Reinke Returns
By Bill W:
Mike Reinke may be sporting his familiar yellow colors on the track this season, but that may be where the similarities end, compared to the past seasons we've seen him running at Knoxville. The times of loading and unloading, driving the rig the long hours to his home in Howards Grove, WI, and working on the car all week (mostly by himself) are diminished this season. Reinke has found a home in the Gifford Motorsports #17. The color of the car may be the same, but the headaches are not. "I had some great help from Marty Johnson and his boys, Scott Cowman made everything possible for me, and others helped too, but it's so nice not to have to do and worry about doing so much of the work. I can concentrate on the driving, and that takes a lot off of your shoulders," says Reinke.
The team has been busy this spring, racing in World of Outlaws events in Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri. Their goal was mainly to get some laps in, and to get the team going in the right direction heading into Knoxville's season opener. The Gifford team has added a 2002 Maxim chassis, and has a Gaerte motor ready to go as well. The strong team who is helping efforts in the pits includes crew chief Curt Brooks (Mike's brother-in-law), Ed Gifford (also the car owner), Troy Bullock and Rob Sinclair, as well as other family members. Mike's wife Melissa is always close by as well. The couple has two children, Hayley who is five, and Lane who is two. Sponsors for the car include MinuteMan Copy and Printing in Marshalltown, Pit Stop Pizza based in Wisconsin, JR Motorsports and Afco shocks.
Reinke's relationship with the Gifford family came into being late in 2001 with an effort at Powercom Park in Beaver Dam, WI. In an IRA/Gumout series challenge race, Reinke timed in ninth quick in a field of 58 cars. He then went on to a third place run in his heat, and an impressive 14th place finish in the main. He accomplished this after taking an entire year off of racing! Mike admits taking 2001 off from racing was tough, mostly from a confidence standpoint, but his enthusiasm for the new season is evident when you talk to him.
Mike spent two full years in go-karts, finishing second in the points at Norway, IL both years. He also scored a second place finish in a Yamaha feature at the Tulsa Expo, before taking a year off before jumping in a sprinter. Reinke's first experience at Knoxville was a wild one. In his very first race at the famous half-mile back in 1992, he would find himself upside down on the frontstretch. Things really turned around, however, and just four years later he would set the single lap track record with a clocking of 15.276 seconds. The record was later broken by Mark Kinser and eventually the current holder of the mark, Don Droud Jr., but it was an impressive accomplishment nonetheless. Mike is still known for his qualifying prowess, something that is imperative in sprint car racing these days.
Needless to say, Mike is happy to be back racing at Knoxville and competing for a championship. The team will run several IRA (Interstate Racing Association) events as well, but their focus will be on Knoxville. "If things don't break we have a real shot. We want to be a contender every week, finishing in the top five," says Mike. He added that he is really eager to end one of these nights in victory lane, something that has eluded him to this point. Don't bet against the yellow #17 to do just that.