Ben Wandahsega in the No. 297 SRT Super Truck
Aug 14, 2008
As the crowd settles in for the first big race of the day, and the public address announcer runs down the list of names in the competition, everyone is sitting and waiting in anticipation. When the name "Ben Wandahsega" echos over the Bark River race track, the otherwise rather passive audience stands with a roaring applause. And why wouldn't they? Not only does Wandahsega live in Bark River, but he also has dominated the track all season.
In the four races put on by the World Series of Off Road Racing this season, the hometown hero has made it to the podium three of four times, holding the victory check two of those three times.
That was just in his SRT Super Truck category. He has also raced in the Pro 2 class against trucks with 200 horsepower more than him, fairing very well almost taking over third place but settling with a fourth place finish last Sunday.
When asked if he feels any extra pressure racing in front of some many people he knows, the father of three answered, "You put the pressure on yourself I think more than anything and you just don’t want to disappoint all the guys that put all the time working on the truck, and everyone else."
That's just Wandahsega's nature, constantly thinking of others before himself.
The Forest County Potawatomi Racing team member promoted his crew chief Mark Weirhanowicz, and the rest of his crew saying they do "like 99 percent of the work."
Continuing with that theme, Wandahsega commented on how his family comes with him to every event. "My kids come, wife comes, and my ma and dad try to make it to everyone. They will be at all the rest (of this seasons events) the rest of the year."
Although the driver of the No. 297 truck seems to shift the attention away from himself a bit, it is impossible to keep that up. He took first place in the 2005 and 2007 Championship Off-Road Racing series for his class and is currently in 2nd place in WSORR in the Super Truck standings.
Had it not been for some unfortunate events in Crandon (two vehicle mishaps while leading both races) and one here in Bark River (a broken right rear wheel stud, also while leading the race), there might be a different name in that first place slot.
WSORR is eliminating Wandahsega's class of Super Trucks next year, but that does not mean you won't see this dominate force out tearing up the tracks again next year. The man who has been racing for just over 10 years now will be moving up into a different class for the first time in his career. As the defending champ, Ben will try to end the Super Truck series as the last back-to-back champion in the events history.
Wandahsega has a few choices of which class he could race next year varying from Pro Light to the new Ultra 4x4 class that will make its debut next year with a completely new field of drivers.
No matter what the outcome, the fans at Bark River, MI have no reason to fear. Next year, when the PA announcer once again is rolling through that list of drivers, the name "Ben Wandahsega" once again will boom out over those aluminum bleachers and fold-out chairs as the Forest County Potawatomi racer sets out with his new challenge.
