Michael Bauer’s life edges on two ends of a spectrum, which couples his boundless love for racing with his prodigious talent in science and math.

The 21-year-old senior is a 4.0 student at Clarion University, majoring in Math and Physics with a minor in Computer Science. On the weekends, he uses racing as his laboratory and drives a Sprint car at Mercer or Lernerville.

At every stage of his life, Bauer has excelled. He said, “My dad always taught us to work hard and expect the best.”

Bauer was 4 years old when he started riding dirt bikes in motocross. At the age of 8, he switched to go-carts, racing at Pine Hill Speedway in Shippenville, Flat Run, and Tylertown for eight years. He won a couple of championships and one state title.

When he was 16, Michael decided to take time off from driving and help his uncle Todd Bauer, who competed in the 410 Sprints at Lernerville, Mercer, and Tri-City Speedways.

He learned about Sprint set-ups, tire combinations, and watched his uncle drive.

When Michael was 18, he decided to compete in 305 Sprints under the tutelage of his uncle. They put together an old Bob Felmlee racer and went to Mercer. Michael raced 16 times, won two features and finished fourth in points his first year.

The next season, his dad, Jeff, bought him Guy Griffin’s old Sprint and Michael drove in 15 races at Mercer and Sportsman, recording two feature wins.

At the age of 20, Michael ran a full season at both Mercer and Sportsman, taking part in every race. He won the championship at both tracks and also won the Mercer “Most Improved Driver Award.” He scored eight feature wins in 31 races.

This year’s beginning was joyful for Bauer. He won five 305 Sprint races in seven starts, but then he was involved in a terrible wreck. After evaluating his situation, Bauer decided that it was time to move up and try competing in 410 Sprints.

He put the car back together. His “knight in shining armor” was his grandfather, Frank Bauer, who offered to buy him a motor. He will debut his new mount Friday at Lernerville.

Bauer’s crew consists of his dad, brother Matt, Cameron Slike, his girlfriend, Shannon Bernier (physics and nuclear engineering major) and mom Ellen.

This summer, Michael is at Lafayette College doing research in Financial Mathematics, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. His brother, Matt, a Math and Physics major, is on a full scholarship at the University of Florida, studying Material Engineering Analysis.

Michael will graduate from college in 2015.

“I always take 18 credits,” he said. “I hope to go on to graduate school for Quantitative Analysis and get a Masters or Doctorate Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Data Analysis and Computer Programming.”

What amazes him is how physics and racing have come together.

He can apply what he has learned in physics when setting up a car. He also likes introducing some of his classmates to racing and they are not only intrigued, but are also having a blast.

Michael is looking forward to his first win in the 410 Sprints. “It would be cool to win an All Star Sprint event and maybe make a World of Outlaws Sprint show some day,” he reflected.

Moving on up

Congratulations to Lernerville Public Relations Director Eric Westendorf. He is now the new principal at Central Westmorland Career and Technical Center.

On the mend

In a very unusual racing accident, Sprint driver and former Butler resident Jack Sodeman Jr sustained a broken leg in the recent WoO feature at Lernerville.

The concern is that it was the same leg that was broken in Canada in 2011 and has titanium rods in it. The surgeon reported that it was a clean break in the fibula and tibia and casted the leg.

Sodeman’s spirits are high, but he will be sidelined indefinitely.

Driver change

Sye Lynch is no longer the driver of the Lockhart #58 305-Sprint at Mercer. Michael Bauer is the new chauffeur.

What’s on tap

Friday Lernerville Speedway will have Fab 4 Racing plus it is PCTC Night. PA Motor Speedway will feature the Herb Scott Memorial Late Model race, paying $3,000 for 30 laps. Mercer Raceway will have a regular program plus bike races for the kids.t

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle