Pressers
EFFERTZ, STRELKA CAPTURE HALF-MILE WINS AT FRRC’S CURTAIN CLOSER AT WIR
Posted on: Friday September 4, 2026
“The Maverick” Sawyer Effertz won the super late model feature at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna Sept. 3.
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EFFERTZ, STRELKA CAPTURE HALF-MILE WINS AT WIR’S CURTAIN CLOSER
(KAUKAUNA, WI) SEPT 3 – “The Maverick” Sawyer Effertz ducked underneath Lowell Bennett to grab the lead on lap 21 and cruised to victory in the super late model feature win on the final night of Fox River Racing Club “Thursday Night Thunder” action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna Thursday.
The win was the first here of the year for the former track champion.
Manitowoc’s Travis Rodewald sprinted from his pole position into the lead at the drop of the green of the 30 lap contest, with Neenah veteran Lowell Bennett on his heels. Bennett assumed the lead on the second round, and kept a tight, car two length margin over Rodewald, while Effertz remained a distant third.
Effertz had begun closing the gap on the lead duo by lap 14. Two circuits later, a caution flew when a Michael Anthony spin in corner 4 halted the action. On the restart, Bennett had the lead, but his advantage was short-lived, as Effertz slipped inside the crafty veteran with nine laps remaining.
With five laps remaining, Jordan Thiel stormed into the runnerup spot, and was beginning to close the gap on Effertz, but ran out of time and Effertz found victory lane for the 1st time in 2026. Effertz won the fast dash earlier in the night. Thiel settled for runnerup money. Grant Griesbach, Riley Stenjem and Bennett placed third through fifth, respective. Stenjem, driving for Chase Motorsports, capture the division track title. “I thought we had a good car, and something for Lowell, but I wasn’t really sure about the timing of making that move,” said Effertz in victory lane. “It took us all year to get to victory lane, and it feels good.”
Super late model champion Riley Stenjem is interviewed by Loran Leech at WIR’s final race Sept. 3.
Freedom’s Brent Strelka came out on to of a torrid battle with 2026 division champion Bryan Monday to win the Pro late model feature.
Monday wrestled the lead away from “The Joker” Jerry Vanderloop on the second circuit, with Strelka moving up into the third spot one circuit later. Strelka bolted past Vanderloop for the lead on lap eight, with Monday staying within striking distance.
The field was tightened after a lap 12 caution, in which Appleton’s Andy Kluck ‘tapped out’, admitting fault in the mishap. When racing resumed, Monday and Strelka resumed their tight, door-to-door battle, with Strelka hanging on to claim victory. “My pit crew has been working on this car around the clock it seems,” Strelka confessed in victory lane. “It’s been win or draught for us lately. It feels good to be here.”
Monday, securing another division title along the way, settled for second place. Vanderloop came out on top of a heated, late race battle with T.J. Spierowski to take third. “Rowdy Oudy” Jesse Oudenhoven finished fifth.
Cato’s Jake Fuller jumped into the lead from his pole position, and went on to become the 11th winner in 13 nights of racing in the super stock feature. Josh Mueller earned the division’s track championship.
Freedom’s Brady Vanderloop won the sport truck feature, while Freedom’s Mason Calmes was crowned champion of the division. Sherwood’s Marty Cjmela was the Sizzlin’ 4 feature winner, with Neenah’s Justin Fickel winning that division’s track title. Hometown driver Matt Bauer won the Figure 8 track championship, with another hometown driver, Ethan Beattie, scoring the final Thursday night feature win.
2026 Pro late model champion Bryan Monday.
The Fox River Racing Club and Wisconsin International Raceway would like to thank the fans, drivers, sponsors and other supporters for another successful edition of “Thursday Night Thunder.” The popular Eve of Destruction is scheduled to take place at the track Friday, September 11.
