Tyler Sobiesczyk readily admits he may have one of the toughest names for track announcers to pronounce.
The 25-year-old Shawano IMCA northern sportmod racer (who’s last name is pronounced so-bee-ESS-check) plans on defending his division crown at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour when the season opening race kicks off Friday, May 7 at the third-mile, clay oval located at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds in Seymour.
For Sobiesczyk, his thirst for motorsports actually started out racing four wheelers when he was 17-years-old. “We did the four wheelers on flat tracks and ice racing,” Sobiesczyk explained. “I wound up having some accidents and it got to a point where I would rather race something with a roll cage. And hence, here we are in a sportmod.”
While racing four wheelers Sobiesczyk wound up breaking some bones including his wrist. “That was rough and there was some travel involved within Wisconsin and Minnesota,” Sobiesczyk explained.
It was through helping his friend Cody Hudson with his sportmod in 2013 that ‘T-Sob’ as he’s nicknamed got into racing motorized vehicles with roll cages. “His first couple of years racing in the IMCA modifieds, I helped out with Cody too. After a bit he slowed down racing. Cody also knew Trent Nolan (IMCA stock car competitor) and I began helping Trent out with his deal. I was still doing the four-wheeler thing. By that time, I wanted to be home on Saturday nights – not racing somewhere out of town.”
When it came to choosing a division to race in the full-sized cars, for ‘T-Sob’ the sportmods were a no brainer. “I didn’t really have any interest to start out in a four-cylinder class,” Sobiesczyk admitted. “I knew a little bit working with Cody about this type of car. I like going fast too. This class is a similar speed comparison to the four wheelers actually.”
For Sobiesczyk’s first race car he purchased a 2011 Harris chassis from “The Angry American” Mark Schuenemann. “It was a used car and I came out and looked horrible in my first outing at Shawano,” Sobiesczyk recalled. “I was really nervous in that first race. After that I wound up getting a 2014 Madman chassis used from Ralph Aschenbrenner. That was a really good car, In fact my first outing with it I believe we finished second to Lucas Lamberies.”
That car would wind up getting totaled out in a wild wreck on Shawano’s half-mile. “We got stuck running the B main that night and we started really deep in the field,” Sobiesczyk recalled. “I remember when we took the green flag I passed three cars right away. All of a sudden the leader spun in turn two and we stacked ‘em up. The whole field was involved in that wreck.”
Sobiesczyk’s 2021 ride is a 2020 GRT chassis. “For now, we plan on defending the track title at Seymour,” Sobiesczyk. “We had some great battles last year with Jayden Schmidt. I finished second to him at Shawano and he placed second to me at Seymour. But I can’t do the three night a week thing like he is this year. My new job includes a busy schedule at Chrysler World in Abrams. Fridays are my day off so running Seymour on Fridays is a good gig for me. I’ve got a great pit crew who helps me get the car ready.”
“Jayden (Schmidt) and Jeff Schmuhl are always fast in the sportmods whenever they are around,” Sobiesczyk said. In his first three outings at Shawano in ’21 Sobiesczyk has scored one feature win, a third and 20th place finish.
Pit crew members who assist with Sobiesczyk’s racing efforts include Don Reitz, Braden Hoffman, Jaden Lobermeier and Andrew Nadtke. The team’s marketing partners include Liquid Billy’s Bar, Bamboo Bar, Hoffman Landscaping and Snow Removal, Sakom Services, Z’s Tree Services, Turn Two Photos, El Tequila Mexican Restaurant, Lee’s Gas & Mini Mart, BHE Custom Suspensions, Pigeon River Brewing Company, Wolf River Dental, Dr. Gear, Great Northern Amusements, Victory Sign.
The defending Outagamie Speedway champions in the other divisions include De Pere’s Johnny Whitman, (IMCA modified); Oconto Falls Eric “Chummy” Arneson, (IMCA stock car); Beaver Dam’s Jesse Krahn, (Unified street stock) and Black Creek’s Jake Peters, (IMCA sport compact).
Among the race dates highlighted on Outagamie’s 2021 schedule are the return of the World of Outlaw late models August 3. The winged outlaws of the IRA sprint series invade Seymour’s oval July 23 and September 10 while the MSA 360’s roll into town June 18.
The Dirt Kings late model tour roll into Seymour May 28, July 2 and will also compete with the WoO late models August 3. The final Dirt Kings tour date scheduled at Seymour will be September 18 for their Fall Brawl.
On Friday night, May 28 the track will host Old Glory Honor Flight Night. Mike’s Video is assisting this special event whereas military veterans will be allowed to place veteran’s names on the car of their choice. All vets that night will be admitted free of charge.
Seymour’s season opening race presented by Klink Equipment is Friday, May 7. The pit area opens at 4 p.m. with the grandstand open for business at 4:30 p.m. The hammer drops at 6:30 p.m. For more information you can go to Outagamiespeedway.com.
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