Posted on: Thursday June 13, 2024
Freedom’s Jerry Vander Loop poses next to the late model he wheels at WIR in Kaukauna, Wisconsin on Thursday nights.
J.j. And Jerry Vander Loop are getting their feet wet on both dirt and asphalt ovals in 2024.
The Freedom teens have been tearing up the asphalt on Wisconsin International Raceway’s D-shaped, half-mile oval on Thursday nights in Kaukauna.
With a very quick turnaround the pair swap out the pavement super late model and late model cars, respectively on Fridays for a pair of IMCA northern sportmods where they often ‘get dirty’ on Friday nights at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour and at other area dirt tracks on occasion.
In ’24 J.j. made the natural jump to the super late model class for Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) action after securing the late model track title in ’23. When it comes to the pavement late model Jerry is running, the learning curve is a little tougher road to hoe for the younger 17-year-old.
“For me anyways racing this late model on pavement is a totally different animal,” said Jerry, who is a rookie in the FRRC’s late model class. “ I don’t know much about it really but I keep learning every week. This car wasn’t quite ready from last year. I just want to improve every week and do my best to not wind up in any wrecks. That’s important.”
Jerry Vander Loop poses next to his IMCA northern sportmod at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour.
Both young drivers are maximizing their experiences racing two different surfaces and have quickly learned that their respective seat time the brothers gain on the two different surfaces often compliment one another well. “By running the sportmod on the dirt tracks it really does help on Thursdays at WIR as I don’t really panic much if the car does break loose a bit,” J.j. explained. “And to me the benefit about racing asphalt is you get really good and comfortable racing side-by-side with other drivers. It just makes you more comfortable when you are on the dirt.”
Whether it’s on pavement or dirt the size of the oval also normally commands a different driving style, too. J.j. said, “I feel on the half-mile you have to be much more strategic with your moves. They are usually longer races too so you can also build up a bigger lead at places like WIR and Shawano, too.
J.j. Vander Loop’s IMCA northern sportmod.
On a third-mile like Seymour it’s a lot more competitive because often you are right next to someone else almost all of the time. It’s a lot more rough and aggressive I’d say racing on the dirt third-miles.”
When it comes to comparing the two surfaces, Jerry added: “The lines on both dirt and pavement are very similar where you enter high on the straightaway. On dirt it can be a dust bowl or a mud fest depending on the week and the track conditions can really vary widely.”
The Vander Loops come from a large family with roots deep into the local stock car racing scene that go back decades. The Vander Loops grandfather is local racing icon Jerry Muenster. Jerry still races an IMCA modified Saturday nights at Shawano Speedway at the age of 82. The boys Uncle is another longtime racer who’s since retired – Eddie Muenster. Eddie has been a stout wheelman both on the dirt and had a solid career on the pavement as well at WIR.
In addition the brothers have three cousins who race locally. Cody Vander Loop wheels a super stock at WIR on Thursday nights and also is a regular on the Midwest Truck Series. Also cousins Kasey and Brady Vander Loop still pilot machines in the Wisconsin sport truck series.
So what do the brothers prefer – dirt or asphalt? J.j. deferred to comments once made from Uncle Eddie. “Eddie (Muenster) once said when it was a good night on Thursday he loved the late model,” J.j. joked. “When it was a good night on Saturday he loved the dirt and the modified. I guess I’d have to say the same thing.”
For J.j. the adjustment alone from running a late model on skinnier, eight inch tires to a wider, 10 inch tire remains significant. “The biggest thing there is you can carry a lot more speed through the corners with those wider tires,” J.j. said. “With the wider tires that makes you adjust your braking and gas points, too. It’s taking some getting used to. My goal is just to get comfortable in the super late model first and we can work on getting more competitive from week-to-week.”
J.j.’s car is a Racetech chassis once driven by Montello’s Bobby Kendall. “Joe Nechodom has been great in helping us get this car setup,” J.j. said. “Building that consistency from week-to-week is really important for us.”
Pit crew members who lend a hand include Nechodom, Jason Cox, Craig Kowaleski, Paul Bertolini, Jay Vander Loop, Jim & Justin Anthony, Travis Willing, Gary Roehborn, Eddie & Jerry Muenster, Blaine Habeck and Brad Anthony.
The marketing partners that support the Vander Loop’s racing efforts include Ken’s Sports & Kenssports.com, Boat Propeller Warehouse, Muenster Racing, RaceTech, The Corp, Van Handel Auto Body & Sales, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Services and Victory Racing Wraps.
