The Scoop
LACROSSE DOUBLES, THE HILL RACEWAY OPENS & UPDATED DIRT TRACK FEATURE TOTALS
Posted on: Monday May 18, 2026
Casco’s Benji LaCrosse won both the IMCA modified & stock car mains at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Saturday. (Throttle Shots)
Casco’s Benji LaCrosse proved on Saturday at 141 Speedway why most consider him to be the “G.O.A.T.” of the local dirt track scene.
Wisconsin’s winningest IMCA modified driver doubled down on feature wins at the Francis Creek oval, scoring both the IMCA mod and stock car main events.
With his modified victory Saturday, LaCrosse’s sanctioned, feature win total bumped up to 143 all-time wins. LaCrosse remains 12 wins ahead of Brian Mullen in all-time victories. The top five in all-time wins are all still active racers in 2026:
Benji LaCrosse- 143
Brian Mullen- 131
R.M. Van Pay- 129
Mike Wedelstadt- 116
Todd Dart- 83 Brad Rohloff- 72 Eddie Muenster- 71
Marcus Yarie- 64
Shawn Kilgore- 60
Jared Siefert- 59
Mike Mullen- 53
Jay Schraufnagel- 49
Johnny Whitman – 48
Jerry Muenster- 48
Dan Ratajczak- 47
Jason Czarapata- 46
Eugene Gregorich- 44
Eric Scribner- 42
Kurt Jordan- 40
Mike Mashl- 37
With his win at Outagamie Speedway Friday, Suamico’s Johnny Whitman tied Green Bay veteran Jerry Muenster with 48 sanctioned, IMCA modified wins. Whitman and Muenster are tied for 13th in all-time Wisconsin wins.
Crowds were a little bit on the lighter side – at least on Friday night at area dirt tracks – possibly because of the popular Luke Combs concert at Lambeau Field. I personally know several racers and race fans alike who opted for country music instead of dirt track racing. Again, like I’ve always said – the successful race track promoters will be good at hooking those “non-race fans” for a few shows on their respective schedules this year. It’s critical, as our hardcore fan base continues to shrink.
PAVEMENT PONDERINGS – Neenah’s Braison Bennett doubled up on feature wins this weekend. The third-generation pilot scored the Pro late model feature win at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover Friday night. Bennett followed that up by capturing the Alburetor 28 at the TUNDRA series opener at WIR Saturday.
Second-generation Minnesotan Ty Frederickson picked up the 75-lap super late model feature in the TUNDRA lid-lifter Saturday. Penn Sauter and Sawyer Effertz placed second and third, respectively. Other local top performers included Appleton’s Jordan Thiel (4th), Neenah’s Lowell Bennett (7th) and Appleton’s Cody Vander Loop (9th). Sheridan, Illinois’ Cameron Vandemeir won the 30 lap, Vecauteren Memorial Mid-Am Stock Car Series event.
Meanwhile at Slinger Super Speedway Sunday, NASCAR truck star Ty Majeski picked up the $7,000 top prize in the super late model contest. For $7k to win, and just 20 super lates. TUNDRA’s show at WIR paid $4k to win, and drew 17 contestants. Is this the new norm? On dirt, that kind of money will draw tons of IMCA modifieds and stock cars, and even the late models, too. Are there simply not that many super late model teams around anymore on the tar, who can afford it? How many SLM teams at WIR kept their cars at home Saturday, but were milling around the pits Saturday, saving their cars for the “Thursday Night Thunder” opener this week?
I fully realize the days of Trickle, Watson, Reffner and Co. racing three or four nights a week are long gone. I get it. For many reasons. Is a lack of crew help part of the equation? Seems to me some of these teams have close to a six-figure investment into their cars, but are as fickle as ever when and where they race. Again, is this the new norm? Because some of these bigger paying pavement, SLM shows down south are drawing even fewer cars than they do in Wisconsin.
THURSDAY NIGHT THUNDER – The opening night, Thursday Night Thunder race at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna kicks off this Thursday, May 21. As it has since 1975, the weekly program is promoted by the Fox River Racing Club (FRRC). Classes that will compete include super late models, Pro late models, 1/4 late models, street stocks, sport trucks, sizzlin’ 4s and Figure 8’s. The action gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Fans can check the FRRC FB page for additional information, or visit the website wirmotorsports.com.
THE HILL RACEWAY – The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay opens up it’s 2026 season with the Nathan Bouche Memorial race Sunday, May 24. Promoters John and Adam Sternard have one of the most affordable options locally for race fans, with a $10 adult ticket for most shows in ’26.
The weekly divisions that will compete at The Hill Raceway in 2026 are stock cars, sportmods, unified dirt street stocks and 4 cylinders. Action for this Sunday special gets underway at 5 p.m.
Other big shows on The Hill’s ’26 schedule include the popular Hall of Fame night Saturday, June 27, the Dirt Kings late models during the Door County Fair Saturday, August 15, and the IRA Outlaw sprint car series on Sunday, September 6. For up-to-date information, check out the track’s Facebook page.
