MONROE - Trent Wyssbrod's auto racing season this summer got off to a slow start after he suffered a broken leg in a home accident but since his return to action he has been on the fast track.
Wyssbrod made his racing debut at the Lafayette County Speedway five years ago when he was a junior at Monroe High School. He finished 11th out of 12 cars.
This season, the 2013 Monroe High School graduate has finished in the top five in every race except his first one in June. The best finish this summer for Wyssbrod is second place in a race in June.
"It gave me a lot of confidence after that," he said. "It showed that I can hang with all of the other top guys who have been racing longer than me. My goal each week is to get top five."
Wyssbrod's father, Ernie Wyssbrod Jr., drove for several years at Freeport Raceway Park. Trent Wyssbrod's uncle, Roger Trame, purchased a new car and is racing in the Limited Late Model division. Trent Wyssbrod worked as part of his uncle's pit crew for two years at the Lafayette County Speedway. Wyssbrod got a big break in his quest to race when Trame gave him a race car for Christmas five years ago.
Wyssbrod and his uncle went to auctions to buy an engine, engine parts, headers and gauges.
"It's one of the cheaper classes," Wyssbrod said. "It's a good class to start in. It's not too slow or too crazy fast."
After his first year of racing, Wyssbrod purchased a new car, a 2006 Dirt Works chassis.
"I just had to get used to the speed and all of the adrenaline rush," he said. "There is nothing like being out on the race track. When you are out there with something you can wreck really bad or roll over the adrenaline rushes through your body more than a high school basketball or football game."
Wyssbrod had the motor rebuilt and said he's always tightening the nuts and bolts in his race car.
Two of his former pit crew members - his cousin, Chad Martin, and friend, Lane Berndt, also a 2013 Monroe High School graduate - are also racing in the Sports Modified division. Trent Wyssbrod's brother-in-law, Josh Mayor of Monroe, races in the Sports Modified division.
"I know if I'm in front of them they are trying a lot harder to pass me," Wyssbrod said. "It makes it a lot more fun if you know the people you are racing next to you. It's competitive, and we are all about the same speed."
Wyssbrod said he has learned a lot about the mechanics of cars since he became a race car driver.
"I have learned to trust my car and the setup I have," he said. "I have learned to always have confidence and if you don't watch in front of you and look down at your car (instead) that is when you will get in a wreck."
Wyssbrod made his racing debut at the Lafayette County Speedway five years ago when he was a junior at Monroe High School. He finished 11th out of 12 cars.
This season, the 2013 Monroe High School graduate has finished in the top five in every race except his first one in June. The best finish this summer for Wyssbrod is second place in a race in June.
"It gave me a lot of confidence after that," he said. "It showed that I can hang with all of the other top guys who have been racing longer than me. My goal each week is to get top five."
Wyssbrod's father, Ernie Wyssbrod Jr., drove for several years at Freeport Raceway Park. Trent Wyssbrod's uncle, Roger Trame, purchased a new car and is racing in the Limited Late Model division. Trent Wyssbrod worked as part of his uncle's pit crew for two years at the Lafayette County Speedway. Wyssbrod got a big break in his quest to race when Trame gave him a race car for Christmas five years ago.
Wyssbrod and his uncle went to auctions to buy an engine, engine parts, headers and gauges.
"It's one of the cheaper classes," Wyssbrod said. "It's a good class to start in. It's not too slow or too crazy fast."
After his first year of racing, Wyssbrod purchased a new car, a 2006 Dirt Works chassis.
"I just had to get used to the speed and all of the adrenaline rush," he said. "There is nothing like being out on the race track. When you are out there with something you can wreck really bad or roll over the adrenaline rushes through your body more than a high school basketball or football game."
Wyssbrod had the motor rebuilt and said he's always tightening the nuts and bolts in his race car.
Two of his former pit crew members - his cousin, Chad Martin, and friend, Lane Berndt, also a 2013 Monroe High School graduate - are also racing in the Sports Modified division. Trent Wyssbrod's brother-in-law, Josh Mayor of Monroe, races in the Sports Modified division.
"I know if I'm in front of them they are trying a lot harder to pass me," Wyssbrod said. "It makes it a lot more fun if you know the people you are racing next to you. It's competitive, and we are all about the same speed."
Wyssbrod said he has learned a lot about the mechanics of cars since he became a race car driver.
"I have learned to trust my car and the setup I have," he said. "I have learned to always have confidence and if you don't watch in front of you and look down at your car (instead) that is when you will get in a wreck."
