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Getting Up To Speed With…Brian Winkler

Getting Up To Speed With…Brian Winkler
By Ben Deatherage
Brian Winkler of Newberg is a driver that is very passionate about racing. Spending the better part of his life as a race fan Brian one day finally decided to give driving a whirl. For the last five years the Willamette Speedway faithful have seen one of their own shredding dirt at the historic 1/3-mile clay oval.

Back fulltime in 2014 the Newberg native is determined as ever to win the championship title in the Sportsman division. However the Fritz Cutting & Coring/Flatt Muffler & Custom Exhaust/Dorfler Farms #88 Rayburn entry will have a little bit different look this season as a new paint scheme will be unveiled at the first race of the campaign. We got a chance to chat with Brian just before he was headed to catch some NASCAR action in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now let’s get up to speed with Brian Winkler.

Driver: Brian Winkler
Home Track: Willamette Speedway
Hometown: Newberg, Oregon
Occupation: Construction Foreman
Age: 47
Years Racing: 5

Classification: Sportsman
Team: Winkler Racing
Car: 88
Chassis: C.J. Rayburn Race Cars
Sponsors: Fritz Cutting & Coring, Flatt Muffler & Custom Exhaust, Dorfler Farms, Xtreme Motorsports, Zosel Sheds
Special Thanks: Betty and Sonny Winkler (Mother and Father), Kyle Winkler (Son), Karen McCabe, Sam Zosel, Gary Winkler (Uncle), Robert Winkler (Brother), Steve Moore, Mark Vonsil, Tom Flatt, Randy Boyd, Brian Smith, Rob Campos, and Friends

BD: After last season how would you rate 2013 in your book?
BW: Honestly we struggled a lot. We had a lot of issues with the car from the setup to suspension. We got into a couple of wrecks earlier in the season and it bent the rear end. But we didn’t know it until several weeks later. Once we fixed that we were much better. We ended getting a win but I wish we would have won more.

BD: I’ve got to say I admire your paint scheme with the blue, black, and green all meshing together brilliantly. How did that paint scheme come to be?
BW: I’ve always liked the color blue, it’s always been my favorite color and then when we added the construction green it just made it a good look. But this year we’re changing up the paint scheme a little.

BD: What are your current plans for 2014?
BW: Basically racing in the Sportsman class and going to hit it harder than ever. I’d really like to win that championship. My cousin Sam Zosel and I have been out there racing for a long time and we have a lot of fun in it so a championship would be very rewarding.

BD: Is there a story for choosing to run the #88?
BW: I was a huge fan of Dale Earnhardt and after he passed I started following his son. At the time I started racing he had already made the move to Hendrick Racing and was #88. I mainly chose it for that reason.

BD: How did you get started in racing?
BW: My mom started taking me to the Cottage Grove Speedway when I was about ten. So I’d been in the stands thirty some years before I turned my first laps. I got a car and we’ve been in the Sportsman class ever since. I really got to thank Steve Moore he has helped us out a ton the last couple of years.

The 2014 season is quickly approaching and Willamette Speedway is the place to get your racing fix. Saturday April 5th will kick things off with the test and tune open practice while the “Cabin Fever Season Opener” will be held the following Saturday on the 12th. Be sure and log on to www.trophymotorsports.com for the latest information regarding Willamette Speedway.

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