The Scoop
MAY 22 WEEKEND WRAPUP – ‘TALKIN CAR COUNTS, 10K SPECIALS AND MUCH MORE
Posted on: Monday May 23, 2022
Shawano’s Trent Nolan is all smiles after capturing the IMCA stock car feature win at Shawano Speedway Saturday, May 21.
One of the things I thought about last Saturday night during my one hour and 42 minute commute from Shawano Speedway back home to Dunbar, Wisconsin was car counts. Lack of cars means lack of show essentially. But every track and situation is different.
It seems many these days are comparing Shawano’s car counts to those at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wisconsin. Both tracks are within a county of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
I’ll be the first one to admit wherever I am if there is a race in the region I’ll quickly scan MyRacePass to check out the respective car counts at some tracks nearby.
Last Saturday admittedly Shawano’s car count I’d say was on the lighter-than-normal side. Shawano had 77 entries between five divisions. That equals 15.4 cars per division. That’s a mere two heats in each class with an A main and no B mains. Everybody is in the show.
At 141 they had a whopping 183 entries in six divisions. That comes out to 30.5 cars in each class – more than enough to have a semi-feature (B main, Hooligan, Demo Consi, whatever you want to call it).
The important thing in my humble opinion is the show at 141 had the heat races mean something. Drivers had to race their way into the show. Mind you, Shawano had some pretty good feature finishes. In the IMCA modifieds Lucas Lamberies chased down Jerry Wilinski in the waning laps to collect the feature win.
Hometown driver Brett Swedberg won the late model feature at Shawano Speedway May 21.
Same thing in the late models. Hometown racer Brett Swedberg outfoxed Gunnar Frank to score the feature win.
But there were some names familiar to Shawano not in attendance Saturday. Nick Anvelink of note in the late models. Dan Michonski’s “Flyin’ M” in the stock cars. Marcus Yarie and Wyatt Block in the modifieds (both were at 141).
I don’t feel you need 183 cars for a weekly show. In my opinion that’s almost too many. However, 141 has the luxury of a very seasoned staff and they obviously execute a well-run show or they would not be drawing those kind of back gate numbers. But I think getting car counts in the divisions where you at least have enough cars for a B main to weed out the squirrels should be a realistic goal for Shawano. There are more than enough cars within a one-hour radius of Shawano in a several county area and I feel that is a realistic goal that can be accomplished with a little time and effort.
Those few that were MIA at Shawano (and there were likely a few others – these are the ones who stood out to me) all had their reasons for staying away. Word in the pits was some weren’t happy with calls that were made in previous weeks. Other teams are tired and burned out (already in May) and a few others went to 141.
Whatever the case is if you’re Shawano Speedway, what’s the harm in reaching out to those drivers who aren’t there and at a minimum inquire as to why they are absent? It’s a part of promoting 101 in my opinion. I cannot say if that’s been done or not for the record – simply a suggestion.
Shawano Speedway is a track rich with history and tradition. It’s the lone half-mile remaining from what was once a powerful, Tri-track circuit at fairgrounds ovals in both Shawano, Brown and Outagamie Counties in the 1970s. It’s something different from all the other third-mile ovals we have in northeastern Wisconsin. Shawano was one of the key tracks to kick off the late model explosion in the early 1970s. Standing room only crowds were the norm at Shawano for many, many years.
Times change – I get that. In the pits at Shawano a few had suggested Shawano shorten the half-mile. We covered that story on this website well over a year ago and to this day it remains one of the most viewed. The arguments could be made on both sides. Is the half-mile the sole reason the track is struggling to gain cars in 2022?
Or has it become an excuse for some to stay away?
Have the glut of $5,000-to-win and $10,000-to-win races at other tracks in the region hurt the regular, weekly shows at area tracks? I strongly believe that is another conversation worth having. I love the IMCA stock car division but there is some serious money getting put into those cars these days. Again, looking at the big picture – are those shows overall good for the sport?
