By Greg Soukup
Today we continue our series of interviews with drivers who are going to be enjoying their first season on the friendly banking of Eagle Raceway. Brooke Fluckiger is a 25-year old young lady originally from Duncan, Nebraska but who currently is living in Columbus.
She is no rookie to IMCA racing, unlike some of our previous interviewees. "I've been racing IMCA for about 7 years. I began in the compact class. I started dating Jeff Ware, and he was big into racing, and that kind of gave me the push to start racing on my own because I'd really always wanted to do it. I also grew up watching my cousins Damion and Dylan Smith racing, so they were a big factor too".
When I asked about past racing accomplishments she said "We actually got the track championship at 2 tracks this past year, I came home with the Nebraska state IMCA championship in the sport compacts plus I won the Lady Eagle. It was a good year!".
Her 2018 plans were influenced by Jeff Ware also. "Jeff plans to run full-time at Eagle again this year, and with me switching to the IMCA Hobby Stock division, I'm probably going to be following him around so that he can help me out with everything. I did race at Eagle a couple of times in my sport compact; it's a great facility with a great track and I plan to race there as much as possible depending on my work schedule".
Having mentioned her move up in class to a hobby stock, I inquired about that decision. "Well, I had been in the sport compact class for 7 years, as I said before. I just felt like I had more potential in a different class. I had some great sponsors who were able to help me out, so they made my move up come true. I couldn't have done it without Jeff because he's been through the wringer in the Hobby Stock division. He gave me that push to move up a class and see what it's all about".
Is she looking forward to the experience? "Oh yeah! I'm beyond excited!! I'm definitely looking forward to coming back to Eagle and racing there. I've had a great time every time that I've raced there. It's got the best competition that you could ask for in the state. Roger is great as a track promoter. I'm definitely looking forward to it this year".
She had a long list of people that she needed to thank. "Jeff Ware, my boyfriend does so much. He puts the car together, he's going to set it up for me since he knows all of the ins and outs and I sure couldn't do it without him. My Mom, Dad, Grandpa and Grandma of course. My aunt Karen and "Heavy" too, plus Shane. Then I have an anonymous sponsor who just goes by "DS". Other sponsors are Spider Racing, Barber and Sons Trucking, Husker Bar, Trev's Computer Repair, Stock Reality, John Stopak with Big Iron Auctions, Chix Gear, DSR, Resting Heart Cattle Company, My Place Bar and Grill and Columbus Urgent Care".
Her parting thoughts were "I can't thank each and every person enough for supporting me over all of the years in the compact class. I've met so many amazing people throughout the division. I've had the opportunity to race at so many tracks across Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. To everybody who's ever helped me out, I want them to know how much I appreciate that. I am definitely looking forward to meeting new awesome people in the Hobby Stock division. Again, I can't thank the fans enough for supporting me, and I just hope everyone will just bear with me in this new class because it will be a complete turnaround for me".
