young talent.
“The concept, structure and format of our MSR Lights Series, with strong support from the loyal race teams, is operating extremely well for everyone. We are definitely growing with a substantial number of new teams, tracks and events for this coming 2023 season” said MSR President and founder Jim Hanks.
This year’s expanded roster of drivers will be a mixture of youth and veterans. Former Supermodified veteran and 2022 MSR National 410 Champion Charlie Shultz is expected to compete along side newcomers JD Evans, Matt Double and Bob Komisarski.
Returning front runners JJ Henes, the 2021 series champion and the 2022 most improved driver Joshua Sexton are anticipated strong championship contenders. Other drivers include 20-year-old lady racer Lauren DePasquale, teenagers Charlie Baur, 2022 Rookie of the year Andrew Bogusz and Sawyer Stout. Joining the chase will be veterans Todd and Dale McQuillen. Additionally, several new cars are currently being constructed with drivers to be announced.
It is only fitting that the season opener will again be hosted by Lorain Raceway Park as many drivers in the series call LRP home. LRP will also host the series in August joining the MSR National Series in the BOB FREY CLASSIC and again in September for the series championship.
This season MSR/MAVTV will showcase the Midwest Lights in the State of Michigan featuring the AMERICAN SPEED U.S. NATIONALS from Birch Run Speedway and the AMERICAN SPEED II from Owosso Speedway, plus Ohio’s BOB FRY CLASSIC at Lorain Raceway Park. Programming dates and air times to be announced.
For more info on the Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Lights Series please log on to www.mustseeracing.com as well as Facebook.
February 16, 2023 – Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro announced today yet another new full-time team that will compete with the 410-winged pavement sprint car series in 2023.
Forty-five-year-old Bapsfonntein, South African native Quintin Saayman has announced he will chase the entire MSR schedule as a full-time driver in 2023.
Saayman made his U.S.A. debut at the young age of 21 in 1999. Saayman was nothing short of impressive once he arrived in the U.S.A. during the summer of 1999. He picked up AVSS victories in Michigan at Jones, Kalamazoo, and Birch Run. In addition, he found victory lane at Owosso, Michigan during a Pennzoil Outlaw Winged Sprints event.
It would be nearly twenty-five years before he would race on U.S. soil again. He returned last season and purchased an existing BEAST chassis with the intention of competing in his first Little 500. After thrashing to get the car finished in time for qualifying, Saayman was unsuccessful at cracking the starting line-up. He would stay the rest of the summer competing exclusively in non-winged pavement sprint car events.
Saayman has returned to the U.S.A. once again in 2023, but under entirely different circumstances. Saayman has moved to Michigan with his daughter Ashley with the intentions of staying permanently. In addition, he plans to get back to his roots and compete entirely with winged asphalt sprint cars, and in particular, Must See Racing.
“I’m moving here (USA) permanently” Saayman proudly stated. “Things back home are really turning bad. I’m looking for a better quality of life and a future for my daughter.
I’ve mainly only done winged racing back home. When I came over in 1999, I had a bit of success with the AVSS series doing winged racing. I most definitely have had most of my success in winged racing. Last season was my first season I ever ran non-winged. It was fun, but different, from what I’m used to doing.
I’ve won at a few of the tracks we’re going to this year. I think I’ll just stick with a wing completely this year. It would be fun to do the Little 500. But sponsor wise, and money wise, we can’t get to it now at this stage, it’s too late. We’ll just stick with Must See this year.”
Due to his years of experience in winged racing, Saayamn is confident he’ll find success in North America in 2023.”It would be nice to get in the top three at the end of the year and get a win or more along the way. I’m looking forward to racing at Berlin again. It’s a real nice track. There are a few guys I think will help me again. George Gustafson and John Boy Hotchkiss. It will be good to get the guys back together. It will be a fun season” concluded Saayman.
With the addition of Saayman as a full-time competitor, it gives Must See Racing a true international flavor. The series already features London, Ontario, Canada driver Ryan Litt. The series can now boast claim to featuring drivers from three different countries in 2023.