SUPER LATE MODEL FEATURE – Sawyer Effertz, Appleton; Jordan Thiel, Appleton; Grant Griesbach, Pewaukee; Riley Stenjem, Stoughton; Lowell Bennett, Neenah; Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Appleton; Andy Monday, Appleton; Travis Rodewald, Manitowoc; Lou Goss, Green Bay; Randy Schuler, Mequon; Trevor Vandermolen, Oshkosh; Ty Fietzer, Appleton; Mike Anthony, Appleton; Chad Butz, Green Bay; Trevor Howard, Kaukauna
HEAT – Rodewald; Anthony
DASH – Effertz
FAST TIME: Thiel, 19.047
PRO LATE MODEL FEATURE – Brent Strelka, Freedom; Bryan Monday, Appleton; Jerry Vanderloop, Freedom; T.J. Spierowski, Neenah; Jesse Oudenhoven, Kaukauna; Braison Bennett, Neenah; Alex Stumpf, Brillion; Brian Henry, Omro; Tim Baumann, Neenah; Andy Kluck, Appleton; Chase Solomon, Oshkosh; Bobby Wautier, Freedom; Justin Johnson, Menasha; Dan Hoppa, Berlin; Matthew Wittman, Appleton; Kaden Kostichka, Green Bay; Evan Beattie, Little Chute (DNS)
HEAT – Stumpf; Wittman
DASH – Bryan Monday
FAST TIME -Oudenhoven, 20.433
SUPER STOCK FEATURE – Jake Fuller, Cato; Rachel Evans, Brillion; J.J. Tulys, Appleton; Tony WIlz, Appleton; Dylan Steinbach, Appleton; Larry Raygo, Omro; Josh Mueller, Bucktown; Jeff Treml, Greenleaf; Jeff Danley, Appleton; Jake Vandenberg, Kaukauna; Brady Vanderloop, Freedom; Chuck Gilbertson Jr, Kaukauna; Logan Boldt, Appleton; Josh Vissers, Kaukauna
HEATS 1) Vandenberg; Raygo 2) Steinbach; Gilbertson Jr
FAST TIME – Wilz, 15-775
SPORT TRUCK FEATURE – Brady Vanderloop; Tom Gee Jr, Sobieski; Jason Van Handel, Freedom; Brooklyn Kelnhofer, De Pere; Tanner Fickel, Appleton; Blake Vandehey, Appleton; Masyn Liedke, Fond Du Lac; Taylor Vandermoss, Appleton; Cameron Hadley, Appleton; Samantha Verhagen, Green Bay; Shawn Welch, Fond Du Lac; Luke Wollenberg, Appleton; Mason Calmes, Freedom; Grant Gilbert, Hortonville; Owen Voight, Shiocton; Quintin Calmes, Freedom; Kyle Quella, Appleton;
SEMI-FEATURE – Kevin Johansen, Appleton
HEATS 1) Blake Vandehey, Appleton; Grant Gilbert, Hortonville 2) Voight; Fickel 3) Van Handel; Mason Calmes
FAST TIME – Mason Calmes, 16-525
SIZZLIN’ 4 FEATURE – Marty Cmejla, Sherwood; Justin Fickel, Neenah; Beth Craig, Appleton; Mason Hungerford, Freedom; Billy Schommer, Kaukauna; Jeremy Czarapata, Krakow; Rylin Volovsek, Freedom; Cody Vandenberg, Appleton; Bella Schulte, Seymour; Kaiden Volovsek, Freedom; Scott Griesbach, Combined Locks; Andy Wiese, Greenville;JessAaron Bauer, Kaukauna; Jeff Wohlrabe; Tyler Veldman, Kaukauna; Cole Trudeau, Kaukauna; Jacoby Pollei, Appleton; Chase Thomson, Neenah; Brandi Skeens, Menasha; George Bollinger, Kaukauna; Jesse Nettekoven, Menasha; Connor McCormick, Darboy
HEATS 1) Scott Griesbach; Bauer 2) Cmejla; Craig 3) Czarapata; Schommer
FAST TIME – Justin Fickel, 17-660
FIGURE 8 FEATURE – Ethan Beattie, Kaukauna; Craig Krueger, Little Chute; Willy Van Camp, Appleton; Matthew Bauer, Kaukauna; Peter Wilz, Menasha; Donny Van Camp, Appleton; Josh Anthony, Larsen (DNS); Mitchel Opsahl, Appleton (DQ)