Another factor that needs to have a hard look taken at it and that’s the dirt late models. Let’s be brutally honest – dirt late models have struggled to get new blood into their class at Shawano for some time now. Can the division sustain with it’s current rules package? Time will tell I suppose. And the situation isn’t much different at Sheboygan County Fair Park in Plymouth either with regards to the late model class. I mean the Tom Naeyeart’s, Ron Berna’s and Troy Springborns of the world won’t be around forever. (For that matter even Nick Anvelink is considered a true ‘veteran’ in the class).
Whatever the case is I suspect a few things at Shawano could likely be fixed to boost those sagging car counts and they don’t include shortening the track. It was great to return to Shawano and it was great catching up with everyone. Onto other news from the weekend………
New Franken’s Shawn Kilgore scored his 54th career IMCA modified feature win at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Saturday night. Currently Kilgore ranks 9th in all time sanctioned wins amongst Wisconsin drivers. The former IMCA stock car ace is sandwiched between Jared Siefert (58 wins) and Yarie (52 wins).
Fond Du Lac’s Brady Harshbarger had himself a solid weekend. Harshbarger started his racing weekend off by scoring the sportmod feature victory at the quarter-mile bullring at Gravity Park USA in Chilton. Harshbarger followed that up by earning a feature flag in the 34-car field at 141 Speedway.
Four more tracks in Wisconsin and Michigan will open their doors to kick off the 2022 weekly racing seasons.
After getting their scheduled opener rained out May 19, “Thursday Night Thunder” kicks off at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna Thursday night, May 26. Super late models highlight the weekly show, along with late models, super stocks, sport trucks, Sizzlin’ 4’s and Figure 8s. WIR ¼ mile late models also compete on roughly an every-other-week basis.
The action gets underway at 6:45 p.m. The track’s website is frrc.us.
Norway (MI) Speedway opens Friday night, May 27. Time trials start at 5:30 p.m. with the first race of the night getting underway at 7 p.m.
If you’ve never attended a race at Norway, it’s one you should put on your bucket list this summer. It remains one of the most affordable entertainment venues in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Carry Ins are allowed for most weekly races (no glass), making it affordable to bring a family out to the races. Weekly classes include late models, super stocks, stock cars and 4 bangers with sport trucks making several appearances during the year as well.
The best way to follow the track’s activity is through its Facebook page.
Sunday, May 29 will mark the season opening race at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The season opener kicks off with the Nathan Bouche Memorial with the first green flag flying at John Miles Park and 5 p.m. Classes that compete weekly at the third-mile, clay oval includes sportmods, stock cars, street stocks and 4 cylinders. Check out their Facebook page for further information.
To the north Eagle River Speedway’s 2022 season begins with a Sunday night special event May 29 at 6:30 p.m. The track is a D-shaped, third-mile clay oval nestled in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. B modifieds are the track’s weekly headlining division. Other classes that run weekly include ERS late models, stock cars, street stocks, 600 micros and 300 micros.
Eagle River, Wisconsin’s Jason Zdroik will defend both his ERS late model and B modified titles when Eagle River Speedway opens up its 2022 season Sunday, May 29.
Joining the track’s weekly classes on opening night will be the local pure stocks and the Dairyland Vintage racers. The track’s Facebook page is the best way to obtain race day information.
We still have a pair of book signings coming up in the month of June. We are honored to be hosting a signing at The ‘Burg Speedway in Luxemburg Sunday, June 12 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is Rick Goral Memorial night at the track. I had the pleasure of working for Rick and Bobby Dorner all of the years they were promoting the races at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds. Stop by and say hi.
On Saturday, June 25 we’ll return to The Hill in Sturgeon Bay for a signing from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. It’s 2022 Hall of Fame induction night. Inductees for the night will be Red Isaacson, Ray Lemieux, Kevin Sternard and Craig Paque.
We’ll have different book deals at each of our signings so keep an eye on this website and Joe Verdegan’s FB page for updates. Thanks for taking the time to read and remember NOTHING beats being there. Get off your phone, buy a ticket and go attend the races IN PERSON.