For more info on MSR please visit www.mustseeracing.com.
When the 2023 Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro schedule kicks off this Spring, it will mark Must See Racing’s 14th consecutive season of sanctioning winged asphalt 410 sprint car racing in the Midwest and Southeast.
A new season brings new wrinkles. But in MSR’s case, the series will still offer edge of your seat racing and high-speed action. Whenever MSR comes to town, track records usually fall. The series bills itself as having “The fastest Short Track Cars in the World”.
The series will feature many of the same tracks that have been a regular staple on the series schedule, but will do so with new drivers, teams, and event formats.
One of the biggest changes in 2023 will be the new venue for the 3rd annual American Speed U.S. Nationals to Birch Run Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan. The popular Memorial Day event is quickly becoming one of the premier open wheel events in the state of Michigan and this year’s event appears to be much the same. This year’s event will include the Maxima Racing Oils MSR Midwest Lights Series in a two-day format May 26-27.
Network television has played an important part of MSR’s popularity over the years and will continue to do so in 2023. No less than 7 events will be be taped delayed for broadcast on MAVTV including the two-day PINK LADY CLASSIC from Meridian Speedway, Idaho. The full television and live stream schedules will be announced later.
The third-year Maxima Racing Oils MSR Midwest Lights Series has become the official feeder system for the national series and currently features several talented teenage drivers. The young drivers are honing their skills and biding time to eventually compete in the national series. This year’s lineup will see a handful of new drivers, and new teams, as the affordable 602 crate series shows steady growth and fan popularity.
Five-time MSR champion Jimmy McCune returns to the series fulltime in 2023. McCune suffered serious burns in an accident and was sidelined most of the year. The all-time MSR feature wins leader will look to add a sixth title in 2023.
An increased year-end cash point fund will be up for grabs in 2023 for both series. In addition, the ‘Engine Pro Fast Car Dash’ mini-series will award points accumulated at all three Berlin Raceway days. This points fund will also pay out cash incentives.
It was recently announced that MSR and the new non-winged 500 Sprint Car Tour will share the racing card at Berlin Raceway on June 22. This unique event will offer fans the chance to see a 410 winged and non-winged event in the same night. This concept hasn’t been done since 2010.
“We were able to put the 2023 schedule in place taking us to some of the best pavement tracks anywhere while minimizing the excessive and unpredictable travel costs for our race teams. With several new teams from around the country committing the car count looks strong and competition intensity for the championships is definitely stacking up to be one of, if not our best and most exciting season yet.” said MSR’s Jim Hanks. “There is a renewed energy and positive buzz of anticipation and excitement for the coming year by the tracks, race teams and the race fans everywhere.”
PERRYSBURG, Ohio (Jan. 15, 2023) – Must See Racing recognized its top drivers and teams from the 2022 season during the sanctioning body’s Night of Champions celebration Saturday at Quality Inn Perrysburg.
Charlie Schultz (right) was recognized at the Must See Racing national champion Saturday night in Perrysburg, Ohio. (Kelly Poole photo)
Chief among the banquet’s honored guests were Must See Racing National Sprint Car Series champion Charlie Schultz and Must See Racing Midwest Lights titlist Cody Gallogly.
Both drivers earned their first Must See Racing championships last year.
Schultz’s title run was one for the ages, as he rallied back on the final night of the season to upset point leader Joe Liguori for the crown. A podium finish was enough for Schultz to supplant Liguori, who battled drive line issues during the finale at Pennsylvania’s Jennerstown Speedway.
The Ohio veteran used his championship speech to honor his father Al, who suffered a stroke two days prior to the banquet but was “recovering well” as of Saturday night.
“My mom and dad wanted to be here tonight, but with my dad’s health that wasn’t possible,” Schultz noted. “I want us all to raise our glasses to all our dads, both with us and no longer with us, for making us all who we are today. Racing is a family sport, and without them, none of us would be in this room.
