The Scoop
JORDAN GRACYALNY AND THE STORY BEHIND “STINKY PINK”
Posted on: Friday June 2, 2023
Third-generation racer Jordan Gracyalny poses with “Stinky Pink” at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
The car dubbed “Stinky Pink” has endured multiple wrecks and has no less than 19 front stubs welded back on during its 17-year career on the local dirt and asphalt tracks.
And it’s third-generation racer Jordan Gracyalny who’s the driving force behind keeping ‘Ol “Stinky Pink” alive and well racing in the Figure 8 class on Thursday nights at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
Jordan is the 24-year-old son of WIR racing legend Danny Gracyalny. Jordan, along with his brother Cole, have earned a reputation as being the “go to guys” to straighten out a bent racing chassis and get the stock cars back on track.
2023 marked the first time Jordan raced a rear wheeled drive car and of course of all things racing “Stinky Pink” with the Figure 8’s. “I actually started racing 4 cylinders on dirt when I was 12 years old at 141 Speedway,” Gracyalny recalled. Jordan would race for a few years on the dirt including at Gravity Park USA in Chilton where he earned a 3rd place point finish during his rookie campaign.
However, “Stinky Pink” with Danny behind the wheel was racing on Francis Creek pavement well before 141 was converted to dirt for the 2010 season. A fun fact is that Danny Gracyalny has the distinction of being the driver who wheeled the last lap on 141’s pavement before it was tore up following the 2009 season.
“Stinky Pink” has been a fixture of sorts on the local racing circuit and as an added oddity the car has been a proven winner on both dirt and pavement. With Danny behind the wheel “Stinky Pink” was a championship car five times alone in 2010. That year Gracyalny won WIR’s Red, White and Blue state title, the weekly, Thursday night WIR crown and dirt street stock championships at 141, Luxemburg and Seymour Speedways all in the same year.
With Danny Gracyalny behind the wheel, “Stinky Pink” won five track titles on dirt and asphalt in 2010.
Taking a look at the lineage of “Stinky Pink” the car itself raced out of the Czarapata stables in the mid 2000’s as a street stock. From there the car was sold to Mike Woodke who would later sell it to Danny Gracyalny.
However it was a bad Figure 8 wreck in WIR’s often unforgiving X that pushed Gracyalny to finish the “Stinky Pink.” “Dad got hurt really bad when he collided with Kenny Van Wychen in the X one night,” Jordan recalled. “He suffered a broken shoulder blade. The story goes that dad popped a tire and got back to the pit. Got out of the car and changed his own tire. Well, when he went out to finish the Figure 8 race his belts weren’t tightened enough. He held it wide open, and that wreck occurred.”
It was during that medically dictated ‘hiatus’ from racing that Danny decided to rebuild “Stinky Pink” and return to the track. “When I was a kid, I had a big wheel I’d buzz around dad’s shop with,” Jordan recalled. “That’s when dad had two dirt late models, one black and one white. The cars were identical other than the colors. Dad had these reversible aluminum lug nuts. Well, I’d carry the impact wrench around and I actually burned the lug nuts and studs off those cars before they ever saw the track.”
During the first year of 141’s surface being dirt, the track had a significant rut in turn three that was tough to get rid of. “I remember that car really took a beating there that first year,” Jordan recalled. “When the car would hit that rut it would actually push the frame every time it would bottom out.” As a result, according to Jordan they would put “Stinky Pink” back on the frame rack every couple of weeks to get it straightened back out.”
Ironically, Jordan claims his dad recalled that hitting the rut actually helped turn the car and set it up for exit onto the front straightaway.
Since “Stinky Pink” has been in the Gracyalny family the car has been re-stubbed no less than 19 times in 17 years.
In 2023, “Stinky Pink” often rolls over the scales nearly 600 lbs. heavier than she needs to be. It’s added weight has prompted some folks to dub it the “Lead Sled” instead of “Stinky Pink.” “She scales at close to 3,800 lbs. with the driver sitting in it,” Jordan explained. “This car has been through a lot, and we’ve actually got a tally mark on the frame rail every time a new front stub is put on. She’s old and heavy. Most of these metric cars we race against are weighing in at 3,150 lbs.”
According to Jordan, two rules are enforced with “Stinky Pink.” One: The car must stay pink in color and Two: When it’s racing in the Figure 8 class you cannot stop at the X.
Jordan is aware there may come a time to retire “Stinky Pink”, but it won’t be anytime soon if he can help it. “We’re having fun and our friend the late Terry Van Roy always said winning is when you’re having fun,” Jordan explained. “If you get a trophy at the end of the night that’s just considered a bonus. And if you’re not having fun racing than you might as well not even do it.”
When that day comes to put “Stinky Pink” out of commission, Jordan said they will likely put the old girl in front of Grandma Sharon’s house as a permanent lawn ornament.
Once “Stinky Pink” is retired from racing, Jordan Gracyalny says she’ll be retired as an ornament in Grandma Sharon’s front yard.
When he’s not racing Jordan stays busy with brother Cole running Auto Body Specialists in a three-way partnership with Danny. “It’s the old Mike’s Cycle Shop building and we’ve been there for about eight years now,” Jordan said. “We pulled more than 100 chassis that needed straightening last year. It meant a lot of sleepless nights, but my wife Hannah wasn’t scared off. We got married last year.”
In fact, the Gracyalny’s recently got some well viewed video time through the popular “Hot Karl” video from their shop with their chassis repair skills. “I can’t thank my wife Hannah and my dad for supporting me in racing and to help keep “Stinky Pink” up and running,” Jordan explained.
The team of sponsors who assist with “Stinky Pink” include Ken’s Sports, Hometown Pub, Prime Time Bar and Grill, Fox Cities Towing, Van Handel Auto Body, Hot Karl Chassis, Auto Body Specialists, 4M Machine, Al Dix Concrete, Gessler Automotive, Watters Plumbing and Hank and Karen’s Bar and Grill.