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Earlier this week, Jack Landis Sr. passed away after a long illness.
On Saturday, his son Jack and his family attend funeral services for the elder Landis. Sunday afternoon, the
junior Landis took the lead on lap 53 and went on to win the Randercar Racing 75 for the SUPERPRO Series at Plymouth
Speedway in Plymouth, Indiana. In victory lane, an emotional Landis dedicated his win to his late father.
Tom Smith’s seventh place finish wrapped up the 2009 SUPERPRO Series championship by 31 points over runner up Mike
Kugler. The Tinley Park, Illinois driver won two races and finished in the top 10 seven times to garner
his first SUPERPRO title.
Newly crowned Corrigan Oil-Turbo Blue Racing Gas Rookie Of The Year Kyle
Hayden and 2008 ROY Matt Hall brought the 25 car field to the green with Hayden jumping into the early lead. Fourth
starter Landis and Jason Dietsch moved around Hall on lap 15 to grab second and third in the running order. A lap 17 caution
involving Ryan Inman and Paul Freeland closed up the field and allowed Landis on the rear bumper of Hayden.
Hayden continued to lead at the half way point followed by Landis, Dietsch, Hall and Mark Hankowsky. On lap 45, Landis
pulled to the outside of Hayden and they battled side by side for the next five laps before Hayden resumed command. Rick
Everidge’s 2009 bad luck tour continued with a flat tire on lap 52 bringing out the caution.
On the restart, Landis moved to the outside of Hayden and grabbed the lead a lap
later. A great battle went on for fifth between Kugler and Brett Sontag for the final 20 laps of the race with Sontag
finally moving into the position on the white flag lap. At the finish it was Landis, Hayden, Dietsch, Hall, Sontag in
the top five with Kugler, Smith, John Nutley, Hankowsky, and Kevin Todd rounding out the top ten.
Sontag was the Aluminum Racing Products Fast Qualifier with a time of 13.255 seconds (101.848
miles per hour) around the three-eighths mile paved Plymouth oval. Doug Hayes was the All Star Performance-Lane Automotive
Hard Charger and Steven Brooks grabbed the Penske Racing Shocks “Shocking Move of the Race” award. Hayden
was the Corrigan Oil-Turbo Blue Rookie of the Race for the sixth time in 2009 and Hank Tews was awarded the Aluminum
Racing Products “Hard Luck Award”. Sontag and Todd were the Randercar Racing Enterprises winners and Hall,
Kugler and Nutley received Racing Junk.com certificates.
Race Notes:
In 2007, Jack Landis was leading the SUPERPRO Series International Trucks Gold Cup 100 when a failed ignition cost
him victory. Last year, he blew an engine after taking the white flag while leading. Saturday night, he led the final
67 laps around the ½ mile Baer Field Speedway to capture the twelfth annual classic.
Leading rookie contender Kyle Hayden and Rick Everidge led the 20 car field to the green with Everidge jumping into
the early lead. An altercation between Matt Hall and Royce Mason brought out the first caution on lap 10. Everidge
and Hayden continued to lead the pack as Landis, Mike Kugler and current point leader Tom Smith began to move through
the field. Landis grabbed third on lap 25, second on lap 31, and into the lead on lap 33. Kugler
moved to second on lap 34 and began to apply the pressure to Landis. On lap 47, Smith moved into third and made it a
three way battle for the lead. At the halfway point, it was Landis, Kugler, Smith, Al Cook, Jr.,
Everidge, Steven Brooks, Andy Marchiniak, Hayden, Jason Dietsch, and Mark Hankowsky. The tough luck that has hounded
Everidge for the entire 2009 season continued as he dropped out on lap 59 with engine failure.
The top 5 remained the same with the exception of Brooks moving into fifth with Everidge’s departure.
Kugler made several bids for the lead but Landis managed to hold him off. A late race caution on lap 92 brought out
the final caution and closed Kugler and Smith to the leader’s rear bumper but Landis was able to hold
on the final eight laps for the victory. Al Cook, Jr. was fourth followed by Dietsch, Brooks, Marchiniak with Hayden,
Hall and Ryan Inman rounding out the top ten.
"This place owed me one,"said a
happy Landis in victory lane. "After coming so close the previous two years, I was wondering what was going to
happen next." Smith was the Aluminum Racing Products fast qualifier and Hankowsky
was awarded the ARP "Hard Luck"award. Hayden was again the Turbo Blue Racing Gas - Corrigan Oil "Rookie
of the Race" Hall was the AllStar Performance - Lane Automotive Hard Charger and Kevin Todd nabbed the Penske
Racing Shocks "Shocking Move of the Race"award. Dietsch and Inman were awarded Randercar Racing Enterprise
contingencies with Al Cook, Jr, Brooks and Hayden grabbing the Racing Junk.com awards.
