The Scoop
TAY & CHARLIE HOFFMAN – SIBLING RIVALRY IN THE SPORTMOD CLASS
Posted on: Wednesday May 20, 2026
17-year-old “Chargin’ Charlie” Hoffman poses next to his IMCA northern sportmod.
Fans can see a true case of “sibling rivalry” in the IMCA northern sportmod division on Saturday nights at Shawano Speedway.
17-year-old “Chargin’ Charlie” Hoffman battles in the same division as his older sister Tay Hoffman not only at Shawano on Saturdays, but at other area dirt ovals on occasion.
For Charlie, the junior at Gresham High School is in his 3rd season in the class. Hoffman has fought a big learning curve along the way. He was able to nail down his first career feature win last summer on a Tuesday night at Eagle River Speedway in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Even with that win, Hoffman readily admits he’ s still got a ways to go. “These last two years it has been a big learning curve,” Charlie explained. “Last year, we had some rough spots. At Shawano, one week the track would be smooth, and the next week it would be rough. Sometimes, that would stress the car out a lot. So far, we’ve been doing pretty good finding the speed we’ve needed this year.”
16-year-old Charlie Hoffman of Gresham led every lap en route to earning his first career B mod feature at Eagle River Speedway June 17, 20225 (Castle Creations)
Like many dirt trackers who live in the Shawano area, Hoffman got his start ice racing on the local lakes in January and February, when Mother Nature cooperates. “That ice is obviously very slick, and you reallly have to work hard to find a smooth line and not spin the tires at all if you can help it,” Charlie said. “That experience really does help you when the dirt tracks get really dry slick. It’s pretty similar to the ice.”
The Hoffman siblings come from a true racing family. The kids dad, Jarod Hoffman, has served as a track official for many years. This year, he is the race director on Sunday afternoons at Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park in Cecil. Their mother, Michelle Hoffman, serves as a scorer on Saturdays at Shawano, and also handles those same chores Sundays at Little Buckaroo as well.
The kids aren’t immune from working at the tracks, either. Both Tay and Charlie serve as corner workers at Little Buckaroo. As such, the kids have a better appreciation for the job(s) that track officials have to perform. “I think sometimes if Charlie and I are in the same heat race, Mom might get a little nervous,” Tay joked. “But truthfully, I prefer it when we do run in separate heats. Mainly because I want to watch my brother race.”
Tay got her start as a youngster, helping out Robbie Maas on his pit crew when he still raced. “Our entire deal is a family affair in racing, as dad also raced both karts and on the ice, too,” Tay explained.
Tay sports the number 7t on her sportmod. “7 has always been my lucky number,” Tay explained. “I add the T because its the 1st letter of my 1st name, and there sometimes can be a lot of number 7’s at some of the tracks we race at.”
Both Charlie and Tay realize that there is no substitute for seat time. That’s why, you’ll see them also race on occasion on a Friday night at Outagamie Speedway, or a Tuesday night at Eagle River Speedway. “We are racing wherever we can, because hitting all these tracks that are different sizes eventually will only make you better,” Tay explained. “We do that because ultimately, it’s our goal to make those $10,000-to-win races. We have to stay competitive. We plan on running at Eagle River for that $10,250-to-win race August 10 and 11. So, we’re going to try and make it up there some Tuesday nights before that at Eagle River.”
When he’s not racing, Charlie remains active in sports at Gresham High, like basketball, soccer and baseball. “I’ve been playing 2nd base mostly, and I’ll pitch sometimes and play in the outfield,” Charlie said. “I’ve got a great baseball coach, and that stuff is a lot of fun, too.”
The Hoffman’s both race SSR chassis. Down the road, however, Charlie may take on a new project when the time is right. Eventually, Charlie may be in line to take over Robbie Maas’ USRA late model, which hasn’t run much at all the past two seasons. “We’re going to stay in the sportmod for now, but the plan is eventually go to 141 some night just to get some practice laps in with that car,” Charlie explained. “That car needs a new body. I did drive that thing one time. But that will be an even bigger learning curve down the road.”
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