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May 16th , 2006 - Dan Armbruster

Hey! Long time no update. We finally did another 10 Questions. This time we got local legend Dan Armbruster! Dan retired a few years ago while still winning races and track titles. Despite our efforts to get his butt back on the track it appears his decision is (mostly) final. Anyway, he is still as opinionated as ever and agreed to do a few questions with us. So thanks to Dan and enjoy the 10Q +1.

1. Let's get right into it. You raced at regional dirt tracks for three decades before retiring at the conclusion of the 2004 season. That season you had a pair of wins and a top 5 points finish at Stateline. In 2002 you had a career best in wins to go along with two track titles. So the question is, why retirement despite being at the top of your game?

I rate racetracks on percentages, the percentage of the time you go there, it's prepared properly. In 2002 Raceway 7 was a solid 90%. That said it was racy, a fairly consistent surface and pretty much always smooth, probably the best place to race in the country. 50 car late model fields weekly and the best competition in the region. In 2003 they changed the configuration of the track. Inconsistency in the surface and the percentage dropped to 30%. That said I found I was wasting my time 70% of the time. Stateline likewise in 2002 was also a solid 90% and it tailed off to a 50%. I always felt with the new surface Franny installed a few years back, Stateline was the worlds best kept secret. It was a great place to race. Crew changes, track conditions and lack of desire made me want to quit and I did.

2. So if the right ride came along, would we ever see the #61 back on the track? 

Not likely. I can't imagine rekindling the type of attitude and the perserverence it takes to win races. I just dont have the drive I once did.

3. What do you feel are the biggest issues that local dirt tracks are facing and what can be done if the sport is to survive into the next few decades?

I personally feel the local scene needs Major changes in track preparation. Dirt track racing could be bigger than ever if more effort was put into the right places. It has gasolines and fuel costs and economy swings to overcome but I feel maybe the best racing is yet to come. Fritz Seamens and Ron Nielson have put our area on the map. They have made it possible for racers to have a chance to recoup their   investment if they had luck and a fast car. That opportunity would have to stay with the additional cost of race cars, which means taking the racing surfaces at each track to a new level. Better racing - more cars - more fans - larger purses.   We'll see how Bobby Rohrer does at Eriez. We'll see how Franny does with just Stateline (I'm guessing great things if Frannys healthy!)

4. Going back to that 2002 season, you had numerous wins at both Stateline and Raceway 7 including the Renegade event at 7 and the season ending Pepsi 60 at Stateline. Combine those with track titles at both and is it safe to say that was the best season of your career? What win stood out the most?

2002 was my best year in racing. I had a crew chief that was just awesome. Chris Lechner said the car was ready to win and it did. Winning the 2002 track championship at Raceway 7 was my best accomplishment only because the competition was the best and the car counts were off the map. 10 lap heat races were installed because there were so many cars. Two B mains nitely - it was what racing should be and was. The Renegade race stood out because of the quality of professional racers that were in that field. Bill and Jody Roberts made it all possible and that I'll always appreciate that.

5. Give us your three best memories of racing, along with your three worst.

My best memories are winning the the Nightmare 150 at Stateline, the STARS race at Eriez, and the Renegade race at 7. The worst were flipping out into parking lot at 7, losing a $5000 to win enduro race at 7 with a flat rr with 3 to go, and losing my first possible late model feature to Ron Davies on the last lap at Eriez.

6. In 1991 you followed the STARS tour and were solidly in the top 5 in points before ending the season early due to lack of funds. What was that experience like?

Tour racing is only for an elite few, Chub is one of them. There are others from our area that could but the travel and expenses pile up and to produce enough revenue to keep going would be tough. You stood a better chance running at home for similar money at that time. So we did. Although the year we traveled we learned tons and it seemed to make us much tougher at home. Getting to know Larry Moore, Dave Hoffman, Buck Simmons, Donnie Moran, Mike Balzano was awesome.

7. For most of your career, the 61 was a family operation. How did you and your brothers keep it going for so long?

My brother Jim is solely responsible. He along with my Mom and Dad kept things going. I had an awesome crew with the likes of Duke Wilson, Roy Furey, Tim Furey, my brothers Jack, Jim and Bob, Jim Cunningham and help from Neal Wojnarowski, Mark Frick and Rob Morrison.

8. Word association time. We mention something or someone and you tell us the first thing that comes to your mind.  

    a. Jack Armbruster - Most underated crew member - kept records and kept us in
                                  the game.
    b. Jim Cunningham - Skilled engine tuner 
    c. Fran Seamens - Probably the biggest asset dirt racing in this area ever had
    d. Ron Nielson - Hard working
    e. Dick Barton  - Chub, Bobby Schnars and Dick Barton: the three best from any
                            era. Dick never overdrove his car and was smooth. 
    f. Jim Armbruster - Most popular in pits, even if he was my brother. And the
                                best tire man
    g. Dick Litz - If everyone had Dicks attitude, energy and wit it would be a great
                      place to be. Class follows this guy around.
    h. Bill Roberts - Modern day Bill Southwell lol - Bill kept me from retirement and
                          provided me with outstanding equipment. Amazed at Bill's ability
                          to make things happen and that I appreciated.

9. Who are some of the best guys you ever raced against throughout your career and why?

Dick Barton, Chub Frank, Richie Gardner, Brian Ruhlman, Todd Andrews, Bob Close, Jim Dandy, Matt Urban, Dave Hess Jr, Scott Gurdak, Dick Litz, Dave Scott, Skip Furlow... Guys with etiquette that you could race with and not get tore up.

10. It's been said before that Dan Armbruster might have a bit of a temper. Now we here at billsdirtlatemodels never saw that. We never saw any helmet throwing, or one finger salutes, or anything like that. So how could this horrible rumor have been started?

It's no rumor. I got hot when I got a bad deal. Some drivers had a lot more class than I had when it came to that kind of stuff. Watering racetracks right before features and naive track employees got to go lol. Dragging your racecar with no wheels on it will piss ya off. Getting ran over by someone with no brains or brakes will piss ya off. In all honesty I've made some mistakes and felt bad about it, but if I had to do it again I'd probably be the same way.

11. For the last question, when can we expect to see you back at the race track and in what capacity?

I haven't attended the races since I ran Stateline at the end of 2003. I keep up on it and get feedback as to how things are going but honestly I haven't felt I've missed much. I've taken up my free time building a street rod to enjoy. I'm finally building a car I won't wreck. I can't imagine being at the racetrack in any other capacity than a spectator. I've had offers but chose not to get involved again. There is only 1 remote possibility that I may drive again - but who knows lol.

What? What was that? How can you end it with 1 possibility and then not elaborate?! Well thanks to Dan anyway for avoiding the questions and being way nicer than we thought he'd be.

Dan continues to live in Harborcreek with his wife and daughters and operates his signage company Graphic Details. We wish him all the luck in the future and hope that the 1 possibility shows itself.