The Scoop
MONSTER CAR COUNTS, WIR TUESDAY PREVIEW, REGIONAL DIRT FEATURE WIN TOTALS & MORE
Posted on: Monday July 31, 2023
New Franken’s Shawn Kilgore scored the IMCA modified feature win at The ‘Burg Speedway Sunday. (danlewisphoto.net)
Monster car counts at a pair of northeastern Wisconsin ovals highlighted a ‘mixed bag’ weekend of sorts of racing across the region.
Saturday night 141 Speedway in Francis Creek hosted a monumental 197 cars in six divisions. On Sunday night, 160 cars in six classes (boosted by the guest division grand nationals) signed in to do battle at The ‘Burg Speedway in Luxemburg.
When the dust settled New Franken’s Shawn Kilgore posted his 58th career IMCA modified feature win. The former IMCA stock car standout topped the 24-car field at his home track.
Can anyone beat Paul Diefenthaler? The Manitowoc racer secured his 14th Unified Dirt street stock feature Sunday night at Luxemburg. His wins have been sprinkled amongst a handful of different tracks. His win total is above and beyond anyone else in the region so far in ’23.
Friday night after just four heat races Mother Nature took the checkered flag at the Langlade County Speedway in Antigo. It was fair night, and the grandstands were packed for the headlining Dirt Kings late model program. 28 late models turned up to do battle at the track that hosts just one race a year now on fair night.
Dirt Kings were quiet the rest of the weekend as heavy overnight rains forced the cancellation of the DK show at Shawano Speedway the following day. A handful of teams loaded up and headed west to Cedar Lake Speedway.
The decision to head west paid off for Navarino’s Nick Anvelink. The second-generation driver fattened his wallet to the tune of $5,000 by winning the feature. Other locals who made the trek were Seymour’s Mike Mullen, Shawano’s Brett Swedberg and Hortonville’s Tim Rothe.
Madison’s Dalton Zehr scored the TUNDRA super late model series win at Norway (MI) Speedway. The 15-car field was void of any local racers. The next TUNDRA series event is scheduled for Sunday, August 13 at State Park Speedway in Wausau. This scribe is looking forward to returning to the historic quarter-mile paved oval for the first time since 1992.
WIR WILL BE BUSY – The busiest week of the year for the oval at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna takes place this coming week with a pair of events held within 72 hours. Tuesday, August 1 the annual Gandrud Auto Group 250 takes place.
This year the ASA Stars National Tour along with Midwest Tour will host the traditional “Tuesday Biggie” at the D-shaped, half-mile paved oval. A few twists in the rules have deterred a handful of the local regulars who’ve normally ponied up the big money for tires/fuel/entry fees for the big race.
However, a couple of late entries with some local ties came in late last week. And they are a pair of former Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) super late model champions. Montello’s Bobby Kendall and Appleton’s Andy Monday have thrown their hats in the ring for the big race. An entry list as of Sunday listed 24 drivers representing nine states and Canada. Leading the way with the list of contenders is NASCAR truck series star and Seymour native Ty Majeski.
The field includes 13 Wisconsin drivers, two from Minnesota, two from Indiana, and one each from Texas, Massachusetts, Iowa, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois and Canada.
Joining the super late models will be the regionally popular Midwest Truck Series for the Ken’s Sports Dixieland Delight 35. Northeast Wisconsin is well represented in this field laden with 25 pre-entries as of Sunday. Among the expected participants are Freedom’s Cody Vander Loop, Random Lake’s Brad “JJ” Mueller, Amherst’s Eugene Gregorich III, Waupaca’s Danielle Behn, and the father-son duo of Mike Reichenberger (Shiocton) and Brandon Reichenberger (Appleton).
Two nights later during the Fox River Racing Club’s “Thursday Night Thunder” program the popular Stan The Man Memorial race August 3. The race honors legendary Stan “The Man” Gracyalny – a local racer for decades at WIR who raced into 80s. Racing gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Also on Thursday Stan’s son Danny Gracyalny, another longtime racer and multi time track champion, will be inducted into the track’s Circle of Fame.
STURGEON BAY HOF – A trio of former racers and one long time track promoter will be inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday, August 5. Bryan “Woody” Wodack, “Mad Matt” Junio and Aaron Thornton will comprise the ’23 class. The action gets underway at 6 p.m. at John Miles Park.
OUTAGAMIE – After having Friday’s program washed out due to rain, racing action returns to Outagamie Speedway in Seymour Friday, August 4. The IMCA sport compacts will scrap for a $500 top prize. The action gets underway at 6:30 p.m. at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds.
KARTING KORNER – NASCAR truck series standout Ty Majeski will return to his roots at GSR Kartway in Clintonville Wednesday, August 2. Majeski is sponsoring the night at the track where he cut his teeth as a youngster. The action gets underway at 7 p.m.
And after getting rained out last Friday night action resumes at Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park Friday night, August 4. The racing begins at 7 p.m.
Just a friendly reminder to get out and support your local short track IN PERSON whenever possible. NOTHING beats being there.
