The Scoop
MATT RECHEK – “IT’S ALWAYS ELBOWS UP AT SUN PRAIRIE”
Posted on: Monday August 3, 2026
Rechek earned quick time at Eagle River Speedway July 24. (Castle Creations Media)
The phrase ‘variety is the spice of life’ most certainly applies to Matt Rechek.
The 37-year-old racer from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin has wheeled an IMCA-type modified in past years. In 2026, Rechek has been busy wheeling two completely, different animals on dirt. Rechek wheels an IMCA stock car on occasion for Chris Breuer. Rechek also pilots an open-wheeled, midget in the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA) as well. That machine is owned by Bill Ecker (RAB Racing.)
“I’ve been driving the midget off and on for Chris for about four or five years now,” Rechek said. “I’ve never owned a midget. In fact, we were driving the midget, mainly at Angell Park (Sun Prarie, Wisconsin) when Beaver Dam Raceway was still open.”
According to Rechek, driving an IMCA-type modified today compared to wheeling a midget are two completely different worlds. “The modifieds these days everyone sets up their cars on the right front corner so hard. With midgets, it’s completely the opposite. The emphasis is on the right rear more. When it comes to driving one of these midgets, you are on the edge every lap, all the time. It’s always elbows up. There is no taking a break driving a midget.”
Rechek last drove a modified in 2022. Beaver Dam Raceway was still open then. “Beaver Dam closing didn’t really have anything to do with jumping into the midget,” Rechek explained. “Sun Prairie is close to home for us, too. It’s only a half-hour away. It’s close enough, and they run Sunday nights. They run an efficient show, and we can usually have a couple of beers afterwards, and still make it home at a decent hour.”
Matt Rechek at the driver’s meeting at Eagle River Speedway July 24. (Castle Creations)
The Angell Park oval is one of the longest-tenured dirt ovals in Wisconsin. The track has been the signature home of the Badger Midgets for several decades. The circular, third-mile first hosted motor races in 1913. “When you run at Sun Prairie, you hardly ever slow down, even when it’s slick,” Rechek pointed out. “It’s a big circle. It’s not a paper clip like a lot of these places are.”
When it comes to the actual costs of the cars, Rechek said the midgets are a more affordable option. “The cost of those modifieds these days have gone crazy,” Rechek said. “You can put a midget together brand new a lot cheaper than you can a modified. But, I will also say that the midgets seem to get tore up a little bit more than a modified does, on average. Maybe the costs will equal out at the end of the year with getting wrecked. It’s tough to say.”
When it comes to both the weekly shows at Sun Prairie, or the traveling shows with the open-wheel series, Rechek admitted the competition level is strong with the BMARA. “This class is very competitive,” Rechek said. “There are always a lot of guys who can win on any given night. It doesn’t matter what the car count is, either.”
Following a trend of many dirt track racers these days, Rechek does not chase points. He hits some of the BMARA traveling shows. Rechek recently nabbed quick time at Eagle River Speedway, but was sidelined for the A main due to mechanical woes.
Rechek’s daughter Mia watches her dad race at Gravity Park USA in Chilton. (Randall Hepp photo)
Recheck also has fun piloting an IMCA stock car. The Beaver Dam veteran has really only run Gravity Park USA in Chilton, where he picked up the feature win July 24. (Gravity Park runs the stock cars without the IMCA sanctioning). “To us, it’s the closest place for us to race on a Friday night,” Rechek said. “I like racing at Gravity because it’s draw-redraw every night. And, the track surface has been pretty good there most of the nights. We do eventually plan on venturing out to some other tracks down the road with the stock car.”
Does Rechek have a favorite car to drive? “Not really,” Rechek admitted. “It’s whatever car I’m in that night. But truth be told, wheeling a midget is pretty tough to beat.”
Rechek’s team of pit crew members includes Bill, Steve and Mason. Daughters Mia and Mackinley often tag along wherever Rechek races.
Rechek’s team of marketing partners includes Pro Diesel Inc., Fowler Heating & Air Conditioning, White Cap and RAB Racing.
