As 2021 comes to a close and we get ready to enter 2022, looking back at this past year truly showed its ups an downs for me mentally. I lost two people, my friend Tammy Stevens and my brother Jesse, who both meant the world to me.
After not announcing anywhere full-time in 2020, I had a few fill in at various tracks. I returned to being behind the microphone again in 2021 at the Independence Motor Speedway, thanks to Mick Trier and Justin Temeyer and I enjoyed having the microphone in my hand again but sometimes I felt mentally exhausted trying to prepare myself every week to announce races.
I even got to fill in one night on the flag stand at the Independence Motor Speedway and I had blast because that week I need it more mentally since earlier that week, I lost my younger brother Jesse. It allowed me to take my mind off it for a little while.
I continued to spend my off nights at the Brooklyn Raceway in Brooklyn. I helped out in 2020 and was excited Don and Shelley Wauters let me come back to lend a hand when I could in 2021. Most of the times was spend as an assistant scorer but one week, the plan was to go support a Softball tournament in my brother’s honor and then go to Independence, however after Independence rained out, my focus turned to going to Brooklyn and help score races. That turned into me being the head scorer for the night since their normal scorer was not feeling well, It was a very stressful night but again, Don and Shelley continue to support me for my willingness to jump into action.
In October I had chance to be a part of the Inaugural Battle at the Brooklyn Raceway for the Midwest Micro Series as an assistant flagman. I was incharge of the caution lights on Night 1 but on Night 2, I was promoted to head flagman since the other one was not feeling well. I had a blast flagging once again.
I attend other races in 2021 at Marshalltown Speedway, Sports Park Raceway, Kossuth County Speedway, Mason City Motor Speedway, Hamilton County Speedway, Keokuk County Expo, Stuart International Speedway and Boone Speedway. Many times I took pictures to relieve stress and help with my mental health.
One night in August, the night before I filled in as flagman in independence, was very special to me since earlier that day my brother was lied to rest, I decided to go to the Marshalltown Speedway and hang out with my support group and hang out with some friends. My buddy Jeff Wollam finally got that monkey off his back and got the win, the touching moment was when he asked for a picture of just me and him in victory lane.
What is in store for 2022, I am not sure if Mick wants me back at Independence Motor Speedway because I honestly haven’t heard much from him since racing season.
I have a few offers on the table for the 2022 season : New Warren County Speedway Promoter Brandan Long has asked me to be their announcer, Midwest Micro Series has asked me to be their full time flagman (traveling to all their races and flagging their series races) & Brooklyn Raceway wants me to be the guy in charge of keeping the points updated and doing some other various stuff.
In January and February 2022, I will be grabbing the microphone a few times as the PA Announcer for Marshalltown High School Wrestling Home Meets. I grabbed the microphone a few of times in 2021 during Allie Morrison Dual Tourney, JV Wrestling Tourney and Bobcat Hall of Fame Night.
What I want to do is announce and flag races in 2022. A dream of mine is to get the opportunity to do it for a big time special event race featuring a big time racing series, maybe sometime.
There is far too many people to thank for all their support in 2021, honestly I don’t know what I would do with out all you guys. Thanks for being there for me this year.
So stay tuned to what I decide to do for the 2022 season.