Charlie Schultz and fiance Debbie Walker pose with the championship hardware following Saturday night’s Must See Racing banquet. (Kelly Poole photo)
“Sportsmanship goes a long way, and this year’s battle with Joe and his team was one I’ll always remember,” Schultz continued. “He helped me out a lot, I helped him a lot, and at the end of the day we went out and battled each other as hard as we could on the race track. That’s what it’s all about. The goal since we came back to sprint cars was to win a championship, and realizing that this year means so much to us as a family and to John Reiser and everyone involved with our No. 9s team.
“Now we’ve got a new goal, and that’s to go out and try to win the whole thing again this year.”
Gallogly dominated the Midwest Lights season, leading the crate sprint car tour in wins and fast times over the course of the year.
A sense of family was also evident in Gallogly’s speech, as his father is battling valiantly against brain cancer.
“My wife wrote me a speech, but we’ll see how this goes,” Gallogly joked.
“After I went dirt racing and got my teeth knocked in, going back pavement racing was the right decision for my family and my wallet,” he added. “In all seriousness, we have a great series and a great field with Must See Racing and this season has been the best decision I’ve made in a long time. … Racing is so much more than driving a race car; it’s about meeting new people and making special memories.
“My parents couldn’t be here, but I thank them for supporting me even though times have been tough. I was able to share this year with my dad, and that means the world to me. If I can be half the man he is some day, then I’ll be grateful.”
Among the other Must See Racing national honorees Saturday was Brad Ringer, crew chief for Liguori, who received Crew Chief of the Year honors. Liguori and Schultz were named co-recipients of the Driver of the Year award, while John Reiser secured Car Owner of the Year laurels.
Cody Gallogly received his Must See Racing Midwest Lights championship honors Saturday night in Perrysburg, Ohio. (Kelly Poole photo)
Additional Midwest Lights award recipients included Andrew Bogusz (Rookie of the Year), Terry Bogusz (Crew Chief of the Year), and Jon Henes (Car Owner of the Year).
The night’s highest honor, the Jerry Caryer Ironman Award for commitment to Must See Racing, was presented to Schultz as the driver who both made the most feature starts over the last five seasons and best exemplified loyalty to pavement sprint car racing as a whole.
Schultz joined Tom Jewell (2021) as the second recipient of the perpetual honor, which is housed at Must See Racing’s series headquarters in Holly, Mich.
With the 2022 season officially in the books, Must See Racing will kick off its 2023 campaign with the Midwest Lights opener at Lorain (Ohio) Raceway Park on April 22.
The national series kickoff will be May 20 at Michigan’s Berlin Raceway with the opening round of the Engine Pro Fast Car Dash.
For more news and information on Must See Racing, visit www.mustseeracing.com.
Must See Racing National Awards
Hard Luck Award: Tom Geren Perseverance Award: Jeff Bloom Rising Star Award: Joshua Sexton Sportsmanship Award: Gene Fogle/White Hare Racing Most Improved Driver: Rick Holley Best Appearing Car: Charlie Schultz Fast Qualifier of the Year: Joe Liguori Hard Charger of the Year: Joe Liguori Golden Steering Wheel: Tom Jewell Crew Chief of the Year: Brad Ringer Car Owner of the Year: John Reiser Driver of the Year: Charlie Schultz/Joe Liguori (co-recipients) Jerry Caryer Ironman: Charlie Schultz
Must See Racing Midwest Lights Awards
Hard Luck Award: Lauren DePasquale Perseverance Award: Tim Henthorne Spark Plug Award: Junior Gould Rising Star Award: Charlie Baur Sportsmanship Award: Steve Sexton/Team 151 Most Improved Driver: Joshua Sexton Best Appearing Car: Cody Gallogly Fast Qualifier of the Year: Cody Gallogly Hard Charger of the Year: J.J. Henes Rookie of the Year: Andrew Bogusz Crew Chief of the Year: Terry Bogusz Car Owner of the Year: Jon Henes Driver of the Year: Cody Gallogly
