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BENNETT STRIKES PAYDIRT IN OUTAGAMIE LATE MODEL LID-LIFTER
Posted on: Saturday May 9, 2026
Third-generation racer Joel Bennett went wire-to-wire, winning the late model feature at Outagamie Speedway May 8. (Make It You Photography)
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BENNETT STRIKES PAYDIRT IN OUTAGAMIE LATE MODEL LID-LIFTER
(SEYMOUR, WI) May 8 – Hortonville’s Joel Bennett led wire-to-wire, to capturing the late model feature on opening night at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour Friday.
The second-generation racer started third on the grid of the 20 lap contest. However, he encountered a stroke of luck when polesitter Joe Reuter dropped out before the green flag flew with mechanical woes.
Bennett was able to keep a comfortable margin ahead of fellow front row starter Brett Swedberg of Shawano for most of the contest. A pair of cautions tightened the field, and on each ensuing restart, Bennett was able to fend off Swedberg and the rest of the field to secure the win.
Swedberg settled for second at the pay window, followed by Todd Frank, Andy Karl and Gunner Frank.
Antigo’s Zackary Raab sprinted from his pole position spot, and sweated out numerous caution flags, and a 10 minute delay for light rain showers to win the IMCA modified feature. A caution with three laps remaining set up a three race sprint to the finish. Raab successfully fought off James Fletcher and hometown driver Jayden Schmidt, who would wind up second and third, respectively. Hometown veteran Brian Mullen and Jordan Bartz finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Hometown veteran Jerry Wilinski led early in the IMCA stock car main event. The polesitter surrendered the top spot to former national champion Brandon Czarapata. Wilinski re-passed Czarapata for the lead with five laps remaining to score a thrilling win before a partisan crowd.
Manitowoc’s Brett Wenzel squeezed past Czarapata late in the race to take the runnerup spot. Czarapata settled for third, followed by Chase Parker and Tyler Schrimpf.
Defending IMCA northern sportmod champion Ryan Schmidt of Hortonville came out swinging, picking up the division feature win. The contest was littered with multiple yellows, and spinouts and crashes occurred throughout the field. Kaden Besaw, A.J. Springborn, Grant Besaw and Dakota Johnson placed second through fifth, respectively.
Hortonville’s Trey Van Straten marched from his 14th starting spot into the lead with six laps remaining to score a thrilling victory in the Unified Dirt Street stock feature. Paul Diefenthaler took home second. Jacob Ambrosius, Brooke Diefenthaler and Cory Lemirande finished third through fifth, respectively.
Racing resumes Friday night, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. Fans can enjoy one half-priced adult ticket when another adult ticket is purchased at full price. For more information check out our website outagamiespeedway.com or check out our Facebook page.
RACE SUMMARY
LATE MODEL FEATURE – Joel Bennett, Hortonville; Brett Swedberg, Shawano; Todd Frank, Montrose, Iowa; Andy Karl, Mosinee; Gunner Frank, Montrose, IA; Nick Anvelink, Navarino; Terry Casey, New London; Taylor Scheffler, Waukesha; Lukas Postl, Shawano; Kurt Moeller, Kaukauna; Chris Oertel, Marshfield; Sawyer Specht, Sheboygan Falls; Adam Janke, New London; Corbyn Wassenberg, Shawano; Aaron Reivitis, Shawano; Chris Engels, Green Bay; Paul Parker, Kaukauna
HEATS 1) Bennett; Specht 2) Reivitis; Joe Reuter, Shawano
IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE – Zachary Raab, Antigo; James Fletcher, Beaver Dam; Jayden Schmidt, Seymour; Brian Mullen, Seymour; Jordan Bartz, Shawano; Cole Czarneski, Denmark; Dan Roedl, Beaver Dam; Johnny Whitman, Suamico; Skyler Woods, Beaver Dam; Marcus Yarie, Wausau; Will Garceau, Francis Creek; Adam Abbey, Marion; Trevor Spaulding, Greenville; John Schultz, Appleton; Trace Yeager, Shawano; Matt Klenz, West Bend; Cody Hokenstad, Shawano; Mike Mullen, Seymour; Cody Schroeder, Manitowoc; Dylon Waldvogel, Antigo; Derek Janke, Symco
SEMI-FEATURES 1) Roedl; Yarie 2) Waldvogel; Hokenstad
HEATS 1) Bartz; Whitman 2) Czarneski; Brian Mullen 3) Mike Mullen; Derek Janke
IMCA STOCK CAR FEATURE – Jerry Wilinski, Seymour; Brett Wenzel, Manitowoc; Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski; Chase Parker, Hortonville; Tyler Schrimpf, Montello; Kenny Richards, Montello; Daniel Sell Jr, Suring; Presley Harrington, Oshkosh; Kyle Frederick, Oconto Falls; Nick Buckarma, Sobieski; Trent Nolan, Shawano; Dan Michonski, Leopolis; Kyle Stedjee, Shiocton; Randy Brands, Boyden, IA; Jon Schultz, Waunakee; Kegan Van Ooyen, Freedom; Yarie; Travis Spaulding, Greenville; Riley Magee, Pulaski; Jamison MacDonald, Little Suamico; Czarneski; Travis Van Straten, Hortonville; Kyle Gennett, Auburndale
SEMI-FEATURES – 1) Kegan Van Ooyen; MacDonald 2) Michonski; Sell Jr
HEATS 1) Frederick; Brandon Czarapata 2) Yarie; Stedjee 3)Travis Van Straten; Wenzel 4) Kenny Richards; Parker
IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD FEATURE – Ryan Schmidt, Hortonville; Kaden Besaw, Omro A.J. Springborn, Shawano; Cory Kemkes, Appleton; Dakota Johnson, Burnett; Charlie Hoffman, Gresham; Shane Bahr, Greenville; Mitchell Fairbank, Oshkosh; Dylan Schmidt, Hortonville; Jordan Jahnke, Hortonville; Jared Spaulding, Greenville; Brendan Ostrowski, Milwaukee; J.J. Vander Loop, Freedom; Grant Besaw, Omro; Braxton Ambrosius, Pulaski; James Bohm, Leopolis; Tim Jorgenson, Seymour; Spencer Uttecht, Birnamwood; Michael Springborn, Shawano; Jesse Denome, Escanaba, MI
SEMI-FEATURES – 1) Grant Besaw; Jahnke 2) Fairbank; Denome
HEATS 1) Hoffman; Ambrosius 2) A.J. Springborn; Jorgenson 3) Kaden Besaw; Vander Loop 4) Uttecht; Ryan Schmidt
UNIFIED DIRT STREET STOCK FEATURE – Trey Van Straten, Hortonville; Paul Diefenthaler, Two Rivers; Jacob Ambrosius, Seymour; Brooke Diefenthaler, Manitowoc; Cory Lemirande, Little Suamico; T.J. Reichenberger, Berlin; Mitch Meyerhofer, Sherwood; Tyler Nettekoven, Appleton; Paul Ambrosius, Seymour; Cole Warner, Appleton; Mason Schultz, Waunakee; Blake Neshek, Abrams; Travis Stratton, Oshkosh; Dan Gracyalny, Greenville; Tom White, Oconto
HEATS 1) Jacob Ambrosius; Gracyalny 2) Paul Ambrosius; Meyerhofer