The Scoop
BUTZ & MONDAY SCORE SLM WINS IN WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN – REGIONAL DIRT TOTALS & MORE
Posted on: Monday July 15, 2024
Green Bay’s Chad Butz captured the super late model feature at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna July 11. (danlewisphoto.net)
Another weekend, another weekend where Mother Nature ultimately has the final say in many race programs – especially Saturday night.
Some tracks got their full program in like The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. Some canceled like Shawano Speedway and yet some like 141 Speedway in Francis Creek and Plymouth Dirt Track in Plymouth got ‘some’ of their respective programs in.
We’ll start with a look to the pavement and a pair of WIR regulars in 2024 who earned super late model feature wins last week – one at WIR the other in Michigan.
Green Bay’s Chad Butz scored the SLM win during the Fox River Racing Club’s ‘Thursday Night Thunder’ action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Meanwhile the next night Appleton’s Andy Monday towed north and pulled off the win at Norway (MI) Speedway during their annual Stateline Challenge race.
At WIR Butz remains in a spirited points battle with Reedsville’s “Mighty Maxwell” Schultz. The two have raced hard but clean so far in ’24. Heading into this week of action at WIR Butz sits nine marks behind Schultz – who made a full time return to weekly action after racing sparingly the past couple of seasons.
Monday’s win at Norway continued a long running streak of Wisconsin drivers winning the last seven Stateline Challenges. The last two Michigan drivers to pull it off were Menominee, Michigan’s (at that time) Dalton Zehr (2017) and Norway’s Kris Kelly (2016).
Braison Bennett announced over the weekend he’s ditching Norway (MI) Speedway on Friday nights and will race at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover on Fridays for the rest of the season in the Coleman Racing Products 119. (seeking photo credit)
Speaking of Norway Neenah’s Braison Bennett, who wheels the Coleman Racing Products No. 119 announced over the weekend that his team will be staying in Wisconsin for the remainder of Friday nights this summer. The team will focus their SLM efforts on Golden Sands Speedway in Plover from this point forward. Bennett continues to lead the FRRC late model point standings on Thursday nights by a mere one point over former SLM driver Alex Stumpf.
PAVEMENT PONDERINGS – The Midwest Truck Series race scheduled for this past Saturday was rained out at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Illinois. The series ran in support of the Midwest Tour which was scheduled to host the 37th Wayne Carter Classic for super late models. That even was also canceled and will not be rescheduled.
The next event on tap for the Midwest Truck Series will be this Saturday, July 20 at Jefferson Speedway for the Orange Blossom 61. The next event for the Midwest Tour will be the Larry Detjens Memorial 125 race at State Park Speedway in Wausau Saturday, July 27.
TUNDRA TIME – The ‘Blue Knight 88’ is set to take place Friday, July 19 at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover. The TUNDRA super late model series event honors the legendary racer Tom Reffner from Rudolph who passed away last year. Qualifying takes place at 6:30 p.m. with racing getting underway at 7:45 p.m.
BY THE NUMBERS – Horicon’s Jeremy Christians picked up IMCA stock car career feature win No. 108 at Beaver Dam Raceway last Tuesday. Meanwhile Pulaski’s ‘Hot Rod’ Snellenberger bumped his career feature total in the same division to score career win number 225 with his victory at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. Snellenberger’s win came in a 32 car field while Christians battled it out in a field of 20 cars. Five is the number of IMCA northern sportmod victories earned by Appleton’s Cory Kemkes this year. 29 is the number of different sportmod drivers in the region who’ve earned feature wins this year. 26 is the number of late models in attendance at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour Friday as hometown driver Jayden Schmidt scored his first division win of the year in the $2,000-to-win race.
IMCA stock cars will throw down for $10,000-to-win at the King of the Creek at 141 Speedway July 16-17. (danlewisphoto.net)
THE WEEK OF $$$ – This week will be the IMCA stock car drivers turn to scrap for some big dollars at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek. The top prize will be $10,000 to the winner of the King of the Creek VII presented by Appleton Camping Center.
In addition Dave “Pokey” Schlise continues to raise additional cash and contingencies through his annual ‘Fan Fund’ for drivers attending this big event. As of Sunday afternoon a total of $18,600 additional cash and another $7,600 worth of contingencies are up for grabs for the expected field of close to 80 IMCA stock car pilots from across the country.
The action kicks off Monday, July 15 with a practice session and free admission for fans. Tuesday, July 16 qualifying features for IMCA stock cars takes place along with a full show for IMCA modifieds and grand nationals. Wednesday July 17 will feature last chance races for the stock cars and the $10,000-to-win feature along with a full show for IMCA northern sportmods and unified street stocks. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday and Monday’s shakedown session is set to commence at 7 p.m.
HALL OF FAME NIGHT AT THE HILL – Millie’s Pub and Grub is sponsoring Hall of Fame Night at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday, July 20. The four inductees for the class of 2024 include Gary and Chum Nault, former track champion Tim McCormick and longtime car owner and technical inspector Harvey Trader. Veteran track announcer and Door County racing historian Tom Wagner will handle the duties on the mic.
