Racing World
Loses Long-Time Friend Ed Gressel
BURRTON, Kan. (May
30) —
Ed Gressel started his life in the
oilfield but left this earth doing what he loved the
most: racing.
One of the most successful car
owners and biggest supporters of the USMTS, Gressel
passed away on Sunday after a three-month battle with
Guillain Barre Syndrome—a rare disorder in which your
body's immune system attacks your nerves. He was 70
years old.
It began in the ‘70s
when he worked on cars in the pits at 81 Speedway in
Park City, Kan. For more than 20 years since then, he
has led a race team and sponsored several drivers who
have placed in hundreds of sanctioned races with some of
the best drivers in USMTS, including Scott Green, Ryan
Gustin, Ricky Thornton Jr., Jake O’Neil, Brian McGowen,
Tanner Mullens and Brandon Givens.
“Ed meant a
lot to my family and everybody at the USMTS, as well as
countless racers and race teams,” said USMTS President
Todd Staley. “He was a big part of our growth over the
last 15 years or so, a huge supporter, both financially
and personally, and a great friend to many in this
business. We’ll never forget him.”
Scott Green
teamed up with Gressel Racing in 2005, and became a
regular fixture on the grueling USMTS tour in 2007,
winning the Rookie of the Year Award in the same year.
When his Gressel Racing team pulled into the Outlaw
Motor Speedway on Friday, March 19, 2010, he had a new
driver in his stable behind wheel of one of his USMTS
Modifieds and his long-time driver Scott Green had a new
teammate.
Ryan Gustin—then a 19-year-old from
Marshalltown, Iowa, who came within 33 points of denying
Kelly Shryock his ninth USMTS national title in
2009—began to pilot a second car for Gressel beginning
that weekend.
“We’ve been impressed watching Ryan
these last couple of years,” said Gressel. “He’s been
down here all week working on the car and getting ready
for this week. We’re happy to have him on board.”
Gustin's first win with Gressel Racing was March 26,
2010, at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction,
Neb. The last of his 72 USMTS wins with the team
happened Aug. 21, 2016, at the 81 Speedway in Park City,
Kan.
Gustin also captured the 2011 and 2012 USMTS
National Championships and a handful of Late Model races
with Gressel Racing.
The team's biggest financial
score happened at the $40,000-to-win USRA Modified
Nationals at the Mississippi Thunder Speedway in
Gustin’s final event in the seat of the Gressel Racing
No. 19R Hughes Chassis.
“Great people,” Gustin
said of Ed and Cinde Gressel. “Ed was a one of a kind
guy there will never be another one like him.”
On the eve of Ed’s passing
Sunday, Gustin captured his career-first World of
Outlaws Late Model victory at the Sharon Speedway in
Ohio on Saturday night. Another Gressel student, Ricky
Thornton Jr. was a solid runner-up at the Show-Me 100 at
the Lucas Oil Speedway on the same night.
Following a runner-up finish with Ricky Thornton Jr. in
Gressel’s mount at the Featherlite Fall Jamboree in
2016, fellow Arizona native R.C. Whitwell filled the
seat of the Gressel Racing operation going forward.
Thornton—the 2016 Grant Junghans Rookie of the
Year—replaced Whitwell as the permanent driver in
January 2017. The marriage with Thornton lasted only a
few months, but in that time together they racked up 5
of his 8 career USMTS wins.
In January 2018,
Gustin made an encore appearance driving for Gressel and
getting a late model to a win at the Wild West Shootout,
and then on June 2, 2018, Brandon Givens drove the
Gressel Racing late model to a win at the 81 Speedway.
Givens has piloted the Gressel Racing machines since
then.
“I grew up down the street and Ed always
welcomed me in. To grow up and actually be able to drive
for Ed and Cinde is an honor,” said Givens. “I lost one
of my best friends and racing for me personally will
never be the same without him. They truly are my family.
I will never be able to repay both Ed and Cinde for
everything they’ve done for me.”
In 1979, Gressel Oil Field
Service was launched, and 31 years later the company was
sold to Gressel’s long-time business partner Dick
Schremmer becomes a partner. In addition to Gressel Oil
Field Service, some of the other companies founded by
the Gressel family include Bear Petroleum, Bear Tire and
Falcon Wind Power—all of which have been a sponsor of
the USMTS at one time or another.
Ed is survived
by his wife, Cinde Gressel; children Stacy (Gressel)
Boden, Adam Gressel and Patrick Morgan; and eight
grandchildren. He is also survived by his racing family:
Brandon and Dani Givens and Dal Eck.
For more
information about Gressel Racing, visit
GresselRacing.com and follow them on Facebook at
facebook.com/GresselRacing.
Graveside service
will be held on Tuesday, June 7 at 1 p.m. at Valley
Township Cemetery, 11009 E Longview Rd, Burrton, KS.
There will be a gathering and lots of hot beer at Ed’s
racing shop following the service. All racing rigs are
welcome.
Edwin Herschel Gressel
October 10, 1951 — May 29, 2022
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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American
Racer Racing Tires, Beyea
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USMTS RACETRACKS:
81 Speedway,
Arrowhead Speedway,
Belleville High Banks,
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Ogilvie Raceway,
Red Dirt Raceway,
Rocket Raceway Park,
Tri-State Speedway,
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##
Contact Info:
Jeff Nun
Chief Communications Officer
United States Modified Touring Series, Inc. (USMTS)
1715 W 2nd St, PO Box 905
Webster City, IA 50595
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