Brett Mann
For over 30-Years Brett Mann’s signature no.19 Sprint Car has been at the front of the pack with the Michigan based Sprints on Dirt and Great Lakes Super Sprints Series’ and Michigan’s premier Sprinter tracks of I-96 and Hartford Motor Speedway. Although dubbed the “Hoosier Rocket”, most of Mann’s accolades have come within the mitten state. The Goshen, Indiana native has had much success and many opportunities, but he always comes back to his roots with S.O.D. and G.L.S.S. Mann says his choice to run with groups whose schedule consists of about 25 races per year and all to the north of his home, is an easy one, “I’ve raced all over the country and with all kinds of groups and this is as good as any group I’ve ever run with” proclaimed Brett, “It has just always been a really good core group of guys. The officials and drivers always make you feel welcome when you come to an event and whenever you need parts or help with anything, everybody is always willing to pitch in and help you get going. This has always kind of been home, and it is always good to be home!”
The Rocket Mann has won on everything from dirt to asphalt, in Winged 360’s to USAC Non-Winged 410 Sprinters since first strapping into the cockpit of a Sprint Car back in 1986. After capturing his first ever feature win at I-96 Speedway (Lake Odessa, MI) in 1989, Mann has gone on to win over 80 features in 4 different states, and currently sits 5th on S.O.D’s all time win-list with 31 victories. As a child Brett stated that he listened to his father Jim complain about driver after driver in the family owned no.19 machine, and so when he turned of age he figured he might as well give it a try. From that point in time at South Bend Speedway he has never stepped away; making racing not only a passion and pastime, but a career as well.
Some of Brett’s career highlights include:
• 2002 Pennsylvania Speedweek win at Susquehanna Speedway
• 2008 SOD King of Michigan win at Hartford Speedway
• 1991, 1992, and 1998 I-96 Speedway Track Champion
• 2005 Hartford Speedway Track Champion
• 2008 and 2009 Sprints On Dirt Series Champion
• 2nd in SOD points - 2007 and 2011
• 2-time SOD Driver of the Year (2008 and 2009)
• Currently 5th in all-time series wins with SOD with 31 wins
• Has over 80 feature wins in 4 different states
• 1991 USAC win at I-96
• First race won was 7/7/89 - open show at I-96 Speedway
Mann has certainly had an illustrious career to-date, but of all the memories Brett will never forget the opportunity he had to drive Bob Weikerts famed Weikert Livestock no.29 machine in Pennsylvania, a ride that came as a total surprise. In 2002 Mann proved that although a Hoosier and honorary Michigander, he was perfectly suited racing against the Pennsylvania Posse when he picked up a feature win at Susquehanna Speedway during the famed PA Speedweeks in the Premier Motorsports no.21s machine.
With a racing career deeply rooted in Michigan, and an enviable resume; Brett Mann is a great representative of the open-wheeled talent and competition within Michigan.