WHITTEN TAKES 6TH
AT DELLS RACEWAY PARK

July 31st - Tanner's first trip to the Dells Raceway Park ended well.  He qualified 5th fastest out of 23 cars and ended up 6th in the feature.  See below results.

Late Models 7/31/2010
Feature:1. Corey Jankowski (Tomah, WI), 2. Jesse Bernhagen (Markesan, WI), 3. Rich Schumann Jr (Portage, WI), 4. Robert Kendall (Montello, WI), 5. Mike Lichtfeld (Pardeeville, WI), 6. Tanner Whitten (Congerville, IL), 7. Skylar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI), 8. Cardell Potter (Camp Douglas, WI), 9. Larry Schotten (Mauston, WI), 10. Michael Ehde (Prairie du Chien, WI), 11. Steve Lichtfeld (Pardeeville, WI), 12. Nick Nolden (Sun Prairie, WI), 13. Jerry Blystone (Portage, WI), 14. Ed Jackson (Madison, WI), 15. Davey Pennel (Sparta, WI), 16. Brian Hakala (Wisconsin Dells, WI), 17. Jake Zellmer (Waterford, WI), 18. Michael Clapper (Dane, WI)

B-Feature:1. Ed Jackson (Madison, WI), 2. Michael Clapper (Dane, WI), 3. Jerry Blystone (Portage, WI), 4. Nick Nolden (Sun Prairie, WI), 5. Dale Schultz (Mauston, WI), 6. Zach Reining (Forreston, IL), 7. Jim Bates (Wisconsin Dells, WI), 8. Shayne Poenhelt (Sun Prairie, WI), 9. Ed Szelagowski (McHenry, IL, WI)

Fast Dash:1. Robert Kendall (Montello, WI), 2. Cardell Potter (Camp Douglas, WI), 3. Mike Lichtfeld (Pardeeville, WI), 4. Rich Schumann Jr (Portage, WI), 5. Davey Pennel (Sparta, WI), 6. Tanner Whitten (Congerville, IL)

Heat A:1. Ed Jackson (Madison, WI), 2. Dale Schultz (Mauston, WI), 3. Ed Szelagowski (McHenry, IL, WI), 4. Jerry Blystone (Portage, WI), 5. Zach Reining (Forreston, IL), 6. Jim Bates (Wisconsin Dells, WI), 7. Shayne Poenhelt (Sun Prairie, WI), 8. Michael Clapper (Dane, WI), 9. Nick Nolden (Sun Prairie, WI)

Heat B:1. Brian Hakala (Wisconsin Dells, WI), 2. Corey Jankowski (Tomah, WI), 3. Skylar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI), 4. Larry Schotten (Mauston, WI), 5. Michael Ehde (Prairie du Chien, WI), 6. Steve Lichtfeld (Pardeeville, WI), 7. Jesse Bernhagen (Markesan, WI), 8. Jake Zellmer (Waterford, WI)

Qualify:1. Rich Schumann Jr (Portage, WI), 2. Davey Pennel (Sparta, WI), 3. Mike Lichtfeld (Pardeeville, WI), 4. Robert Kendall (Montello, WI), 5. Tanner Whitten (Congerville, IL), 6. Cardell Potter (Camp Douglas, WI), 7. Michael Ehde (Prairie du Chien, WI), 8. Steve Lichtfeld (Pardeeville, WI), 9. Corey Jankowski (Tomah, WI), 10. Jesse Bernhagen (Markesan, WI), 11. Skylar Holzhausen (Bangor, WI), 12. Jake Zellmer (Waterford, WI), 13. Larry Schotten (Mauston, WI), 14. Brian Hakala (Wisconsin Dells, WI), 15. Nick Nolden (Sun Prairie, WI), 16. Zach Reining (Forreston, IL), 17. Jim Bates (Wisconsin Dells, WI), 18. Shayne Poenhelt (Sun Prairie, WI), 19. Ed Szelagowski (McHenry, IL, WI), 20. Michael Clapper (Dane, WI), 21. Jerry Blystone (Portage, WI), 22. Dale Schultz (Mauston, WI), 23. Ed Jackson (Madison, WI)

