Last year, veteran NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle racer Jimmy Underdahl stepped away from the class to spend time with his family and work.

Underdahl competed in just two events in 2017 at Brainerd, Minn., and the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

Underdahl is set to return as a full-time racer in 2018 competing for the Underdahl-Stoffer Pro Stock Motorcycle team with backing from Suzuki Extended Protection.

“I’m having a brand-new Suzuki built,” Underdahl said. “It will be a Vance & Hines chassis, with Vance & Hines power. My dad (Greg) has been working on it (the new Suzuki) off and on. He’s been going back and forth to Indy, he and Gary Stoffer have a shop in Indy that they work out of and when the bike’s in Minnesota they work out of my dad’s shop there.”

Underdahl and Stoffer merged their PSM teams together to form the Underdahl-Stoffer team. Gary’s wife, Karen Stoffer, who has won eight career NHRA national events, also rides for the team.

Jimmy Underdahl has been competing in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class since 2005. His best finish in the points was ninth in 2015. He has two career runner-up finishes and 10 semifinal efforts.

“I’m pumped about coming back,” Jimmy said. “We have a great team coming back and I really couldn’t be doing this without Jim Baldwin and Suzuki Extended Protection. He is our main guy. He helps out with the team and sponsorship and he’s a really big part of our team.”

During the 2017 season, Scotty Pollacheck finished a career-best fourth-place in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings, riding a Suzuki for the Underdahl-Stoffer Pro Stock Motorcycle team.

Pollacheck’s 2017 season was highlighted by eight semifinal finishes. He also captured his first career No. 1 qualifying position with a 6.822-second run at 196.76 mph Sept. 23 at the Dodge Nationals in Reading, Pa.

Those results have Jimmy Underdahl upbeat about the upcoming season.

“That bike Scotty rode last year is identical to the one we are building,” Jimmy said. “So, I’m really excited to see what the bikes can do because now we are going to have double the data and we will be able to feed off each other. I’m pumped this will be a good year.”

During his time away from racing last year, Jimmy worked as an electrician and spent time with his wife, Kelly and their two boys, Dylan, 4, and Daven, 2 at their home in Forrest Lake, Minn.

“I enjoy racing with my dad,” said Jimmy, 32. “It has been something we have been doing since I was 10 years old. It has always been my dad and I’s thing to go racing. It was awesome being home. I enjoy watching my boys grow up.”

This Sunday, Jimmy’s going to be plenty busy and it has nothing to do with racing – he’s going to be cheering on his favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings visit the Philadelphia Eagles at 4:40 p.m. (ET) in the NFC Championship game. The winner advances to the Super Bowl Feb. 4 in Minneapolis, Minn.

“You look back all the heartbreak losses the Vikings have had, and then we had a miracle play to beat the Saints (29-24) in the playoffs (Jan. 14), that was very exciting,” Jimmy said. “Now, we just have to get past Philly. If the Vikings could get to the Super Bowl in Minneapolis, that would be unreal. I’ve been working down there (as an electrician) prepping for the Super Bowl and they are already starting to close streets off downtown and you need special access to get around. It will be crazy if the Vikings make it to the Super Bowl.”