The Scoop
VANDER LOOP SCORES WIR “ALBURETOR 28”, GRIESBACH DOUBLES IN IOWA, WISCO & MORE
Posted on: Monday May 19, 2025
The “Red Rocket” J.J. Vander Loop scored the $1,000 Pro late model “Alburetor 28” win at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna Saturday.
The local pavement racing scene kicked off over the weekend with the spring classic at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
Weather conditions were not ideal, as the planned “Pit Party” got washed out, and that sub par weather continued into Friday’s action.
Saturday was the season lid-lifter for the TUNDRA super late models for “The Bear” 96 in honor of my late friend and short track racing standout Roger “The Bear” Regeth. Pro late models scrapped in the “Alburetor 28” and when the dust settled, it was “The Red Rocket” J.J. Vander Loop who picked up the $1,000 top prize in the Pro late showdown. That Pro Late event honored the late Al Golueke, a friend to many for decades in the racing community who passed away last year.
The Vander Loop family kept themselves quite busy, as J.J. also took part in the super late model portion of the program. Props to Vander Loop, as he’s able to get a lot of seat time on both dirt and asphalt.
Freedom’s Cody Vander Loop scored a 3rd place, podium finish in “The Bear 96” TUNDRA super late model series opener at WIR in Kaukauna May 17.
J.J. Vander Loop wasn’t the only family member racing on Saturday. Cody Vander Loop, a driver who’s been a champion in the sport trucks, and also wheels a machine in the Midwest Truck Series, scored an impressive third place finish in “The Bear” 96 in his first super late model outing, partnering up with Mike Butz Racing.
Cody didn’t get home from Cedar Rapids, Iowa until close to 4 a.m. Saturday. With little sleep, Vander Loop sliced through the TUNDRA field from his 20th starting spot to earn that podium finish.
Look for good things for both of these young men down the road on the Wisconsin pavement scene.
Grant Griesbach is all smiles following his TUNDRA super late model series win in “The Bear 96” at WIR in Kaukauna May 17. (Grant Griesbach photo)
Saturday’s super late model win by Pewaukee’s Grant Griesbach capped off a solid 48 hours of racing. The night prior in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Griesbach picked up the win in the Midwest Truck Series. To follow that up, Griesbach scored a second place finish on Sunday night at Slinger Super Speedway.
The race was littered with yellows, and a lot of machines got torn up, unfortunately. But, as they say, that’s racing.
MORE TUNDRA LEFTOVERS – Locals fared well Saturday when the dust settled. Neenah’s Lowell Bennett, who recently kicked off his 50th year of stock car racing, placed fourth. Kaukauna’s Jesse Oudenhoven took 6th with Appleton’s Andy Monday placing ninth.
In The Alburetor 28, Kimberly’s Justin Woller took 3rd, Freedom’s Brent Strelka fourth, Appleton’s Andy Kluck 6th, Omro’s Brian Henry 7th and Freedom’s Bobby Wautier 10th.
FRRC OPENER – With the TUNDRA opener in the books, the season opening “Thursday Night Thunder” race kicks off at WIR this Thursday, May 22. The Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) has been promoting the weekly, Thursday night races since 1975. The tradition continues, with the super late models and pro late models battling on the D-shaped, half-mile, paved oval. On the quarter-mile, super stocks, sport trucks, and Sizzlin’ 4’s compete along with select appearances by the WIR ¼ mile late models.
As always, the Thursday night show is capped off with the Figure 8’s. The hammer drops at 6:45 p.m.
IOWA TRUCK RECAP – Amherst’s Eugene Gregorich III took 6th in the Midwest Truck Series event at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Friday night at the Iowa Clash 50. Appleton’s Brandon Reichenberger finished seventh, while Cody Vander Loop took 10th. 21 trucks made the tow down to Iowa for the show. The next series event is slated for May 26 at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, Wisconsin.
Speaking of Plover, Braison Bennett of Neenah captured the late model feature at the high-banked, third-mile bullring Friday night.
72-year-old Larry Schuler proved Friday night that he’s still “got it.” The “Junkyard Dog” who raced weekly at WIR in the mid-1970’s won the super late model feature at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Illinois.
MIDWEST TOUR – The ASA Midwest Tour is in action Saturday, May 24 at Jefferson Speedway for the “Salute The Troops” 100. Racing kicks off at 6 p.m. at Wisconsin’s “Action Track.”
GETTIN’ DIRTY – Horicon’s Jeremy Christians scored IMCA stock car feature win No. 113 at Shawano Speedway Saturday.
