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Mike started racing at in the sportsman division at Englewood
Speedway in Denver, Colorado in 1978, quickly moving into Late
Models. When Englewood Speedway closed, he raced at Colorado Springs
International Speedway in Colorado
Springs, until it closed in 1982. He then decided that he would like to try
dirt racing at Colorado National Speedway and I-76 in Fort Morgan. He was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award
at CNS in 1984, and then received the “Hard Luck Award” in 1985. In 1986 members of GART –Grand American
Racing Tour – approached him to race with them in an open show in Cheyenne. He took his dirt car chassis, changing things around to
race asphalt, and ran with them for the last show of 1986, and then full time
in 1987 and 1988 traveling to Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Wyoming, finishing
3rd and 2nd in the points respectively. In 1989, Colorado National Speedway was
purchased by Jim Opperman, paved and Mike returned to CNS to run on a weekly
basis. Having a dirt chassis, running
pavement, at times was tricky, and he had to learn to “manufacture” his own
parts to fit his needs. That, and a shallow pocketbook, made
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him learn all about driving and building racecars.
With the help of local engine builders, he was also building his own motors. He
finished 5 th in the points in both 1989 and 1990. From 1996-1998 he raced the Southwest Tour
and ReMax Challenge series at Pikes Peak International Speedway, Las Vegas
Speedway, and Gateway International Speedway in St Louis Missouri.
Mike opened Leary Racing Products in 1999, thinking he would
have time to race and travel; much to his surprise, it became busy very
quickly, and he has now transferred his “competitive juices” to building shocks
for cars from drag racing to circle track to hill climb, and road racing.
We have even seen downhill ski competitors, rock crawlers
and ice racers.
Advice to those just getting into racing:
Volunteer to be on someone’s pit crew for a year first, and learn all you can –
about the cars, finances, and exactly what kind of time and hard work it
entails.
Advice to those building a new car and needing many
new parts:
Spend your money wisely.
Sometimes what seems to be a “great deal” isn’t what it appears.
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