The Scoop
TOO HOT TO RACE?
Posted on: Monday June 23, 2025
In short track racing, promoters are at the mercy of Mother Nature in many ways.
That four letter word that begins with “R” and ends with “N” is the nemesis virtually all of the time. In the early Spring races in the Midwest, sometimes snow can factor in.
It’s not often that heat is a reason for a track promoter to pull the pin. But that’s exactly what occurred this past weekend. A number of tracks pulled the pin (some even two days prior) because of projected high heat indexes. Temps soared well into the ’90’s over the weekend. Combined with high humidity, it made things at a minimum darn uncomfortable and one could argue even potentially unsafe for fans, track staff members and the drivers and crews.
Dells Raceway Park, Slinger Super Speedway, Wilmot Raceway and Jefferson Speedway were among at least four Wisconsin tracks who pulled the pin on this past weekend’s racing activities.
On the surface, some keyboard warriors might sit back and say the track promoters are “soft” or the chorus of Generation X’ers (my age) chiming in with some not-so-nice comments about what a bunch of sissies we’ve turned into – and so on and so forth. I get it, and at times I’ll admit I’ve been that cranky old bastard myself.
Well folks, I can definitely see both sides of the deal here. I’ve got some news for ya’ll. Running a race track these days – it’s not nearly as profitable of a venture as it was 25 or 30 years ago. As I’ve always discussed in many of these columns, our sport’s base of hardcore, racefans is literally dying off and in many instances, they aren’t getting replaced with the younger generations.
NOBODY is getting the crowds we enjoyed at race tracks in the ’70’s, ’80’s and I’d argue even into the ’90’s. Therefore, in many cases the profit margins many of these track promoters have are razor thin, at best.
And then there is the online streaming factor. Anyone who’s read my columns over the years know’s my stance on this. I personally am not a fan of them. I have absolutely nothing against the multiple online streaming services most tracks and series employ these days. And I also understand they are likely here to stay. It’s just not my gig, and never will be (You’ve got to be there IMO.)
If a fan who may be in his or her ’60’s or older, perhaps not in the best of health, and has a subscription to “insert your favorite streaming service in here” why WOULD THEY choose to sit out in the brutal heat and humidity when they can watch the races on their mobile device?
My point here is I truly understand why some promoters did choose to pull the pin. If as a promoter you run the risk of having people stay home and even race teams (I saw quite a few race teams that posted on FB that “Because of the heat we won’t be racing this weekend blah blah blah) I can’t blame a short track promoter for canceling. With all the overhead involved with running a race program these tracks have, could canceling because of hot weather become a convenient, veiled excuse for potentially smaller attendance numbers?
I don’t know. Wilmot Raceway, for example, canceled their races on Saturday due to the heat. But on Sunday, they hosted a rodeo at the fairgrounds. Is it comparing apples to oranges? Perhaps it is.
IMCA stock car veteran Jeremy Christians of Horicon snatched the $2,500 top prize by winning the IMCA stock car feature at Shawano Speedway Saturday. The win also was the 114th career, IMCA sanctioned win of his career. Friday night at Luxy Raceway in Luxemburg, Algoma’s Todd “Felix” Dart won his 85th career feature flag in IMCA modified competition. Ellisville’s Bob Waechter was inducted into the track’s Hall of Fame during a ceremony by veteran track announcer Tom Wagner. Last Tuesday night at Eagle River Speedway, Pulaski veteran “Hot Rod” Snellenberger notched career win No. 230 in IMCA stock car competition.
Among 1st time feature winners over the weekend in the region were Gresham’s Charlie Hoffman (Eagle River Speedway, B mod) and Trevin Veeser (Luxy Raceway, IMCA northern sportmod).
OUTAGAMIE LATE MODEL $$$ – Thanks in part to sponsorship from Suebert Calf Ranches, late models at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour will be battling for a double purse on Friday, July 27. The race will be run during the Outagamie County Fair. IMCA modifieds, northern sportmods & sport compacts will round out the show. Action gets underway at 6:30 p.m. in Seymour. Watch the track’s Facebook page this week for announcements for special event pricing for this Fair race.
BUSCH SHOOTOUT AT THE HILL – It will be the street stocks turn to shine at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay as the Busch Shootout for streets will take place Saturday, June 28. Vintage modifieds will also be a part of the show with the track’s other regular divisions at John Miles Park. The hammer drops at 6 p.m.
FIREWORKS AT 141 – A massive fireworks display will cap off the night of racing at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek Saturday, June 28. The first green flag flies at 6 p.m. The track recently announced they have added a Saturday, July 5 “Blast Into Cash” special event at the speedway. $2,000-to-win top prizes will be on the line in the IMCA modified and stock car divisions. IMCA northern sportmods will scrap for a $1,000 top prize while the Unified Dirt street stocks will race for $750-to-win and sport compacts will race for a $500 top prize.
EAGLE RIVER BIKES – The annual kid’s bike giveaway will take place this Tuesday, June 24 at Eagle River Speedway in Eagle River, Wisconsin. The track’s regular show will be in play, including USRA late models, IMCA stock cars, B mods, street stocks, 600 and 300 micro sprints. The first green flag flies at 7 p.m. at the third-mile, clay oval.
SHAWANO SPEEDWAY – The Shawano Speedway Mighty 4’s will race for a $500 top prize Saturday, June 28 at Shawano Speedway. All of the track’s other divisions will be in action at the half-mile, clay oval beginning at 6 p.m.
PAVEMENT PONDERINGS – Before winning the Norway 100 Midwest Tour super late model feature at Norway (MI) Speedway last Saturday, Florida native Dalton Zehr smashed the track record at the third-mile, paved oval with a blistering lap of 14.125. Appleton’s Andy Monday finished fourth, with Norway’s Joey Pontbriand placing highest among the local drivers with a 6th place finish.
