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Al Maurer -
After a decade of sponsoring race car drivers and race tracks, I began racing in 2001. My first year, I ran New Paris, Kalamazoo, and Mottville. I won only one race, but got my feet wet. It was a good start for my first year.
In 2002 I ran New Paris. I won two heat races and finished 14th in points out of over 100 street stocks.
In 2003 I won I heat race and finished a few feature in the top 5. I was running 6th in points with three weeks to go to the end of the season. I was running a 50 lap feature where I had started in the rear of the pack out of 20 cars. I was in 5th with l/2 lap to go. The #121 car got excited coming out of turn 2 and drilled me from behind as I was passing for 4th place from underneath. I could not keep my car straight, lost control, and went sideways into the pit wall sideways totaling out the Goshen Collision Center Special #1 and ended my season early. I was also sent to the hospital. I was so beat up I felt like someone had thrown me out of an airplane. I still had enough lead to finish top ten in points.
2004 at New Paris, I started the year out good being 5th in points, but then started having a lot of mechanical problems. I lost a couple of features, won I heat race, qualified top 5 many times with a 15.120 for 2nd fast time. Then running a 100 lap race for $1000.00, I started in the back with 20 cars, I came from the back twice into 3rd. Again a bent axle prevented me from going for the win and had to settle with 4th. At the summer blowout, same problems. I started in the back with a fast time. I was going for 4th and another driver chops off the right front of my car cutting my right front tire sending me into the wall ending my race on lap 88. I still managed to end the season 8th in points and also received a perfect attendance award. I also went to Plymouth Race Track that I had never raced. I qualified 2nd fastest, won the dash, the heat, and 2nd in the feature. I also attended Mottville, winning 18 dash and heat races, 6 features, and finished 3rd in points and getting most improved driver award.
2005 New Paris - Sportsman of the Year Award - 4th in Points - 3 A Feature Wins - 6 Quick-Times.
2005 South Bend - One Top 5 Finish in heat.
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