The Scoop
COLEMAN RETIRES, RATAJCZAK WINS PLUS REGIONAL DIRT FEATURE TOTALS & MORE
Posted on: Monday July 22, 2024
The ‘Frog Station Flash’ Dan Ratajczak returned to victory lane Saturday at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. (Kayla Lyn photo)
Dan Ratajczak’s opportunities to race his IMCA modified in recent years were minimal, at best.
For nearly the past 10 years his involvement owning and operating 141 Speedway in Francis Creek had really curtailed his time available to race.
With his track ownership days now behind him The ‘Frog Station Flash’ picked up the modified win at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday. With the stresses of promoting a race track now wiped away it’s good to see those smiles from him and his team in victory lane. Good luck the rest of the way No. 73 and continue to have fun doing it.
While one racer got back INTO the game over the weekend another accomplished pilot decided he’ll be stepping away from climbing behind the wheel. Menominee, Michigan’s Dick Coleman raced his final super late model race at Norway (MI) Speedway Friday. Dick has raced occasionally over the past few seasons after taking quite a few years off to run the family’s highly successful Coleman Racing Products business.
Menominee, Michigan’s Dickie Coleman raced his final race at Norway (MI) Speedway Friday.
Truth is you won’t find a nicer guy than Dick Coleman. The son of Michigan racing legend and innovator Gene Coleman, Dickie has quietly and very much under the radar helped out more racers than you can ever imagine. A class act top to bottom.
When we launched joeverdegan.com on September 15, 2020 Dickie was the first to inquire about advertising on this website – one which really wasn’t even up and running yet. Congrats on your retirement from behind the wheel, Dickie. And thanks a ton for your contributions to stock car racing over the decades.
Friday night 137 cars checked in to do battle at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. That number included 20 late models. No sanctioning body or touring series involved.
It appears (at least for now) that Seymour sprinkling in a handful of dirt late model races into their season schedule appears to be working. And that is without gonging a division and the show continued to move along at a pretty decent pace.
I have the privilege of announcing there on occasion and it seems every time I do the IMCA stock cars in particular often put on A-plus performance which often includes a photo finish of the feature. Friday was no exception as Brett Wenzel’s margin of victory over Rod Snellenberger at the finish line was a mere .012 seconds. That’s entertainment, folks!
Racing resumes at Outagamie next Friday night, July 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Luke Lemmens poses with family after scoring a $10,000 payday during the King of The Creek at 141 Speedway last week. (danlewisphoto.net)
141 SPEEDWAY – After being off last Saturday after the King of The Creek mid-week special, Saturday night action resumes at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Saturday, July 27. Its driver appreciation night sponsored by Robinson, Inc. the Power Puff Bang Bang 50 for sport compacts will take place along with the $1,000-to-win ‘White Race’ for IMCA modifieds. Last Wednesday Luke Lemmens pocketed the $10,000 top prize by winning the ‘King of The Creek’ for IMCA stock cars.
The action gets underway at 6 p.m. in Francis Creek.
EAGLE RIVER CHRISTMAS IN JULY – Santa Claus will take a break from supervising elves making toys and visit Eagle River Speedway Tuesday, July 23 for the track’s ‘Christmas in July’ race.
Action gets underway at 7 p.m.
THE HILL – The stock car division ‘Busch Shootout’ is set to be showcased at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday, July 27. The track’s other weekly classes Unified dirt street stocks, sportmods and four cylinders will also be in action at John Miles Park with a 6 p.m. start time scheduled.
SHAWANO DIRT KINGS – The Dirt Kings dirt late model tour swings into Shawano Speedway Saturday, July 27. Action gets underway at 6 p.m. The night prior the Langlade County Speedway in Antigo comes to life as the DK tour hosts it’s annual race during the Langlade County Fair.
LUXY RACEWAY – After being off last weekend Friday night racing resumes at Luxy Raceway in Luxemburg Friday, July 26. Action kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg.
PAVEMENT PONDERINGS – REFFNER 88 LEFTOVERS – Rookie sensation and Minnesotan Ty Frederickson captured the Reffner 88 TUNDRA super late model series race at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover Friday night. Wausau’s Brock Heinrich, Verona’s John Beale, Wausau’s Jevin Guralski and Marshfield’s Jared De Boer placed 2nd through 5th, respectively.
The TUNDRA travelers will return to the high-banked, third-mile paved oval for The Cleaver Classic on September 2.
LARRY DETJENS MEMORIAL – The ASA Midwest Tour swings into State Park Speedway in Wausau Saturday, July 27 for the Larry Detjens Memorial 125. The race honors the Wausau racing legends who lost his life in an accident at WIR in Kaukauna August 1, 1981.
Other divisions on the card include bandoleros, pure stocks, mini-mods and mini-stocks. Qualifying starts at 4:30 p.m. with the first green flag flying at 6 p.m.
WIR’S ‘THURSDAY NIGHT THUNDER’ – The WIR ¼ mile late models will be a part of the action Thursday, July 25 during the Fox River Racing Club’s (FRRC) ‘Thursday Night Thunder’ show at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. The action gets underway at 6:30 p.m.
TRUCKIN’ @ JEFFERSON – Appleton’s Brandon Reichenberger placed fourth in the Midwest Truck Series ‘Orange Blossom 61’ race at Jefferson Speedway Saturday. Freedom’s Cody Vander Loop took 9th while Amherst’s Eugene Gregorich III finished 10th. The race was won by Kevin Zielezinski of New Lenox, IL picked up the win.
The next series event for the trucks will be the Dixieland Delight 38 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna Tuesday, August 6.