MADISON BIG 8 AND ROCKFORD SPEEDWAY
RE-CAP - JULY 4TH WEEKEND

July 2nd - Friday night was the Madison Big 8 Series Race at Madison International Speedway.  There were 42 Late Models on hand for racing.  This was Tanner's third time at the Madison Speedway.  He qualified 15th out of 42 cars.  Only the top 14 automatically advanced to the feature.  Tanner started outside second row in Heat 1 and finished 4th.  Only the 1st and 2nd place cars advanced to the feature.  In the last chance qualifier Tanner started outside second row and finish 2nd.  This was good enough to get him to the feature race.  26 cars started in the Big 8 Feature and Tanner started 10th row outside.  The race was 48 laps and with only 2 laps left in the race Tanner was in 10th place and had a mechanical failure in the rear end of his car and could not finish the final 2 laps.  The rear end of his car was replaced on Saturday and he was able to race in Rockford on Saturday night.

July 3rd - Saturday night at Rockford Speedway was a good night for Tanner.   There were 18 Late Models on hand and Tanner qualified 2nd fastest with a 14.15 only being beaten by points leader Tim Sargent with a 14.10.  In his Heat race he finished 2nd and in the 76 lap feature he started 4th row outside.  Tanner ended up with a 6th place finish.  What a race it was!  You can view the race by clicking on the Media and Video tab and select the 7/3 Rockford race.  See notes below from the Rockford Speedway web-site.

Tanner Whitten busted into the top five with 10 laps in the books, passing Gille after a spirited battle to take away fifth. Whitten came under fire from ‘Driver X’, Jon Reynolds Jr, with 15 laps completed. Reynolds Jr. and Whitten went door-to-door for fifth for ten laps before ‘Driver X’ exploded into the top five before swiftly pushing past Kyle Shear for fourth.

Shear dropped from fourth to seventh as Whitten and two-time defending champion Jerry Gille got by the stateline hot shoe. Lloyd’s machine began bellowing smoke with 50 laps to go but the local driver continued to drive away, hitting lapped traffic as the halfway mark came and went, allowing May to slowly inch closer to the leader.

The caution that everyone besides Mike Lloyd desperately wanted to see finally came with 30 circuits to go after a solo spin by Joe Darnell on the frontstretch. The restart that followed gave Reynolds Jr. the momentum he needed, allowing the veteran to pull even with Mikie Breiner before edging into third. Reynolds Jr. wasted no time tracking down Eddie May for second, duplicating his winning move from last weekend as he drove into the bridesmaid’s position.

Mike Lloyd’s dominant run came to an abrupt end with 24 laps remaining after the pluming smoke finally turned into a blown engine as his machine expired. Suddenly Reynolds Jr. found himself in the top spot as Jerry Gille inherited second.
On the ensuing restart, points leader Tim Sargent blew past Eddie May to claim third as Reynolds Jr. built a cushion up front, enjoying the action in his rearview mirror. Sargent worked his way to the inside of Gille for second as the two dueled for the runner-up spot. Sargent pushed Gille up the track to take second.

Gille wasn’t finished though, quickly responding with a love tap of his own as he regained the second spot and brought young Tanner Whitten with him into third. Whitten looked for any opening on the inside of the high banks in his quest for the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Reynolds Jr. was checking out from the field, gleefully building a large margin as the young gun sized up the veteran.

Whitten’s effort for second cost him a top three spot as the 17-year-old threw his car a little too deep into turn four with four circuits to go, making light contact with Jerry Gille and losing traction before breaking into a spin on the front stretch.

WHITTEN FINISHES 3RD AT ROCKFORD

June 19th - Rain cancelled racing on Friday night at Madison however, it was an action packed night of racing for the Nascar Whelen Late Models at Rockford on Saturday night.  It was Kar Korner night at the Speedway which featured the World Famous Trailer Races.  Checkered Past Racing team owner Ryan Carlson is the son of Mark Numbers the owner of Kar Korner.   Tanner's #85 and Ryan Carlson's #55 both carried the Kar Korner graphics for the evening.   Tanner finished 3rd out of 22 cars behind car owner and teammate Ryan Carlson who finished 2nd.  The weekly sponsored Kar Korner car #39 driven by Tim Sargent finished 4th.  Tanner qualified 5th and got 2nd in his Heat race.  "We were excited at the finish to have all three Kar Korner cars running bumper to bumper.  Mark does so much for all of us and we were glad to give him a good finish", said Whitten.  Next on tap is Slinger on June 27th.

