by Bill Wright
Mike Houseman has accepted Brian Ridge’s offer…..finally. Ridge, impressed with Houseman’s determination a couple of years ago, called to offer him some much needed help with the race team. The only problem was when Ridge called the house, it was Mike’s son who answered…………and never gave dad the message! When Ridge approached Houseman in the pits late last season, the driver didn’t recognize him at first. When Ridge offered his help again, you better believe the racing veteran took him up on his offer. “This is a great deal,” says Houseman, who has two cars ready to go, one for Knoxville and one to do a little traveling with. “We haven’t been in a deal where we could race other tracks a little, that’s nice.” The car he’ll take on the road is the Avenger chassis he won at the banquet. “We plan to hit Burlington, Eagle and Denison when we can,” he says. He’ll race an Eagle with Wesmar power at Knoxville, and a new truck and trailer will be utilized.
The familiar Y5 that Houseman has sported for several years is gone, replaced by a sharp looking 83. Brian Ridge and his son are fans of the Earnhardts’ so they put the numbers together to make 83. “That’s fine with me!” says Houseman. Houseman a long-time south side resident in Des Moines has also moved to a rural acreage between Norwalk and Indianola. “I wouldn’t go back now,” says Houseman of living in Des Moines. “It’s nice out there.”
Mike came to Knoxville as a youngster rooting for his favorite driver, Joe Saldana. He first came to Knoxville as a driver in 1982, when there was just one class running. He has bounced between classes over the years, but the last several he has toiled in the 360 class. His first sprint win came in Oskaloosa back in 1985. He finished off the weekend by winning the next night at Knoxville. He would have a long wait before his next appearance in victory lane here at Knoxville. For years, he overachieved on a limited budget before finally pulling off a win at the famous half-mile in 2001. Just racing in 2001 was a long shot after Houseman strongly considered, and actually announced his retirement following the 2000 season. But return he did, and he was rejuvenated by a second place standing in the points race that year. Last year despite not winning a feature, he finished a strong seventh in the points race.
The 1999 Knoxville Nationals D Main winner looks strong, and will be a threat to win every night with the help of his new owners Brian and Lisa Ridge. “Our goal is the championship, and to get some wins,” says Houseman, with confidence in his voice. When asked who he looks to beat on the track, he simply states, “I really race myself out there, just me and the track. I can’t worry about what everyone else is doing, ‘cause they’re probably all doing something different anyway.”
The Houseman family has been a mainstay the last couple of decades at Knoxville. Mike’s brother Bobby raced many years at Knoxville, and Bobby’s son Tyler is now starting out in the 410 class. Mike’s three sons are still active with the crew. The team’s sponsorship comes from Brian Ridge Construction, American Builder’s Supply of Quincy, Illinois, VP Racing, The Underground, Jocko’s, Goode 1st Impression Graphics, and Circle S Silkscreen. The message has been delivered, now Mike Houseman is working to deliver a championship.