In our continuing series on the drivers of the Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints we feature Don Dietch.
Don was born December 17, 1967 in Findley, Ohio, has an education in Mechanical Engineering, and currently works as a Product and Tool Designer for Thermoformed Plastics Industry.
Don is the driver and owner of the his 410ci Chevy powered pavement sprint car. The Red No.5 rides on a Beast Chassis, which makes it versatile for both winged and non winged competition, which will be very helpful in the 2019 season of AVBBSS season.
Other than Don’s own wallet, he is sponsored by BD Enterprises, an Engineering Consulting company.
Don is part of the Dietsch Racing Team with his brother Doug, you will often see them helping each other in the pits, as well as their respective families, friends, and crew.
Don’s experience includes Go-kart, 600 Mini-sprint, and 5 years in his 410 pavement Sprint Car where he has accomplished:
- 11th place finish in the 2018 Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprint Series
- 5th place finish for the 2017 Midwest Non-Winged Sprint Car Series
- 5th place finish for the 2016 Michigan Traditional Sprint Car Series (pavement)
- 5th place finish for the 2015 Spartan Speedway Sprint Car Series
Don’s crew includes Bill Dietsch, Nel Cleveland, Penny Brewer, Ron Miller, Mike Brogdon, James Dietsch, and Corbin Brewer. Don also wants to give special thanks to his Mom and Dad, and brother Doug Dietsch.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Don Dietsch on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the Worlds Fastest Short Track Cars!
In our continuing series on the drivers of the Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints we feature Joey Irwin.
Joey was born in 1980, and resides in the Flint, Michigan area. Joey works as a facility manager in downtown Flint.
Joey is the driver and owner of the 00, a 350ci Chevy powered Gambler chassis. The bright yellow car with the double 00 eye balls is easily recognizable on the track as Joey works the field. He is sponsored by Peter McFrey, J and S Customs, KA Auto and Truck Service, Washakie Golf RV Resort, and Bryan Drinkwine.
Highlights of career include:
- 2006 I-96 Speedway Non-Wing Champion
- 2012 MTS Sprint Series Champion
- 2013 OTS Sprint Series Champion
- 2013 MTS Sprint Series Champion
Joey has 7 year’s experience in a dirt stock car, 14 years in dirt sprint car, and 5 years in pavement sprint cars. His crew is Steve Flewelling and Ron Wills.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Joey Irwin on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the World’s Fastest Short Track Cars
In our continuing series on the drivers of the Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints we feature Bobby Santos III.
Bobby was born October 3, 1985, in Franklin, MA and started racing at the age of 4 in 1990. Bobby currently resides in Indiana, with his wife Kristen, and 2 year old son Julian. He works DJ Racing as a mechanic.
The 2019 season will mark Bobby’s 30th season of racing in competition in many different classes of cars including open wheel and some stock car competition. Bobby has raced all across the United States from Massachusetts to California and from Maine to Florida.
The 22S is owned by Richard Fielder of Boca Raton, Florida, and is sponsored by DJ Racing, BMRS, Simpson Race Products, Driven Oil, INDY metal finishing, ARS, Wilwood, Landrum Springs, and Mayhew Tools
Highlights of career include:
- Copper Classic Victories
- 2008 Turkey Night Grand Prix Champion
- 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion
- Feature wins in multiple styles of race cars.
2018 Highlights include:
- USAC Copper Cup Winner
- Must See Racing Madison Speedway Winner
- Whelen Modified Tour event New Hampshire Speedway Winner
- Sweep of King of the Wing (KOTW) weekend at Irwindale Speedway and Kern County Speedway in California to finish off the 2018 season.
Bobby is a very professional driver, a mentor to his fellow drivers, and always has a smile to share in the pits of any track he is at.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Bobby Santos III on the track as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the Worlds Fastest Short Track Cars
In our continuing series on the drivers of the Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints we feature Aaron Pierce.
Arron was born, raised and resides in Daleville, Indiana, he is 44 years old and this coming season will be the 24thseason of racing, where he will be running the Trans Am Series, Silver Crown Series, and Auto Value Super Sprint Series.
The freshly painted black Beast Frame, housing a Chevy power plant, with bright red wheels and a bold 26 is sponsored by Sam Pierce Chevrolet, Logistics Solutions, Fatheads Sunglasses, Valvoline, and Tom Cherry Muffler.
Aaron has a huge amount of accomplishments in his career, he has won 12 features, and 2 Championship titles with the Auto Value Super Sprints and a total of 125 open tire feature wins. He won his first Sprint car race, that he ever ran, in the Mike Blake 81 car at Anderson Speedway
Pierce has also the All-time Speed record holder for the Silver Crown Series of 174mph at Kansas International Speedway, one of only 2 drivers to win a Silver Crown race held at Darlington, Pierce shares this honor with A.J. Foyt, Namars Triple Crown winner, CRA Rookie of the Year 2008, and many other achievements.
