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THIEL WINS WITH SIPPEL IN EAGLE RIVER – KELLEY NABS 1ST USRA LM MAIN HERE
Posted on: Sunday July 5, 2026
Car owner Randy Sippel (left) poses with “Big Wheel” Scotty Thiel after Thiel’s MSA sprint car win at Eagle River Speedway July 4 (MSA sprints)
ATTENTION SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THIEL WINS MSA SPRINTS WITH SIPPEL – KELLEY NABS 1ST CAREER USRA LATE MODEL MAIN by Pedal Down Promotions
(EAGLE RIVER, WI) July 4, 2026 – In his first MMW Industrial Supply Midwest Sprint Car Association start of the 2026 season, Scotty Thiel of Sheboygan, Wis., drove to a convincing victory in the caution-free 25-lap main event to highlight the MSA’s fourth annual appearance at Eagle River Speedway in Eagle River, Wis., on Saturday, July 4.
After rolling off from the outside of the front row, Thiel dueled side by side with polesitter Katelyn Krebsbach of Johnsburg, Wis., on the opening circuit before inching ahead to lead the opening lap.
Krebsbach battled back along the low groove, entering turn one on lap 2, but the high-riding Thiel seized control of the top spot exiting turn two. Thiel wasted little time in building up a solid cushion over Krebsbach before catching up to the rear of the field on lap 7.
Thiel, who began his Sprint Car racing career with the MSA in 2008, didn’t allow lapped traffic to hinder his pace as he sliced his way through the back of the pack with precision to build a full straightaway advantage just past the halfway point.
On lap 15, 2025 Plymouth Dirt Track Racing 360 Sprint Car champion Kevin Karnitz of West Bend, who started third, slipped past Krebsbach to take over second amongst thick lapped traffic.
Three laps later, Chris Clayton of Waldo used his familiar low line to grab third. Clayton then pulled up to challenge Karnitz for second as the laps wound down, but he was unable to snag the spot.
Meanwhile, Thiel cruised to his 16th career MSA A-main victory in the non-stop contest. Karnitz came home second, Clayton was third, eighth starter T.J. Smith of Greenville took fourth, and Carter Chevalier of Andover, Minn., who started fourth, rounded out the top five.
In victory lane, Thiel credited his car owner, Randy Sippel, with whom he has enjoyed plenty of success in limited MSA starts.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” Thiel said. “It’s always a pleasure to drive Randy’s cars. This win means more than any other we’ve had together. He lost his dad this week. We made some changes before the feature, and the car felt great.”
Wyoming, Minnesota’s Pat Kelley scored his first career USRA late model win at Eagle River Speedway July 4. (Castle Creations)
Wyoming, Minnesota’s Pat Kelley squeezed inside of Lucas Peterson to grab the lead on lap eight, and went on to capture his first career USRA late model feature here.
Peterson lept into the lead from his pole position in the 20-lap contest. Peterson had begun to build up a cushion when a caution flew for a Todd Gorny spin on lap three. With the field tightened on the restart, Kelley kept Peterson in his sights while running in second. Kelley ducked underneath Peterson coming out of corner four to take the lead on lap eight.
The Minnesotan slowly built up a comfortable cushion over the balance of the field, and cruised to victory. It was Kelley’s first here of the year.
Peterson was nipped at the checkers by inches Jason Zdroik, who took second. Chad Lederer and Jason McFadden finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Polesitter Dylan Larsen led every lap en route to winning the 600 micro sprint feature. The first attempt at a start failed when Cornell, Michigan’s Ethan Manninen stalled his mount coming out of turn four.
When the race went green, it stayed green for a balance of the contest. Trailing Larsen at the checkers was Jaxson Peters, Katherine Towne, Jayger Quinn and Oakley Schwantes.
Beaver Dam’s Landon Coombes emerged triumphant in a wild finish in the 300 micro sprint feature.
Coombes led every lap, and on the final circuit, the leader tangled with Wausau’s Bentley Seliger. The white flag had already been displayed, and Coombes was awarded the win. Finishing second through fifth were Parker Ewert, Graham Van Atta, Seliger and Kaides Coombes.
