VMS Motorsports

Jeff Steenbergen is slated to run the Jim Bucher Racing #62 Legends car in the Wisconsin Legends Racing Dirt Series for the 2012 season.

After running his own Legend car in 2009, Steenbergen moved on to race a Sport Mod at Beaver Dam Raceway in 2010, and a Grand National in 2011.

Jeff was planning to take the 2012 season off while expanding his chassis and set-up company, Ultimate Race Cars, but jumped at the chance to return to Legends racing with someone else's equipment.

The car, while owned by Jim Bucher Racing, will be a showcase of what Ultimate Race Cars and VMS Motorsports can do.

URC will set-up both Jim Bucher and Jeff's cars, with engines, carburetors, and parts supplied by VMS.

To date, Steenbergen has won 48 Heat races, 29 Feature races, and 2 championships (2002 Mid American Super trucks, 2010 Beaver Dam Sport Mod), and plans to carry his winning ways into 2012.

By plan, Jeffs black and yellow #62 will carry no sponsors, only the logo's of URC & VMS.

With Jim Bucher’s 2011 series at an end, here is the season summary:

17 races attended

6 cancelled due to weather

15 top 10 finishes

1 top 5 finish

1 DNF

9.8 average finishing position

Tracks raced at included:

Beaver Dam Raceway, Dubuque Raceway, Angell Park Speedway, Thunderhill Raceway.

Tracks scheduled but not raced at due to weather: Dodge County Fairgrounds, 141 Speedway.

While this was definitely the best of Jim’s seasons to date, it does end with some disappointment. With less than 20 races attended, Bucher will not be a factor in the INEX Legends National Points. The team will regroup for 2012, and with the addition of a second Legends car, Jim Bucher Racing will be competing for both the Semi-Pro and the Pro national titles. 2012 Pro division driver to be announced soon.

Jim would also like to thank the sponsors for the 2011 season:

VMS Motorsports Legends Racing Parts and More (262)255-7100

Childish Concepts Auto Repair and Customizing (262)347-7498

HarmonHomes.com Nationwide Home Search Website

The Agency Real Estate Serving Buyers and Sellers in Waukesha, Washington, Milwaukee, and Ozaukee Counties (262)255-7200

ULTIMATE EARBUDS The Ultimate Earbud for any application

All 2011 sponsors have already committed to back the 2 car team for 2012. If you know of anyone that would be interested in supporting JBR in 2012, Please call Jim at (262)352-1234.

After repairs were made Sunday morning to the 17, Jim Bucher headed to 141 Speedway for the first Legends car race there this year. While the track tried to get the race in, they finally had to call it off when the rains came back into the area.

Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, HarmonHomes.com, Childish Concepts, ULTIMATE EARBUDS Legends car were looking to build on last weeks success and headed out to Beaver Dam Saturday for the start of a 2 night weekend to finish out the Wisconsin Legends Racing Dirt Series.

With rain on and off all day, and more in the forecast, the decision was made to run only feature races in Beaver Dam to allow all classes to get in their final points race of the season...Bucher would have better off if they had gotten rained out.

Jim started the feature in 5th position and fell back from there with ignition issues caused by the rain. After falling back to the 12th position in a season high field of 21, the problem went away, and Bucher was able to start closing the gap. After moving past one car, Jim was put into the wall with 4 laps to go, ending his night and his season at Beaver Dam with his first DNF of the year, and only his second finish all season outside of the top 10. Jim also lost one position in the points, finishing 8th in the season standings, a 2 spot improvement from his 10th place a year ago.

Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, HarmonHomes.com, Childish Concepts, ULTIMATE EARBUDS Legends car returned to Beaver Dam Raceway Saturday with hopes of building on last weeks improvements.

The night didn’t start off well again, Bucher started 4th in his heat, and charged to the lead by the end of lap one. Jim help on until spinning himself into the infield on lap 4. Bucher managed to catch back up and pass 2 cars back, netting him a 7th position in the heat.

Jim headed out for the A Main starting 13th in an 18 car field. The car was fast down low, as Bucher picked his way through traffic and was up to 5th by the halfway point. Bucher lost a position while taking the wrong line overcoming a lapped car with 2 to go, and finished 6th on the night.

The VMS Motorsports team feels confident going into this 2 week race weekend, the final night at beaver Dam Saturday, and our first ever visit to 141 on Sunday.

After a week off due to Mother Nature, Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, HarmonHomes.com, Childish Concepts, ULTIMATE EARBUDS Legends car returned to Beaver Dam Raceway.

The night didn’t start off well, as the new INEX track width gauge was at the track for the first time this year, and the car was too wide. The team had to narrow the front end quickly as the Legends were the first heat races.

Bucher started 4th in his heat, and found the car horribly loose, so he pulled off the track.

