The Scoop
TRACKING ALL TIME STURGEON BAY WINNERS INTO ’25
Posted on: Friday March 21, 2025
Tom Wagner (right) poses with former Sturgeon Bay track announcers Ed Anschutz (left) and the late Fritz Van (middle). (danlewisphoto.net)
It’s not often in motorsports where someone takes the proverbial “bull-by-the-horns” and makes a conscious decision to keep track of statistics year after year.
Luckily in Door County, veteran track announcer and track historian Tom Wagner has kept meticulous records of the action at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay since the track reopened in 1993 under the direction of Rick Ledvina and Carolyn Tordeur.
Wagner has kept records of not only feature winners, but track champions over the years. If there’s a quirky detail about the action at the third-mile, clay oval located at John Miles Park, Odds are Wagner will have recorded it.
Granted, it’s been a while since the races were run every single Saturday night during the summer. That makes tallying up those numbers maybe less “burdensome” if you will. Nonetheless, Wagner’s attention to details reveals a lot of good tidbits that every race fan can enjoy.
The first night of the reopening of the track was May 1, 1993. The three feature winners that evening were Brian Waechter (IMCA modified), “Chargin’ Charlie” Kroll (IMCA stock car) and Jerry “Hot Dog” Kroll (street stock). Heading into the 2025 season, Charlie Kroll sits 2nd in all-time feature wins (51) second only to his friend Todd “Felix” Dart (64).
According to Wagner, the fifth feature run in 2025 will be the 2,000th feature race the modified class has run since the track began hosting the popular open-wheel, division. Those numbers include both IMCA sanctioned, non-sanctioned and a pair of United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) races in 2005 and 2006, respectively under promoter Bryan “Woody” Wodack.
In his detailed notes, Wagner pointed out that since ’93, 330 different drivers have scored feature wins in what Wagner dubbed the “core” divisions.
One of those core classes over the years have been the street stocks. According to Wagner, if weather cooperates the street stock feature that is scheduled to be run on May 25 this year will be the 2,000th main event run for that division.
Late models will make an appearance for the first time in decades in 2025. Multi-time Dirt Kings Tour champion Nick Anvelink of Navarino won the last late model feature that was run during the Door County Fair. The late models will make their appearance with the Dirt Kings Tour on Thursday, August 14 to kick off the Door County Fair.
Hometown racer Bernie Reinhardt remains The Hill’s true “ironman.” Reinhardt has made 430 consecutive races since 1993. (danlewisphoto.net)
THE STREAK – Hometown driver Bernie Reinhardt hasn’t missed a race at the Sturgeon Bay oval since it reopened in 1993. The sportmod driver has competed in 430 straight nights of racing, without missing even one!
However, that streak may be in jeopardy heading into the new year. And he’s got an important reason, too. The night of the scheduled opener, Reinhardt has plans to attend his daughter’s college graduation.
So if it rains out, the famous “streak” may be in jeopardy. Rain or shine, hats off to Reinhardt on his commitment to racing in Sturgeon Bay!
The season opening race at the Sturgeon Bay oval is scheduled for Saturday, May 17 at 6 p.m. You can check out the track’s Facebook page for additional information, including the season’s schedule.