A lot of fans consider Aaron the outlaw on the track, and he likes that, but those that have gotten to know him, even a little bit, know that he has an incredible amount of knowledge of open wheel racing, and is very personable.
Aaron was an Advanced Road Racing Instructor at the Bob Bonduraunt School from 2004-09 and is currently working on a driver devolvement program. Looking forward to seeing what and who comes out of this program with Aaron.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Aaron Pierce on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the World’s Fastest Short Track Cars
In our continuing series on the drivers of the Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints we now feature Derek Snyder.
Derek was born in September of 1983 and is a third generation race car driver who follows his Grandfather Robert “papa” Snyder and Father Robert Snyder Jr. Derek’s crew includes both of them as well as his mom Laurie, girlfriend Jessica, both of his sisters Shannon and Breanna, Tanner, and his uncle Brian. He works at Michigan State as a Biomedical Technician and lives in Owosso Michigan. When not racing he enjoys fabrication, watching movies, playing with his dog, and cars.
He started out racing as a quarter midget driver from the ages of 7 to 10, during that short time he accrued multiple wins. He took a short break from racing before returning in 2004 to National Midget racing with WOWMS, USAC, and UMARA, winning multiple heats and a feature at Angola Speedway in 2005. In 2007 he made the jump to Pavement Sprint Car Racing and runs the number 22 on his 410 Chevy powered Beast Chassis .
Derek has had over 10 fast times including the track record at Toledo Speedway of 12.656 seconds, or 142.254 MPH in 2012. He has also scored multiple heat race wins, multiple top 3 feature finishes, and a 2008 feature win at Berlin Raceway. Derek has had the honor of being invited to race in South Africa twice in 2008 and 2018 and was the 2017 King of Wing Midwest champion.
Derek’s 2019 sponsors are FK Rod Ends, Coffey and Sons Plumbing, RS Biomedical and his family.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Derek Snyder on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the World’s Fastest Short Track Cars.
In our continuing series on the drivers of the Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints we feature Jason Blonde.
Jason was born in February 1975 and hails from Litchfield, Michigan. He is married to Jenny and has two beautiful girls, Morgan 15 and Madeline 11. He currently works as a self-employed Paint Contractor.
Jason drives the 42, owned by Tony Nosal, sponsored by Dowker Engines, Bingham Farms, and Hamilton Trucking. The Blue 42 is riding on a Diablo frame and powered by a 410ci Chevy Dowker Engine.
Jason has always driven Sprint Cars and has 8 AVBBSS Championships to show for all his hard work, 1999 came on dirt, while 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, and 2017 came on pavement. He has accumulated nearly 100 feature wins, winner of the “Fastest of the Fast” at Bristol Motor Speedway in March 2011with a time of 13.245 and a speed of 144.871
This past year Jason was inducted in to the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame!
Jason wants to give special thanks to Steve and Cindy Blonde and Rhino. It should also be known that Jenny was the best Strawberry provider in the 2018 Season. She makes a mean spread of food for the 42 crew.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Jason Blonde on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the World’s Fastest Short Track Cars.
In our continuing series of the drivers of AVBBSS series we feature Doug Dietsch.
Doug Dietsch of Kalamazoo, Michigan has been racing since he was 13 years old in go karts, Formula Dodge, midgets and sprint cars. Over the past 8 seasons Doug has been one of the most dedicated non-wing pavement drivers in the country. Over that period Doug has picked up 5 wins, countless top fives, multiple championships and is the all time leader for fast times for the Spartan Speedway Sprints. Previously Doug was a two time Wolverine Outlaw Midget champion and ROY. Doug has competed in four Little 500s and is among the leaders for most laps completed over that span.
Doug has also participated in winged competition on occasion in recent years and finished 4th in the AVSS standings in 2018, Doug’s first full time season racing winged sprint cars.
Doug races alongside his Dietsch Brother’s Racing teammate and brother Don Dietsch. Doug’s crew is led by his dad Bill and his brother Don and includes Nel Cleveland, Penny Brewer and his Little 500 spotter Travis Young. Doug’s family is also very supportive and includes wife Janelle, mom Sharon, nephew Eric and children Lucas, Logan, Adriano, Arbor, Autumn and Arabella.
In 2019, Doug is planning a full schedule of non-wing and winged racing including the Little 500.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Doug Dietsch on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the “Worlds Fastest Short Track Cars.”
