11/27/2024
Austin Hartmann
Hartmann finds comfort zone during ‘fun’ 2024 IRA season
(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) November 26, 2024 – After learning the ropes of 410 Sprint Car racing throughout their first two seasons with the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association 410 Sprint Car Series, Austin Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing team enjoyed several highlights on the track and relished plenty of enjoyable times off the track during the 2024 campaign.
The 2024 season kicked off on Friday, April 5, with a NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws Series event at US 36 Speedway in Osborne, Mo.
Going up against a stellar 41-car field, the Plymouth, Wis. driver started on the pole of the C main before placing fourth to miss transferring to the Last Chance Showdown by two positions.
One night later, the team moved on to compete in a non-sanctioned 410 Sprint Car event at Farmington Empire Speedway on Saturday, April 6. After lining up fifth in the 25-lap A main, the fifth-year Sprint Car campaigner wound up with a seventh-place finish to secure the eighth top-10 A-main showing of his 410 Sprint Car career.
With temperatures in the mid-30s, Hartmann kicked off the 2024 IRA season with the inaugural Wisconsin Triple Crown event at Beaver Dam Raceway in Beaver Dam, Wis., on Saturday, April 20. He came home with a 12th-place finish after charging up 10 spots from his 22nd starting position.
After suffering a flat tire in the early going of an IRA main event at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. on Saturday, May 4, Hartmann salvaged a 17th-place finish before notching a solid ninth-place A-main showing in IRA action at Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, Ill. on Saturday, May 11.
Competing in front of the hometown fans at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, May 18, the 2020 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing and Midwest Sprint Car Association 360 Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Award winner placed seventh in IRA main event competition.
One night later, Hartmann was running seventh when an IRA A-main at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis. was halted short of the halfway mark due to the track’s 10 p.m. curfew on Sunday, May 19. As a result, all pay and points were divided equally among each of the 24 A-main competitors.
An incident in IRA main event action left Hartmann with a 24th-place finish at Wilmot Raceway on Saturday, May 25.
Utilizing the team’s backup car in a testing situation, Hartmann registered a 21st-place finish in a NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws event at Beaver Dam Raceway on Friday, May 31.
The team’s second visit to Angell Park Speedway on Sunday, June 9 netted Hartmann a 14th-place finish before placing 10th in IRA A-main action at Wilmot Raceway on Saturday, June 15.
A four-race Indiana swing with the IRA and Maverick Winged Sprint Car Series, which featured large car counts in the high 30s to mid-50s, saw Hartmann miss qualifying for A-main events at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. (seventh, B main 1), Bloomington Speedway (ninth, B Main 2) and Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind. (accident heat race 3, did not start C main) before tallying a 19th place A-main showing to cap the weekend at Terre Haute Action Track on Sunday, June 23.
Following a 19th-place IRA A-main showing at Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday, June 29, Hartmann and the 87A Hartmann Racing team ventured west for a three-race swing with the IRA and Northern Outlaw Sprint Association (NOSA) at Norman County Raceway in Ada, Minn. on Thursday, July 18 following by a doubleheader at River Cities Speedway on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20 in Grand Forks, N.D.
After placing 14th at Norman County Raceway, Hartmann put together his career-best night in the seat of a Sprint Car at River Cities Speedway on Friday, July 19, winning his first career IRA dash to claim his initial A-main pole position. The third-year 410 Sprint Car competitor came home with a career-best fourth-place A-main finish. One night later, Hartmann ended the weekend with a 16th-place main event finish at River Cities Speedway.
Following a 13th-place finish at Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway in Beaver Dam, Wis. on Friday, July 26 and a 12th-place showing at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, July 27, the team enjoyed a two-weekend break from IRA competition for the Knoxville Nationals.
Hartmann got back on track to place ninth at Wilmot Raceway on Aug. 17 before coming home 14th at Angell Park Speedway on Aug. 18. After a 15th-place run during the Sheboygan County Fair at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, Aug. 31, Hartmann earned back-to-back sixth-place finishes in A-main action at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. on Sunday, Sept. 1 and Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wis. on Friday, Sept. 6.
A motor failure relegated Hartmann to a 17th-place finish in the 24th annual Jerry Richert Memorial at Cedar Lake Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Hartmann bounced back to register a 10th-place finish at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wis. on Saturday, Sept. 14 before closing out the 2024 campaign with a 15th-place finish at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis. on Friday, Sept. 27 and a 16th-place showing in the Wisconsin Sprint Car Championships at The Plymouth Dirt Track on Sunday, Sept. 28.
In 30 410 Sprint Car events during the 2024 season, Hartmann tallied one top-five, nine top-10 and 16 top-15 A-main showings, while recording one dash victory in seven dash appearances and winning one B-main on the way to finishing a career-best seventh in the final 2024 IRA point standings.
“The 2024 season was one to remember,” Hartmann said. “We’ve built something special to me way beyond racing. From race days to teaching Ian Schultz how to golf, and then him kicking my butt on go-karts, there were a lot of good times. Eric Bergschultz also learned more about the car throughout the 2024 season. Mom [Kristine Hartmann] and Andy [Shufflebotham] have been nothing short of amazing in seeing the vision I have for this team, where we can go and how to do it. Karlee [Hartmann] is always there to support or give me grief when I need a reality check. They say when you're having fun, time goes by quickly. Well, the 2024 race season was the quickest season I’ve experienced. I’m super excited for what 2025 will bring.”
The sponsorship partners for the 2024 87A Hartmann Racing team included Kristine Hartmann of Pleasant View Realty, Shufflebotham Tree Service, Feldmann Sales & Service, Holler n Hills, Quasius Construction Inc., TheD8Dispensary, AF Inc., Metalcraft, Rich’s Truck and Auto Repair, Fastenal of Plymouth, Waldo Oil, RC Custom Design, Hepfner Racing Products, Maxim Chassis, Berryman Racing Shocks and My Race Pass.
The 2024 87A Hartmann Racing team consisted of Eric Bergschultz, Ian Schultz, Karlee Hartmann, Andrew Shufflebotham and Kristine Hartmann.
Additional information on the 87A Hartmann Racing team can be found by visiting the team’s website www.team87a.com and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/87Ahartmannracing.
87A Hartmann Racing Sponsor Showcase – Kristine Hartmann of Pleasant View Realty
KRISTINE HARTMANN, REALTOR OF Pleasant View Realty, better known as “Every Race Fans Realtor,” has 25-plus years of experience selling real estate throughout Wisconsin.
Kristine’s passion for the sport of racing connects with her competitive drive and ambition as a realtor in the community.
Contact Kristine Hartmann with all your real estate needs and ask her for the special Racing Rates!
You can find her on Facebook @ KRISTINE HARTMANN, REALTOR. Also, she can be found at the 87A trailer at any IRA race and would be happy to chat about racing and real estate!
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/PVRKRISTINE, call/text 20-980-5542 or email kristine@pleasantviewrealty.com.
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Austin Hartmann 87A Hartmann Racing
2024 Final Statistics
Total Events – 30
IRA Events – 27
World of Outlaws Events – 2
A Main Victories – 0
B Main Victories – 1
Top Five A Main Finishes – 1
Top 10 A Main Finishes – 9
Top 15 A Main Finishes – 16
Top 20 A Main Finishes – 21
Heat Race Victories – 0
Dash Appearances – 7
Dash Victories – 1
Fast Qualifier Awards – 0
Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association Points Finish – 7th
Submitted By: Jeff Pederson
