| Driver: |
Ben Schaller |
 |
| Hometown: |
Norfolk, Nebraska |
| DOB: |
12/21/82 |
| Height: |
5'11" |
| Weight: |
185 lbs |
| Marital Status: |
Married (Michelle Schaller) |
| Division: |
Super Late Model |
| Years Racing: |
24 |
| Chassis: |
MB Customs |
| Engine: |
Schaller Racing Engines |
| Team Owner: |
Ben & Will Schaller |
| Favorite Movie: |
Deadpool, Waiting, Fight Club |
| Favorite Food: |
Char Buffed Wings |
| Race Most Like to Win: |
Prelude to the Silver Dollar Nationals and any Open Super Late Model Race |
| Crew Chief: |
Will Schaller |
| Crew: |
Justin Sutter
Diane Price |
| Brief History |
Will and Ben Schaller
Will Schaller is the patriarch and founder of Schaller Racing. Will started his racing career in 1977 when he
purchased and built his first dirt late model. Over the last 40 plus years Will has owned and driven many different cars. Will has worked in the industrial and performance engine industry his entire career. His experience and expertise led
him to make a life changing venture in 1992 with the formation of Ag and Industrial Engine Machine in Norfolk, NE. He
has spent the last 26 years providing all facets of engine machining and building from hot rod engines to over the road
truck engines. The last 10 years has also seen the development of Schaller Racing Engines and Shocks. Will currently builds 10 to 15 performance racing engines a year for Ben Schaller as well as other teams in several states. He also builds all of the Schaller Race Team shocks and services race shocks for several other racers in his region.
Ben Schaller started racing in 1992 after talking to his dad (Will Schaller) and saying that some day he would like to
drive a big car like the ones that his dad's drivers (Kim Lingenfelter and Sam Jacobs) drove. Back then the cars were called Grandnationals. They had raced in the area with the Busch All Star Series.
Before long Ben's dad pulled up to the front of the family's house in his truck with
a racing Go Kart that he had purchased from someone that he knew in Norfolk. Ben would go on to race Go Karts from 1992-
1998 until he was 16 years old.
During that time Schaller picked up multiple wins, track championships, regional awards and Top-5 finishes in national Go Kart races. From there Ben progressed into full-sized cars as he acquired an IMCA Street Stock. He enjoyed success with a
couple of wins.
In 2001 the team decided that it
was time to move into the Dirt Late Model division. In their rookie year at Butler County Speedway Schaller was able to secure both the Rookie of the Year title and points championship honors. He continued racing
consistently in the region continuing to challenge himself by moving up through various Dirt Late
Model divisions until the end of the 2008 season.
After a brief five year hiatus to start a family and live what most would consider a normal life Schaller needed
racing back in his life. In 2013, with a blessing from his mom, wife and equipment from his dad, Ben
started racing weekly at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska.
In 2014, with an updated chassis, Schaller was able to pick up his first NASCAR Whelen Super Late Model
win at I-80 Speedway as well as improve his point's finish from the prior year.
In 2015 Schaller Racing decided to start
running with the Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing Series (SLMRS) as well as for weekly points at I-80 Speedway. That season the team achieved their best point's performance to date with a runner-up finish at I-80.
2016 would bring the team multiple wins as well as a Track Championship at I-80 Speedway. They were also able to pick up their first
Malvern Bank SLMRS wins in back-to-back fashion as well as a third-place finish in the series points. He also claimed the Nebraska State Championship.
2017
started off with a promising, opening night win at I-80 Speedway. Throughout the season Ben endured a
couple of hard accidents, which basically forced the team to start over with a different car on three separate occasions. Even
with that he was able to pick up a total of four wins, a third-place finish in the I-80 Speedway points and a fourth-place finish in the inaugural Gail’s Gold Rush Points.
For the
2018 the team decided that they would try something new and made the switch to an MB Customs chassis. With their new chassis they were able to pick up four wins, finish third in I-80 Speedway
points, second in the Gail's Gold Rush points and seconnd in the Malvern Bank SLMR Series.
Justin Sutter - Marketing Director and Crew Member
In 1996 Justin Sutter started his tenure with the team while Ben was still racing go karts. He has been racing full
or part time with the team ever since. He has played many roles within the team and also owned his own late models at
times. After spending 6 years furthering his aviation career in Oklahoma and Colorado he returned to Nebraska and the
team late in the 2017 season. 2018 saw Justin come onboard as full-time crew member, sponsor, and marketing director
for the team. Justin also decided it was time to pass on the racing passion and built his 10 year old son his first go kart
for the 2018 season. |
|
|
|
|
