Charlie Schultz is less than two weeks removed from his first career Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro championship.
As he reflects back on the series of events the night he clinched the title, he realized what an emotional roller coaster it was.
At the next-to-last event at Lorain (Ohio) Raceway Park on August 6, he got caught up in a first lap accident that eliminated him for the night and giving him a DNF. At that point, it looked as if he had buried himself with a very slim chance of being able to contend for the title with only one race left.
But things turned around at the series finale at Jennerstown, Pa. on August 27.
Series points leader Joe Liguori had a mechanical problem and was unable to finish his heat race. Series rules dictate he had to start last in the feature event. With only a single point separating the two drivers going into the final feature event, whoever finished ahead of the other driver would win the title. Schultz finished two spots ahead of Liguori as Liguori gave a valiant effort in his quest to come from the rear.
“I think with the drop thing I was six points down going into the season finale at Jennerstown,” explains Schultz. “You never want to win one because someone has problem. You wanna race it out the best you can. He (Liguori) was able to capitalize on my bad luck at Lorain and I was able to capitalize on his bad luck at Jennerstown.”
In a show of true sportsmanship, Schultz and his John Reiser Motorsports team quickly went to work trying to help Liguori get a rear end and driveline replaced in time for the feature event after Bobby Santos III loaned Liguori the parts he needed.
“After the night at Rockford I got tore up coming for the checkered,” Schultz said. “Joe was one of the first one to come over and offer me anything I needed to get the car fixed. Joe and I have been friends for a long time. It wasn’t a matter of who won the championship. We all were gonna have a good time celebrating the championship regardless of who was the champion.”
Moments after capturing the MSR championship Schultz proposed to longtime girlfriend Debbie Walker in victory lane.
“She and I had talked about it over the last year or so. We’ve been dating for the last four and a half years. I was joking around with her niece and nephew one night at dinner and said the next time I win I should ask her to marry me. Unfortunately, I didn’t win a race all summer,” laughed Schultz. “But when you win the championship it’s kinda the time and place. If I had lost the championship, it might have been saved for a different time. Everything kinda went our way and it seemed like a good way to top off a good night.
Outside of Must See Racing circles, the 44-year-old Schultz may be an unknown to many due to his many years of competing in Supermodifieds. That may soon change with an MSR championship under his belt to go along with a Midwest Supermodifed Association title he claimed several years back.
“I’ve been pretty fortunate with the Supermodified deal to have had a fair amount of success. We struggled at first when we first came over to do the sprint car stuff. Ultimately, we won the championship, and it shows that you’re a consistent driver. With the way the MSR points structure is, you can’t sit of at any point during the day. If it opens some eyes, great. I’m 44 years old and have accepted the fact I’m no going to NASCAR or anything like that. But I’m definitely gonna enjoy this one” concluded Schultz.