In our continuing series of the AVBBSS drivers we feature Tom Geren Jr.
Tom was born November of 1973, and currently resides in Ohio with his dogs. He is employed with Zimmark, which is a fluid management company, as a site supervisor.
Tom is the driver and owner of the his 410ci Chevy powered pavement sprint car. The 11 rides on a Hawk Chassis, which seems to work very well for both winged and non-winged competition.
Other than Tom’s own wallet, he is sponsored by Gary Thornton Insurance of Bryan Ohio. Tom runs on a small crew of his dad Tom Geren Sr, and Dan Casper. Tom also wants to thank his Mom Judy.
Tom has 27 years in racing. His first 10 running dirt modified. He then moved to pavement sprints, starting with the 305 sprints, before settling into the 410 with HOSS series then to Auto Value Super Sprints.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Tom Geren JR on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the World’s Fastest Short Track Cars
In our continuing series on the drivers of AVBBSS we feature Taylor Ferns.
Taylor was born in December 1995 and hails from Shelby Township, Michigan. Taylor is a recent Grand Valley State University alum where she graduated cum laudewith a Bachelor of Business Administration degree concentrating in Finance and Economics.She now works full-time at The Sam Bernstein Law Firm as the Operations Assistant while attaining her MBA at Wayne State University.
Taylor will be driving a Mopar 410ci powerplant, cruising on a Beast frame, and sporting the number 55 at the 2019 AVBBSS non-winged events. The car is owned by Jim Ferns, and sponsored by Motor City Auto Transport, Megan’s Aggregate, and Ecomend. Kevin Besecker is her crew chief.
Taylor has 17 years of racing experience with multiple cars and sanctioning bodies: Quarter Midgets (Quarter Midgets of America), Bandalaros (600 Racing), 600cc Micro Sprints (600 Outlaw Racing), USAC Kenyon Midget (United States Auto Club), Ford Focus Midget (USAC/United Midgets Auto Racing Association), Pavement/Dirt Midgets (USAC), Non-Wing Pavement Sprint Car (Spartan Speedway), Silver Crown Car (USAC), Late Model (CRA Jegs Allstar Series), Stock Car (ARCA)
Taylor has many career highlights including: 2014 – 410-Winged Sprint Car win and new track record at Southern Ohio Speedway, 2013 – Highest finishing female in USAC Silver Crown history, 2011 – USAC D1 Regional Midget Champion, 2010 – Youngest Female to Ever Win a Sprint Car Race, Youngest Racer to Ever Win a UMARA Midget Race, 2010 Spartan Speedway Sprint Car Rookie of the Year, and many other awards and wins.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Taylor Ferns on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the “Worlds Fastest Short Track Cars.”
In our continuing series on the drivers of AVBBSS, we feature Christian Koelher
Christian was born in December 1991. He is in a relationship with Laura Niswonger, and resides in South Bend Indiana
Started out going to races as a child with his uncle Ron and dad Gary. They won back to back championships in 2001 and 2002 in HOSS.
Christian always loved going fast and in 2013 he became a Harley Davidson Mechanic in Phoenix, AZ. He then came back home and traded his bike for a 600cc mini Sprint and ran that in 2014 at Plymouth. Ron watched him race and gave him an opportunity to drive his car in 2015. His first race in a 410-Sprint car was at New Paris, then Kalamazoo, then Salem, and Anderson and so on. Christian learned a lot in a short amount of time and won his first race at Anderson Speedway in 2017. He was only out 3 times last year due to engine issues and still managed to win an exciting heat race at Baer Field for his second heat win. He is really looking forward to getting that first feature win in 2019 and aiming at getting a top 5 in points for the year.
Christian will be driving Ron’s 410ci Kercher engine plant in a Hawk frame that has been driven before by Ryan Neuman, Troy Decaire, and his uncle Ron.
Hopefully, Christian can get as much seat time as possible and be at all the races!
Christian is also a former rap music star. He went by the name C-Dubb and you can see his video on YouTube.
The AVBBSS series looks forward to seeing Christian Koelher on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the “World’s Fastest Short Track Cars.”
In our continuing series we feature Tom Paterson.
As we have been going along this series we have received received some bio completely written out ready to publish and some listed out as bullet points and we make the feature from those. Tom was at every race last year and also went to the Colorado KOTW series, we wanted to feature Tom Paterson, so we asked him for a bio, we received two sentences back from him.
Hoping to get more information from him to write a nice article for Tom, we sent him the following questions: Do you have a wife, kids, dogs? And what are your highlights? His answer to us was short and sweet; no, no, no, and I suck! What received back told us exactly what we all know about Tom. Tom is one of the most modest racers you will ever meet. He is also the one that will give anyone the shirt off his back in need, and help everyone in the pits.