Joining the track’s regular weekly divisions will be the modifieds in action. The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. at John Miles Park in Sturgeon Bay.
FRIDAY NIGHT THUNDER – White Claw & Kay Distributing present the action Friday, July 19 at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. Joining the tracks weekly division once again will be the late models. A large number of fan giveaways are on tap. The action kicks off at 6:30 p.m. You can check out additional information by visiting their website outagamiespeedway.com.
EAGLE RIVER BADGER MIDGETS – For the first time in more than 40 years the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association will travel to the northwoods as Eagle River Speedway will host a special open wheel event Saturday, July 20. The last time the midgets competed at Eagle Rver was 1984. Joining the BMARA will be the Eagle River late models, B modifieds, 300 and 600 micro sprints along with the Dairyland Vintage Racers. The action kicks off at the D-shaped, third-mile clay oval at 6 p.m. Eagle River also will host it’s weekly Tuesday night program July 16 with a 7 p.m. start time.
KARTING KORNER – It will be bike giveaway night presented by Danielson Racing Friday, July 19 at Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park in Cecil. Racing action at the eighth mile clay oval gets underway at 7 p.m.
Wednesday night racing returns to GSR Kartway in Clintonville July 17. The first green flag flies for the karting and lawn mower racing program gets underway at 7 p.m.
LUXEMBURG OFF – There will be no racing this Friday, July 19 at Luxy Raceway. Racing will resume Friday, July 26 at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.
HALLOWEEN ON THE HALF-MILE – Halloween On The Half Mile will take place at Shawano Speedway Saturday, July 20. The Suebert Calf Ranches Too Tough To Tame IMCA stock car series will be running. Late models will battle for a $1,500 top prize. Action gets underway at the half-mile at 6 p.m.
Once again get out and support your local short track IN PERSON whenever possible. NOTHING replaces the thrill and excitement of BEING THERE. Have a great week!
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN REGIONAL DIRT TRACK FEATURE WIN TOTALS 2024 (as of 7/14)
(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 1
Nick Anvelink 1
Brad Mueller 1
Mitch McGrath 1
Ron Berna 1
Justin Ritchie 1
Tom Naeyaert 1
Taylor Scheffler 1
Jayden Schmidt 1
MODIFIED
Benji LaCrosse 5
Cole Czarneski 4 (UMP mod win)
Marcus Yarie 4
Skylar Woods 3
Marcus Hoeppner 3
Konnor Wilinski 2
Johnny Whitman 2
Jayden Schmidt 2
Cody Schroeder 2
Steve Mueller 2
Shawn Kilgore 1
Lucas Lamberies 1
Dan Roedel 1
Will Garceau 1
Cody Afelbeck 1
Jason Czarapata 1
Derek Janke 1
Greg Gretz 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
STOCK CAR
Mitch Meier 5
Rod Snellenberger 5
Trent Nolan 4
Tyler Wilson 4
Benji LaCrosse 3
Jeremy Christians 3
Cole Czarneski 2
Travis Welch 2 (Eagle River)
Josh Mroczkowski 2
Tim Warner 2
Nick Buckarma 2
Kenny Richards 2
Travis Van Straten 2
Luke Lemmens 2
Brandon Czarapata 1
Kyle Frederick 1
Brandon Schmitt 1
Dave Bouche 1
Shawn Havel 1
Brett Wenzel 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
SPORTMOD
Cory Kemkes 5
Elijah Koenig 4
Coy Vlies 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
Dustin White 1
AJ Springborn 1
Nick Kresbach 1
Tony Gates 1
Dylon Waldvogel 1
Colton Van Hierden 1
Jake Carpenter 1
Cole Magnin 1
Max Oreskovich 1
Spencer Long 1
Zach Raab 1
Barrett Hummelmeier 1
Derek Fehling 1
Jordan Jahnke 1
Tom Schneider 1
Brady Hashbarger 1
STREET STOCK
James Fletcher 6
Paul Diefenthaler 6
Mark Hoeppner 6
Travis Zirbel 3
Jason Geyer 3
Kenny Richards 3
Cory Romenesko 2
Ed Anschutz 2
Shannon Guelette 2
Courtney Atkinson 1
Nick Wunrow 1
Brooke Diefenthaler 1
Phillip Wuesthoff 1
Jerry Winkler 1
Kyle Gennett 1
Tyler Fox 1
GRAND NATIONAL
Josh Pierce 4
Dustin Weiss 3
Greg Haese 2
Brad Weiss 2
Maverick Ruh 2
Jeff Richards 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
FOUR CYLINDER
James Reese 6
Scott Schlafke 4
James Riske 3
Brian Watzka 3
Kenneth Becker 3
Dalton Nelson 2
Lucas Hacker 2
Shaun Bangart 2
Brett Deprez 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
Brad Wedde 1
Justin Finlan 1
Dalton Nelson 1
Cody Booth 1
TJ Everard 1