With the rest of the adjustments made that time did not permit, Jim headed out for the A Main starting 15th in an 18 car field. The car was fast as Bucher maneuvered his way through traffic, dodging wrecks and spinning cars as he moved up to 9th place by lap 13. The car developed a push though, and Bucher was not able to gain any more positions on the dry and dusty race track.

After the way the night started, the VMS Motorsports team is happy with the results, and is looking forward to next Saturday at Beaver Dam.

Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, Childish Concepts, ULTIMATE EARBUDS, HarmonHomes.com #17 Legends Car returned to Beaver Dam Saturday for a second chance to start the month of August.

It was fan appreciation night, so they headed to the track early to give maximum exposure to the fans, and traded signed hero cards for kids signatures on the car.

Bucher was lined up 2nd in the heat race and ready to kick August in to gear when entering turn 1 he discovered a lack of brakes. Jim pulled up high to let the field by and was able to develop a rythym, coming back through the field of 9 to just miss the 5th and final invert position by a bumper.

Brake issue solved, Bucher started the A Main in 11th place and had a heck of a time. he finished the race 9th, but there was alot of side by side clean racing, 4 wide at times, with no contact. Was some of the most fun racing in a long time.

Jim will return to Beaver Dam again this coming Saturday to capture a top 5 finish (or so he says)

Due to a scheduling conflict with the Green Bay Packers, Jim Bucher will not be able to attend the October 1st race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH.

Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, Childish Concepts, HarmonHomes.com, ULTIMATE EARBUDS #17 Legends car made their first ever trip to Thunderhill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay, WI Thursday Night.

The track was nice and tacky during hot laps, the car was fast and the team was confident. Soon, between the Sprint Cars and the sun, the track was black. Bucher was able to drive his scary loose #17 to a second place finishing spot in his heat race.

Adjustments were made to further tighten up the car, and Bucher had a solid 5th place car until a driver error on the final re-start caused the car to drop back to 8th place. Bucher is lucky he's the team owner or he would be replaced immediately.

Jim Bucher will be back in action Saturday at Beaver Dam Raceway

Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, Childish Concepts, HarmonHomes.com, ULTIMATE EARBUDS #17 Legends car returned to Beaver Dam in hopes to finish what they started last week, namely 2 top 5's thrown away by driver error. Twas not to be.

We knew it would be a bad day when the hauler wouldn't start, causing us to get to the track over an hour later than usual, missing the hotlap sessions while getting the car ready.

Bucher started his heat race in 2nd, took the lead at the drop of the green, and proceeded to spin the car out in turn one. With the one un-assisted spin rule, Bucher was sent to the pits.

Realizing now what they had to deal with for a track surface, the team changed the set-up for the A Main, which would have Jim starting 12th. Buchers car was fast, as he maneuvered his way up to seventh position before an early race caution, but at the re-start, the handling went away, and Buchers #17 faded back to 11th, where he would have finished if the first and second place cars wouldn't have wrecked in turn 4 of the final lap, handing Bucher an undeserved 9th place finish.

The month of July, which started off so promising, will be one we are glad to see behind us.

Watch out August, here we come, starting off this Thursday, August 4th, at Thunder Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay

Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, Childish Concepts, HarmonHomes.com, ULTIMATE EARBUDS #17 Legends car returned to Sun Prairie Sunday, notes from last week in hand, and ready to put on a heck of a show...then the rains came, throwing all the set-up info gained from last week out the window.

Kudos to Chris Wilke, CW Promotions, Ronnie, and everyone who got the track back into racing condition.

Jim Bucher, still feeling good even after blowing a top 5 the night before came out with a bang with some calculated adjustments and finished 2nd in his heat race.

The team left the #17 unchanged for the A Main, and Bucher picked up where he left off in the heat race. Jim started 7th and was able to run any groove on the heavy track. With 4 laps to go, and going low for a pass on the 3rd place car, Bucher lost it coming out of turn 4 and got bogged down in the front stretch infield mud. No caution came out as Bucher was out of the racing groove, and while the majority of the field passed him by, he was only able to regain 2 positions. Finishing position is still unknown.

2 of the best races of his short career this weekend, but when it came down to it, Bucher was unable to close the deal two nights in a row.

The VMS Motorsports team is still riding high on the positives of the weekend, and are getting ready for this coming Saturday night at Beaver Dam

Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, Childish Concepts, HarmonHomes.com, ULTIMATE EARBUDS #17 Legends car returned to Beaver Dam feeling good about the car this weekend.

Bucher drove a safe heat race and finished 5th.

Jim Bucher started outside front row for the A Main and led one lap before being passed by the 2010 track champion, Brandon Schmitt. Bucher kept fighting at the front of the field and had a top 5 car all race. A spin by another competitor set up a 5 lap dash to the finish. In turn 3, Bucher overdrove slightly, pushing up and hitting the #22 of Joey Johnson (Grandson of Hall of Fame Driver Billy Johnson), causing Bucher to spin. The contact put Bucher to the rear, and with a bent trailing arm from the incident, the car was bad loose, and Jim couldn't make it through traffic quick enough to get back into the top 10, finishing 12th, the first finish outside of the top 10 of the season.