NASCAR Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 2. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 3. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 4. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 6. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 7. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 8. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 9. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake; 10. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 11. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 12. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 13. David Cooter, Jr, Machesney Park; 14. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park; 15. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 16. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 17. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 18. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 19. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 20. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake; 21. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 22. Brandon Eash,

Heat 01 -- 1. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 2. Joe
Rusciano, Crystal Lake; 3. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 4. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 5. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. David Cooter, Jr, Machesney Park; 7. Brandon Eash, Rockford; 8. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park.

Heat 02 -- 1. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 2. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 3. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 5. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 6. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 7. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake; 8. Curt Tillman, Rockford.

Heat 03 -- 1. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 2. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 3. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 6. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 7. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg.

Time Trial -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 2. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 3. Ryan Carlson, Loves Park; 4. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 5. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 6. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 7. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 8. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 9. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 10. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 11. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 12. Curt Tillman, Rockford; 13. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 14. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 15. David Cooter, Jr, Machesney Park; 16. Ryan Miles, Crystal Lake; 17. Brandon Eash, Rockford; 18. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 19. Tyler Peterson, Lake Geneva, Wis; 20. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake; 21. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 22. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 23. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park.

WHITTEN TAKES 3RD AT
63RD SEASON OPENER AT ROCKFORD

Rockford, IL - Saturday, April 24th, 2010 - A rain threatened Saturday night at Rockford turned out well for Tanner Whitten. There were 19 Late Models on hand for the 30 lap 63rd Season Opener.  After qualifying 15th, Tanner went on to win his heat race and finished 3rd in the feature after starting 15th. Team/Car Owner & Crew Chief Ryan Carlson had this to say about the race on Saturday night.  "I am pleased with the team's start to the season.  I think we are ahead of where I expected to be this early.  The entire team has a lot of excitement about the upcoming season".

Next on the schedule is May the 8th at Rockford.

NASCAR Late Models

A-Main 01 -- 1. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 2. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 3. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 4. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 5. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 6. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 7. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 8. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 9. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 10. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 11. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 12. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 13. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 14. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 15. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 16. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 17. David Cooter, Jr, Machesney Park; 18. Brandon Eash, Rockford.

Heat 01 -- 1. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 2. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 3. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 4. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 5. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 6. Joe Darnell, Machesney Park.

Heat 02 -- 1. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 2. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 3. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Brandon Eash, Rockford; 5. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 6. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 7. Alex Papini, Machesney Park.

Heat 03 -- 1. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 2. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 3. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 4. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 5. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 6. Jerry Gille, Roscoe.

Time Trial -- 1. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 2. Jerry Gille, Roscoe; 3. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 4. Ricky Bilderback, Rockton; 5. Tom Gille, Winnebago; 6. Mikie Breiner, Johnburg; 7. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 8. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 9. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 10. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 11. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 12. Brandon Eash, Rockford; 13. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 14. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 15. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 16. Jacob Gille, Winnebago; 17. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 18. Steve Erickson, Jr, Machesney Park; 19. David Cooter, Jr, Machesney Park.

WHITTEN KICKS OFF SEASON AT
ROCKFORD SPEEDWAY

Rockford, IL – Sunday, April 18th, 2010 – Tanner Whitten, Congerville, Illinois, debuted in his #85 Ethanol Chevrolet Impala Limited Late Model Stock Car at Rockford Speedway on Sunday at the 33rd Annual Spring Classic. After a disappointing 18th place qualifying run, Whitten rallied back to win his 15 lap qualifying heat starting from the third position.  This heat win seated him in the 16th position for the 58 lap 24 car feature.  With the help of his spotter Jason Knaus and crew chief Ryan Carlson, Whitten was able to work his way up to 5th place with eight laps to go.  After a slight altercation with veteran champion Bob Wilberg, Whitten got spun out and Wilberg and Whitten both went to the back.  Whitten worked his way back up to finish the race 13th. "I'm very excited to be racing late models in 2010.  I can't believe what a great team I am a part of and what an awesome car they gave me this weekend".

