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Wisconsin International Raceway
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The Wisconsin International Raceway (abbreviated WIR) is an asphalt stock car racing oval and dragstrip in the Town of Buchanan, in Outagamie County, just outside Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA.
Key Information
History
[edit]Wisconsin International Raceway originally opened as KK Sports Arena, a nod to its location on County Trunk Highway KK,[2] and opened its maiden season on May 30, 1964,[3] with a single quarter-mile oval dirt track. A half mile D-shaped[4] dirt track was inaugurated on August 1, 1965 with motorcycle races,[5][6] by which time a figure-8 dirt track had been established inside the quarter-mile oval. Its paved drag strip opened on June 5, 1966.[7] The half mile track was paved in 1968.[2]
The name of the racing complex was changed to Wisconsin International Raceway on March 9, 1971.[8]
Oval track
[edit]There are seven divisions at the track.[4] The Super Late Model and Late Model divisions race on the half-mile track.[4] The Super Stocks, Sport 4's (stock four cylinders modified for racing), Quarter-mile Late Models, and Wisconsin Sport Trucks[4][9] divisions race on the quarter-mile track. The Figure 8 cars end programs on the Figure 8 track inside of the quarter-mile.[4] An automated timing and scoring system was set up for the 2007 season, and each race car carries a transponder.
The Wisconsin Sport Trucks series ran as the Mini Champs series at the track from 1988-1995. Due to insurance issues, they developed a new prototype body which became a truck, different from Mini Champs' open-wheel-style vehicle. 1996 was the inaugural year for the modern Wisconsin Sport Trucks series as we know it today at the track.[10]
The Fox River Racing Club began helping promote the weekly events in 1975.
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Super Late Model – Lowell Bennett -
Late Model – Doug Mahlik -
Super Stock -
sizzlin 4's -
Figure 8 cars -
Wisconsin Sport Truck
Special events
[edit]
The track had an annual American Speed Association event when the sanctioning body was in existence. The track resumed hosting ASA events after the series was reorganized, and it held an event in 2007 for the ASA Midwest Tour. That event, the Dixieland 250, is now part of the ARCA Midwest Tour schedule and is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar,[11] attracting NASCAR champions Kevin Harvick and Ron Hornaday Jr. in 2009 and Kyle Busch in 2017. The race was part of the NASCAR Midwest Series between 1998 and 2004 and had 13 races under NASCAR banner. Earlier the USAC Stock Car series had raced at the track.[12]
The track has hosted an annual Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series for super late models since 1972.[13] The series consist of three races in June (red), July (white), and August (blue).[13] The series changed from Saturday nights to Thursday nights to combine with the weekly series in 2009.[13] The series was part of the Midwest Challenge Series (formerly ARTGO) and later part of the Wisconsin Challenge Series. 7,832 people watched Dick Trickle win the first red race.[13]
ASA National Tour ran a race at the facility in 2002. The race was won by Kevin Cywinski.
Notable drivers
[edit]
All drivers listed later competed in NASCAR nationally-sanctioned events
- Lowell Bennett (1991, 1998 and 2012 track champion, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2010, 2012. Five Red, White & Blue championships )
- Rich Bickle
- Scott Hansen (1985–89 track champion)
- Matt Kenseth (1994 and 1995 track champion)
- Todd Kluever
- Alan Kulwicki (1979 and 1980 track champion)
- Ty Majeski
- Dave Marcis
- Mark Martin (Red, White, and Blue champion)
- Ted Musgrave[14]
- Robbie Reiser
- Jim Sauter (1981 track champion)
- Tim Sauter
- Johnny Sauter
- Jason Schuler
- Dick Trickle (seven Red, White, and Blue championships)
- Dave Watson (two Red, White, and Blue championships)[15]
Trickle carved enough of a legacy that the track dedicated the Dick Trickle Pavilion in Turn 2. Joe Shear won the Red, White, and Blue series 1979, 1987, and 1988.[16]
