Jimmy Kouba

Birthplace:	Sedalia, Colorado
Birthdate:	August 9, 1962
Residence:	Byron, Minnesota
Spouse:	Jamie Kouba
Children:	Jacob, Kaitlyn
Parents:	Earl & Ethel Kouba
Siblings:	Judy Kouba Dominick, Joe Kouba

Earl Kouba was still very active in midget racing the summer of 1962. Momma Ethel's due date for the latest little Kouba was not until August. It was an exceptionally hot summer, especially if you were in your last trimester. Ethel was very ready for the birth of Jimmy. Earl and Ethel took a lot of ribbing at the track. Earl's was mostly due to being a new daddy again at the ripe age of 44. And Ethel? Her ration of teasing came from the likelihood of needing the track ambulance to rush her and Earl to the hospital due to excitement-induced labor. No emergency ride was needed in the end (however, Earl WAS mistaken by a hospital volunteer as the grandfather of little Jimmy.)

Flash forward to June 1981. Jimmy slides into the cockpit for the first time. The debut was a midget show at Hartford Speedway, a fast high-banked 1/2 mile west of Sioux Falls, SD. He didn't exactly set the world afire, getting lapped twice in an eight-lap heat and six times in the feature. Says Jimmy: "I had to race faster on the yellows just to catch the pack then I did under green!"

After only four midget events in two years, big brother Joe decided Jimmy needed more track time. He hauled his sprinter out of the mothballs. Both he and it had last turned a wheel at North Star Speedway, no wings. With a used wing from Bob Hopp, Joe and Jimmy lit out for a two-day swing at Proctor, MN and Grand Rapids, MN. The year was 1983. The car was bright orange. Joe took the wheel of their shared ride the first night. Jimmy made his rookie appearance the next night at Grand Rapids. The two hit shows at Jackson, MN and Huset's near Brandon, SD though the end of that season and the next.

It was in 1985 that Jimmy bought Bob Hopp's 1981 J&J Chassis and began his career in earnest. Graduating from college in '84 and starting work at the Mayo Clinic, Jimmy now had something he never had had much of... cash. With it, he bought his own first car. In the deal he also picked up a sponsorship from Glenn Gillund. Gillund Enterprises, the Midwest distributor of Justice Brother's car care products, was Bob Hopp's sponsor. Also the Gillunds and Hopps were good friends with brother Joe. The season consisted of a Friday-Saturday combo between Fairmont and Jackson with a few Sundays at Huset's thrown in for the heck of it. The crew was still Mom and Dad.

The "2K" came in 1986. On the same car, Jimmy wanted a change of luck (too many crashes and ER visits the year before). This season was a turning point. Jimmy won his first race ever, a heat at Huset's and things were looking up. He also met Jamie Dunford that year. He talked her into being his date the Huset's banquet. The day after was the final race of the year, Cheater's Day at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds. This was Jamie's first race ever. Jimmy treated her to quite a show. Hooking wheels with Bobby Houseman out of turn 4, Jimmy flipped end-over-end down the front straight. Amazingly enough, Jamie stuck around. (She thought this was maybe normal?!?! For Jimmy at the time, maybe it was.) They were married in April of 1987 and now have two kids of their own, Jacob Earl and Kaitlyn Erin.

1990 saw Jimmy's first new car, his first Stevenson Chassis. This also was the first time blue was found on the car, as it was a two-tone job of the traditional yellow with a bright blue front end. This was a year of firsts. The first night out, at Huset's on Mother's Day, Jimmy flipped the new machine in the heat. He managed the feat without damage to the car or the wing. Racing with only a 360 cubic inch motor in the Outlaw class, Jimmy morphed his 6th-row start to a 6th place finish. Pretty cool! The first question asked of Jimmy after the event by Tim Monson: "So, Jimmy... Do you like the new car?" In August of that year, Jimmy took the win in the Huset's Outlaw class, using Brother Joe's engine and racing under his number, at none other then the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds. The first win is a very sweet thing! Next week, Jimmy nabbed a win at Huset's in the 360 class.

The wins came once in while, but the career took a brief downturn in 1992. Jimmy's Dad, mentor, crew chief, and friend passed away that spring. Earl would only ride with him in spirit now, and it took awhile for Jimmy to rediscover his game. In 1995 it began coming back. He switched venues to the racy 3/8 mile of Cedar Lake Speedway, reduced his schedule to only a dozen events in the season (down from 40+ per year) and dropped the yellow paint scheme to go with an all blue car. Jimmy brought home the checkered twice that season. His confidence and skill improving, Jimmy won the track championship at Cedar Lake in 1997.

For Jimmy, 2005 was a rough year. The race team's funding took a hit during the winter, as did the funding of many teams. Jimmy and Jamie made a very hard decision and put the entire operation up for sale. The one upside was that the sell-out put Jimmy in contact with George Cruse. George is the managing director of Coastline Imports, a New Zealand based company that was expanding its import business to include Sprint car parts. George invited Jimmy to New Zealand as the driver for his new GMC Race Team. The team had a rocky start, only notching two event wins. They were just finding their stride when sad news came from home. Jimmy's Mom, Ethel Kouba, was in failing health and was not expected to survive her recent illness. Jamie and family packed up for home to spend time with his Mom and the entire family. In mid-December Ethel passed away, just five days after Jimmy's return. "Mom" Kouba left a rich legacy: family cheerleader, race enthusiast, and every driver's friend; her passing was mourned by many.

At this point, Jimmy has won multiple championships as well as his share of feature victories. He has met some great people, raced with some of the best sprint drivers in the world, and still learns something new every time he hits the track. Although no longer a car owner, his skills and experience are for hire as a driver or mechanic. When not racing sprints, Jimmy can be found helping his son Jake at the Kart track or supporting his daughter Kaitie at horse shows.

Major Accomplishments:

2002 W.W. Thompson Concrete Products Champion

2001 WISSOTA NATIONAL SPRINT CAR CHAMPION

1997 Cedar Lake Speedway Track Champion

1986 Sportsman of the Year - Jackson Speedway

Racing veteran with a racing heritage dating to 1938

Memorable Races Won:

Earl Kouba Memorial - 2000 & 2001; the ONLY two-time winner

South Dakota State Fair - 2003; "Wall of Fame" honors

Mighty Axe Nationals - 2002; the Axe Trophy is awesome!

Open Wheel Frenzy - 2001 & 2002; Dominated!

University of Okoboji Night - 1994; the end of a dry spell

Jackson Frostbuster - 1991; 1st "big event" win

Jim Matthews Memorial - 1990; 2nd win - a week after the first

Sioux Empire Fair - 1990; 1st win and in the Outlaw class to boot