The distance he covers went from 100 meters to quarter of a mile or more, but now Shawn Schnabel has a bit more power at his disposal.
The Aberdeen driver is embarking on his first season in auto racing, competing in the Super Stock class. Schnabel, 22, is a recent graduate of Northern State, where he spent his time racing on a different sort of track as a sprinter, doing 100- and 200-yard dashes.
Schnabel had his home debut at Brown County Speedway last Friday, but opened his career at a track in Lisbon, N.D.
"I was a little nervous sitting there," Schnabel said of his first time racing. "When I got out on the track, that kind of disappeared."
While he didn't take the checkered flag, he did take away some valuable experience to use in future races.
"I spun out a few times, but didn't cause any wrecks," Schnabel said. "My first heat, I got a little too high and hit the wall. I bent up the car a little, but not too bad."
His first time on the track provided a bit of a tense moment, as well.
"My first feature at Lisbon, I turned my car sideways in turns three and four, and saw the whole pack coming at me," said Schnabel, who eventually got his car straightened out in time. "I had not seen a yellow flag yet, and they were coming full throttle."
Helping out a neighbor in the sport turned into Schnabel's introduction to getting behind the wheel.
"For about the last 10 years, I've lived across the street from Dennis Zelmer, and had been helping him with his car," Schnabel said. "I got this little itch to (race) and I figured I'd scratch it."
Schnabel's ride is a Ford, a brand both he and his father like. The car already had the number 90 on it, which Schnabel left as his number.
"I was looking around for a car I could afford and found a deal," Schnabel said. "It helped that the car was a Ford. Dad and I are big Ford fans, so I decided to go with it."
Camaraderie among race car drivers is common in the pits, and Schnabel has found that to be the case during his rookie campaign.
"They have all been responding really well and accepting, and offered a lot of help," Schnabel said.
A lifelong race fan, the change from spectator to driver has affected Schnabel's way of looking at the sport.
"I'd have to say how difficult it is handling the car through the corners," Schnabel said of challenges in the sport. "You have to trust that it will stick (to the track) and go around. (The drivers) make it look a lot easier than it is."
A May graduate of NSU, Schnabel earned degrees in forensic science and business management. He was able to carry over lessons learned on one track to another.
"The more you practice and the more time you put in, the better you're going to be," Schnabel said. "Everything takes hard work to get good at."
While he gains experience at the track getting "seat time," he also picks up knowledge by keeping his eyes and ears open away from the oval as well.
"I talk to other drivers and see what they do for different setups and see how they handle the cars," he said. "The guy who owned the car said, 'Get more seat time. The more you get, the more comfortable you'll be.' "
Schnabel thinks bringing his skills from Northern State to the auto racing world was a natural move.
"The biggest thing is, I couldn't get enough of going fast and turning left in track, so I decided to do it in a race car."
The Shawn Schnabel File
Family: Parents, Brad and Cindy; sister Brandy (31).
Favorite athlete: Derek Jeter.
Favorite team: New York Yankees.
Hobbies: Working out, playing softball.
Best advice received:"Steve Weber (Super Stock driver) said, 'Always try to remember what you do lap to lap, so if something doesn't work, you can try something different.'"
Favorite athletic memory:"Placing third at Howard Wood in the 100-meter dash."