The Scoop
TRACKING WISCONSIN’S ALL-TIME IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD WINNERS
Posted on: Friday December 26, 2025
The late Tracy Wassenberg sits atop Wisconsin’s all-time IMCA northern sportmod winners list with 58 career victories. (seeking photo credit)
The IMCA northern sportmods are roughly 20 years old in northeastern Wisconsin. Shawano Speedway was the 1st track to introduce the class, and it didn’t take long and pretty much every other local dirt track followed suit.
The concept or idea was for driver’s to drag out those older, modified chassis that may have been laying around and making it sort of a “poor man’s modified.”
While that concept of a true “poor man’s” modified can be debated until the cows come home, one fact that cannot be argued is that Shawano’s Tracy Wassenberg was the undisputed “Dean” of the division for many seasons in northeastern Wisconsin. The racing world lost Wassenberg back in August of 2024. At the time of his passing, Wassenberg had already dominated the sport in the greater Green Bay area, chalking up 58 sanctioned wins. Wassenberg also captured the IMCA Super Nationals at Boone (IA) Speedway in 2007.
With the top 20 in all-time Wisconsin winners, very few drivers remain active in the division. Hazel Green’s Jason Roth, who races in both Wisconsin and Iowa, remains tied for 2nd with Clintonville’s Lucas Lamberies with 49 victories apiece, respectively.
“Dr. Love” Chris Budzban poses next to his IMCA northern sportmod at Resch Center in Green Bay in April, 2025.
Lamberies moved up to the IMCA modified division a few seasons ago. Oneida’s Tim Jorgenson, a former state champion in the division, returned to the class after taking some years off. Luxemburg native Chris Budzban remains the stalwart of the class heading into 2026, although like many other local racers, Budzban has curtailed his weekly racing and chases special events instead. Heading into 2026, Budzban sits 10th in overall wins in the division.
Many other racers in the current top 20 have either moved onto other divisions or some have retired altogether.
Thanks to IMCA’s Ben Deatherage for his help in providing these statistics.
WISCONSIN’S ALL-TIME IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD FEATURE WINNERS
Tracy Wassenberg- 58
Lucas Lamberies- 49
Jason Roth- 49
Tim Jorgenson- 39
Brad Lautenbach- 36
Troy Jerovetz- 27
Jayden Schmidt- 26
Jeremy Cota- 24
Travis Van Straten- 23
Chris Budzban- 21
Josh Long- 20
Jeffery Teske- 20
Eric Arneson- 19
Eugene Gregorich Sr.- 19
Ryan LeMieux- 19
Jeff Schmuhl- 18
Jordan Barkholtz- 17
Jordan Bartz- 17
Tyler Sobiesczyk- 17
Vince Engebregsten- 15
Cody Schroeder- 15