Track champions
[edit]| Year | Super late model | Super Stock | Sizzlin' 4s | Figure 8 | Mini Champs & Wisconsin Sport Trucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Rich Somers | ||||
| 1976 | Larry Schuler | ||||
| 1977 | Jerry "Medina" Smith | Kenny Van Wychen | |||
| 1978 | Rich Somers | Rick Zieler | |||
| 1979 | Alan Kulwicki | Pete Berken | Tom Munes | ||
| 1980 | Alan Kulwicki | Pete Berken | Tom Munes | ||
| 1981 | Jim Sauter | Randy Rahn | |||
| 1982 | Terry Baldry | Dave Uttecht | |||
| 1983 | Terry Baldry | Randy Rahn | |||
| 1984 | Terry Baldry | Randy Rahn | |||
| 1985 | Scott Hansen | Dan Gracyalny | |||
| 1986 | Scott Hansen | Jeff Beschta | |||
| 1987 | Scott Hansen | Dan Gracyalny | |||
| 1988 | Scott Hansen | Dan Gracyalny | Jeff Korinek | ||
| 1989 | Scott Hansen | Terry Van Roy | Bill Daul | ||
| 1990 | J. J. Smith | Terry Van Roy | Dan Gracyalny | Bill Daul | |
| 1991 | Lowell Bennett | Terry Van Roy | Dan Gracyalny | Jeff Korinek | |
| 1992 | Jim Weber | Terry Van Roy | Terry Van Roy | Mike Springstroh | |
| 1993 | Terry Baldry | Terry Van Roy | Rick Kaufert | Mike Springstroh | |
| 1994 | Matt Kenseth | Terry Van Roy | Terry Van Roy | Hank Calmes | |
| 1995 | Matt Kenseth | Chris LaRocque | Terry Van Roy | Andy Geiger | |
| 1996 | Mark Schroeder | Chris LaRocque | Dan Gracyalny | Andy Geiger | |
| 1997 | Terry Baldry | Mike Rahn | Terry Van Roy | Mike Schneider | |
| 1998 | Lowell Bennett | Randy Van Roy | Dan Gracyalny | Mike Schneider | |
| 1999 | Terry Baldry | Terry Van Roy | Randy Thiemer | Andy Geiger | |
| 2000 | Terry Baldry | Chris LaRocque | Terry Van Roy | Robyn Wussow | |
| 2001 | Terry Baldry | Terry Van Roy | Terry Van Roy | Robyn Wussow | |
| 2002 | Terry Baldry | Terry Van Roy | Terry Van Roy | Hank Calmes | |
| 2003 | Terry Baldry | Andy Casavant | Jeff Beschta | Dan Hansen | |
| 2004 | Terry Baldry | Andy Casavant | Bryan Monday | Terry Van Roy | Jason Van Handel |
| 2005 | Rod Wheeler[17] | Andy Casavant | Phil Verboomen | Donald Van Camp | Todd Schuette |
| 2006 | Tim Rothe | Randy Van Roy | Nick Boldt | Donald Van Camp | Dan Vixmer |
| 2007 | Tim Rothe | Greg Hauser | Scott Verboomen | Terry Van Roy | Dan Vixmer |
| 2008 | Jeff Van Oudenhoven[13] | Greg Hauser Andy Casavant |
Tom Schweitzer | Jeff Wohlrabe | Ron Magdanz |
| 2009 | Jeff Van Oudenhoven | Todd Bauman | Tim Richter | Terry Van Roy | Ron Magdanz |
| 2010 | Terry Baldry | Greg Hauser Andy Casavant |
Wayne Sonkowsky | Dan Gracyalny | Jason Plutz |
| 2011 | Jeff Van Oudenhoven | Greg Hauser Andy Casavant |
Cody Kippenhan | Dan Gracyanly | John Roeser |
| 2012 | Lowell Bennett | Dylan Wenzel | Cory Romenesko | Craig Vandewettering | Bryan Monday |
| 2013 | Jeff Van Oudenhoven | Dylan Wenzel | Ethan Beattie | Jared Baughman | Brett Van Horn |
| 2014 | Lowell Bennett | Greg Hauser | Wayne Sonkowsky | Craig Vandewettering | Brett Van Horn |
| 2015 | Lowell Bennett | Schwalback/Van Roy | Mike Klein | Craig Vandewettering | Brett Van Horn |
| 2016 | Jeff Van Oudenhoven | Dyaln Wenzel | Mike Klein | Craig Vandewettering | Brett Van Horn |
| 2017 | Andy Monday | Dylan Wenzel | Dan Thomson | Craig Vandewettering Terry Van Roy |
Kyle Quella |
| 2018 | Casey Johnson | Rachel Meyerhofer | Andy Miller | Craig Vandewettering | Jason Plutz |
| 2019 | Casey Johnson | Wayne Sonkowsky Greg Hauser |
Emery Beattie Evan Beattie |
Mike Meyerhofer Jr | Kyle Quella |
| 2020 | Bobby Kendall | Shane Krueger | Scott Wolf | Nick Osberg | Cody Vanderloop |
| 2021 | Maxwell Schultz | Mitch Meyerhofer Josh Mueller |
Emery Beattie Ethan Beattie |
Terry Van Roy | Bobby Wautier |
| 2022 | Dalton Zehr | Mitch Meyerhofer Josh Mueller |
Justin Fickel | Russ Lorbiecki | Bobby Wautier |
| 2023 | Sawyer Effertz | George Schwalbach | Mitchel Opsahl | Mike Meyerhofer Jr. | Jason Van Handel |
| 2024 | Chad Butz | Mike King | Gavin Klein | Jordan Gracyalny | Kyle Quella |
| 2025 | Grant Griesbach | Dylan Wenzel | Jeremy Czarapata | Craig Vandewettering | Brady Vanderloop |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Dragstrip
[edit]
The dragstrip is a 1/4 mile paved track. It is one of three operating dragstrips in Wisconsin.
