Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Friday, June 01, 2007
Carlson, Nuttleman bring out the best in each other
Steve Carlson has run some pretty high profile racing series throughout the Midwest, and done well, too. In fact, there are a number of those inside racing circles who believe Carlson could be in one of the Big Three — Nextel Cup, Busch or Craftsman Trucks — if he really wanted to be.
He’s got that kind of talent.
So when Carlson returned to the race track in his backyard — the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway — a few years ago to “have fun” during what where occasional appearances, no one gave it much thought. Here was an All-Star caliber driver who chose to get away from the pressures of running a regional touring series by doing what?
Racing, of course.
Fast forward a few years, and Carlson is doing what he has done elsewhere throughout his career — win races. That should not surprise anyone. When you have a top-flight driver behind the wheel of a top-flight car, the results are usually going to be favorable.
This is where it gets interesting.
Carlson’s original plan was to run all but three of the Kwik Trip Late Model races at the Fairgrounds Speedway. On those three nights he would be elsewhere, as in running the ASA Midwest Series. Those plans have changed as Carlson ran the April 28 ASA Midwest Series race at Elko, Minn., but decided to skip the May 19 event at Jefferson, Wis.
And guess what? He’s not going to make a third ASA race either, instead opting to stay at home, as in at the Fairgrounds Speedway. What changed his mind?
“We’ve got a really good car,” Carlson said. “And a great team. Chris Johnson, Craig Johnson, Mike Olson, and Toby Nuttle-man, who oversees all three cars, they’ve given me a great car. It’s a car that could possibly win a championship here.”
And?
“We’ve never had an opportunity to run for points here because we were always running different tracks,” Carlson said. “The last time I won a track championship here was 1984.”
That could change.
Take a look at the Late Model standings. Carlson, despite missing one night, or a maximum of 66 points, is just five points behind his teammate, 10-time track champion Kevin Nuttleman.
For those of us who have been around the Fairgrounds Speedway for a while, it’s pretty obvious Carlson has something special going this year. With one-third of the Late Model season in the book, Carlson has three wins, two seconds and a third-place finish.
That folks, is impressive. That folks, has the smell of a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion champion — or more. However, there is at least one big obstacle standing smack dab in Carlson’s way. His teammate.
While neither Nuttleman or Carlson is willing to talk much about it, it’s becoming crystal clear that while they are indeed teammates on the Dutch Mill Trucking team, each is out to win races. That’s why neither gave an inch last week, or the week before when they raced either other so hard they likely cost themselves a chance at catching the leader — and eventual race winner — Todd Korish.
“We both race to win,” Nuttleman said of his sometimes intense on-track battles with Carlson. “Actually it’s a lot of fun. A lot more fun than I thought it would be. For one thing, we didn’t expect him (Carlson) to be here all the time this year.”
This certainly makes for interesting drama in the Dutch Mill Trucking team area of the pits. Who gets the best equipment, Carlson or Nuttleman? Who’s car gets the most attention? Remember, 21-year-old Emily Sue Steck, who is running for rookie of the year, is a part of this three-car team, too.
Are there enough crew members, and funds, to go around?
Carlson has gone on the record saying this is the best car he has ever had while running at a weekly track. And, finally, he’s come out and said he plans to run for the championship at La Crosse. That’s right, he’s out to beat his chief competition — Nuttleman — to win his first Fairgrounds Speedway track title in 23 years.
One look in Nuttleman’s eyes and there is no doubt that Carlson’s presence, even though he’s a teammate, has brought out the competitor in him. Nuttleman, a nice guy off the track, didn’t win 10 track championships by being a nice guy on it.
“We’re not going to give each other an inch,” Nuttleman said. “We’re not going to take each other out either.”
Jeff Brown can be reached at (608) 791-8403, or at jbrown@lacrossetribune.com
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