KARTING KORNER – Hein’s Appliance will sponsor the night of kart and lawn mower racing at GSR Kartway in Clintonville Wednesday, July 24. Action at the 1/8 mile clay oval is set to commence at 7 p.m. Speaking of GSR we want to give a shout out to GSR alumni Ty Majeski who picked up his first NASCAR truck series win of the year at Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) over the weekend.
On Friday, July 26 Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park will host it’s annual ‘Christmas in July’ program. And as busy as he is, Santa Claus will also make an appearance! Racing action at the 1/8 mile clay oval located in Cecil is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Get out this summer and attend your favorite short track IN PERSON whenever possible. NOTHING beats the sights, smells and the overall experience at a race track of BEING THERE!
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN REGIONAL DIRT TRACK FEATURE WIN TOTALS 2024 (as of 7/21)
(Tracks included, but not limited to, include Outagamie Speedway, 141 Speedway, Shawano Speedway, Plymouth Dirt Track, Gravity Park, The Hill Raceway, Beaver Dam Raceway, The ‘Burg & Plymouth Dirt Track. These totals will also reflect any driver feature wins that occur out-of-state or at other ovals in Wisconsin)
LATE MODEL
Troy Springborn 4
Brett Swedberg 2
Mike Mullen 2
Nick Anvelink 2
Taylor Scheffler 2
Brad Mueller 1
Mitch McGrath 1
Ron Berna 1
Justin Ritchie 1
Tom Naeyaert 1
Jayden Schmidt 1
MODIFIED
Benji LaCrosse 5
Cole Czarneski 6 (UMP mod win)
Marcus Yarie 4
Skylar Woods 3
Marcus Hoeppner 3
Steve Mueller 3
Konnor Wilinski 2
Johnny Whitman 2
Jayden Schmidt 2
Cody Schroeder 2
Greg Gretz 2
Shawn Kilgore 1
Lucas Lamberies 1
Dan Roedel 1
Will Garceau 1
Cody Afelbeck 1
Jason Czarapata 1
Derek Janke 1
Steve Schneider 1
Joel Crowbridge 1 (Wilmot)
Chris Pigeon 1
R.M. Van Pay 1
Scott Barnharst 1
Jeff Schmuhl 1
Geoff Jeche 1
Kyle Strickler 1 (BDR)
Tim Ward 1 (141)
Jordan Bartz 1
Kevin Feck 1
Dan Ratajczak 1
Brandon Schmitt 1
STOCK CAR
Rod Snellenberger 6
Mitch Meier 6
Trent Nolan 4
Tyler Wilson 4
Benji LaCrosse 3
Jeremy Christians 3
Luke Lemmens 3
Travis Van Straten 3
Kenny Richards 3
Cole Czarneski 2
Travis Welch 2 (Eagle River)
Josh Mroczkowski 2
Tim Warner 2
Nick Buckarma 2
Brett Wenzel 2
Brandon Schmitt 2
Brandon Czarapata 1
Kyle Frederick 1
Dave Bouche 1
Shawn Havel 1
Jesse Krahn 1
Brekken Kleinschmidt 1
John Heinz 1
David Blackberg 1 (ERS)
Eric Mahlik 1
Mike Carter 1
Scott Reinhardt 1
Jeff Steenbergen 1
Mike Mullen 1
Dan Sell Sr. 1
Caden LeMieux 1
Dan Sell Jr. 1
SPORTMOD
Cory Kemkes 5
Coy Vlies 5
Elijah Koenig 4
Alec Wery 4
Jeffery Teske 3
Matthew Radtke 3
Craig Dorner 3
Colton See 3
Travis Schmidt 2
Cole Thomas 2
Frank Gasperini 2 (ERS, TNT)
Jay Schaalma 2
Robert Wittkopf 2
Tommy Rindt 2
Cole Magnin 2
Jordan Jahnke 2
Nick Kresbach 2
Dustin White 1
AJ Springborn 1
Tony Gates 1
Dylon Waldvogel 1
Colton Van Hierden 1
Jake Carpenter 1
Max Oreskovich 1
Spencer Long 1
Zach Raab 1
Barrett Hummelmeier 1
Derek Fehling 1
Tom Schneider 1
Brady Hashbarger 1
Nick Schultz 1
Rory Welch 1
Mike Plate 1
STREET STOCK
James Fletcher 6
Paul Diefenthaler 6
Mark Hoeppner 6
Travis Zirbel 3
Jason Geyer 3
Kenny Richards 3
Shannon Guelette 3
Cory Romenesko 2
Ed Anschutz 2
Phillip Wuesthoff 2
Courtney Atkinson 1
Nick Wunrow 1
Brooke Diefenthaler 1
Jerry Winkler 1
Kyle Gennett 1
Tyler Fox 1
Austin Steinke 1
Trey Van Straten 1
Mike Meier 1
Brian Besaw 1
GRAND NATIONAL
Josh Pierce 4
Dustin Weiss 3
Jeff Richards 3
Greg Haese 2
Brad Weiss 2
Maverick Ruh 2
Daniel Schumacher 1
TJ Smith 1
Aaron Streblow 1
Nick Schumacher 1
Will Schumacher 1
Todd Ascherien 1
Steven Weber 1
Mike King 1
Kenny Richards 1
Taylor Rahn 1
Will Sorce 1
FOUR CYLINDER
James Reese 6
Scott Schlafke 4
James Riske 4
Brian Watzka 3
Kenneth Becker 3
Dalton Nelson 2
Lucas Hacker 2
Shaun Bangart 2
Brett Deprez 2
Brad Wedde 2
Trevor Cronick 1
Adam Broehm 1
Taylor Junk 1
Carl King 1
Tanner Pari 1
Tanner Westphal 1
Roland Van De Hei III 1
Justin Finlan 1
Dalton Nelson 1
Cody Booth 1
TJ Everard 1
Thomas Schulte 1
Nick Everard 1