The SUPERPRO Series moves to Plymouth Speedway on Sunday, September 27 for its Season Championship race as part
of the 2009 Stock Car Festival. For more information, go to the web at www.superproracing.com. INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS AND ENGINES GOLD CUP 100 RESULTS
1. JACK LANDIS
#10 2. MIKE KUGLER #2 3. TOM SMITH #27
4. AL COOK JR. #88 5. JASON DIETSCH #7
6. STEVEN BROOKS
#05 7. ANDY MARCHINIAK #72 8. KYLE HAYDEN #14
9. MATT HALL #04 10. RYAN INMAN #94
11. HANK TEWES
#12 12. KEVIN TODD #92 13. MARK HANKOWSKY #19
14. ROYCE MASON II #5 15. RICK EVERIDGE #63
16. TOMMY COOK
#8 17. PAUL FREELAND #77 18. DANNY LEECK #12
19. SCOTT MENLEN #86 20. JACK SMITH #28
21. JEREMY CURNS
#98 DID NOT START
" It's Just Good To Be Here" written in
2007
Jack Landis Likes Just Being The “Everyman’s Racer”
In the high pressure world of motorsports, drivers are forced to win at all costs to maintain
their ride and keep their sponsor happy. This results in many drivers racing with a 'do or die' attitude. That
translates to their driving style on the race track, being possibly overaggressive, as well as their poor attitude off it
when they do not win. Some say the 'business' makes drivers bitter.
Jack Landis has not let the pressure to perform change his attitude. In fact, nothing seems to phase him.
He just wants to race and have fun doing it.
Jack Landis' #10 is a very familiar
car at tracks around the Midwest and the Southeast. (51 photo)
Landis got attached
to racing when he was growing up in the Midwest.
"My grandparents
owned a speedway up in Angola, Indiana," explained Landis. "I worked there and hung around the racetrack a lot.
I had an uncle that raced, as well as my dad, before I was born. He was always involved with helping or wrenching on
something.
"I kinda started driving like everybody else did.
My first race car was a junk Street Stock. I had a couple brother-in-laws that helped me out getting started, and they
still help me out now occasionally. That was about 23 years ago."
It
did not take long for Jack to get comfortable behind the wheel. In his first year, he had success, but had to evaluate
his commitment to the sport during a trying weekend.
"I had a 'good
wreck,' lets say. The 'good wreck' came before the feature, so I had to figure out how much determination
and desire I had in me to race. It took me all winter to build the car, and after the wreck, it took me one week to
put it back together.
"I kinda had to figure out if this is what I wanted
to do, but after I did it and I was successful by winning a feature in my first year, which is what everyone wants to do,
I got that 'feeling' and got hooked."
Over the years, Landis
had his fair share of good luck and bad luck. Fortunately for him, he has never had a wreck that scared him from the
seat. He thinks about it, but not too much.
"You are always
around it. I have been fortunate enough to not be involved in a big one. I have a good buddy that came down here
and helped me, (CRA Super Series regular) Danny Jackson. I got to be good friends with him this year. He was telling
me he has had a couple trips to the hospital in an ambulance. He is like 22, you know. I said 'dude, be careful.'
I hate to say anything to jinx myself, but fortunately I haven't had any experiences like that so.
"Every once in a while you hear about something happening at the track that makes you scratch
your head and think for a moment, but it goes away. You can’t be thinking about that. You probably wouldn't
cross the road if you thought about how dangerous it was."
A smile is something
Jack Landis always has on his face.
Still though, when something does happen,
Landis takes it in stride.
"I did wad up my car two or three nights
here at the end of last year (at New Smyrna). It was a mishap and happened on the race track. It wasn't any
fun, but it’s going to happen. I told my boss if we do not want to scratch (the car), we should leave it in the
shop.
"Everyone knows they are going to have bad races.
So yeah, I have my bad nights, but we have to regroup to figure out what we are doing. We can't make it fast if
we have to keep putting a nose piece on it every night. You can't learn anything by racing that way."
Landis has raced his Super Late Model at many tracks across the country. From
Indiana to Florida, he has wheeled around many ovals, but doesn't have a favorite facility.
"I can't say I have a favorite track," he said. "You come down here to New Smyrna and see
what they are doing to fix the place up. It’s pretty neat. You know, the track is older than I am and they
are trying to keep it going. Back home, we have Angola Motor Speedway. You should see all the upgrades done to that
track. It’s just neat how much these track owners are putting into these places."
Still though, Landis wonders about the cost of these upgrades, and who is really paying for them.
"I know the track promoters and owners are trying to make money. It seems like
when the grandstands aren't quite as full, it costs the racers more money. I scratch my head and wonder what the
track promoters are trying to do; run us drivers and racers off, you know? Just the little things like renting the slabs
at the race tracks. Here is one, pit licenses. What is that money for? So there are little things the promoters
do to generate vacation money or whatnot that makes me scratch my head sometimes. Or, if you go to one track and a set
of tires is $400 and you go to another place and they are $550 when they are the same tire. So, it is kinda like the
promoters sometimes don't seem like they are trying to help us out as much. We are trying to help the show too."
