New Car; New Sponsor; Gerald Ready for 2008

Just outside of Appleton, Wisconsin, on almost any given day, you will find Matt Gerald and Mikey VandenHeuvel in the race shop.  With 25 days until the opening rounds of WSORR in Wheatland, MO, Gerald was breaking tires off rims and getting his new trailer ready.

With his new 1600 Light Buggy tucked away at home and almost race ready Gerald was prepping for an upcoming test day with his new sponsor, Forest County Potawatomi. “I had been working with the Forest County Potawatomi for over a year now. They are on board and I hope to make them proud.  It’s been a dream to be teamed up with guys like Kincaid, Wandahsega, and Greaves and now to have that come true is exciting.”

Last year Gerald suffered a season ending injury at Crandon in possibly one of the worst crashes in the buggy division ever.  With good friend VandenHeuvel leading the race Gerald pushed a little too hard into the first corner and went end over end as VandenHeuvel went on to capture the victory.

Going into the Crandon weekend Gerald was on track to finish in the top five in points, “It was very disappointing after the season I was having.  Going to Wheatland as a spectator was difficult.”  But even with his leg still in a cast Gerald was still able to start on a new car for 2008, which was fabricated by VandenHeuvel.

This week Gerald will climb into his car for the first time since that wreck and face the track that almost ended his career in off-road. “I watch the tape every now and then but until I strap myself in Friday I’m not going to think about it that much. Nothing is going to change; I’m still going to go for it in the first turn.”

As for VandenHeuvel, he doesn’t intend on sitting back and letting his good friend get any easy wins this season, “I’m not going to give him anything on the track, if he wants the win he’s going to have to take it from me.” smirked VandenHeuvel.

Great friends off the track and obvious rivals on the track, these two racers not only share a lot of ideas and work together, but share a passion to race and see the sport grow, “This might be my last year in light buggy; we’d really like to move up next season.” continues Gerald, “The series had treated the drivers well thanks to Lucas Oil and Forest County Potawatomi supporting all the classes.”  

“We have a lot of good things going for us, including a really great crew.  With my father, Curt Gerald serving as crew chief, Tyler Wians as chief mechanic, and Mike Brue helping us out as much as he can there’s no doubt we’ll be in contention this year.  With guys like VandenHeuvel, Kliekamp, Lemke, and Fhrese all with good cars it’s defiantly going to be a battle this year. Hopefully we’ll be the one on top”