The Scoop
VAN OUDENHOVEN TIES TRICKLE IN WIR ALL TIME WINS – WEEKEND WRAPUP & UPDATED REGIONAL DIRT TOTALS
Posted on: Sunday May 21, 2023
With his opening night WIR win, Appleton veteran Jeff Van Oudenhoven tied Dick Trickle in all time WIR feature wins at 58. Trickle and JVO sit tied at sixth behind “Hot Rod” Wheeler.” (Veronica Fannan photo)
(credit goes to Robert Schafer for keeping tabs of these all time WIR wins)
With his opening night super late model feature win at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin Appleton veteran Jeff Van Oudenhoven tied legendary Dick Trickle with 58 career wins at the Raceway.
The pair sit tied for sixth place behind another Appleton veteran – “Hot Rod” Wheeler with 59 victories. JVO is the highest active driver on WIR’s all time win list. The list is lead by Figure 8 and street stock multi time champion Terry Van Roy of Darboy, who passed away late last year.
ALL TIME WIR FEATURE WINNERS (TOP FIFTEEN)
Terry Van Roy, Appleton……………163
Danny Gracyalny, Little Chute……130
Terry Baldry, Omro……………………69
Ken Van Wychen, Kaukauna……….66
Rod Wheeler, Appleton………………59
Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids….58
Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Appleton…58
Lowell Bennett, Neenah…………….52
Jim Duchow, Kaukauna…………….51
Mike Bunnell, Menasha…………….49
Hank Calmes, Freedom…………….45
Dylan Wenzel, Fremont…………….45
Craig Vanderwettering, Freedom.44
Russ Keberlein, Kaukauna…………42
Jeff Beschta, Darboy………………….41
Also on opening night former super stock champion Dylan Wenzel of Fremont moved into a tie with Freedom’s Hank Calmes in 11th with 45 victories after his opening night win on the quarter-mile.
ALL IN – For the first weekend all year Mother Nature allowed all area tracks to get their respective racing programs in. Even the Dirt Kings late model tour got it’s season opening race in at Red Cedar Speedway in Menominee in Friday night. When the dust settled it was Bonduel native A.J. Diemel who fired the opening night salvo – besting the 30 car field.
The next Dirt Kings event will be this coming Friday night, May 26 at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour for the Dirt Kings Salute to Service 30.
Hometown racer Mitch Meier bagged his fourth stock car feature flag at Gravity Park USA Friday while Greenville’s T.J. Smith won his third grand national feature at the quarter-mile, clay bullring that same night.
Greenville’s T.J. Smith wheeled his dirt grand national to a fast time and 2nd place finish on the pavement with the WIR super stocks Thursday night. (T.J. Smith photo)
What’s amazing about Smith’s run was the night prior Smith bolted on some asphalt tires and raced at WIR’s season opening race with the super stocks. Instead of being a field filler (which often dirt cars can wind up being in the quarter-mile paved oval class) Smith scored quick time and wound up finishing second to Wenzel at WIR.
As if that weren’t enough Smith wheeled his MSA 360 sprint car to an 11th place finish at Plymouth Dirt Track. A most diverse racer indeed.
Seymour’s Mike Mullen posted his third IMCA modified feature win at The ‘Burg Sunday night – leading all area drivers in the region in division victories in ’23.
NATHAN BOUCHE MEMORIAL – The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay will host the annual Nathan Bouche Memorial race Sunday May 28 with a 5 p.m. start time. The stock car class will feature driver introductions prior to the feature event.
THE ‘BURG IS OFF THIS WEEKEND – A reminder that there is no racing at The ‘Burg Speedway in Luxemburg this Memorial Day weekend. Sunday night racing returns to the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds June 4 with Military Appreciation Night. All active military members and veterans will receive free grandstand admission with a valid i.d.
KARTING KORNER – At GSR Kartway in Clintonville Eric’s Septic System sponsors the nights action of kart and lawn mower racing Wednesday, May 24. The pit gates open at 4:30 p.m. with the hammer dropping at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile at Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park in Cecil the first ever “Battle At Buckaroo” takes place Friday night May 26. It’s a money night for most karters and the event is expected to draw participants from all over Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Pits open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. with the first green flag flying at 7 p.m.
2O23 NORTHEAST WISCONSIN DIRT TRACK FEATURE WINNERS (after May 22, 2023)
(Divisions include late model, modified, sportmod, stock car, grand national and four cylinder. Tracks included will be Seymour, Chilton, Francis Creek, Shawano, Sturgeon Bay, Luxemburg, Plymouth and Beaver Dam. It will include IMCA sanctioned and non-sanctioned classes)
LATE MODEL
Taylor Scheffler 2 (Farmer City)
Brad Mueller 1
Gunnar Frank 1
A.J. Diemel 1 (Red Cedar, DK)
Ron Berna 1
MODIFIED
Mike Mullen 3
Brandon Schmitt 2
Jesse Cullen 2
Steve Schneider 1
Steve Mueller 1
Marcus Hoeppner 1
Joel Crowbridge 1 (Wilmot)
Johnny Whitman 1
Todd Dart 1
Jeff Schmuhl 1
Matt Klenz 1
Lucas Lamberies 1
Kevin Feck 1
STOCK CAR
Mitch Meier 4
Travis Van Straten 2
Tyler Wilson 2
Luke Lemmens 1
Jeremy Christians 1
Brett Wenzel 1
Eric Mahlik 1
Tim Warner 1
Tim Mueller 1
Kenny Richards 1
Devin Snellenberger 1
Dylan Stedjee 1
SPORTMOD
Jake Carpenter 3
Zach Raab 2
Jimmy Berkevich 1
Doug Maurer 1
Skylar Woods 1
Tim Warner 1
Nick Schultz 1
Brady Hashbarger 1
Sean Falk 1
Tim Sheppard 1
Elijah Koenig 1
Tony Gates 1
Mason Woods 1
J.J. Vanderloop 1
Craig Dorner 1
Jeffrey Teske 1
Cody Rass 1
STREET STOCK
Cody Potter 2
Jesse Krahn 2
James Fletcher 2
Paul Diefenthaler 2
Ed Anschutz 1
Nick Wunrow 1
Mike Zitzer 1
Brian Gundrum 1
Justin Jacobsen 1
Parker Derks 1
Travis Zirbel 1
Matt Warner 1
Trey Van Straten 1
GRAND NATIONAL
T.J. Smith 3
Derek Schrauth 1
Aaron Streblow 1
Brad Weiss 1
Chad Espen 1
Will Source 1
Nick Schumacher 1
FOUR CYLINDER
Adam Broehm 2
Roman Blank 2 (Wilmot)
Trevor Cronick 2
Tanner Westphal 2
James Riske 2
Brian Watzka Jr. 1
Tom Schulte 1
Scott Schlafke 1
Nathan Lisowe 1