The Scoop
DIRT KINGS LATE MODELS RETURN TO LUXEMBURG AFTER FOUR YEAR HIATUS IN ’23
Posted on: Saturday January 21, 2023
Defending Dirt Kings Tour champion Nick Anvelink (15) goes toe-to-toe with Justin Ritchie in Dirt Kings action. The DK late models will return to The ‘Burg Speedway Sunday, July 9. (Gasroots photo)
After a four-year absence the Dirt Kings late model tour will make a return appearance to the third-mile, clay oval at The ‘Burg Speedway in Luxemburg, Wisconsin Sunday night, July 9.
When the touring series last visited Luxemburg it was in June, 2018. Second-generation driver and multi-time DK champion Nick Anvelink of Navarino scored the win. With a solo appearance on the slate many late model teams are fired up for a show in what proves to be closer to a backyard for the base of the series drivers, many of whom are regulars at nearby Shawano Speedway two counties to the west or a little more than an hour to the south at Plymouth Dirt Track in Sheboygan County.
For Anvelink and many other teams, the option of racing a different track closer to home on a Sunday night is appealing to many teams. “Yeah, we’re sure glad they’ve got another race there in 2023,” Anvelink said.
“Rocket Ron” Berna is one of the many local late model racers relishing a return to The ‘Burg Speedway in ’23. (Gasroots photo)
“To be home that same night at a decent hour is really big for us,” said multi-time Shawano Speedway champion “Rocket Ron” Berna of Abrams. Berna has a pile of IMCA modified wins at the third-mile, clay oval in the early 1990’s and has one late model victory under his belt from Luxemburg. “Anytime we have a local track to battle at where we’re not on the road for several hours is always a good thing – especially on a Sunday night.”
Late models at Luxemburg do have a history of sorts. When Rick Goral and Bobby Dorner promoted the speedway in the 2000’s, The “Battle of The ‘Burg” was the initial annual appearance of the division. The race was usually scheduled on a Friday night that the Langlade County Speedway in Antigo was off when the WISSOTA late models competed there weekly.
Hence, most of the Shawano and Antigo late model teams in the 2000’s always circled the “Battle of The ‘Burg” on their calendars. When Hales Corners Speedway remained open, many of the Milwaukee-area teams made the tow north for the show and after Hales closed in the mid-2000’s a number of Plymouth late model teams made Luxemburg a regular stop.
Former Luxemburg Speedway track announcer Joe Verdegan interviews M.J. McBride after he won another “Battle of The ‘Burg” race in the early 2000’s. (danlewisphoto.net)
One driver who had Luxemburg’s third-mile figured out was Shawano legend M.J. McBride. He was a frequent winner at the early Battle of The ‘Burg’s in the early 2000’s. One of his crew members was Tom Postl, the father of Dirt Kings regular Lukas Postl.
“I went there plenty of times as a kid with M.J.,” Lukas Postl said. “But I’ve never raced there. That will be my first time at Luxemburg racing.”
The Burg’s third-mile has been both good and not-so-good at times for Shawano late model ace Brett Swedberg. “I won a championship and my first open motor special at Luxemburg,” Swedberg recalled. “The track has been good and bad over the years. I like the track as long it’s properly prepped and widens out enough to race.”
As far as the business end goes with hosting a Dirt Kings race, there is additional financial risk as the driver payout is a cut above what the track’s normal weekly purse is with its existing divisions. “The logistics just haven’t happened for us to have them back until this season,” said The ‘Burg Speedway track announcer and one of the track promoters Joe Orsini. “The track last ran late models weekly back in 2015 and they put on one heck of a show. And the last time Dirt Kings were here in ’18 it was really a battle right down to the wire. The fans and drivers have been asking for these the past three years and we’re happy to have them back in 2023.”
“We at Dirt Kings love the track at Luxemburg,” said Dirt Kings promoter Jason Shultz. “We’re excited to work with that group of promoters for that Sunday night show.”
For more information on The ‘Burg Speedway you can check out their Facebook page. You can follow the Dirt Kings Tour at dirtkingstour.com.
“Battle of the Bay” results from The ‘Burg, 2018
30 Lap A Main
P1: 15 – Nick Anvelink
P2: 10p – Paul Parker
P3: 98 – Tom Naeyaert
P4: 3 – Brett Swedberg
P5: 74m – Mitch McGrath
P6: 66 – Ron Berna
P7: 25 – Jared Siefert
P8: 70 – Jim Schmidt
P9: 81 – Troy Springborn
P10: 0r – Mark Rose
P11: 10s – Taylor Scheffler
P12: 33s – Ron Stroika
P13: 33e – Chris Engels
P14: 7b – Tim Buhler
P15: 97 – Justin Schmidt
P16: 20 – Joe Reuter
P17: d7 – Jim Letizia
P18: d1 – Turk Letizia
P19: 54 – Kevin Baldry
P20: 89 – Brad Mueller