The Scoop
TRACKING WISCONSIN’S ALL TIME IMCA WINNERS HEADING INTO 2024
Posted on: Wednesday April 17, 2024
Luxemburg native Benji LaCrosse leads the way among Wisconsin IMCA modified racers with 139 career wins heading into 2024. (danlewisphoto.net)
With IMCA’s extensive history in northeastern Wisconsin dating back to the 1950’s we continue to track Wisconsin’s all-time winners in some of the divisions.
The IMCA modifieds as we know it were introduced to the area in the mid-1980’s when the division kicked off at one dirt track (Seymour Speedway’s half-mile) and some folks seem to forget IMCA sanctioned modifieds competed on 141 Speedway’s pavement oval from 1985 to 1987, right Rick Schlabowske?
In time, other tracks in the region picked up the modified division. In the early 1990’s IMCA stock cars were introduced at tracks like Luxemburg, Seymour and Sturgeon Bay. In the mid-2000’s the IMCA northern sportmod division took off at tracks like Shawano and soon many of the other ovals followed suit and began running the divisions.
When it comes to the IMCA modifieds, Luxemburg native Benji LaCrosse continues to rule the roost. Considered by many to be the G.O.A.T. LaCrosse boasts 139 career modified victories. The interesting note within the top ten drivers most of them remain active competing in 2024. Brian Mullen and R.M. Van Pay remain tied in the 2nd spot with 129 wins. Of the top ten a pair of Shawano Speedway Hall of Famers (Brad Rohloff and Eddie Muenster) are the only drivers not actively racing in the division in ’24.
Modifieds
1-Benji LaCrosse, Green Bay, 139
2-Brian Mullen, Seymour, 129
2-R.M. VanPay, Green Bay, 129
4-Mike Wedelstadt, Fremont, 115
5-Todd Dart, Algoma, 83
6-Brad Rohloff, Pulaski, 72
7-Eddie Muenster, Green Bay, 71
8-Jared Siefert, Green Bay, 59
9-Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee, 59
9-Marcus Yarie, Wausau, 58
Currently, 69 drivers have won 100 or more IMCA features during their careers.
The top 10 drivers from Wisconsin are in what would be the top 163 all-time for the division, LaCrosse through Yarie.
When it comes to the class dubbed ‘Too-Tough-To-Tame’ the IMCA stock cars have most of the top ten racers still actively racing in the division. It will be tough to pass Pulaski’s ‘Hot Rod’ Snellenberger who’s 221 career wins outdistances his nearest competitor Brandon Czarapata by 85 wins. The two drivers tied for tenth, Brian Bruechert and John Gregorich are retired while sixth place ‘Chargin’ Charlie’ Kroll has been racing on more of a limited basis in recent years. All other drivers remain active, with Travis Van Straten picking another win at Shawano Speedway during their season opening race April 13.
Of note LaCrosse is steadily creeping into the top ten in the stock car class and has 41 victories heading into the 2024 campaign.
Pulaski’s “Hot Rod Snellenberger’s familiar No. 10 IMCA stock car is shown on his open trailer in the pit area at Shawano Speedway in the early 2000s. Snellenberger remains Wisconsin’s winningest IMCA stock car driver heading into 2024. (Joe Slack photo)
Stock Cars
1-Rod Snellenberger. Pulaski, 221
2-Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski, 136
3-Travis VanStraten, Hortonville, 133
4-Jeremy Christians, Horicon, 107
5-John Heinz, Green Bay, 86
6-Charlie Kroll, Forestville, 80
7-Kyle Frederick, Oconto Falls, 79
8-Larry Karcz Jr., Pulaski, 52
9-Dan Michonski, Marion, 51
10-Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee, 50
10-John Gregorich, Kewaunee, 50
Rod Snellenberger is sixth all-time with 221 wins in his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career.
31 drivers have won 100 or more features in their respective IMCA Stock Car careers.
When it comes to the northern sportmods only Hazel Green’s Jason remains active in the division racing in southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa ovals. Luxemburg’s Chris Budzban is currently retired in 2024. Some of the drivers continue to race but in other divisions.
Hazel Green’s Jason Roth, interviewed by track announcer Eric Huenefeld, remains the only active IMCA northern sportmod racer among Wisconsin’s all-time winners. (photo courtesy of Jason Roth Racing FB page)
Northern SportMods
1-Tracy Wassenberg, Shawano, 58 (31st on the all-time list for the division, last won in 2015)
2-Lucas Lamberies, Clintonville, 49
3-Jason Roth, Hazel Green, 43
4-Tim Jorgensen, Seymour, 38
5-Brad Lautenbach, New Franken, 36
6-Troy Jerovetz, Green Bay, 27
7-Jayden Schmidt, Seymour, 26
8-Jeremy Cota, Oconto, 24
9-Travis VanStraten, Hortonville, 23
10-Chris Budzban, Luxemburg, 21
A huge thanks goes out to longtime IMCA public relations maven Bill Martin for his diligence in keeping track of these numbers.