Racing a family affair for Fleegers
BUFFALO TWP — Like father, like son?
Maybe even better.
Butler senior Shawn Fleeger is graduating from high school in June, but his learning curve in a Modified race car is just beginning at Lernerville Speedway.
Fleeger, 19, is in his second year behind the wheel of the No. 88 car. His father, Doug Fleeger, raced the No. 8F Modified for eight years.
"My car was No. 8. Shawn's go-cart was No. 8. We were both born on the eighth of different months. No. 88 seemed a natural for this car," the elder Fleeger said.
"My best-ever finish was seventh. Shawn finished ninth the first time he ever raced here," he added.
That remains Shawn's best finish in a feature to date. But he's 12th in the Modified points race at Lernerville and has a goal of finishing among the top 10.
"It's going to be challenging to get there because it's my responsibility to keep the car clean," Shawn Fleeger said. "If I do any significant damage to it, with our budget, we lose race nights."
Just how tight is the Fleeger budget?
"(Points leader) Brian Swartzlander probably has more money tied up in his engine than we do in everything," Doug Fleeger said.
That doesn't mean young Fleeger can't find his way to victory lane at some point.
"You get the right pill draw, the race falls into place for you — you never know when it might be your night," Shawn said. "All we can do is be as ready as we can be each week."
Shawn Fleeger helped work on his father's car when he was racing. Now Dad is returning the favor.
Bob Morgan of New Brighton has been helping the Fleeger race team for six years. He even worked on Shawn's go-cart during the younger Fleeger's three-year career at Shadetree Speedway.
Shawn finished second in points in the go-cart.
While he's not winning in the Modified yet, Shawn Fleeger is keeping the car healthy — and he's piling up the weekly points.
"The front axle rods on this car are still the original ones from last year," Morgan said. "That's how clean Shawn's been keeping this car out there."
On graduation night, Doug Fleeger will be driving the No. 88 while his son receives the diploma.
"We want to keep his points up," Doug Fleeger said.
Besides racing for points at Lernerville, the Fleeger team will compete in the BRP Modified series to experience other tracks.
Morgan is allowing the use of his trailer to haul the car, parts and tools to and from the track on race nights.
"I own two classic cars that I haul to Detroit and Daytona for shows during the winter," Morgan said. "We use the trailer for racing in the spring and summer. It's our mobile garage."
