HARRISONVILLE, Pa. – With the new racing season in Pennsylvania right around the corner, veteran Mike Wagner is preparing for his 37th consecutive season owning and driving his own winged 410 sprint car.
During the offseason Wagner and his family, along with the help of friends, did some research and realized that he has driven and operated his own winged 410 sprint car team for longer than any other active competitor in the country.
“We are definitely excited to kick-off another season coming up in March,” Wagner stated. “It’s pretty incredible to think that this will be my 37th straight season of owning the team and driving it myself. We checked into it, and to the best of our knowledge that’s a record in the United States. We discussed it with some people we thought were close to that mark. Donny Kreitz took a couple of years off at one point and Danny Smith didn’t begin owning his car until 2001.”
Wagner has owned and operated his own auto body shop in Pennsylvania for 38 years and continues to have an overwhelming passion for the sport of sprint car racing.
“We continue doing this stuff because we absolutely love it,” Wagner said. “Over the years we’ve never had what you would consider a major or huge sponsor, but we work hard to get this car on the track with the support of some great individuals and partners. Fortunately the last two seasons we have had some longtime supporters step up, and also have received some new sponsors that have come on board, which has been very beneficial to our program. I think it’s safe to say that we spend all our money on race cars.”
Throughout his career Wagner has captured a magnitude of wins in Central Pennsylvania, including a pair of Port Royal Speedway championships in 1991 and 2011, along with a big win in the annual Labor Day Classic at the famed half-mile in 2009. In 2017 he also received the Living Legends Award at Port Royal.
Wagner has one triumph with the All Star Circuit of Champions and even has a Civil War Series victory in California, which came in 2004 at Calistoga Speedway. Wagner has driven for other owners in the past, including Walt Dyer, Zemco Racing, Joe Harz, the Casey’s General Store No. 6 and the Tanger No. 07, but never for a full campaign.
This season will find the Harrisonville, Pa., competitor run regularly at Port Royal once again, with most of Pennsylvania Speedweek thrown in as well. After competing at the Knoxville Nationals for the first time last season he hopes to make the trip once again this year, along with additional voyages to the track in preparation when Port Royal is dark. Wagner also lists the prestigious Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway as a possibility this year.
One of Wagner’s more special accomplishments was starting his two sons off in the 305 sprint car division, which then progressed to each of them moving on to winged 410 sprint cars. His son, Logan Wagner, piloted the famed Zemco Racing No. 1 to a huge victory last season during the prestigious Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal.
Keyword: Mike Wagner Ready For 37th Season Of Sprint Car Racing