Year in Review

Year in Review: Widdis Racing

12/30/03
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Don Erickson
WiddisRacing.com

Manistique, MI - 2003 was another terrific year for the Widdis Racing team. This historic year will forever be etched in the archive of Widdis Racing history. A beginning was marked as an ending drew near. A championship, rookie of the year, and top 20 finish later the Widdis Racing team already begins to look ahead.

The unofficial plans for 2004 hold many new prosperous possibilities for the infamous team. In an interview earlier this month, Bret Widdis stated he will be driving a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix which will also hold a different motor from last year graciously donated by Tom Smith. The championship winning Oldsmobile has been officially retired. Along with the new body comes a new paint scheme. Widdis Racing team member Jared Patz has been chosen to design the new paint scheme for the new Pontiac body working closely with sponsor Midwest Sound and Security owner Ryan Olson. Other plans for 2004 consist of running many different tracks. The team will definitely be running Norway Speedway and Thunder Valley Raceway, but it is also possible to watch the team race at Kinross Speedway or even tracks located in Wisconsin. Boyd Widdis has also unofficially been named the driver of the 1999 Monte Carlo late model for the 2004 season. The father/son duo will once again ride together in 2004. The Monte Carlo will also sport a new motor donated by Phil Berger.

Looking back at 2003 the Widdis Racing team definitely has the right to boast. Young driver, Bret Widdis, finished in the top 20 at Norway Speedway just one point out of 19th place Allen Yelle. Widdis also took home the 2003 Rookie of the Year award at Thunder Valley Raceway in the late model division. To top of the great year, Widdis fought a hard battle with Allen Yelle to win the 2003 Thunder Valley Raceway Late Model Championship.

The sponsors rounding out the 2003 season for the Widdis Racing team were Midwest Sound and Security, Napa Auto Parts of Manistique, Northland Racing Collectables of Escanaba, WiddisRacing.com, Sunset Signs and Designs, Doug Smith, L. David Vaughn, and Nascar Bob, Curran Chevrolet, and T-N-T Customs.