Photo by Danielle Ayers: Myles Michehl of Fort Dodge is a regular winner on the area racing scene. Michehl won the USRA national championship in the stock car division.

This year was different on the track for Fort Dodge’s Myles Michehl.

Michehl, who has been competing in area and midwest races since 2009, turned his hobby into something special. The 37-year-old competed in the USRA Summit Equipment Racing Series, as well as the Iron Man — a traveling sub series.

The 2006 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate made the trip well worth its weight in points, as Michehl won the USRA Series stock car title with 6,358 points. He also placed fourth in the Iron Man Series at 1,173 points.

“This was the first year we’ve raced in it. They just brought it back…the last year was in 2017,” Michehl said about Iron Man. “We pretty much race all over the midwest. Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

“It paid decent money every week, and there were some good guys racing. You had to be really solid to even be in the Top-10.”

In the USRA points races, Michehl had 54 starts. He came away with 13 victories, 34 Top-5s and 44 Top-10 finishes.

In the Iron Man, he won races in Mason City and Fairmont, Minn.

“We started (Iron Man, which also goes to USRA points) in Wheatland, Mo. in March and had decent luck there,” Michehl said. “We didn’t chase (points) much until about July, when we started paying attention (to the standings).

“I believe in early September we took over the points lead with good nights in Mason City and Fairmont, where we extended our lead.”

Michehl has won numerous titles around the area. He started racing in 2009 at was then Mineral City Speedway. He has won over 10 championships both at now Sports Park Raceway in Fort Dodge and Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City. He has also won multiple crowns in Boone.

In 2019, Michehl made the jump from Hobby Stock to Stock Car. He has five points titles in the new division.

Michehl ended his season where it began: at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo.

“Our goals were to get 10 wins, Top-5 in national points, and compete for an Iron Man championship,” Michehl said in a Facebook post after his final race of the season. “We ended up fourth in Iron Man points, and (won) the USRA Stock Car National points championship.

“This year had its ups and downs for sure. I couldn’t have done it without my wife, family, friends and sponsors. Without them, none of this would’ve been possible.”

Michehl got hooked on racing at a young age. His next door neighbor had a Figure 8 car, and he would frequently hang out to learn the trade.

“My neighbor got me a job at Mark’s Auto Mart washing cars,” Michehl said. “Wayne Crimmins and Jeremy Crimmins raced, and I thought I would start racing myself.

“Denny Fuller had a shop at Mark’s. He would go with Billy Moyer, as his Late Model crew chief and they helped me along the way.”

With support behind him, Michehl knew anything was possible at nationals.

“This definitely wouldn’t be possible without my sponsors,” Michehl said. “I would like to thank Mark’s Auto Mart, CPD Racing Shocks, Arnold Motor Supplies, Grell Roofing, Visions Auto Glass and Repair, Harrison Construction, Johnson Brothers Snow and Mow, Big John’s Motorsports, Bill Henderson Racing, J and H Lawn Care, Community Tap Pizza and JDM Management.”

Michehl may be behind the wheel, but for everything to run smoothly, he knows there has to be help at home.

“I can’t thank (wife) Alyssa enough,” Michehl said. “There are weekends when I would leave on Thursday and not be home until 8 on Sunday. Those are the times you can’t wait to be home.

“She takes care of Reyd and the house and gets my things ready. With everything she does, I couldn’t do it without her.”