This profile from The 600 Racing Magazine
MICHAEL BILDERBACK- staying FOCUSED
.......................on what's IMPORTANT..............................
Michael Bilderback of South Beloit, IL is an 11-year-old
seventh grader at South Beloit Junior School. He started racing an open wheel sprint
Go-kart when he was six at Sugar River Raceway in Broadhead, WI. Michael's first season was a practice season because
he was too little to race in a Box Stock Class and he tried the kid karts, but since Michael had already experienced the speed
of the bigger kart, he thought the kid karts were too slow. At the beginning of the next season, he was allowed to go
into the Box Stock Class, which was a series for drivers ages eight to 12. Michael was only seven at the beginning of
the season, but with his practice experience they allowed him in the class. He took fifth place in the overall championship
that year.
In 2000, Michael moved up to the Super Stock Class: a faster class with more competition.
There were tough times figuring out the new set-ups it was a struggle and learn type of year.
Even with all the difficulties, Michael still managed to finish third in the overall championship.
With the struggles of his first Super Stock Class season behind him, and after getting more practice and experience, he ended
up first overall in both 2001 and 2002 seasons.
One day Michael decided he wanted to try oval racing.
He started running the Burris Circle Tour and won the championship his first year. He also
raced the sprint kart and wanted to try a dirt kart class that year. Michael soon decided that he enjoyed the oval racing
better than the road course racing. In the spring of 2003, he got his first chance to drive a Bandolero at a 600 Racing
Test Drive. At that time, Michael's
family knew he was ready to make the change to the Bandolero. Michael competes in Illinois,
Iowa and Wisconsin and has about 20 first place finishes so far this season.
Michael was influenced in racing by his grandparents, Roger & Liz Bilderback. Roger raced
for years in all different types of series driving a #2 car the reason Michael chose that same number. Michael's Uncle
Ricky also races, driving his # 02 in the Late Model Division. Michael has had a lot of racing background in his family.
Roger said that Michael has learned how to be competitive through racing and it has also given him
the knowledge of knowing how important it is to stay focused on whatever he does you have to stay focused to do your best.
Michael has applied a lot of his learning efforts to doing the best he can in school so that he can continue to race because
school is his most important tool.
Michael has also learned how important sponsors are and he really appreciated their support,
because a lot of people don't take sponsorship for kids very seriously. He would like to say thanks to his sponsors:
Roger Bilderback of Bilderback's Auto, Denny Lemmonds of Five & Drive Auto, Calvin & Thelma of Papa Chips Computers,
Matt Whitledge of Whitledge Racing Enterprises, Noel Clevenger of Riggins Services, David (skip) Gough of Gough Heating &
Air Conditioning and Terry Maybourne of Terrys Signs.
Michael says he owes a lot of his doing good in racing to Liz
Bilderback. She got him started in racing and has been his Mechanic and Crew Chief throughout
the good times and the bad. Liz has never let Michael give up on the bad days and has given up a lot herself to make
sure he is ready on race day.
Michael gives thanks to the rest his crew: Chris Beeh, Paul Adkins and John & Brandon Eash
for helping out whenever they were needed.
Aside from racing, Michael enjoys other sports such as football, basketball, dodge ball an baseball.
However, racing comes first and his dream is to continue racing for as long as possible and to try all different types of
racing (but for now he loves the Bandolero Series). Michael doesn't get to spend much time with his school friends because
he is off racing, but most of them go to support and watch him at the local track. He has also met a lot of nice people
from all over throughout his racing career and enjoys racing against them and working with them all.
The 600 Racing Magazine
2003 Issue #5
