The Scoop
30 MUST SEE EVENTS, TRACKS & SERIES IN WISCONSIN IN ’23
Posted on: Tuesday January 31, 2023
30 MUST SEE TRACKS, SERIES AND EVENTS IN WISCONSIN IN ‘23
141 Speedway Clash, King & Captain of the Creeks – The Francis Creek oval, which was converted to dirt in 2010, has set the bar for high-dollar specials in recent years. The IMCA program hosts the 15th annual Clash @ The Creek for IMCA modifieds June 14, the King @ The Creek for IMCA stock cars July 19 and Captain of the Creek for IMCA northern sportmods August 16.
The shows all pay $10,000-to-win and often draw many top flight competitors from out-of-state. And if that doesn’t wet your whistle the high-banked quarter-mile bullring boasts some of the highest weekly car counts in the nation on their weekly, Saturday night show.
ABC Raceway – Home of the Red Clay Classic – You’re in WISSOTA country at the northern tip of the Badger state. The track in Ashland, Wisconsin wraps up their season with the popular “Red Clay Classic.” The event draws pretty much a “who’s who” of the best in WISSOTA country. This year’s edition takes place September 29 and 30.
Angell Park Speedway – Tradition is rich at this circular-shaped third-mile oval located in Sun Prairie. Angell Park has long been the home of midget racing in the state. It’s got one of the coolest museums on site and it’s Sunday night venue is one that often drew the late Joe Shear as a spectator. Some of the best ever have battled here, including Jeff Gordon. The ’23 season kicks off May 21. In recent years they’ve opened their schedule and including a wide variety of classes.
Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial Race – One of the biggest races of the season takes place June 10 at Marshfield Motor Speedway during Round 2 of the TUNDRA super late model series. The race honors the long-time race fan of MSS.
It was near capacity crowd for the 36th running of the USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway August 4-6.
Cedar Lake Speedway – Whether it’s the World of Outlaw sprint cars June 30 & July 1 or the popular USA Nationals for late models August 3rd through the 5th, Cedar Lake Speedway located in Somerset has set the bar over the years for hosting big league dirt track events. The facilities are staff are top notch and you won’t be disappointed whether you attend a big special or one of their Saturday night weekly events.
Detjens Memorial Weekend – State Park Speedway in Wausau honors stock car driver Larry Detjens during the Detjens Memorial weekend July 21 and 22. Detjens was a Wausau native who lost his life in a racing accident at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in 1981. Roughly semi-weekly racing, which includes super late models, takes place at the quarter-mile paved oval – a track rich in Central Wisconsin racing history.
Dick Trickle 99 – This Memorial Day event at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover honors America’s winningest short track driver on May 29. Pavement super late models converge on what was once phrased as “Central Wisconsin’s Power Playground.”
Tomahawk’s Travis Friske scored the ERS late model feature at Eagle River Speedway June 21. (Chad Lederer photo)
Eagle River Speedway – The season may be short, but this gem of a dirt track nestled in Wisconsin’s Northwoods serves up exciting action every Tuesday night between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. The third-mile, clay oval, operated by Pat and Patti Zdroik, often draws large crowds. The season kicks off on Memorial Day weekend Sunday, May 28 with Tuesday racing beginning one week later once school’s out in June. You’ve got to get there at least once this year. Eagle River Speedway was recently featured in Speedway Illustrated magazine.
‘Fest is Best – It’s a four-day party that just happens to host races. La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway October 5 through 8. The four-day bash typically signals the end of the pavement racing scene in the Badger state. ‘Fest also crowns the ASA Midwest Tour champion. It’s normally one of the last chances to get your racing fix in Wisconsin for ’23.
GRAVITY PARK USA – No sanctioning? No problem for Bob & Jackie Schneider’s Gravity Park USA in Chilton.
The Friday night program runs a weekly six class program, with special events dotted on the track’s calendar including Badger midgets, vintage mods and more. Gravity’s season wraps up with the two day Fall Classic September 15 and 16.
Icebreaker 100 – This early season affair at Dells Raceway Park signals the kickoff the Wisconsin paved track, super late model season Sunday, April 16. Jerry Auby and staff have really “upped the ante” in recent years boosting DPR into one of the premier paved tracks in the Midwest. This event normally draws the cream of the crop and this year’s event will likely not disappoint.
