MSRXSS to Feature Several New Driver/Team Combinations

Story & Photos By Dave Sink

ANDERSON, Ind. (March 2, 2013) - The 2013 TRUFUEL Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series (MSRXSS) opener is less than three weeks away and there are currently no less than 10 new driver/owner combinations. These new teams will debut during the second annual Royal Oak Southern Shoot Out at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. March 22 and the following night at Mobile International Speedway. Nearly 30 cars have already entered the event.

“There is no doubt this is going to be one of, if not the best field of winged pavement sprint cars ever put on a race track“ stated MSR president Jim Hanks.”The level of competition, quality of cars and outstanding group of drivers is a direct reflection of our efforts to bring the best racing entertainment possible to the race fans” concluded Hanks.

Davey Hamilton Racing will return to the series full-time in 2013 with driver Mike Larrison. Rookie Davey Hamilton Jr. has replaced Brain Olson. The team will once again sport TRUFUEL sponsorship in 2013. In addition, Dick Fieler and George Rudolph have merged their teams with Davey Hamilton Racing to form a potent three-car effort. Two-time MSRXSS champion Troy DeCaire has been tabbed to drive the #40:1 car.

The Florida car owner Dick Fieler explained how the merger happened. "I decided to open a shop in Brownsburg, Ind." Fieler explained. "George Rudolph agreed to be the mechanic. I assigned George the responsibility of hiring the driver. George hired Troy DeCaire. They go back a long way. After talking to Davey (Hamilton) who has a shop nearby, he suggested we team up together".

The Fieler/Rudolph branch of Davey Hamilton Racing will have three cars at their disposal this coming summer. "George and I have four cars with three in Indiana" explains Fieler. "We have two Hurricane's and a John Godfrey built car. Troy, George, and I want to run as many races as possible. A Must See championship would be wonderful, but I'm personally in it to win races. That's what you go racing for To win races. I believe Must See Racing is on the upswing as far as quality of cars and tracks. I'm looking forward to the season" concluded Fieler.

Long-time North Carolina car owners Don and Suellen Wilshe will be campaigning two full-time entries with the possibility of a third. Jimmy McCune and Geoff Kaiser will represent the BIOBASED.US team this season. "We'll be running two cars all year with Jimmy McCune and Geoff Kaiser" explains Don Wilshe."The team is being managed for me by Jim McCune. Our plan is to run for the championship. I think both drivers have good skills and are highly talented. I'm bringing an extra car to the opener and its possible I could end up running three cars". Wilshe also explains that he has involvement with the Dave Steele car that he will be competing in at the season opener."I loaned Dave one of my best Chevy engines for the first two races of the season .If he wants to race more, I'll try to make sure he has an engine".

Tampa, Fla. driver Dave Steele acknowledged that he will indeed be participating in the Must See openers but isn't sure how many more Must See events he will commit to in 2013. "I'm competing in the first two for sure," Steele explained. "I might hit a couple of others. We'll see".

Brian Olson returns to full-time MSRXSS competition in 2013 fresh off a two-win performance in 2012. Olson will be driving for himself this season. "Davey (Hamilton) and I couldn't work anything out so I decided to start my own team. I've always ran my own cars up until 2011. We're gonna run the whole Must See schedule and run for the championship".

Olson will be campaigning a black #71 DRC Chassis car with a Charlie Fisher Racing engine. He has secured sponsorship from Edwards Transmission and Engines, IndyCar Experience, and Pro-Vac. Olson will have long-time mechanic Jack French assisting his efforts at the season opener." Jack's gonna help us out early on and we'll see if we cant work something out for the rest of the year".

Aaron Pierce and his Sam Pierce Chevrolet team will once again field a second entry at the majority of Must See events in 2013. Pierce explained that Billy Wease will wheel the Hurricane chassis in Florida and perhaps a few more times. Tyler Dunn is also expected to run the car at least two times himself. Pierce also indicated Sondi Eden could possibility to wheel the car on a few occasions if things work out. Pierce will be gunning for the 2013 MSRXSS drivers championship after disappointing early season woes all but eliminated him from the championship chase. Pierce did find victory lane with MSRXSS in 2012 at Shangri-La II Speedway.

Jerry Powell will also field a two-car effort in 2013 with drivers Dude Teate and Scotty Orr. Teate is a multi-time Tampa Bay Area Racing Association champion while Orr is a veteran of dirt and is a past Eldora Speedway Modified champion. The Powell team will utilize Beast chassis in their quest for a MSRXSS championship.

Perhaps the most interesting driver/team combination comes from Tampa car owner Lenny Puglio. Puglio is rumored to have intentions to run a two car team at Must See events with drivers Davey Hamilton and Bobby Santos. Efforts to contact Puglio were unsuccessful. It is unknown if Puglio will run for the championship or participate in select Must See events.

If these new driver/team combinations are any indication of what to expect in 2013, this could be a very exciting season for Must See Racing fans.