Get Back To Dirt

Street Stock veteran Ulmer trying hand at Modifieds

Most dirt-track racers jump out of their cars following a race, take a deep breath and go about their business.

Some celebrate. Others complain and look for reasons why they didn’t win.

Travis Ulmer doesn’t have time for any of that.

This season, the 28-year-old Dickinson native is pulling double duty, competing in both the Wissota Street Stocks and IMCA Modifieds classes.

“It’s pretty hard to maintain two cars, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Ulmer said. “It’s a lot of work, I know that.”

Ulmer is the only driver at both the Southwest Speedway south of Dickinson and Mandan’s Dacotah Speedway who races full time in both classes.

Though Ulmer says it’s a “learning year” for him in the Modifieds, he has a shot at winning his first track title of any kind tonight in the Street Stocks during the Mid-Season Championship races, which begin at 7 p.m.

Ulmer trails Hebron’s Zach Frederick by six points, a challenging yet attainable difference to make up in one night.

Ulmer said his goal is to win at least one title in the Street Stocks, preferably the season championship, at either track before the end of the summer.

“We’re right there with ‘em,” Ulmer said. “That’s my biggest thing for this year is to finally get a championship in that Street car.”

While Ulmer is a veteran in the Street Stocks, he is gradually growing acquainted with his Modified car.

He used a rodeo analogy to describe the difference in driving the two cars.

“It’s like riding a sheep and then going to a bull,” a laughing Ulmer said, comparing Street Stocks to Modifieds.

So far, Ulmer has been keeping up with the demands of racing in two classes a night.

He’s second in the Street Stocks at the Southwest Speedway and third at the Dacotah Speedway.

In the Modifieds, he ranks toward the bottom, but that doesn’t bother him.

“It’s a learning experience this year, get as much seat time as I can,” he said.

The experience hasn’t been without it’s troubles though.

Ulmer said any kind of problem with either car takes a toll on he and his one-man pit crew, his father, Dennis Ulmer.

“That’s the biggest problem,” Ulmer said. “When you break, it’s so time effective. You just don’t know if you’re going to be able to get back out there in time or not.”

Ulmer said he eventually wants to transition into only racing Modifieds.

what does a CAT and riding have in common ? - Dirt Rider . Net ...

Hey Dave, Al and I had a real good ride the Tuesday before last. We were at White Cloud crossing the dirt road across from the big sand whoops and we could hear thunder in the distance. We thought about heading back but Al said "What's the worst that could happen? We could get a little wet." I agreed and off we went to the new ATV loop. We went around the loop counter clockwise and stopped at the bench for a little break. It was sprinking at that point. No big deal we got a little wet. About two minutes after we left the bench Mother Nature let us have it. The wind started to howl and the rain came down in buckets. The trees were swaying back and forth I had to keep my head down to keep the rain from power washing my eyeballs. Goggles and safety glasses were just fog traps so they were long gone. Quarter size hail made my helmet ring like a broken bell. By the time we got back to the big sand whoops branches an leaves were flying out of trees and water was pudddling between the big sand whoops. I have never seen that before. Once we got back across the dirt road the trail had turned to stream. We road with the flow of the water going down hills and against the flow going up hills. The wide part of the trail south of the dirt road was like a little river we just road with the water, and with caution as none of the rocks, roots or washout were visible in the water. At the end of the wide part were the big mud puddle always is was now more like a mud pond. I went around it, though the water was still pretty deep, and Al took a line through the middle of it. Al quckly bailed on the line and cut out to the side. Too late, his airbox took a drink and about 1/8 of a mile later his motor konked out. Luckily the rain let up about then and in an hour and three sparkplugs Al had it running again. The rest of the trip back to the parking lot was an adventure of it's own as we had to find lots of creative lines through the woods to avoid alot of monster size water holes and downed trees. By the time we got back to the parking lot we were just a little wet. I have to say, and I think Al would agree, it was the most fun I have ever had on a dirt bike. Hey Dave, Al and I had a real good ride the Tuesday before last. We were at White Cloud crossing the dirt road across from the big sand whoops and we could hear thunder in the distance. We thought about heading back but Al said "What's the worst that could happen? We could get a little wet.

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