141 SPEEDWAY – 141 Speedway will host a pair of events on this Memorial day weekend. 141’s version of the Nathan Bouche Memorial takes place Saturday, May 23 at 6 p.m. IMCA stock cars will scrap for a $1,000 top prize. The following Sunday, May 24 the IRA Outlaw sprints will be in action for the “Sunday Funday” show. IRA Lightning sprints, legends and sport compacts will be in action. Racing gets underway at 5 p.m. Check 141speedway.com or the track’s Facebook page for additional information.
EAGLE RIVER SPEEDWAY – The popular northwoods oval kicks off it’s 2026 campaign Saturday, May 23. Divisions that will be on the opening night docket include USRA late models, B modifieds, IMCA stock cars, unified street stocks, 300 and 600 micro sprints and the Dairyland Vintage series. Racing starts at 6 p.m. The opener will showcase Military Appreciation night. ERS will host the first ever “Rumble at the River”Monday and Tuesday August 10-11. The event will pay $10,250 for B modifieds, the largest payout in track history.
A pair of IMCA modified Fast Shaft Qualifying races will also be held Tuesday nights June 30 and July 21, return of the Badger Midgets and MSA sprints Saturday, July 18 and Saturday, July 4, respectively. Best to check the track’s Facebook page for race day, weather-related information.
OUTAGAMIE SPEEDWAY – IMCA stock cars will battle for a $1,000 top prize this Friday, May 22 at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. All police, fire and EMS workers will receive FREE admission with valid I.D. The hammer drops at 6:30 p.m. at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds.
SHAWANO SPEEDWAY – Late models will be on the card at Shawano Speedway Saturday, May 23. IMCA modifieds will battle for a $1,000 prize. Action gets underway at 6 p.m.
LUXY RACEWAY – Lemirande Motorsports night sponsors the action Friday, May 22 at Luxy Raceway. Action gets underway at 7 p.m. at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.
KARTING KORNER – Weekly, Wednesday night action is in full swing at GSR Kartway in Clintonville. The eighth-mile, clay oval hosts karting and lawn mower races. Action gets underway at 7 p.m.
Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park will be off for Memorial Day weekend, so no racing at all. The action resumes on Sunday, May 31 with Raddant Electric sponsoring the action Sunday, May 31. Karting action in multiple classes gets underway at 2 p.m. at the eighth-mile, clay oval located in Cecil.
Make sure to get out and support your local short track IN PERSON whenever possible. NOTHING beats BEING THERE!
2026 REGIONAL DIRT TRACK FEATURE WINNERS (as of 05-17-26)
(Tracks included, but not limited to: Outagamie Speedway, Gravity Park USA, Luxy Raceway, 141 Speedway, The Hill Raceway, Plymouth Dirt Track & Shawano Speedway. We’ll also include feature wins by N.E. Wisconsin drivers scored at other tracks, including out-of-state and series victories. These include both IMCA sanctioned & non-sanctioned wins)
LATE MODELS
Joel Bennett 2
Turk Letizia 1
IMCA MODIFIEDS
Johnny Whitman 3
Cole Czarneski 2
Lucas Lamberies 2
Mike Mueller 2
Benji LaCrosse 1
Joel Seegert Sr 1
Zachary Raab 1
Travis Hansen 1
Greg Gretz 1
Kevin Feck 1
IMCA STOCK CARS
Trent Nolan 2
Tyler Wilson 2
Brad Lubach 2
Brett Wenzel 2
Benji LaCrosse 1
Rod Snellenberger 1 (FLA)
Marcus Hoeppner 1
Cole Czarneski 1
Presley Harrington 1 (IA)
Luke Lemmens 1
Brandon Schmitt 1
Jerry Wilinski 1
Dan Michonski 1
IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMODS
Coy Vlies 5
Tony Gates 1
AJ Springborn 1
Brad Buckman 1
Ryan Schmidt 1
Carsin Cullen 1
Brady Harshbarger 1
Matt Urban 1
Cole Magnin 1
Max Oreskovich 1
Logan Brass 1
Cole Thomas 1
UNIFIED DIRT STREET STOCKS
Trey Van Straten 3
Derek Moede 2
Paul Diefenthaler 2
Phillip Wuesthoff 2
Cory Romenesko 1
Todd Berzowski 1
Travis Zirbel 1
Dave DeGrave 1
GRAND NATIONALS
Jeff Richards 3
Nate Ruh 1
Tyler Kulow 1
Jake Richards 1
Mavrick Ruh 1
Jeff Muehlbauer 1
Will Sorce 1
Luke Scholten 1
FOUR CYLINDERS/IMCA SPORT COMPACTS
TJ Everard 3
Brian Watzka Jr. 1
Cody McLain 1
Autumn Allard 1
Brian Hillringhouse 1
TJ Everard 1
Cody McClain 1
Jake Peters 1
Lucas Hacker 1
Robbie Holst Jr 1
Tanner Westphal 1
Thomas Schulte 1
LS/USRA LATE MODEL
Eric Klawitter 2
Corbyn Wassenberg 1