The Scoop
DART EARNS IMCA MOD WIN NO. 84 – ANVELINK, SCHMIDT SCORE BDR, PDTR WINS, RESPECTIVELY
Posted on: Monday April 28, 2025
Algoma’s Todd “Felix” Dart scored IMCA modified career win No. 84 at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Saturday. April 26. (danlewisphoto.net)
Algoma’s Todd “Felix” Dart scored his 84th career IMCA modified feature win at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Saturday night.
Dart topped a stout, 46 car field en route to victory. Those 46 modifieds were a fraction of the whopping 206 entries in the five division show.
Friday was pretty much a washout across the region, but Saturday’s weather proved to be much better. In addition to 141 getting their third night of weekly racing in, both Plymouth Dirt Track and Beaver Dam Raceway were able to get their respective season openers in.
Bonduel’s Nick Anvelink drew first blood, scoring the opening night Dirt Kings Tour feature at Beaver Dam Raceway April 26. (dirtkings photo)
And when the dust settled, it was yet another familiar name who wound up in victory lane. Bonduel’s Nick Anvelink, who’s won multiple Dirt Kings Tour championships, kicked off his season with a bang winning that series lid lifter. A 27 car field turned up for the DK opener.
Western Wisconsin visitor Jake Redetzke played bridesmaid with his 2ond place finish and Taylor Scheffler rounded out the podium spots. Dirt Kings Tour’s next event will be at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour Friday, May 23 at for the “Salute To Service” race.
SPRINT CAR STUFF – New Berlin, Illinois’ Jake Neuman emerged triumphant amongst the 29 car field at the IRA Outlaw sprint car opener at BDR Saturday. Travis Arenz and Blake Nimee rounded out the podium finishes. Meanwhile, the Midwest Sprint Association (MSA) sprints kicked off their season at Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds.
Defending MSA sprint champion Ben Schmidt scored the hometown, opening night win at Plymouth Dirt Track April 26. (JWCRP PHOTOS)
Similar to the Dirt Kings, it was Plymouth’s Ben Schmidt scoring the win with his Willie Goeden-tribute paint schemed machine. Ironically, it was Willy’s son, local legend Donny Goeden, who placed second to Schmidt in the A main. 23 cars in the division took to Plymouth’s third-mile.
DIFFERENT DIVISION – At PDTR, the grand national class, of which the division’s feature was won by Neshkoro’s Jake Richards, saw a pair of IMCA stock car visitors making a rare visit to PDTR.
Manitowoc’s Brett Wenzel finished eighth in the grand national A main, while Little Suamico’s Tyler Wilson placed 15th. Next week at Plymouth, the Super Six Series for late models will host it’s first race of ’25.
OUTAGAMIE OPENS – The season opening races are set for Friday, May 2 at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. IMCA modifieds, stock cars, northern sportmods, sport compacts and Unified Dirt Street Stocks will compete in weekly action. Late models will also be on the opening night card. The action gets underway at 6:30 at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds. Best to check the track’s Facebook page for raceday and weather-related updates.
Mother Nature has not been kind so far to Outagamie in ’25, as practices and planned workdays have often been washed out.
THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM? – Luxy Raceway in Luxemburg, Wisconsin will attempt for the third straight week to get their opening night races in. Both planned openers have been washed out the previous two Fridays. A 7 p.m. start time is set for at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.
PAVEMENT PONDERINGS – South Beloit, Illinois’ Michael Bilderback drew the opening salvo, winning the season opening Big 8 late model feature at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Illinois over the weekend. Randy Sargent and Jake Gille rounded out the podium spots.
Grundy also played host to the season opening Mid-American stock car series as well. Shorewood, Illinois’ Mark Sontag Jr. picked up the series opening day win. Kaukauna’s Andrew Meyerhofer placed 22nd.
SLINGER ALL STAR RECAP — Neenah’s Braison Bennett placed seventh in the All Star Series Pro late model opener at Slinger Super Speedway Sunday. Oregon’s Zack Riddle captured the win.
In 602 Craters action, Random Lake’s Brad “JJ” Mueller placed third in the main event. Veteran pilots Dennis Prunty of Allenton and Franklin’s Bill Prietzel finished 5th and 6th, respectively. West Bend’s Alex Lopacinski scored the win. “Rock Star” Russ Lorbiecki of Sussex captured the Figure 8 feature.
The next All Star series event is set for May 16 at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, Wisconsin.
JOE SHEAR CLASSIC – The Midwest Tour’s season kicks off Sunday, May 4 at Madison International Speedway for the annual Joe Shear Classic. The $15,000 super late model race has 28 super late model teams from five states are entered in the contest. The Midwest Truck Series will accompany the MT with 33 trucks entered to do battle.
Qualifying is set for 12:45 p.m. with the first race at 2 p.m. NASCAR and ASA legend Mark Martin will be on hand at MIS to sign autographs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Martin will serve as the grand marshal for the event.
In other MT news, the news broke this week that longtime technical inspector Bob Abitz would be retiring from that role. Abitz has been a familiar face on the pavement racing scene for more than four decades. We wish Bob the best in his retirement.
Remember to get out and support your favorite short track IN PERSON whenever possible. Because track promoters cannot sell burgers and beers to someone sitting on their couch. Have a great week everyone!
Hartford veteran Jim Zdroik picked up the B mod feature win on opening night at Plymouth Dirt Track April 26. (JWCRP PHOTOS)2025 REGIONAL DIRT TRACK FEATURE WINNERS (as of 4/27/25)
(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
Nick Anvelink 1
IMCA MODIFIEDS
Benji LaCrosse 1
Johnny Whitman 1
Todd Dart 1
Marcus Hoeppner 1
IMCA STOCK CARS
Cole Czarneski 4
Tyler Wilson 2
Phil Mott 1
Trentin Bell 1
IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMODS
Coy Vlies 1
Dustin White 1
Cole Thomas 1
Ryan Schmidt 1
Jordan Jahnke 1
Jim Zdroik 1
UNIFIED DIRT STREET STOCKS
Cory Romenesko 1
Shannon Guelette 1
Trey Van Straten 1
Austin Steinke 1
GRAND NATIONALS
Jeff Muehlbauer 1
Jake Richards 1
FOUR CYLINDERS/IMCA SPORT COMPACTS
Adam Broehm 2
Ben Schulte 1
Thomas Schulte 1