Icemaker at Tomahawk Speedway – Unlike the DRP “Icebreaker” this race is typically run on October and is often one of the last remaining dirt track events in Wisconsin. Check the track’s ’23 schedule at tomahawk-speedway.com for the date soon.
Jefferson Speedway The “Action Track” – This uniquely-shaped quarter-mile, paved bullring located in southeastern Wisconsin serves up some exciting wheel-to-wheel action. I had the pleasure to announce one show there in 2007 with the ASA Midwest Tour. Their track announcer (who I believe is very underrated) is Randall Kamenick and I think is one of the best in the biz. Their “Salute The Troops” Midwest Tour race is scheduled for Saturday, May 27.
Second generation racer Greyson Arneson found victory lane at Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park in Cecil, Wisconsin.
Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park – Located in Cecil, the future stock car racers of the next generation ply their craft on a one-eighth mile clay oval in the kart ranks. The Friday night venue kicks off with a May 12 season opener. This scribe plans an appearance there this year and is very much looking forward to it.
Milwaukee Mile – Although on life support in recent years one of the most iconic ovals in Wisconsin is still open for business in 2023. This year the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks will make a return to the Mile August 27. The short track scene comes into play at the Mile with the traditional Father’s Day special Sunday, June 18. Get out and support the Milwaukee Mile.
MIS Joe Shear Classic – Madison International Speedway in Oregon will host the popular Joe Shear Classic May 7. This year’s event will be an ASA Stars National Series event. This big race normally draws many of the Midwest’s heavy hitters on the pavement, super late model scene. Another neat facility that oozes racing history.
Mississippi Thunder World of Outlaws – There are many big events dotted on the calendar at Mississippi Thunder Speedway near Fountain City near the Wisconsin/Minnesota border in 2023. One biggie will be the appearance of the World of Outlaws late models May 4 through the 6th. The facility is top notch and don’t be surprised to see late models go three and even four wide on this 3/8 mile clay oval.
Outagamie Speedway – Diversity is the name of the game for this Friday night venue at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds in Seymour. Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car (EWSC) has kept the lights on at this long-standing racetrack, rich with Outagamie County racing history. During their season schedule which kicks off Friday May 5, a fan can watch no less than nine classes square off during the season, including Dirt Kings late model tour and the IRA outlaw sprint cars.
Plymouth Dirt Track & $26,000 Reasons – Plymouth Dirt Track, located at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds, will play host to a $26,000-to-win 410 Outlaw sprint car race on June 3. This high paying event will be co-sanctioned with the Allstar Circuit of Champions and the Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints. The event often draws some of the biggest names in the sprint car game.
Plymouth hosts PDTR/MSA 360 Sprints, grand nationals and B-Mods weekly. The Super Six late model series will play host to the late model division on a handful of nights. And when it comes to concessions, you’ve got to try a grilled cheeseburger. It’s among the best of the track concession food in Wisconsin.
Punky Manor Challenge of Champions – The annual Punky Manor Challenge of Champions will be held at Red Cedar Speedway in Menominee September 21-23. The race honors the former racer who lost his life in an auto accident. I remember the late M.J. McBride telling me that weekend was always one of his favorites of his entire racing season. It’s still a popular draw for many dirt late model teams in the region. Their season opener is April 14.
Rice Lake Speedway’s street stock “Little Dream” – Although the track’s full schedule won’t be released until February of this year you’ll want to make plans to attend the track’s annual “Little Dream” race for street stocks. In a high dollar race fueled by avid fans and local businesses, the winner’s purse mushrooms to healthy five figure amounts each year. In ’22 Barron’s Nick Traynor pocketed a whopping $28,212 on Tuesday night, August 2. Keep checking their schedule as they will also host a trio of WISSOTA late model specials.
Road America – When it comes to one of the nation’s most popular road courses it’s a really a “take-your-pick” at which event you’d like to catch. Located in Elkhart Lake, Road America is known as ‘America’s National Park of Speed.’ The facility has thrived in recent years under the direction of former sprint car driver Mike Kertscher. Highlighting their season schedule is the NTT Indycar series June 15-18 and the NASCAR Xfinity weekend July 27-29.