2026 REGIONAL DIRT TRACK FEATURE WINNERS (as of 8-3-26)
(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 6
Nick Anvelink 5
Brett Swedberg 2
Turk Letizia 1
Jesse Glenz 1
Troy Springborn 1
Andy Karl 1
Brad Mueller 1
IMCA MODIFIEDS
Cole Czarneski 7 (Dakota Mod Tour)
Johnny Whitman 5
Dylon Waldvogel 3
Benji LaCrosse 3
Lucas Lamberies 3
Russ Reinwald 3
Mike Mueller 2
Jesse Cullen 2
Travis Hansen 2
Kevin Feck 2
Joel Seegert Sr. 2
Marcus Yarie 2
Jayden Schmidt 2
Steve Mueller 2
Brandon Schmitt 1
Zachary Raab 1
Greg Gretz 1
Mike Wedelstadt 1
Todd Dart 1
Tanner Janke 1
Will Garceau 1
Noah Schepp 1
Colton See 1
Jeffrey Teske 1
Mike Mullen 1
Trent Nolan 1
Eric Scribner 1
Wyatt Block 1 (ERS)
IMCA STOCK CARS
Trent Nolan 6
Cole Czarneski 5 (IA)
Brad Lubach 5
Tyler Wilson 5 (IA)
Brett Wenzel 5
Luke Lemmens 4
Rod Snellenberger 3 (FLA)
Benji LaCrosse 3
Marcus Hoeppner 3
Dustin White 3 (ERS)
Nick Buckarma 3
Dan Michonski 2
Jerry Wilinski 2
Caden LeMieux 2
Chase Parker 2
Eric Mahlik 2
Presley Harrington 1 (IA)
Brandon Schmitt 1
Tyler Schrimpf 1
Mitch Stankowski 1 (ERS)
Travis Welch 1
Jeremie Hedrick 1
Shawn Kilgore 1
Shanon Guelette 1
Kegan Van Ooyen 1
Jeremy Christians 1
Jeremy Anschutz 1
Mike Mullen 1
Marcus Hoepper 1
Dylan Stedjee 1
RM Van Pay 1
Keslie Richards 1
Jamison MacDonald 1 (IA)
IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMODS
Coy Vlies 14
Travis Schmidt 5
AJ Springborn 5
Craig Dorner 4
Tim Jorgenson 3
Max Oreskovich 3
Dustin White 2 (ERS)
Ryan Schmidt 2
Matt Urban 2
Brady Harshbarger 2
JJ Vander Loop 2
Cole Magnin 2
Tim Sheppard 2
Tony Gates 1
Brad Buckman 1
Carsin Cullen 1
Logan Brass 1
Cole Thomas 1
Kaden Besaw 1
Trevin Veeser 1
Tony Gates 1
Jacob Rens 1
Elijah Koening 1
Derek Fehling 1
George Henkel 1
Steve Lorier 1
Randy LeMieux Jr 1
Dakota Johnson 1
Shane Bahr 1
Justin Green 1
Dylan Schmidt 1
Travis Kleindl 1
Frank Gasperini 1
Cory Kemkes 1
Brian Konitzer 1
UNIFIED DIRT STREET STOCKS
Trey Van Straten 6
Derek Moede 6
Dave DeGrave 5
Roman Blank 4
Alex Haese 4
Travis Zirbel 3
Phillip Wuesthoff 3
Cody Potter 3
Paul Diefenthaler 2
Dave DeGrave 2
Jason Eisel 2 (ERS)
Hope Eisel 2 (ERS)
Brayden Lundquist 1
Cory Romenesko 1
Todd Berzowski 1
Paul Ambrosius 1
Garrett Geyer 1
Kyle Genett 1
Brian Gundrum 1
James Riske 1
Chad Vetting 1
Tyler Fox 1
GRAND NATIONALS
Jeff Richards 6
Jake Richards 6
Jeff Muehlbauer 3
Brad Weiss 3
Mavrick Ruh 2
Tyler Kulow 2
Luke Scholten 2
Nate Ruh 1
Will Sorce 1
Nick Schumacher 1
Brad Lubach 1
Marshall Plate 1
FOUR CYLINDERS/IMCA SPORT COMPACTS
James Reese 7
TJ Everard 5
Brian Watzka Jr 4
Scott Schlafke 4
Kyle Jorgenson 3
Tanner Westphal 3
Lucas Hacker 2
Nathan Lisowe 2
Thomas Schulte 2
Calvin Stueck 2
Cody McLain 2
Mike Meier 2
Autumn Allard 1
Chase Ertel 1
Brian Hillringhouse 1
TJ Everard 1
Cody McClain 1
Jake Peters 1
Robbie Holst Jr 1
Brian Watzka Jr. 1
Cody Booth 1
Dan Thomson 1
Bennett Glidden 1
Shaun Bangart 1
Brad Wedde 1
Dallas Topel 1
Todd Boehlein 1
Autumn Allord 1
LS/USRA LATE MODEL
Mark Hoeppner 7
Jason Zdroik 3
Eric Klawatter 2
Todd Gorny 2
Guy Carley 2
Logan Fleischmann 2
Lucas Peterson 2
Corbyn Wassenberg 1
Dave Bennett 1
Pat Kelley 1
Chad Lederer 1