Josh Schneiderman Ready for Rookie Season with 410s!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Josh Schneiderman, #49 410 Sprint Driver
(Joanne Cram) 20 year old West Burlington native, Josh Schneiderman, has a busy year to look forward to. His family-owned team now has 4 cars to run this season. The biggest of those changes include a move in class for Schneiderman from 360 sprints to 410, as well as a 305 sprint for 18 year old brother, Jarrod Schneiderman. The other two cars are Josh’s 360 sprint, which he will run around the Midwest with the Sprint Invaders, and the second 360 being the familiar #2 of John Schulz, who also happens to be Josh’s uncle.
So with this much equipment, one would have to assume that this is a family addiction. That assumption would be correct. Bart Schneiderman, Josh’s father, began the legacy back in the mid 80’s by running the super modified class, eventually moving into the 360 sprint class. Bart ran around southeastern Iowa, northeastern Missouri, and the west-central part of Illinois. Bart was enjoying the racing so much in the early 2000’s, that he decided to add another car to the team. Matt Rogerson began driving the other Schneiderman machine, which he drove through 2003 when Matt began his own team. Within that stretch of two car ownership, Bart also decided to put his brother-in-law, John Schulz, behind a third 360 sprint for the team.
2002 found a 14 year old Josh behind the wheel of his first 360 sprint car. He chose the #49 because his favorite numbers were taken: the 2 and 2, and wa2. Since Bart had become good friends over the years with Max Rogers, who owned the #49 that both Wolfgang and Lasoski both piloted, Josh decided on using that number. Plus, the number 49 didn’t seem to be overly popular and the dreaded x behind the car number wouldn’t have to be used very often! That first season, Josh competed at some Sprint Invaders races, but at the age of 14, some tracks would not allow him to race. This would be the case for the next season as well, until Josh was of legal street driving age. On his final night of ten races in 2003, Schneiderman won his first ever heat race. The Sprint Invaders voted Josh Most Improved Driver for that season.
In 2004, Bart brought the team to Knoxville to run the weekly show. At this point it was only a one car team at Knoxville, as Josh was running with the Sprint Invaders full time. He made every show that season with the Sprint Invaders and finished high enough in points to qualify for an invitation to the Brodix Tournament of Champions at Knoxville’s famed half mile.
With a full season of racing under his belt, 2005 was another fast paced season with the Sprint Invaders. Highlights from that season were a dash win at Bloomfield, earning the title of Sprint Invaders Fan Favorite, and again being voted Most Improved Driver.
Josh’s Knoxville Raceway career began in 2006, where his father had both 360s racing weekly. Schneiderman had a fairly successful first year, finishing 13th in points, and had several top ten finishes. He nearly won his first feature on the last night of racing when he tangled with a lapped car and ended up trading a win for a runner up finish. Josh also finished just shy of a top ten in overall points with the Sprint Invaders. Josh’s biggest accomplishment of his racing career thus far was also in 2006, when he set quick time at the Masters Young Guns Challenge, as he had never qualified in a sprint car before. (360 sprints at Knoxville and many other Midwest 360 series draw for heat positions in lieu of time trials and are given passing points to set up the features.)
2007 found Josh back at Knoxville Raceway, as well as running with the Sprint Invaders. Highlights of 2007 included ten top 5 finishes, and 22 top ten finishes in 33 appearances of both Knoxville and Sprint Invader races. July 14th was also Josh’s first A Main “win” in a sprint car. Technically, Josh was not awarded that win due to a cylinder head specification issue. The Schneiderman team was unaware of this unconformity, and had no intentions to run an illegal motor. The team thanks all the loyal fans and crew that stood by them and believed in them.
So, now that 2008 is here, Josh is ready to race- weather permitting. The start to this soggy season has been less than ideal for an up and comer switching classes. While much of the equipment is the same on a 360 and 410 sprint, the two cars handle much differently and minor driving style adjustments have to be made. With that said, Josh’s only race of the year so far was just this past weekend at a Sprint Invaders race. He was looking forward to practice night and a full first night of racing before this coming weekend. The team plans to run full time at Knoxville this year in the 410, as well as with the Sprint Invaders with the 360. Josh would like to hit as many Midwest 410 races as he is able to that don’t coincide with the Sprint Invader schedule.
Josh has several goals to focus on this year and in the near future. He hopes to finish in the top 5 in points with the Sprint Invaders, even though there are a couple races that conflict with the Knoxville schedule. At Knoxville, Josh is aiming to make every A Main this year, but knows this is going to take a lot of work and consistency with this season’s projected large 410 car count. Several years down the road, Josh would like to run with the All Stars.
When Josh isn’t racing or working on race cars, he is a full time student at Southeastern Iowa Community College in West Burlington. He will graduate with a business degree in May of this year, and then continue to focus on racing of course! Eventually, Josh hopes to run his own business, but that is down the road a ways. With down time, Josh likes to ride his street bike.
Josh has a very loyal family, and thanks his parents, Bart and Suzie for all the sacrifices they have made so Josh can race. He knows how much it takes to run a race team and put together quality cars, and couldn’t do it without his family’s support. In addition to his parents and brother, Jarrod, Josh has a 17 year old sister, Janelle. When asked if Janelle would be seen racing soon, Josh tells me that Janelle is one heck of a softball player and is focusing all her energies on making it to college playing softball. Josh says if it weren’t for the softball, his sister would probably be right there with the brothers racing as well! Josh’s grandparents, Harold and Sandy Schulz are fixtures on the racing scene also, along with Aunt, Robin. Cheering Josh on as well is girlfriend, Samantha Plath.
Crew for the #49 J & J Auto Racing/Automotive Machine (built by former Knoxville regular, Manny Rockhold) are dad, Bart; Darren Grimshaw, Drew Bergquist, Jeff Dean, Chad Evans, and Cale Riley. Sponsoring the Schneiderman team are J & J Steel, Ideal Read Mix, Van Meter Industrial, Automotive Machine, Midland Performance, J & J Auto Racing, American Racer, Bell Racing, Redline Oil, Velocity Wings, Pro Shocks, and Coors Light.
Josh would also like to thank Manny Rockhold for all that he has done to help with the motor program this season, as well as his parents for all they do for his racing career. T shirts are available this year also!
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