Shawano Speedway Season Opener – There is nothing more special than a season opener at any racetrack. And for this scribe at least Shawano Speedway always has that “something special” feel when the gates swing open for the first time in any given season.
Shawano opens with the Dirt Kings tour on April 15. They have some of the best race fans in the Midwest (and the best track popcorn to this day). Brad Luepke is back in the fold and has injected a little of energy into the show at the “fabled half-mile.” Shawano remains to this day the only northeastern Wisconsin dirt track that has run continuously for several decades, even remaining open during the “lean years” of the late ‘70’s and very early 1980’s.
Slinger Nationals – The 44th running of the Slinger Nationals takes place Tuesday, July 11. It’s one of the hottest tickets in short track racing for super late models. Slinger has spawned many a NASCAR driver over the years. Dubbed the World’s Fastest quarter-mile oval, 2023 will mark the 76th year of racing at the high-banked, soup bowl. If you’ve never been to Slinger, you’ve got to get there. The track hosts weekly Sunday night racing.
The ‘Burg – After switching to a less-crowded Sunday night schedule a few years back, the lights remain on at The ‘Burg Speedway in 2023. A 16-date schedule is on tap at the third-mile, clay oval at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg. The season opening race is slated for Sunday, April 30. The Dirt Kings late models will return after a four year hiatus July 9 and the track’s curtain closer will take place with the Fall Classic September 30.
The Hill – For the folks promoting the races at John Miles Park in Sturgeon Bay, the ‘less-is-more’ concept seems to be working just fine, thank you. With an abbreviated schedule the lights remain on, and racing continues in Door County heading into 2023. May 20th will kick off the nine-race schedule, which is highlighted by the popular Hall of Fame night August 5, Door County Fair night Thursday August 10 with the Hill Shootout special closing out the season September 2.
TUNDRA Super Late Model Series – The pavement super late model series brands itself as “New Era, Old School.” Their setup is unique in that teams “buy in” to their series for $2,700 and for that price their tires and pit passes are covered for the seven shows across Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
The result is some great, wheel-to-wheel action. It’s the perfect fit for a team that may not have the time or the resources to chase bigger stuff. TUNDRA kicks off it’s season at WIR in Kaukauna May 13.
Wilmot Raceway – If 410 outlaw sprint cars are your thing, you’ll want to catch a race at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds oval. Weekly racing action kicks off May 6. The World of Outlaw sprint cars roll into town July 8 and USAC National Sprint Cars are on the card June 24. Dirt Kings late models and WingLESS sprints also join the card throughout the 2023 campaign.
Wisconsin International Raceway and the Gandrud Auto Group 250 – The Fox River Racing Club’s “Thursday Night Thunder” program at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin remains a long-standing tradition on Thursday nights in the Fox Valley.
The unique venue, promoted by the Fox River Racing Club (FRRC), has promoted the venue for decades. They remain one of the very few tracks in Wisconsin that host weekly, super late model races. In addition, the paved quarter-mile and unique Figure 8 ovals serve up exciting action and it’s normally wrapped up at an early hour.
The track’s biggest oval track race of the year occurs on annually on the first Tuesday night in August. This year’s event will be August 1. The big show is an ASA Stars National Tour event, with many of short track stars from the southern states towing north to do battle.
XR @ Superior – Barry Braun has certainly made some noise with his XR Super Series, which rolls into Gondik Law Speedway in Superior August 7 for a $20,000-to-win throwdown for dirt late models. There is no shortage of high-paying dirt late model events in the Midwest and XR has certainly helped raise the bar.
In addition to the events mentioned above there are also special events and weekly racing at many other fine tracks including Beaver Dam Raceway with Tuesday night racing, Eagle Valley Speedway in Jim Falls, Grant County Speedway in Lancaster, Lafayette County Speedway in Darlington, Tomah-Sparta Speedway in Tomah and GSR Kartway in Clintonville for the karters.
In addition the Midwest Truck Series acts a solid support division for many of the paved track venues throughout Wisconsin. Check out the talent this year!