Though the 2015 racing season is only two point-nights old, it certainly appears that Clintonville racer Matt Oreskovich has asserted himself as a true candidate to win the IMCA Modified point tussle at the famed half-mile speed plant known as the Shawano Speedway.
Entering action this Saturday night, the “O Show” has a feature win and a second-place feature finish. Unlike many racers, Oreskovich didn’t come from a racing family. His father, also Matt Oreskovich, was a highly skilled hockey player who played in the United States Hockey League from 1964 through 1972. His promising hockey career was cut short by injuries.
Matt the racer has compiled a very diverse racing background. He has raced on ice in studded and nonstudded rear-wheel drive as well as studded front-wheel drive. He has raced on dirt in four cylinders, IMCA Sport Mod, and even had a short stint in a dirt late model. On pavement he has raced endures and school buses. That’s right, a school bus as part of the ever-popular “Eve of Destruction” held annually at WIR in Kaukauna.
Aside from his own racing exploits, Matt supports his son, Max, who has raced numerous seasons at the area’s ultracompetitive dirt go-kart tracks and this past winter wheeled a nonstudded front-wheel drive car on the ice.
Oreskovich has raced in the IMCA Modified division at the track since the 2011 race season. Prior to that he was a front-runner in the IMCA Sport Mod class. Oreskovich finished last season by winning the feature race on the final night of racing. He picked up this season right where he left off last year by winning the feature on opening night. Last week he came home with an impressive second-place finish after starting the race in 17th due to a spin in his heat race.
Oreskovich holds a 2-point advantage in the standings over defending track champion Marcus Yarie. The season point chase should again be a tremendously close battle between Oreskovich, who is looking for his first title at the historic half-mile, and former track champions Yarie, Jerry Wilinski, Eddie Muester and Jerry Muenster, as well as hotshoes including but not limited to Cody Hudson, Mitch Stankowski, Tony Wedelstadt, John Berna and Jamie Schmidt.
Of one thing I am certain: Anytime Oreskovich is on the track you can be certain to hear the cheers from his loud and loyal fan base, especially those located near turn one. This is shaping up to be a great year. See you at the speedway.
Categories
