Cuba City may be known for all the athletes who have graced the halls at Cuba City High School, however, it's not the only thing they should be known for.
For the summer racing season, six young men from Cuba City made a huge name for the town in which they represent.
The number 43 car of Brandon Wilson has been on the circuit for seven years. Wilson started racing when he was 21 years old and the first three years he won 41 feature races. Wilson frequents the Darlington, Dubuque and Farley raceways. Although Wilson admits he races for "bragging rights and the adrenaline rush," he couldn't do what he does so well without the help of his pit crew of John Guild, Darren Mish, Travis Wilson and Cam Wolfe. Wilson races in the A-Mod dirt track racing event and appreciates all the help he gets from Marty and Linda Griffin.
The next racer is the Lafayette County Speedway 2012 point champ, Wes Digman. Digman drives a Sport Mod Open Wheel and is in his sixth year racing.
When Digman was just 16, he started working on his friend, Jack Jewison's four-cylinder. Just one year later, Digman bought his first four-cylinder car.
Digman also races at Darlington, Dubuque and Farley speedways and values his pit crew, including his dad, Terry Digman and engine builder, Steve Tranel, and friends Nick Haverland, Cam Wolfe, Jason Roth, and Cody Wunderlin. Digman credits Kim and Brandon Wilson, for their help and expertise in getting him into this crazy hobby. "It's a ‘rush' speeding around the track," Digman said. "My Grandma McGraw, the rest of my family and sponsors support me and are always in the stands cheering me on."
The number 71 car of Scott "Boy" Busch took second place at the Lafayette County Speedway this year with his Sport Mod Open Wheel. Busch is fairly new to the sport getting started with the help of Kim and Brandon Wilson in 2010. Busch now races in Darlington, Dubuque and Farley and he enjoys the competitiveness of racing. Busch got his nickname ‘Boy' as a child from his father and the name has stuck ever since.
Busch said he couldn't be as successful as he is without the great help of Steve Redfearn, Brandon Wilson, DJ Sweet, Chris Sweet, Dan Busch and Deb Durley.
Kyle Casper in the number 17 car races in the Sport Mod Open Wheel class in Darlington, Dubuque and Maquoketa. Only racing since last year, Casper won a feature race at the Lafayette County Speedway in Darlington this year and finished in the Top 10 for Points at Lafayette County Speedway. Casper said he likes the adrenaline rush when racing.
Starting his racing hobby in 2010, Kyle Kaiser is in the number 15 car in the Sport Mod Open Wheel class.
Kaiser wanted to race with his friend, Kyle Casper at the raceways in Darlington, Dubuque and Maquoketa.
Kaiser finished in the top 20 in points this year in Darlington and said his brother Kevin, and friends Kenny Kreul, Ben Wilberding and Cal and Linda Robbins have helped and supported him all year long. Kaiser said his parents are very supportive in this venture and "I enjoy the speed and the rush of competing with the other drivers," Kaiser said.
The quiet racer of the group is the number 71 car of Dylan Kuhl.
Kuhl races a four-cylinder car in the smaller-speed class of racing. Racing since 2008, Kuhl races in Darlington and Dubuque. Kuhl said he just likes to be out on the track with the other guys. "I get a lot of help from my Grandpa Joe and my dad, Shawn Kuhl," Kuhl said.