Elkhart Lake’s Jeff Muehlbauer scored the Dirt Devil Grand National series win at Gravity Park USA in Chilton Friday night. 23 drivers took part in the series event at the Chilton bullring. The next Dirt Devil event is scheduled for Plymouth Dirt Track June 28.
Shawano sportmod driver Jeffrey Teske will be out of commission for a bit this year. Teske fractured his ankle in spill racing a lawn mower Wednesday night at GSR Kartway in Clintonville. According to his own Facebook post, Teske will be sidelined at least through the month of June.
STURGEON BAY OPENER – Heavy Friday night rains postponed the planned season opener at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay Saturday. This Sunday, May 25 at 5 p.m. It’s the first points night of racing for the year with the annual Nathan Bouche Memorial race. Stock cars, sportmods, Unified dirt street stocks and four cylinders will be in action Sunday at John Miles Park in Sturgeon Bay.
DIRT KINGS WEEKEND – A northeastern Wisconsin, dirt late model doubleheader weekend is on top via the Dirt Kings Tour this coming Memorial Day weekend. On Friday night, May 23, The “Salute To Service 30” will be part of the regular, weekly show at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. A 6:30 p.m. start is on tap.
The following night Saturday May 24, The Tour swings into the half-mile at Shawano Speedway for the “Stars & Stripes 25.” Same at Seymour, the track’s other weekly divisions will be in action, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
141 DOUBLEHEADER – Two big nights of racing this holiday weekend are scheduled for 141 Speedway in Francis Creek. Saturday night, May 24 will be a full points show, with a special exhibition race at the end of the night between off-road racing standout C.J. Greaves and Denmark’s Cole Czarneski. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m.
On Sunday, May 25 the 900 horsepower, Bumper To Bumper IRA Outlaw sprint car series rolls into 141. Joining the IRA bunch will be the IRA Lightning sprints, Midwest Legends and four cylinders, who will compete in a non-points night. Qualifying is set for 6 p.m. with racing to follow.
EAGLE RIVER SPEEDWAY – The season opening race will take place at Eagle River Speedway Saturday, May 24 at 6 p.m. New in 2025 will be the sanctioning of the United States Racing Association (USRA) late models. Other divisions that will compete weekly at the third-mile, clay oval tucked away in Wisconsin’s northwoods include IMCA stock cars (sanctioned), B modifieds, Unified dirt street stocks, 600 and 300 micro sprints.
The Dairyland Vintage racers will also be part of the opening night program. ERS will switch to racing Tuesday nights, beginning Tuesday, June 10. Best to check the track’s Facebook page for raceday and weather-related information.
Remember to get out and support your local track IN PERSON whenever possible. NOTHING beats the sights and the smell of being there.
2025 REGIONAL DIRT TRACK FEATURE WINNERS (as of 5/18/25)
(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 1
Troy Springborn 1
Taylor Scheffler 1
Mike Mullen 1
Andy Karl 1
Lukas Postl 1
IMCA MODIFIEDS
Johnny Whitman 2
Benji LaCrosse 1
Todd Dart 1
Marcus Hoeppner 1
Cole Czarneski 1
Joel Seegert 1
Tony Wedelstadt 1
Geoff Jeche 1
Race Van Pay 1
Tanner Janke 1
Matt Klenz 1
Lucas Lamberies 1
Mike Wedelstadt 1
IMCA STOCK CARS
Cole Czarneski 4
Tyler Wilson 4
Jeremy Christians 3
Mike Mullen 1
Benji LaCrosse 1
Nick Buckarma 1
Trent Nolan 1
Brandon Schmitt 1
Phil Mott 1
Trentin Bell 1
Tyler Schrimpf 1
IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMODS
Coy Vlies 3
Tim Warner 2
Cory Kemkes 1
Dustin White 1
Cole Thomas 1
Ryan Schmidt 1
Jordan Jahnke 1
Jim Zdroik 1
Jeffery Teske 1
Brady Harshbarger 1
Jake Carpenter 1
Spencer Long 1
AJ Springborn 1
Cole Magnin 1
UNIFIED DIRT STREET STOCKS
Paul Diefenthaler 2
Trey Van Straten 1
Cory Romenesko 1
Shannon Guelette 1
Austin Steinke 1
Derek Moede 1
Jeff Richards 1
Mark Hoeppner 1
Jason Piron 1
GRAND NATIONALS
Jeff Muehlbauer 2
Jeff Richards 1
Jake Richards 1
Brian Gilles 1
FOUR CYLINDERS/IMCA SPORT COMPACTS
James Reese 3
Adam Broehm 2
Dalton Nelson 2
Shaun Bangart 1
Seth Collar 1
Brian Watzka Jr. 1
Ben Schulte 1
Thomas Schulte 1
Cody Booth 1
Clint Malueg 1