Merrill’s Brian Witberler won the Dairyland Vintage feature.
Racing resumes Tuesday, July 7 as the class dubbed “Too-Tough-To-Tame” the IMCA stock cars will take center stage. cars roll into the speedway. A full program with our other weekly divisions is also on tap. Racing starts at 7:00 p.m. For more information check out the track’s Facebook page.
RACE SUMMARY
A Main (25 Laps): 1. 33-Scotty Thiel [2]; 2. 63K-Kevin Karnitz [3]; 3. 2-Chris Clayton [7]; 4. 69S-TJ Smith [8]; 5. 15-Carter Chevalier [4]; 6. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach [1]; 7. 35-Ben Schmidt [9]; 8. 6K-Kurt Davis [6]; 9. 22B-Brandon Berth [5]; 10. 5S-Chad Stouthamer [11]; 11. 24X-Eric Wilke [12]; 12. 68T-Tyler Davis [14]; 13. 69W-Shane Wenninger [15]; 14. 11-Tony Wondra [10]; 15. 68P-Frank Perko [16]; 16. 69-Bill Taylor [17]; 17. 9C-Cole Stella [20]; 18. 25-Cody Schlafer [13]; 19. 59-Ethon Stear [18]; 20. 55S-Ryan Sawusch [19]; 21. (DNS) 51C-Brok Clifcorn; 22. (DNS) 5-Kevin Seidler
Dash 1 (6 Laps): 1. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach [2]; 2. 33-Scotty Thiel [3]; 3. 63K-Kevin Karnitz [1]; 4. 15-Carter Chevalier [6]; 5. 22B-Brandon Berth [4]; 6. 6K-Kurt Davis [5]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 08-Katelyn Krebsbach [2]; 2. 22B-Brandon Berth [3]; 3. 69S-TJ Smith [4]; 4. 35-Ben Schmidt [5]; 5. 5S-Chad Stouthamer [6]; 6. 9C-Cole Stella [1]; 7. 69-Bill Taylor [7]; 8. 55S-Ryan Sawusch [8]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 33-Scotty Thiel [2]; 2. 15-Carter Chevalier [3]; 3. 2-Chris Clayton [5]; 4. 68T-Tyler Davis [1]; 5. 25-Cody Schlafer [4]; 6. 51C-Brok Clifcorn [6]; 7. (DNF) 5-Kevin Seidler [7]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 63K-Kevin Karnitz [3]; 2. 6K-Kurt Davis [4]; 3. 11-Tony Wondra [2]; 4. 69W-Shane Wenninger [1]; 5. 24X-Eric Wilke [5]; 6. 68P-Frank Perko [6]; 7. 59-Ethon Stear [7]
SWEETWATER USRA LATE MODEL FEATURE – Pat Kelley, Wyoming, MN; Jason Zdroik, Eagle River; Lucas Peterson, Stockholm; Chad Lederer, Conover; Jason McFadden, Jim Falls; Corbyn Wassenberg, Shawano; Josh Zdroik, Greenville; Todd Gorny, Eagle River
HEAT – Peterson; Jason Zdroik
JD PAINTBALL & ARCHERY 600 MICRO SPRINT FEATURE – Dylan Larsen, Shiocton; Jaxson Peters, Waupun; Katherine Towne, Boulder Junction; Jayger Quinn, Gladstone, MI; Oakley Schwantes, Dorchester; Ethan Manninen, Cornell, MI
HEAT – Manninen; Peters
Dan’s Service 300 MICRO SPRINT FEATURE – Landon Coombes, Beaver Dam; Parker Ewert, Eagle River; Graham Van Atta, Eagle River; Bentley Seliger, Wausau; Kaides Coombes, Beaver Dam; Myia Ewert, Eagle River (DNS)
Heats 1) Van Atta; Landon Coombes 2) Parker Ewert; Seliger
Dairyland Vintage feature – Brian Witberler, Merrill; Matt Eder, Merrill; Jeff Shellhorn, Gleason; Dale Williams, Merrill; Chad Lucas, Phelps; Breezy Bobby, Parts Unknown (DNS)
Heat – Witberler; Shellhorn