The Scoop
USRA LATE MODELS – A PERFECT FIT FOR EAGLE RIVER SPEEDWAY
Posted on: Thursday November 6, 2025
Hermantown, Minnesota’s Cade Nelson earned six feature wins en route to winning his 3rd USRA national late model crown.
It’s safe to say Eagle River Speedway hit a home run when it picked up United States Racing Association (USRA) sanctioning for the late model division for it’s weekly, Tuesday night shows in 2025.
The division was added to the Northwoods, third-mile, clay oval in 2020. Until last year, the class remained stagnant, maintaining lower, single digit car counts most nights.
Car counts increased steadily from 2024. Eagle River Speedway averaged just under 14 USRA late models per night in 2025. That number is close to double what the track averaged in past seasons. On all but one of the nights, the division enjoyed double digit car counts.
35 drivers from three states (Wisconsin, Michigan & Minnesota) earned points in ’25 action. 29 from Wisconsin, five from Minnesota and one from (Upper) Michigan. Seven different drivers representing all three states found victory lane in ’25. The number of driver’s who found the track’s Auto Value winner’s circle was exactly 20 percent (or one-in-five) drivers. So there was some parity within the division, too.
In short, the track’s class has come a long ways from when it hosted four machines during it’s debut five seasons ago. Weekly racing has struggled to keep drivers who are able to make shows every single week. Therefore, it’s essential that the proverbial ‘pool-of-cars” is stout enough where you can afford to have drivers miss a few nights here and there, for one reason or another.
The USRA late model rules package showcases affordable motor options with either the 602 or 604 crate motor. Another option is essentially a B modified or Midwest Modified type powerplant under the hood. The tires utilized are the McCreary American Racer, which are designed to last more than one night. And the shock package? It’s still much more affordable than say a WISSOTA/Dirt Kings or World of Outlaws or Lucas Oils type of car.
“(Adding the USRA sanctioning) made things pretty competitive and exciting,” said track promoter Pat Zdroik. “We’ve got more locals who have been inquiring about the division.”
During the first few years, Zdroik stuck to his guns with keeping the late model class, despite single digit car counts most nights. “I stuck with it, as I knew it would eventually come around,” Zdroik said. “I guess I’m stubborn. But, this class has really turned into a fan favorite at our Tuesday night track. And, it’s a different looking division than anything else we run here.”
What evolved as the weeks went on was a spirited rivalry, pitting the locals from the Eagle River/Tomahawk/Rhinelander area against the western Wisconsin/Minnesota travelers. On a mid-summer night, when local Zack Friske nipped the up-and-coming hotshoe and three time USRA national champion Cade Nelson from Hermantown, Minnesota, the partisan crowd went nuts. It was a true David-versus -Goliath triumph for Friske, who beat Nelson with what many considered a very much a low-dollar race car.
“The (USRA) sanctioning sure did help as the class was very competitive,” Friske said. “It seems like most guys can get a competitive car for close to $15,000 so it’s a more affordable late model. Most are for sale turnkey for between 13 and 15 grand. So it’s relatively affordable.”
EAGLE RIVER SPEEDWAY USRA LATE MODEL CHAMPION LUCAS PETERSON.
Stockholm, Wisconsin’s Lucas Peterson earned three feature wins en route to his 2025 track championship.
“Eagle River going with the (USRA) sanctioning was a good call, because it drew Jason (McFadden) and I there weekly,” said Peterson, who also placed second in USRA’s national points. “I fell in love with that track. We’ll definitely be back next year. Not sure if we’ll make every week, but we will do our best.”
Peterson earned a $700 point fund check for his second place finish in the national standings. Nelson earned a $1,000 payday for winning the national crown. Nelson was propelled by his six ERS victories, which most certainly served up a well-needed boost in the national title chase. In short, if a driver wants to earn a USRA national late model title, one must make some Tuesday night trips to Eagle River.
Wyoming, Minnesota’s Pat Kelley has stepped up to sort of become the ambassador for this USRA late models. Despite living four hours from Eagle River, the updated facilities and track prep prompted Kelley to make a handful of trips east. “It’s such a nice facility, and if a driver wants to win a national title you pretty much have to make some trips there,” said Kelley, who manages the division’s Facebook page. “The track layout itself is very challenging, and unlike anything else I have ever raced.”
