By: Ron Burt
People from all walks of life watch racing and participate in the sport. It seems natural that a mechanical engineer would take interest in racing and car designs, and, think of ways to make a car go faster but when you have two brothers, both in the same field of work, you have double the ideas. It sounds like a great formula for speed. If you follow my Facebook blog, Ohio Sports Blitz, you’ve seen a couple of posts from Zitzka Racing. I’ve reposted pictures of their new Supermodified that they will share driving duties in this season.
Kenyon and Ryan Zitzka both raced Three-Quarter (TQ) Midgets from 2000 to 2006 near their home at Lancaster Speedway and Kenyon has recently returned to the TQs racing in 20021 and 2002. During the off-season the brothers purchased the former McVetta #29 Rocket Chassis Supermodified. Mike McVetta built it around 2014 or 2015 and he had made some iterative improvements over the years. The engine is a 467 CI big block Chevy that was originally built by Brad Malcuit. Once Kenyon and Ryan get the Supermodified finished they intend to run the ISMA/MSS series plus a couple of Oswego non-wing races this year. They grew up attending races at Oswego and now they will be racing their own car at this famous racing shrine. Racing fans know this one of the top asphalt tracks in the country. The series will also bring them near us at Lorain and Sandusky Speedways this summer.
They both have open wheel experience, but a Super is a lot different than a TQ Midget. These cars are more arrow dynamic and set low to the track like Indy cars. Some events they can run wings to hold the car down for better grip and other races will be non-wing. Fans have a big misconception about wings on Supermodifieds. When the cars run the top wing people think the driver controls the wing angle. Some don’t realize it’s all automatic with the air pressure in the pneumatic cylinders. These two enjoy designing and building cars. Their goal is to build a Supermodified of their own design in the coming years. I like their enthusiasm and after they get some track time the sky will be the limit. I will check in on them this season and next fall see what personal goals they reached in 2023.
Waynesfield Raceway Park will open April 8th with a great open wheel show featuring the Great Lakes Traditional (non-wing) Sprints, $3000.00 to win, the winged NRA 360 Sprint Invaders and the UMP Modifieds, $1000.00 to win. Opening night will be a twilight show with racing starting at 4:00PM.
Limaland Motor Sports Park has added a June 16th Family Fun Night to the show that will now include the USAC Midwest D2 Thunder Midgets. They will join UMP Mods, Thunder Stocks and Dirt Trucks.
Indiana race fans, Anderson Motor Speedway will open April 8th and will feature the 23rd running of the Glenn Niebel Classic featuring the 500 Sprint Car Tour, and the USSA Midgets. Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