23 super late models were in attendance. The Midwest Tour’s next stop will be Saturday, July 12 at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
MARSHFIELD TRUCK LEFTOVERS – Appleton’s Brandon Reichenberger placed third in the Hub City 50 Midwest Truck Series event at Marshfield Motor Speedway Saturday. The win went to Alsip, Illinois driver Clayton Curts. The next series event is scheduled for Sunday, July 6 for the Prelude to the Nationals 60 at Slinger Super Speedway.
TUNDRA TIME – The TUNDRA super late model series rolls into Dells Raceway Park Saturday July 5 for the North American Cup. Fireworks will cap off the show at the third-mile, paved oval. Check out tundrasuperlates.com for additional information.
WIR – The Rob Vandermoss Memorial sport truck race will be run Thursday, June 26 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna during Veteran’s Night at the races. The ¼ mile late models will be in action with the rest of the Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) classes. The hammer drops at 6:30 p.m.
KARTING KORNER – GSR Kartway in Clintonville will host AMA D 16 Flat Track Motorcycle races at their eighth-mile, clay oval June 28 and 29. Racing gets underway at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park in Cecil hosts a kid’s candy drop as part of the regular racing program Sunday, June 29. The karting program, sponsored by Fox Communities Credit Union, kicks off at 2 p.m.
Order your copy of “Racing In The 906” by clicking on the “books” tab on the upper left corner of this website!
A reminder our fundraiser for Easton Winling continues through the end of June. All profits from the “Racing In The 906” book will go towards helping this young man out who was injured in a wreck at Escanaba Motor Speedway a few weeks back.
At any rate, get out and support your local track in person whenever you can this coming week!
2025 REGIONAL DIRT TRACK FEATURE WINNERS (as of 6/22/25)
(Tracks included, but not limited to: Outagamie Speedway, Gravity Park USA, Luxy Raceway, 141 Speedway, The Hill Raceway, Plymouth Dirt Track & Shawano Speedway. We’ll also include feature wins by N.E. Wisconsin drivers scored at other tracks, including out-of-state and series victories. These include both IMCA sanctioned & non-sanctioned wins)
LATE MODELS
Nick Anvelink 2
Mike Mullen 2
Andy Karl 2
Troy Springborn 1
Taylor Scheffler 1
Lukas Postl 1
Joel Bennett 1
Mitch McGrath 1
Brett Swedberg 1
IMCA MODIFIEDS
Benji LaCrosse 4
Johnny Whitman 4
Matt Klenz 2
Tanner Janke 2
Joel Seegert 2
Konnor Wilinski 2
Cole Czarneski 2
Ethan Braaksma 2 (141 Clash)
Jesse Cullen 2
Todd Dart 2
Lucas Lamberies 2
Race Van Pay 2
Marcus Hoeppner 1
Tony Wedelstadt 1
Geoff Jeche 1
Mike Wedelstadt 1
Brian Mullen 1
Kevin Feck 1
Steve Schneider 1
Jayden Schmidt 1
IMCA STOCK CARS
Tyle Wilson 7
Cole Czarneski 5
Mike Mullen 4
Jeremy Christians 4
Benji LaCrosse 3
Luke Lemmens 2
Mark Hoeppner 2
Nick Buckarma 1
Trent Nolan 1
Brandon Schmitt 1
Phil Mott 1
Trentin Bell 1
Tyler Schrimpf 1
R.M. Van Pay 1
Nate Michonski 1
Caden LeMieux 1
Rod Snellenberger 1
Marcus Yarie 1
Devin Snellenberger 1
Shannon Guelette 1
Shawn Kilgore 1
IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMODS
Coy Vlies 3
Brian Konitzer 3
Tim Warner 2
Jake Carpenter 2
Ryan Schmidt 2
Tommy Rindt 2
Max Oreskovich 2
Brady Harshbarger 2
Cole Slezewski 2
Cory Kemkes 1
Dustin White 1
Cole Thomas 1
Jordan Jahnke 1
Jim Zdroik 1
Jeffery Teske 1
Spencer Long 1
AJ Springborn 1
Cole Magnin 1
Jay Schaalma 1
Craig Dorner 1
Travis Schmidt 1
Robert Wittkopf 1
Nick Kresbach 1
Tim Jorgenson 1
Colton See 1
Dylan Schmidt 1
Bernie Reinhardt 1
Jared Spaulding 1
Trevin Veeser 1
Matt Urban 1
UNIFIED DIRT STREET STOCKS
Paul Diefenthaler 5
Derek Moede 3
Trey Van Straten 3
Ryan Sullivan 2
Shannon Guelette 2
Jeff Richards 2
Mark Hoeppner 2
Cory Romenesko 1
Austin Steinke 1
Jason Piron 1
Danny Gracyalny 1 (Eagle River)
Garrett Geyer 1
Phillip Wuesthoff 1
Kyle Gennett 1
Dave DeGrave 1
Jacob Ambrosius 1
GRAND NATIONALS
Jeff Richards 5
Jeff Muehlbauer 2
Jake Richards 2
Brian Gilles 1
Maverick Ruh 1
Tyler Wilson 1
FOUR CYLINDERS/IMCA SPORT COMPACTS
James Reese 5
Brian Watzka Jr. 5
Adam Broehm 3
Dalton Nelson 2
Cody Booth 2
Thomas Schulte 2
Brad Wedde 2
Shaun Bangart 2
Skylar Bork 2
Seth Collar 1
Ben Schulte 1
Clint Malueg 1
Missy Clark 1
Chase Ertel 1
Tanner Westphal 1
Brett Deprez 1
Jeffrey Meyer 1
Scott Schlafke 1
Scott Blanke 1