Asphalt Racing

Winning was nice, but Jim Duchow’s mind was elsewhere when he crossed the finish line Thursday night at Wisconsin International Raceway. “The first thing I thought of was my dad,” said Duchow, whose father, Leroy, died March 20 at the age of 75 from cancer. “I looked up in turn one, because that’s where he always was.” Full Story at Post Crescent (05-30-03)

There are alot of things that we heard are happening or could be happening in the next few weeks. Some teams could be heading to other tracks and there could be some shake ups. Stay tuned! (05-29-03) UPDATE: There appears to be some question as to how the Fox River Racing Club is doing, we have heard plenty of rumors at the track. We are trying are best to help the club out by getting more people interested. If you are a diehard racing fan bring a friend along and support the Fox River Racing Club. (05-30-03)

Al Schill won the Late Model feature at Slinger Super Speedway over Lowell Bennett on a last lap pass. Top 4: 1. Schill, 2. Bennett, 3. Dave Prunty, 4. Rich Loch. No one is sure who finished in 5th place as apparently there was some confusion as to how Brad Mueller was being scored. (05-26-03) Brad got pay and points for his 11th place finish in the feature. (05-28-03) UPDATE: Hearing that Brad is still quite upset over this whole deal that took place Sunday and there is a chance he might not return to Slinger, guess you just have to wait and see on Sunday. (05-30-03)

A great night of racing tonight at Wisconsin International Raceway the car counts are going up along with the attendance! In Late Model action it was Terry Baldry taking fast time and took the fast dash win. Heat winners were Eddie Muenster and Mike Gardner. Jim Duchow took the feature event win; top 5: 1. Duchow, 2. Van Oudenhoven, 3. Baldry, 4. Schroeder, 5. Korth. In Limited Late Model action it was Andy Monday taking fast qualifying honors while Tom Spierowski took the dash win. Heat winners were Chris LaRocque and Jerry Van Handel. Cory Podolski took his first career limited late model feature win; top 5: 1. Podolski, 2. Hauser, 3. Natrop, 4. Spierowski, 5. Monday. In Sport truck action Dan Hansen took fast qualifying honors, heat winners were Todd Verhagen and Scott Bloomquist. Feature was won by Dan Hansen; top 5: 1. Hansen, 2. Baker, 3. Vandermoss, 4. Schuette, 5. Bushman. Terry Van Roy took the super stock feature event. There were 24 Sizzlin 4's tonight and they put on a heck of a show. (05-29-03)

We have been told that the word that is going around the Slinger area is that Slinger Super Speedway's current flagman Mike Phelps has quit after Sunday's races. (05-28-03) UPDATE: Reliable sources tell us Dave Deprey the flagman at Luxemburg Speedway and Thunderhill Raceway will be filling in for the next few weeks. The job has been offered to him, but he has not accepted it full time, yet. (05-28-03)

In the eight years that he has been racing off and on at Wisconsin International Raceway in Buchanan, Terry Korth has had his share of accomplishments. But what he did during the FRRC’s opening program on May 4 is something he’ll always remember. Korth set a club qualifying record with a time of 19.413 seconds, which was just a couple of ticks off the overall track mark of 19.238 seconds set by Butch Miller for an ARTGO race on Aug. 4, 1987. “It’s my career highlight for late models,” said Korth. Full Story at Post Crescent (05-28-03)

But did you ever wonder who has won the most races on Thursday nights? Unfortunately, we may never know. During the years from 1975 when the club began racing at WIR through 1991, nobody kept accurate records of feature winners. To probably no one’s surprise, the leader appears to be Terry Baldry. Full Story at Post Crescent (05-28-03)

Team sources tell us rookie Late Model driver Matt Van Elzen will make his debut on the half mile this Thursday Night at Wisconsin International Raceway. The reigning 2001 Mini Stock champion at 141 Speedway will drive the #10 Cabinet Masters Monte Carlo weekly after missing the first few weeks while they finished the car. (05-25-03)

We did not receive a press release from Norway Speedway this week, but we are told Kris Kelly won the Late Model feature. (05-25-03)

Nobody is about to anoint Ryan Mathews the next coming of Alan Kulwicki or Matt Kenseth just yet, but he has a few similarities to those Wisconsin racing greats that are hard to overlook. Full Story at Post Crescent (05-23-03)

While at WIR this evening, we were told via cell phone that Wayne Breitenfeldt took the feature win in the Flip Merwin Memorial race at Wausau. (05-22-03)

A night of great racing at Wisconsin International Raceway tonight as the Thursday Night Thunder season opened up. Rod Wheeler took a well deserved feature win in the Late Model division, top 5: 1. Wheelers, 2. Vanderloop, 3. Van Oudenhoven, 4. Baldry, 5. Matthews. Fast qualifer was Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Jim Duchow took the fast dash. Heat winners - Jamie Iverson and Eddie Muenster. Limited Late Model feature win went to Rookie driver Tom Gee Jr. (Our driver of the month), top 5: 1. Gee Jr, 2. Podolski, 3. Calmes, 4. Monday, 5. Bemmels. Fast qualifer was Gary Natrop, fast dash was won by Andy Monday. