Mike Trautschold had a simple reason to join the Super DIRTcar Series. He wants to compete with the best drivers in Big Block Modified racing.
“It’s the best of the best,” Trautschold said. “I love competition. To be the best, you have to beat the best. And that’s it.”
The Roscoe, NY driver is the newest Rookie of the Year contender, joining Matt Caprara and Alex Payne. And like the other two rookies, he’s no stranger to Series competition.
Trautschold made six Super DIRTcar Series appearances in 2023, including the season finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. He sees those races as learning experiences that prepare him better for 2024.
“Racing is a learning curve,” Trautschold said. “You never stop learning. Everything you learn from one-year transfers to the other. It’s basically a momentum thing.”
He’ll try and use that momentum to win Rookie of the Year—one of his two goals this season.
“I want Rookie of the Year, and I want to win a Super DIRTcar Series race,” Trautschold said. “Financially, I have no sponsors, so I have to fund everything. It took me 20 years to build my company and my family. And get myself to a situation where I can race at this level. So now, I know I can compete at the level financially.”
“I think my skill set is close. I’m looking for Rookie of the Year and a win.”
Trautschold will kick off his season with the Super DIRTcar Series at Volusia Speedway Park during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals Feb. 14-17. It’ll be the first time the Empire State driver will visit “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile” since 2022.
He said he’s excited to return to Florida, but a gator isn’t his main focus. He wants to see where his program is and what he needs to change before the championship season begins at New Egypt Speedway on March 30.
“It’s really nothing more than just testing the waters,” Trautschold said. “There’s a gator. But it’s not the start of our points season. So, you can see how you compete with the competition you’re going to be racing with on a weekly basis.
“I’m amped just to see what we got.”
The Super DIRTcar Series kicks off 2024 in the Sunshine State with a trip to Volusia Speedway Park during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals Feb. 14-17. For tickets, visit dirtcarnationals.com.
If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision, either online or with the DIRTVision app.