'Spring Classic 58' -- 1. Casey Johnson, Stoughton, Wis; 2. James Swan, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Jeremy Miller, Rockton; 4. Jeremy Lepak, Ringle, Wis; 5. Matt Berger, Loves Park; 6. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 7. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 8. Jimmy Ganski, Rosholt, Wis; 9. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 10. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 11. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 12. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 13. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 14. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 15. Troy Rave, Westby, Wis; 16. Bob Wilberg, Beloit, Wis; 17. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 18. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 19. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 20. Eddie May, Crystal Lake; 21. Alex Papini, Machesney Park; 22. Michael Bilderback, South Beloit; 23. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 24. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford.

Last Chance "A" 01 -- 1. Mike Lloyd, Davis; 2. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 3. Troy Rave, Westby, Wis; 4. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 5. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 6. Mark Hartline, Gilberts; 7. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 8. Todd Handrick, Wausau, Wis; 9. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 10. John Beinlich, Prairie View.

Heat 01 -- 1. Kyle Shear, Roscoe; 2. Jacob Finney, Sycamore; 3. Bill Shavlik, West Bend, Wis; 4. Troy Rave, Westby, Wis; 5. Vern Fagerberg, Bloomingdale; 6. John Beinlich, Prairie View; 7. Mike Lloyd, Davis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Tanner Whitten, Congerville; 2. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 3. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis; 4. Kyle Wolosek, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis; 5. Todd Handrick, Wausau, Wis; 6. Ed Szelagowski Jr, Westfield, Wis; 7. Mark Hartline, Gilberts.

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TANNER WHITTEN SIGNS TO DRIVE FOR
CARLSON RACING

Rockford, IL – January 18, 2010 – Carlson Racing has announced that Tanner Whitten from Carlock, Illinois, will be driving for their organization in 2010.  Tanner will drive the number 55 Chevrolet car with the new number of 85 in the Limited Late Model Big 8 Series for the 2010 race season.

In an effort to gain maximum seat time, Whitten will also compete at various Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana NASCAR sanctioned tracks.  “I am very excited to be moving from USAC open wheel to compete full-time in stock cars”, says Whitten.  Tanner is 17 and started racing quarter midgets at age 10.  At age 13 he moved to motocross racing and then at 15 began racing USAC Focus Midgets.  His rookie year he won the USAC/UMARA Sportsman Championship along with Rookie of the Year honors.  “Getting as much seat time as possible is my current goal.  Having this team as a teacher is incredible!” says Whitten.

Ryan Carlson #55 has had a recent back injury and will be doing limited driving in 2010.  Steve Rubeck and John Knaus will be mentors to Tanner on and off the track.  Crew Chief Jason Knaus will be in the shop giving the team all the speed and handling they will need to win races for their sponsors.

The Carlson/Whitten race team will be closely linked to agriculture with America’s farmers feeding and fueling the world.   You will also see them partnering with several food sponsors as well as their three year relationship with renewable energy ethanol again in 2010.  

“Our team certainly has a winning history and has enjoyed multi-generational success. We expect to continue that tradition with Tanner, who is poised to carry our banner forward for many years to come.”  For continued team information visit www.tannerwhittenracing.com.

Contact:

Motorsports Management, Inc.
c/o Tad Whitten
P.O. Box 55
Congerville, IL  61729
309/261-3062

WHITTEN GRABS HISTORIC 500TH USAC FORD FOCUS RACE AT GRUNDY COUNTY

Flex Fuel Sportsman Wins UMARA Opening Night Race
May 31, 2008, Morris, IL

15 year old rookie Tanner Whitten drove his #85 Ethanol sponsored Beast Midget to a feature win on opening night at the historic 3/8 mile Grundy County Speedway.  Whitten qualified 5th fastest and then went on to win his heat and the UMARA Sportsman Series Feature.