Wisconsin Dells WI- West Salem veteran stock car driver Tom Carlson who returned to his love of racing after a nearly a 20-year hiatus a couple years ago in the UMA 602 Outlaw Late Models is poised and ready for the 2023 racing season to begin. In all his years of racing Carlson has scored plenty of feature wins but a track or series championship is something that has eluded him to date. In 2022 Carlson finished 2nd to Dennis Prunty in the 602 Outlaw Late Model Tour and 2nd to Jason Stark at Dells Raceway Park in the season standings.
“Where to begin” Carlson stated as he reflected on his racing career. Tom started racing with brothers Steve and Tim around 1975. “I drove the car we got the first night then Steve was going to drive it because he got the sponsor for the car,” Tom explained. “After that we both went to our own programs. All the brothers had success in their racing careers but Tom first big career highlight came in the Minnesota State Fair race, he entered a sportsman race against some stiff competition and came out victorious. From there Tom went onto start racing Super Late Models in the early 80’s with CWRA. By the late 80’s Tom joined the ARTGO series and was the 1987 Rookie of the Year.
When the 1990’s rolled around Tom purchased a new Lefthander Chassis from Wayne Lensing in Rockford IL and took it to the Milwaukee Mile on Mother’s Day weekend in ’92 for an ARTGO show. Tom qualified third and Lensing came over to the car and asked how he thought he would do in the race, Tom stated, “I’m going to win” Lensing chuckled and said “well I’m glad you have optimism but Bob Senneker is going to be hard to beat. Tom stated again “Wayne I’m going to win!” Later that day in the closing laps Senneker was out front and Carlson ran him down and past him for the win. As Carlson pulled into victory lane Lensing came over to shake his hand & Tom said, “See Wayne, I told you I was going to win.” Carlson has been in a Lefthander Chassis ever since. Tom had more success that season and beyond winning back to back in the ARTGO Oktoberfest 100 at Lacrosse Speedway in ’91 & ’92. He finished third in the championship standings at Wisconsin International speedway as well.
According to Carlson, when NASCAR changed the chassis (switching from an offset to a perimeter car), many other stars aligned telling him to sell out. “When NASCAR did that, they changed the engines, required the team members to have uniforms and all of that,” Carlson said. “I saw the dollar signs as to what I had versus what I had to go through. I could barely afford to pay for two pit crew guys to get in let alone a bigger pit crew I would have needed with it switching over to Re/Max.”
Tom started backing down his racing shortly after that to get married and start a family and sold everything. “I was done” he stated, then fast forward almost 20 years and the 67-year-old Tom Carlson is having a ball racing in the UMA (Unified Motorsports Association) 602 late model division at Dells Raceway Park and area tracks and just maybe 2023 could be his year to score his first ever Championship.
Dells Raceway Park will open for its 61st Season Saturday Night May 6th with Performance Parts Supply Night. See Four Exciting division of racing action featuring the UMA Super Late Models which are the new weekly division in 2023 with many of the same competitors from the Alive for 5 Series compete in a 50 lap main event. 602 Outlaw Late Models, Sportsman & INEX Legends. Fan Gates open at 3pm with qualifying at 4:30 and Racing Action Starts at 6pm. General admission tickets can be purchased in advance or at the track box office on the day of the event. Adults are just $15, Seniors, Military or First Responders $12, Students (13-17) $10, and Little Race Fans 12 & Under are always Free. Dells Raceway Park is located two miles west of I-90/94 at Exit 85 (Rocky Arbor) just off of Highway 12. Dells Raceway Park, "Wisconsin’s Best Racing Entertainment”
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https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/3234/tickets/1333476