Matthew Stelzer, #99 305 Sprint
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
by Joanne Cram
Omaha’s 30 year old Matthew Stelzer has been making the trip to race his 305 at Knoxville since 2007, when Knoxville started racing a limited 305 class schedule. He’s had eight years to figure the half mile out, and has had some great successes at the famed track.
Matthew is a fourth generation driver; his great grandfather began the racing tradition driving a modified midget (now commonly known as mini-sprints) back in 1957. Matthew’s grandfather, Richard, also drove modified midgets; and owned a modified driven by Stan Haack that raced all over Nebraska. Richard is credited with building Kam Raceway in Hastings, Nebraska back in 1979, which is still in operation today. Matthew’s dad and current car owner, Scott, has also piloted modified midgets as well as a 360 sprint car at Eagle Raceway in Nebraska. The number 99 was Matthew’s father’s number who chose the number in honor of the legend, Jan Opperman.
At the age of 13, Matthew finally got his turn behind the wheel. With all of the family experience in mini-sprints, that is where he began his racing career at Greenway Speedway and Wavelink Raceway Park, neither of which are still in existence. Matthew admits, he had a few years under his belt in the 125cc B Class before he felt the learning curve take off. He raced 125’s with fellow Nebraska drivers such as Billy Alley, and Chad Humston; mainly in the National Modified Midget Association, racing all over the Midwest and US. In 2001, Matthew won the Nebraska State Championship at Wavelink Raceway Park.
2002 through 2005 found Matthew racing mini-sprints in the 600 cc Restrictor Class, again all over the Midwest and the US. His stout competition included Jack Dover, Brady Bacon, Jonathan Cornell, and Dustin Morgan, to name a few. He won a few races, but his biggest accomplishment was setting quick time and winning the A Main of the preliminary night of the 2003 Nationals at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex in Sweet Springs, Missouri. He finished 2nd at the final night of the Nationals. That same Nationals, Matthew brought a second car to compete in the B Class, where he grabbed a 2nd place finish as well.
2006 brought more change for Stelzer; moving up to a 305 sprint car where he raced at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska in a developmental class which utilized Schwanke Crate Motors. He won his first sprint car career A-feature on August 15th and was named co-rookie of the year.
With Knoxville looking to pick up more sprint car races, they tapped into the 305 talent and brought some 305 races to the schedule in 2007. Matthew has always dreamed of racing the infamous Knoxville Raceway, having grown up attending every Knoxville Nationals with his grandparents since he was eight years old. His dream came true, on June 15th, 2007 when he took his first laps around the famed half mile, finishing 10th. Late September, he raced and finished 15th at the first 305 Nationals in conjunction with the Late Model Nationals put on by Knoxville Raceway. In addition to that Knoxville race, Matthew continued racing at I-80 Speedway and competed in a few special 305 shows around the region.
2008 and 2009 found more 305 races on Knoxville’s special event schedule, which Stelzer was sure to hit. He continued to race the region at tracks such as Jackson Speedway in Jackson, Minnesota and throughout Iowa. Matthew would run with the Midwest 305 Sprints Cars and the Mid America 305 Sprint Car associations traveling to as many races as his time would allow. With his highest finish being 8th place at Knoxville, 2010 proved to give Stelzer the consistent track time he needed to feel like he had found his groove at Knoxville Raceway. The half mile is different than any other track he has raced on, and it takes a lot of laps to master it.
Stelzer ran for 305 points in 2010, taking home 4th. He was never eligible for Rookie of the Year at Knoxville, due to racing the special events the previous years.
In 2011 and 2012, the Stelzer’s once again committed to the three hour drive most Saturdays to run for points, achieving 4th in owner points, and 5th in driver points in 2011. On July 28th 2012, Matthew’s dream finally came true when he picked up his first feature win at Knoxville and made that right hand turn into victory lane. He would go on to win the track championship in 2012 with a family built engine and set quick time five times. Matthew was also named the 2012 Hard Charger.
2013 brought ups and downs: when going into July as the points leader, he tangled with a lapped car while leading the race; ultimately that crash would prove fateful for the motor when it blew up the next race due to a cracked block. Stelzer sat out the remainder of the season while waiting on the rebuild, to return the final race of the season to capture a win.
Last season sounded a lot like more of the same as 2013; going into July with the points lead and failing engine consistency knocked Stelzer out of competition for another championship. The team fell back to a 4th place overall finish, and rounded out the last race of the season on a borrowed RaceSaver 305 motor. Although the season didn’t end on a high note, Stelzer picked up two feature wins early in the season.
2015 has thus far proved to be a wet, inconsistent year for Stelzer. With family commitments, he knew going into the season that he couldn’t attend 100% of the races. The aim was for 1st place in owner points, and as high as he could get in the Maxim-Speedway Motors Racing Engines car with driver points. Motor issues are back, knocking the 99 out of the first race on May 9th with Casey Friedrichsen behind the wheel. With the family funded race team thrashing to get the motor back together, they have had to reassess their goals. Ultimately, 2015 should be about having fun, and being at the track as much as possible.
Matthew has no plans to move up to a 360, as it’s not cost effective and typically only a two man crew at the track for the 99 car, consisting of Scott and Matt. Stelzer’s goals are being fulfilled by being behind the wheel of a 305 sprint car at Knoxville every weekend. A 360 would require a lot more time and money, both of which Matthew balances between his hobby, career and his family, which includes two year old Addisen, two month old Sawyer, and his wife, Stephanie. Monday through Friday, Matthew is an Accountant III in the Business and Finance department at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is also pursuing a MBA at the University of Nebraska – Omaha, and just finished his first year with a 4.0 GPA.
Crew behind the 99 sprinter includes his dad, Scott, and week night help of Kenny Waywood and Tim Conley. Sponsors include Right At Home, FMB Group, Lawlor’s Custom Sportswear, Scott Spady Motor Sales, Trails Performance Coatings, Kylie’s Kakes, and Speedway Motors Racing Engines. Special thanks goes out to his family for all of the faithful support, Mark Burch, Ryan Roberts, Matt Schmitz, Tim Engler, Zach Woods, and Lyle Haburn. Matthew is very appreciative for all of the people who have helped make his racing dreams come true.
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