2O23 NORTHEAST WISCONSIN DIRT TRACK FEATURE WINNERS (after July 30, 2023)
(Divisions include late model, modified, sportmod, stock car, grand national and four cylinder. Tracks included will be Seymour, Chilton, Francis Creek, Shawano, Sturgeon Bay, Luxemburg, Plymouth and Beaver Dam. It will include IMCA sanctioned and non-sanctioned classes)
LATE MODEL
Nick Anvelink 4 (Cedar Lake)
Mike Mullen 3
Todd Frank 2
Taylor Scheffler 2 (Farmer City)
Ron Berna 2
Mitch McGrath 2
Lukas Postl 2
Gunnar Frank 2
Brad Mueller 1
A.J. Diemel 1 (Red Cedar, DK)
Justin Schmidt 1
Joel Bennett 1
MODIFIED
Johnny Whitman 5
Mike Mullen 5
Brandon Schmitt 5
Benji LaCrosse 5
Marcus Hoeppner 4
Steve Mueller 4 (Wilmot)
Matt Klenz 3
Jordan Bartz 3
Jesse Cullen 3
Lucas Lamberies 2
Jeff Schmuhl 2
Cole Czarneski 2
Steve Schneider 2
Todd Dart 2
Marcus Yarie 2
Joel Seegert 2 (Wilmot)
Mike Wedelstadt 2
Shawn Kilgore 2
Joel Crowbridge 1 (Wilmot)
Kevin Feck 1
Tim Ward 1
Wyatt Block 1
Will Garceau 1
Brian Crapser 1
Tyler DeBouche 1
Don Scheffler 1
Randy Markwardt Jr. 1
Scott Barnharst 1
STOCK CAR
Tyler Wilson 6
Kenny Richards 6
Mitch Meier 5
Luke Lemmens 5
Travis Van Straten 4
Tim Warner 3
Jared Siefert 3 (Jackson)
Eric Arneson 2
Brett Wenzel 2
Tim Mueller 2
Nick Strobbe 2
Trent Nolan 2
Brandon Czarapata 2
Caden LeMieux 2
Eric Mahlik 2
Kyle Frederick 1
Jeremy Christians 1
Devin Snellenberger 1
Dylan Stedjee 1
Travis Stadler 1
Chase Parker 1
Logan Rhode 1
Aaron Stolp 1
Troy Muench 1
Cole Czarneski 1
Rod Snellenberger 1
Nick Buckarma 1
Brady Polcen 1
Vern Stedjee 1
Dan Sell 1
Aiden Gretz 1
Mike Mullen 1
Mitch Stankowski 1
Josh Mroczkowski 1
Jonathan Charles 1
SPORTMOD
Tim Warner 6 (Escanaba)
Tyler Sobiesczyk 5
Skyler Woods 5
Jake Carpenter 4
Zach Raab 4
Coy Vlies 4
Brady Hashbarger 3 (Iowa)
Randy LeMieux Jr. 3
Cody Rass 3
Cory Kemkes 3
Jimmy Berkevich 2
Nick Schultz 2
Tom Schneider 2
Jeffrey Teske 2
Jeff Vlies 2
Eric Craine 2
Colton See 2
Jonathan Baumann 2
Doug Maurer 1
Sean Falk 1
Tim Sheppard 1
Elijah Koenig 1
Tony Gates 1
Mason Woods 1
J.J. Vanderloop 1
Craig Dorner 1
Derek Fehling 1
Ryan Schmidt 1
Colton VanHierden 1
Andy Welter 1
Dylon Waldvogel 1
Kolton Roehl 1
Matt Radtke 1
Nick Kresbach 1
Michael Plate Sr. 1
Hunter Larson 1
Jeff Steenbergen 1
Barry Maas 1
Max Oreskovich 1
Reagan May 1
STREET STOCK
Paul Diefenthaler 14
Jesse Krahn 5
Shaun Bangart 4
Ed Anschutz 3
Cody Potter 2
James Fletcher 2
Justin Jacobsen 2
Jon Schultz 2
Brian Gundrum 2
Presley Harrington 2
Dan Van Pay 2
Jared Spaulding 2
Larry Richards 2
Courtney Atkinson 2
Nick Wunrow 1
Parker Derks 1
Travis Zirbel 1
Matt Warner 1
Trey Van Straten 1
Justin Jacobsen 1
Jason White 1
Garrett Geyer 1
Phillip Weusthoff 1
Russ Davison 1
Kelly Brown 1
GRAND NATIONAL
T.J. Smith 5
Will Source 4
Jeff Richards 3
Nick Schumacher 2
Brad Weiss 2
Derek Schrauth 2
Dustin Weiss 2
Dan Schumacher 2
Maverick Ruh 2
Aaron Streblow 1
Chad Espen 1
Justin Pearson 1
Daryl Traber 1
Mark Bailey 1
Ethan Beattie 1
Mike King 1
Bristol Hitsman 1
Ryan Minster 1
FOUR CYLINDER
Trevor Cronick 7
James Reese 5
Calvin Stueck 5
Adam Broehm 4
Scott Schlafke 4
Tanner Westphal 3
Thomas Schulte 3
James Riske 3
Roman Blank 2 (Wilmot)
Justin Finlan 2
Nathan Lisowe 2
Brian Watzka Jr. 2
Kenneth Becker 2
Carl King 1
Bailey Tate 1
Brad Wedde 1
Matt Brehmer 1
Tanner Pari 1
Noah Peschke 1
Brett Deprez 1
Jeremy Czarapata 1
Cody Booth 1
Lucas Hacker 1
Braidyn Cady 1