Weekly divisions
[edit]There are six weekly divisions that compete on Saturday nights: Top Eliminator Class, Hot Rod Eliminator, Street Eliminator, Pro-Bike and Snowmobile, Street Bike, and Junior Dragsters.
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Street Eliminators -
Hot Rod Eliminators -
Snowmobile vs. Pro-Bike
Eve of Destruction
[edit]The track has hosted an annual "Eve of Destruction" each September since 1993 and it is the track's annual season finale for the oval track. The Eve of Destruction is one of the biggest events hosted at track, as the 10,000 seat raceway is generally packed.[18] Drivers compete in a variety of unusual events such as chain races (two cars are chained together), spin to win (race backwards and then spin around forward for the finish), trailer races (part of the trailer must remain intact to continue racing), etc. In between races, fans are entertained by stunt car drivers. Ten school buses compete in a survival-of-the-fittest competition, where the last bus standing wins. Track owner Roger Van Daalwyk described the Eve of Destruction: "We kind of wreck everything."[19] During the 2017 Eve of Destruction, a local driver died from injuries sustained in a figure-eight race.[20]
Media
[edit]
Further reading
[edit]- Wisconsin International Raceway: Where the Big Ones Run!, Joe Verdegan. M&B Global Solutions, November 30, 2016, ISBN 1942731248.
References
[edit]- ^ "Apel wins TUNDRA opener at WIR". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ a b Verdegan, Joe (2015). Life in the Past Lane: A History of Stock Car Racing in Northeast Wisconsin from 1950 - 1980 (1st ed.). Green Bay, Wisconsin: M&B Global Solutions Inc. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-942731-15-3.
- ^ "New Track to Open Saturday". The Post-Crescent. 1964-05-29. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
- ^ a b c d e Goff, Tom (2009-05-26). "Get Your Motor Running". The Post Crescent.
- ^ "Top Cyclists Will Appear at Kaukauna". Manitowoc Herald-Times. 1965-07-29. p. 14. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
- ^ Grubba, Dale (2000). The Golden Age of Wisconsin Auto Racing. Oregon, Wisconsin: Badger Books. p. 45. ISBN 1-878569-67-8.
- ^ "KK Sports Arena Opens Sunday". The Sheboygan Press. 1966-06-04. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
- ^ "K-K alters name, to open April 4". The Daily Tribune. 1971-03-10. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
- ^ Wisporttrucks.com
- ^ "https://www.wissporttrucks.com/club-history"
- ^ Eberly, Brian. "Stacked entry list highlights Dixieland 250 at Wisconsin International". Short Track Scene. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Bay Darnell race results". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Goff, Tom (2009-05-28). "Thunder and Lightning". The Post Crescent. pp. B-1, B-5.
- ^ Grubba, Dale (2000). The Golden Age of Wisconsin Auto Racing. Oregon, Wisconsin: Badger Books. p. 201. ISBN 1-878569-67-8.
- ^ "Dave Watson, Larry Schuler to Sign Books at Midwest Motorsports Racers' Expo | Midwest Motorsports Racers' Expo". midwestracersauction.com. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Grubba, Dale (2000). The Golden Age of Wisconsin Auto Racing. Badger Books Inc. p. 205. ISBN 1-878569-67-8. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Appleton Post-Crescent newspaper, May 21, 2006, Racing Report (page B-8)
- ^ The Post-Crescent, September 16, 2006, "Crash fans covet Eve of Destruction" (page A1)
- ^ The Post-Crescent, September 16, 2006, "Crash fans covet Eve of Destruction" (page A3)
- ^ Behr, Madeline. "Driver killed at Wisconsin International Raceway remembered as 'all-around good guy'". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
External links
[edit]