The rising costs of racing in the sport is about the only thing Landis
is vocal about. At 42 years young, Landis has seen his fair share of talent moving in and out of the short track ranks.
Some drivers might get jealous at these kids coming up now, getting high dollar rides and moving in, out and up in the sport
of racing.
Again, not Landis.
"It is just kinda what is happening nowadays. In all honesty, they've got those kids turning the steering
wheels and pushing the gas pedals and all, but if you look deep in the teams, you will find a lot of years of experience setting
these cars up for them. Some of the kids are eager to learn too. It is very seldom that you ever see any of these
young kids coming up that you fear to race with or you don't was run side-by-side with because most of the time, they
have a pretty good handling car and a real good teacher or coach. So I don’t mind. That is what is happening
more nowadays."
Landis has been a regular in the Super Late Models since
ending his ASA National Tour career.
In fact, Landis doesn't have many enemies
on the track, and it is a rare occurrence to hear him say anything bad about anyone.
"Every series has their bullies as I call them. Sometimes, they have to do what they have to do to get
noticed or that is just the way they are. You know, I am the way I am and they are the way they are.
“I really like racing down here (at Florida Speedweeks). You got them old guys like
(Mike) Fritts. He has been down here every time I have been down here. I like Mike. He is cool. Also
Lee Anderson is down here with his Modified. We got to be good friends with him. Travis Kittleson is not here
this year, but he usually parks next to us. I kind of miss him down here this year. I hope he comes around so
we can joke around about who knows what.
"You know, it is cool to
see all the people down here, guys like Wayne Anderson. It’s cool to talk with the old timers and reminisce about
the old times. We stay down the road from old Smokey Yunick's garage. Of course every time we drive by, someone
makes a wise comment 'wouldn't it be neat to grow up like 30 years ago in that era just to rub elbows with the kind
of guys like that?’ But we have our own Smokey Yunicks out here through guys like Mike Fritts."
The humble nature of Landis is refreshing in a sport that is filled with high tension
and emotions. Sure, winning is a big part of it and the drive to succeed is always there.
But at 42-years-old, what keeps him going is the fun factor.
"I
just want to run as long as I can and be competitive and keep having fun doing it. I run for a wonderful car owner right
now, Jim Newman. Manufactured Housing, the business he owns, provides me with everything I need and it makes everything
a lot easier and a lot more fun. That is what it is all about. We are not going to get rich doing this. So as
long as my sponsor wants to hang in there and pay these high dollar bills I keep raking in, I am going to keep doing it and
having fun.
"It is just neat to be here."
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REUNITED!!
Jack Landis and Manufactured Housing have reached into their past and hired Kevin
Bater this week as their crew chief. Kevin worked for Jack Landis Racing in the '04 and '05 season. Some of
their accomplishments in the two year period include a 3rd place finish at the Snowball Derby in '04, a 5th at the Flake
in '05, 2nd at the Glass City race in Toledo in '04, a 1st place finish in the Columbus 125 CRA race in '05(which
was Jack's first win in the CRA series), but the highlight was a $20,000 "W" in the Summer Sizzler at New Paris
in '05!
Kevin was born in Tecumseh, MI. His parents are Bud
and Joyce Bater, he has three sisters: Cheryl Wipple, Debbie Ahrens, and Carolyn Bater. As they say the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree, this is
very true in this case, these are some awesome people! His family (even when Kevin wasn't working for MHE)
would travel, just to watch Jack race, and bring multiple batches of cookies for the team, and
let me tell ya these are some great cookies! Kevin's mom and dad, Bud and Joyce,
were a huge part of Kevin being involved in racing. Helping their son with his race cars as he raced in the Michigan area
at places like, Springport, Spartan, and Dixie. They also raced at Angola, Avilla and Toledo. Kevin also has two children, Kodi and Tiffany. He is also very proud of his two grandchildren Taja, 4 years old, and
Tozlin 1 year old.
When asked about being reunited with Jack Landis
and MHE, Kevin said, "I'm just excited about the whole opportunity. I'm looking forward to the upcoming season,
Jack and I go way back (29 yrs.) and we have some real good chemistry, it should be a lot of fun!!"
Jack replied, "Well, as far as the good chemistry, I'd say we're more like brothers, but brothers fight and we
never fight. I'm excited about this in many ways, like for instance, Kevin was the driving force behind the engineering
of the front end geometry on our race cars, but he had some circumstances take him away from racing and he never had the opportunity
to develop what we started together, so I'm excited about being able to continue that technology together."
Manufactured Housing was very instrumental in the reuniting of Jack Landis Racing and Kevin Bater, and Jack would like to
thank them for their on going support for Jack Landis Racing and their contribution to local short track racing.
Landis Wins 100 Lapper At Spartan
Scott Hantz wins at Toledo
Bozell wins Landis Second at SPM Spartan
Smith wins at Baerfield
Landis Wins Superpro 75 at Angola
"It's Just Good To Be Here" 2007 Story
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