Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TEAM 73 – SHEBOYGAN, WI – Despite a rollercoaster 2023 campaign, to say the least, the “Big Wheel” Scotty Thiel, back at the helm of his own Team 73, is right back where he belongs, and that’s in victory lane, ultimately securing his first IRA Outlaw Sprint Series triumph of the year with a win at Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, on Friday, September 1.
The victory, a $4,000 score for the Sheboygan, Wisconsin, native, occurred from fifth on the grid, stealing the show from race-long leader and defending Series champion, Jordan Goldesberry, with a slider on lap 16.
Although the intent was to sweep his recent IRA weekend, Thiel, ace of the Gibbsville Cheese, Walker’s Game Ear, Professional Plating, Scott Thiel Builders, Stealth Cam, Muddy Outdoors, Complete Water Inc, GRP Motorsports, Hepfner Racing Products, Triple-X Chassis, Keizer Wheels, No. 73 sprint car, would continue on and finish fifth the following evening at the Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth, Wisconsin, on Saturday, September 2. The annual Sheboygan County Fair event was a consistent effort from start to finish for Thiel, ultimately qualifying for the evening’s dash before securing a third-row A-Main starting position.
The weekend top-five sweep was an obvious season highlight for Scotty Thiel and Team 73, but for the Big Wheel personally, recent big success in the Badger State stretches further, finishing fourth with the All Star Circuit of Champions at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wisconsin, on Saturday, May 13.
“Feels great to be back in victory lane. It’s been a challenging year from a personal standpoint, but to get the gang back together and score a victory rather quickly is pretty special,” Thiel stated. “Just hats off to the entire team, and to all of my partners who’ve stuck by my side through thick and thin. The potential has always been there. It was just a matter of getting all of the parts and pieces to click and sync. We’re going to try it again this weekend.”
“Big Wheel” Scotty Thiel and Team 73 will continue their 2023 campaign with another IRA Outlaw Sprint Series doubleheader in the Badger State, this time visiting Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wisconsin, on Friday, September 8, followed by a trip to Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin, on Saturday, September 9.