Open trailer racer Dave Bennett of Eagle River earned one solo clean sweep in USRA late model action at Eagle River Speedway in 2025.
Eagle River’s Dave Bennett: “Adding the USRA sanctioning really made all of us step up our games collectively. And this sanctioning also allowed me as a driver to go travel to and compete at some new tracks, so that was pretty cool. And it’s fairly affordable, still. A driver can wheel a gently used race car between 12 and 15 thousand. But in 2025 we saw four brand new Longhorns, one new Rocket and one new Victory by Moyer chassis race there. Some feel they need to run the newest cars out there. I smile when I think about how I remain competitive and what I have stuck in my car compared to theirs.”
Twin Lakes, Michigan’s Jesse Aho: “I think the added competition with the USRA sanctioning not only brought the car counts up, it also boosted the level of talent. I was able to win five late model features in 14 outings since joining the class. I’m retiring now (102 career feature wins) and am passing to torch to my son Cooper Aho. Cooper won the Jr. Sprint title here, and will be 14 next spring. Carter will continue to race next year, as will our youngest son Blake. All three Aho’s will keep the family tradition running in 2026 and beyond.”
After a storied career with 102 career feature wins, Twin Lakes, Michigan’s Jesse Aho has retired. He will pass the torch to his son Cooper Aho, who will race the Longhorn chassis in 2026.
Compared to other tracks that host dirt late models, a USRA purse doesn’t necessarily break the bank for a track promoter. Eagle River pays $400 to the winner, similar to what other tracks that host the division pay out. Other Wisconsin tracks that host the class weekly in 2026 will be Red Cedar Speedway in Menominee. Cedar Lake Speedway has run the division as well, along with Rice Lake Speedway and Gondik Law Speedway (Superior) has hosted the division as has Mississippi Thunder Speedway (MTS) in the past.
Closer to home, TNT Speedway, located less than one-half hour from Eagle River in nearby Three Lakes, has hosted the class on special occasions. Look for continued growth in the USRA late models at Eagle River Speedway in 2026 and beyond.
2025 FINAL USRA LATE MODEL POINT STANDINGS, EAGLE RIVER (WI) SPEEDWAY
Lucas Peterson, Stockholm, WI 1193
Jason McFadden Jim Falls, WI 1117
David Bennett, Eagle River, WI 1016
Zack Friske, Tomahawk, WI 991
Todd Gorny, Eagle River, WI 843
Cade Nelson, Hermantown, MN 786
Chad Lederer, Conover, WI 734
Jesse Aho, Twin Lakes, MI 679
Aaron Reivitis, Shawano, WI 654
Jason Zdroik, Eagle River, WI 586
Jeff Thomas, Eagle River, WI 546
Travis Friske, Tomahawk, WI 487
Guy Carley, Eagle River, WI 446
Dan Zelten, Three Lakes, WI 420
Hoyt Cournoyer, Pittsville, WI 369
Jarrid Curtin, Shawano, WI 323
Josh Nevoraski, Lake Tomahawk, WI 305
Brent Mindock, Prentice, WI 300
Cooper Sundby, Menominee, WI 263
Mike Boyd, St. Germain, WI 261
Patrick Kelley, Wyoming, MN 152
Clayton Hofteig, Elk River, MN 138
Bill Marcis, Wausau, WI 128
Dustin White, Eagle River, WI 109
Josh Wahlstrom, Rice Lake, WI 95
Kory Ressie, Alma, WI 84
Chad Prissel, Rock Falls, WI 78
Chris Plasky, St. Germain, WI 74
Reginald Felzkowski, Prentice, WI 72
Larry Fitzsimmons, East Bethel, MN 70
Tyler Stargardt, Marshfield, WI 68
Steven O’Brien Jr., Red Wing, MN 68
Todd Green, Eau Claire, WI 66
Ron Hanestad, Glenwood City, WI 66
Jim Zdroik, Hartford, WI 64
DRIVERS WHO EARNED ERS USRA LATE MODEL FEATURE WINS IN 2025
Cade Nelson 6
Lucas Peterson 3
Travis Friske 1
Dave Bennett 1
Zack Friske 1
Jason McFadden 1
Jesse Aho 1