Pressers
LOCALS DEFEND HOME TURF FOR $10,250-TO-WIN “RUMBLE AT THE RIVER” AT EAGLE RIVER SPEEDWAY AUG. 9-11
Posted on: Sunday August 9, 2026
Dustin White (73) races his IMCA-legalmi sportmod against Dave Dishaw (44) in his WISSOTA-legal machine at Eagle River Speedway. Both drivers are entered in the Rumble At The River $10k racae Aug. 9-11. (Castle Creations Media)
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOCALS LOOK TO DEFEND HOME TURF FOR $10,250-TO-WIN “RUMBLE AT THE RIVER” AT EAGLE RIVER SPEEDWAY AUG. 9-11
(Track’s five-figure jackpot largest ever in track history)
(Eagle River, WI) -The weekly, Chef Rene B mod competitors know full well they will have their hands full at Eagle River Speedway August 9-11 for the $10,250-to-win “Rumble At The River.”
In fact, with some of the big names of the wheelmen who’ve already pre-entered this big event, some may say any locals may truly be bringing a ‘knife-to-a-gunfight’ per se.
In weekly competition at the popular Northwoods, third-mile, clay oval, a total of seven different drivers have picked up feature wins in the nine nights the track has hosted races. Only two of those seven have doubled up on feature wins so far in 2026.
Chippewa Falls’ Michael Truscott emerged triumphant in the B Mod feature at Eagle River Speedway July 21. (Castle Creations Media)
Although not a regular, Chippewa Falls veteran Michael Truscott has earned a pair of feature flags in the past three weeks. Truscott has run close to half of the shows so far in ’26. “I’ve raced in some big dollar shows like this before, and making the show itself is definitely an accomplishment,” Truscott pointed out. “Pulling off a win in a show like this requires a lot of luck on your side along with a very fast race car. There are some very talented drivers who are entered in this big event, and I honestly think that the weekly, Eagle River racers have as good a chance as anyone to pick up the big winner’s check.”
24 drivers will start the 50-lap feature, which boasts the highest paying event in the track’s 51-year history. “Eagle River Speedway races a lot differently than most tracks that some of these traveling guys race on,” Truscott suggested. “We need a decent draw, need to keep the nose clean, and I think we can be in position to have a chance for Tuesday’s big show.”
Iron Mountain Michigan’s Frank “The Tank” Gasperini, who picked up a feature win at Eagle River on July 28, has his shop five minutes from the race track. “For a local to pull this off we have to be on our “A” game and capitalize on making moves out there when we can,” Gasperini said.
Hometown driver Dustin White has won a pair of B mod features here this year. White is no stranger to competing in big events. In 2025, White traveled to Arizona in January where he won that sanctioning body’s Winter Nationals. “Several of these guys traveling are about the best in the business,” White said. “They need about three laps tops to be competitive wherever they go. Eagle River I’d say is one of the most unique race tracks I’ve ever been on. I do think there are five or six “locals” or weekly racers if you will, that are capable of pulling off the big win. But, it’s going to come down to some decent luck, good qualifying and a little bit of patience. Turns three and four, for example, aren’t wide enough for four-wide racing. Consistency in those 50 laps will also be critical.”
Iron Mountain, Michigan’s “Frank The Tank” Gasperini won the $1,000 B mod feature at Eagle River Speedway July 28. (Castle Creations Media)
Other drivers who’ve captured B mod feature wins at Eagle River in 2026 include Wakefield, Michigan’s George Dalbeck, Ontonagon, Michigan’s Dave Dishaw, Mass City, Michigan’s Kory Joliff, and hometown driver Ryan Brown. All are entered for this big event.
Drivers from a trio of different sanctioning bodies (IMCA, WISSOTA and USRA) will compete in this event.
The five-figure jackpot is presented in part by Dalbeck Construction and Dustin White Construction.
Plans call for an open test-and-tune session on Sunday, August 9 begining at 6 p.m. Pre-tech will also take place for teams who show up Sunday.
Heat races and a pair of qualifying features are slated to be run on Monday, August 10. The top five finishers in each A main will be locked into the $10k show to be run Tuesday, August 11. IMCA stock cars will also run a full show on Monday, employing a draw-redraw format. State and national points will be doled out.
On Tuesday, the IMCA stock cars will run another full show, with weekly points also being doled out. Unified dirt street stocks and 300 micro sprints will also be part of the show. Another set of qualifying heats will take place for B mods, with last chance races also on tap.
joeverdegan.com will award a $100 long haul award on Tuesday to the B mod driver who tows the furthest to compete.
The 50-lap feature will start 24 cars, and will pay $500-to-start. Fans and drivers can learn more about this race by checking the Eagle River Speedway Facebook page.