When we were going to do a pre show promotion at New Paris in Indiana, Tom was the first one to step up and say he would be there to show the fans the car and spend time with them. This was just prior to him headed west to run the KOTW at Colorado National Speedway. While in New Paris there was a little off track mishap, that could have prevented him from going to Colorado, but not Tom, he didn’t even get mad, just said he needed to do some repairs to get on the road to Colorado. Tom has a heart of Gold and the very best redneck personality combined with a true love of the sport.
Here is what we dug up on Tom, born in 1962, lives in Argos, Indiana. Tom has 30 years of racing, all of it in sprint cars. On pavement he drives a beast chases, powered by a 410 chevy, built by him. His car is the yellow number 11, to honor his father who also drove a yellow number 11.
Tom also drives on dirt, both winged and non winged, with a Magnum chases, he is partnered with Jim Payne and Chad Delagrange in the race team. They are sponsored by Jenkins Automotive.
We look forward to seeing Tom on the track this year in Indiana, Michigan, and maybe beyond, as he plans on running the full AVBBSS schedule, as well as some of the King of the Wing shows. Come see the “Worlds Fastest Short Track Cars.”
Thanks to Jody Prince Photography and Chuck Ricklefs for the pictures!!
In our continuing Series of the drivers of the AVBBSS Sprint Series, we feature Brian Gerster.
Brian is married to his wife Kelly of 25 years and has two daughters Macey and Lesley.
He started racing go-karts in 1984, winning a pair of championships in 1987. His first USAC midget race at the Indianapolis Speedrome was in 1990 driving for Donnie Adams Sr. Brian earned USAC National Midget Series “Rookie of the Year” honors in 1992 and finished third in national points in ’95 and ‘96. He has eight USAC National Midget Series wins and one USAC National Sprint Car win.
Brian earned his IRL IndyCar license in 1997 but was never able to make an IndyCar start. On pavement he has wins in midgets, non-wing and wing sprint cars and dirt wins have come in midgets, non-wing and wing sprint cars. Brian first drove for Dick and Deborah Myers in 2005 and has been with them full time since 2011. Along the way the 50m team has enjoyed success winning races and multiple championships including the 2018 AVSS title. In 2019 the 50m team will be back racing together at select sprint car events. Brian will also drive the Davis-Gerster Racing number 27 car at the Little 500.
The AVBBSS Sprint Series looks forward to seeing Brian Gerster on the track this year as we travel Michigan and Indiana with the “Worlds Fastest Short Track Cars.”
In our continuing series of the Drivers of the AVBBSS Sprint Series, we feature Dylan Reynoldds
Dylan “The Diesel” Reynolds is 18 years old and started racing competitively at age 13 in go-karts. He lives in Leesburg, FL where he was born and raised with his parents and brother. He is a diesel mechanic at the family owned diesel repair shop.
Dylan is the driver of the 555 owned and operated by his parents and himself. They are a family operated pit crew with the team support of Butler Motorsports. Dylan runs a Hurricane chassis powered by a Hickernell/Butler Built 360ci motor.
Dylan won his first championship in 2013 in Junior 3 where he ran until 2015 before moving to the Unlimited Allstar Series winning 4 championship in 3 years. Dylan began racing asphalt winged sprint cars in 2018 with the BG Southern Sprint Cars Shootout Series and finished 3rd in points as well as being crowned the 2018 Rookie of the Year. He is currently 5 races into the 2019 season and running 3rd in points. When he’s not running the asphalt sprint car he can be found running his grandfathers modified mini stock at various tracks around Florida.
Dylan is sponsored by Reynolds Automotive & Diesel, Bumgarner Construction, TCB Speed South, Manikis Performance Parts.
Dylans pit crew includes his parents Jason and Danielle, brother Brady Reynolds, Michael Wood and Hannah Berlin.
The AVBBSS Series looks forward to seeing Dylan Reynolds on the track this year as we travel Indiana, Michigan, Florida, Alabama, and other points across the country with the “Worlds Fastest Short Track Cars”
In our continuing series of the drivers of AVBBSS we feature Shane Morgan.
Hello race fans! My name is Shane Morgan. I drive the #01 J&J Sprint Car. I am a full time ASCS and USCS dirt Sprint Car driver. I have several dirt champions under my belt, and I’m really looking forward to this 2019 season on pavement! See you all at the races!!
The AVBBSS looks forward to seeing Shane Morgan on the tracks this year in Michigan, Indiana, Alabama, Florida and other points across the country with the “Worlds Fastest Short Track Cars”
