SPORTS

Drivers gear up for Detjens Memorial race

Tim Johnson
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Tim Sauter is vying for his fourth win in the Detjens Memorial Saturday at State Park Speedway

RIB MOUNTAIN - The Sauterfamily has been unbeatable in the Larry Detjens Memorial recently.

Tim Sauter won back-to-back races in 2013 and '14 and his younger brother, Johnny, won the race last year.

Johnny will not be in the field for the 36th running of the 125-lap stock car feature Saturday night at State Park Speedway, but there will be Sauters in the race looking to continue the Necedah family's success.

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Tim will be vying for his third title in four years, while his brother, Jim Jr., will be driving in the event for the first time. Tim's son, Travis, is also making his inaugural appearance in the race that honors the former short track driver, who died as results of injuries suffered in a crash at the Wisconsin International Raceway in 1981.

Tim is one of five drivers to win the race in back-to-back years and could become just the fourth to win the feature three times.

Qualifying starts at 5 p.m. Saturday and racing begins at 6 p.m. at the Speedway.

"I've watched a lot of races there the last few years and thought it might be fun," Travis Sauter said in a State Park Speedway media release. "Plus that strip of pavement in the pits really helps. It's a tough track, way tougher than it looks. It takes a lot of discipline and if I'm even close to my dad (Tim) at the end, I will consider it a good night.  He is really good there."

Mark Mackesy has won the Memorial race three times since 1999, with that latest coming in 2012. He is vying to become the first four-time winner of the feature. Mackesy won the Super Late Model feature race at State Park Speedway two weeks ago, his first victory at the track in roughly two years.

"The Detjens race is our Daytona 500," Mackesy said in the media release.  "My wife is Larry's daughter. Larry and my dad were good friends and he painted my dad's first four race cars.  His passing was a huge loss for my family and the whole racing community."

Natalie Decker leads the Super Late Model points race at State Park Speedway and has won two feature races at the track this season. A win Saturday would be her first at Detjens Memorial.

"He was a short track racer who was loved by everyone for his great personality and sportsmanship," Decker said in the media release. "It's a very special night at SPS to honor Detjens at what was once his home track too.  It would be a blessing to have my name on the trophy for the Larry Detjens Memorial."

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11