The VMS Motorsports team will be heading to Sun Prairie Sunday

Waking up Sunday morning with questions as to the extent of Saturday nights damage, Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, Childish Concepts, HarmonHomes.com, ULTIMATE EARBUDS team found more than they expected. The right side rear shock mount was partially torn from the housing, rear differential was damaged, and the driveshaft adapter was also damaged.

Good thing there was a spare car to rob from in the shop, as the team was able to get the car on the trailer by 3:45 and on the way to Angell Park for the first time in 2011.

During hot laps, Bucher discovered a lack of braking, and pulled in to correct the issue.

Bucher ran a decent heat race while still experiencing some braking issues, finishing 3rd.

Bucher would draw the outside front row starting position for the A main after getting the braking problem rectified, but would not use it to his advantage. Being his first race at the facility in over a year, Bucher overdrove a few corners, and each time fell back a spot or two, down to a low point of 9th position before gaining one position back for an 8th place finish.

A lot of notes were taken, and the VMS Motorsports team expects a better performance this coming Sunday, July 24th at Sun Prairie. Jim will also be racing in Beaver Dam on Saturday night July 23rd.

Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, The Agency Real Estate, Childish Concepts, HarmonHomes.com, ULTIMATE EARBUDS team made their way back to Beaver Dam after a week of rebuilding the car after last weeks wall hit.

The track was in great condition, but the car was set up for dry slick due to lack of rain over the last few weeks. Bucher was able to finish 5th in hi heat race.

Making adjustments for the great track conditions, Bucher felt good going into the feature. While battling for 3rd on lap 2, Bucher and Iowa Driver Tim Simpson got together, damaging something in the drivetrain, giving Bucher a bad vibration over 8500 RPM. Bucher took it easy or the rest of the race and ended up finishing 10th.

Damage assessment will be done Sunday Morning

The scoring change was denied by the track head scorer, and Jim Bucher was "officially" declared 10th.

The team hopes this 3 point scoring mistake does not come in to play in the INEX National Points battle, in which, going into Saturdays event, Bucher was averaging 93.57 points per event, the 9th highest average in the country in his division.

The VMS Motorsports, HarmonHomes.com, Childish Concepts, The Agency Real Estate, ULTIMATE EARBUDS Legends team was on hand in Beaver Dam Saturday night as a support class for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars.

Bucher Started 4th in his heat, and when a few over zealous drivers decided to take it 4 wide into turn one, he did the smart thing and backed off, finishing 6th.

Starting the A Main in 11th, Bucher moved up into the 7th position before the handling started to go away and the car was loose off, making him a non-factor. He was driving around in 9th in a field of 18 when in turn 4 on the final lap, another driver dove in hard and hit Buchers car, jumping the left rear wheel and landing on the running board. The other driver then continued to stay on the gas, driving Bucher hard into the wall at the start finish line. Even though the cars were hooked together, with the other drivers car perched with its right front wheel at Jim's door, they were somehow awarded the position, dropping Bucher back to 10th.

Jim Bucher will be skipping the trip to Dubuque, Iowa today due to the extensive damage done to the #17

The Wisconsin Legends Racing Dirt Series has added two more races at Angell Park, July 17 and 24th. This bumps Jim Bucher's asphalt debut at Slinger Super Speedway on July 17th from the schedule.

Jim Bucher and the VMS Motorsports, HarmonHomes.com, Childish Concepts, The Agency Real Estate, ULTIMATE EARBUDS team headed out to Beaver Dam Saturday night for the LEgends National Qualifier race.

After a disappointing week last week, Bucher was itching to get back into the seat to redeem himself. Being a National Qualifier Race, track points did not line up the heat races, but a draw/re-draw format was used, putting Bucher in the last starting spot of his heat race.

The dry and dusty track, coupled with a very loose car only allowed Bucher to move up to 5th in his Heat race. The team tightened the car up and was ready for the A Main.

The re-draw placed Jim in the 6th starting spot for the A-Main though, which he would not take advantage of. At the green, between the dust and the 4 wide racing going into turn one, Bucher laid back to let things get settled in before making his move, falling back to 11th on the first lap. Dodging wrecks in front of him and keeping a cool head on the hot night allowed him to pick off cars one at a time. Jim was able to make it up to 4th position before sliding back one. Bucher was able to capture his first ever top 5 finish in an A Main with a 5th place finish.

Special thanks to Dominick for his help in the pits tonight.

Jim Bucher has added another race to the schedule, July 10th the VMS Motorsports driver will return to Dubuque, Iowa to try to best his season high finish of 6th place.

With the rash of rain-outs to start the season, Jim Bucher has added 4 races in Iowa to end the season and ensure enough INEX sanctioned Legends point races to compete for the National Championship