Profile On: Mike Houseman Jr.!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Mike Houseman Jr. #Y2 360 Sprint
Third generation driver, Mike Houseman Jr. is no stranger to the race track. He grew up watching his dad, Mike Houseman, and grandfather, Jim Houseman pilot anything from a coup to a sprint car around the Des Moines area race tracks. The 23 year old street maintenance worker of Des Moines has been racing at Knoxville Raceway for the past five seasons in a 360. He began racing when his father, Mike Houseman was also driving a 360 in the Y5.
The history of the Y before the number goes back to the days of Grandfather, Jim Houseman's racing. He had always been the number 5, and naturally, when his son, Mike began driving, he wanted to use the number eventually as well. Since Jim was also still driving when Mike began driving, he put using the number 5 on hold and ran many different numbers throughout the years. Then, when Jim bought a sprint car for Mike to drive back in the 90's, he wanted to go ahead and use the family number- but it was taken. So, they decided to add a letter, but not the usual family last name letter, or the traditional x. The team had been asked many times, "Why 5?", so naturally, they decided to just go with Y5. The same story held true when Mike Houseman teamed up with Mike Waddell after his frightening accident at the 360 Nationals in 2003 ended his racing career. The team had wanted to use the number 2, but another driver was using that number, so again, the Y was used in front of the chosen number. The senior Houseman drove the Y2 up until 2005, when he had a similarly frightening career ending wreck as well.
This set the stage for Houseman Jr. to wind up in the Y2. Mike Jr. had some success driving for himself in the Y5, but budget constraints and luck can only get a driver so far. The first season in the Y5 brought a lot of learning, and many motor problems. Mike had taken on a second job to fund his racing addiction, and still found himself struggling.
The following season of 2005 had the Houseman Jr. team in a little better equipment and Mike had better success. He began making some of the features and got more competitive in his heats. That season he also began competing with the Sprint Invaders as well.
In 2006, Houseman continued to race here and there with the Sprint Invaders as well as weekly at Knoxville. Memorable for him that year was his first pole start at Knoxville. Houseman also had a career best finish of 10th place.
Last season was the first season teaming up with Mike Waddell. After Mike Houseman Senior's wreck on Twin Features Night of 2006, Waddell had wanted to continue racing with the Houseman's, and had decided to put Mike Jr. in the car. They had a pretty successful first year together, staying in the top ten for most of the season and a season best finish of 6th in a feature. For the overall season at Knoxville, they finished 15th in points.
This year Mike Houseman Jr.'s goals are to maintain his consistency in the features to earn him top 10 in overall points. He also wants to put the Y2 Eagle in the top ten of each weeks' feature. Eventually, Houseman Jr. would love to move up to a 410.
Crew this season are car owner, Mike Waddell; his dad, Mike Houseman (when he's not helping Jr.'s brother, CJ in the Y5); Paul Waddell; Kevin Lancel; Roger Aller, and Dean-o. Sponsors are Mike and Dean's Drywall and Jocko's Autoparts. The team is looking for new sponsors of any amount as well!
When Mike Jr. isn't racing, he participates in no-holds-barred fights. He's competed in a few events locally around Des Moines and has a 13-0 record.
(Pictured): Mike Houseman Jr. (Right) is joined by father Mike and brother CJ
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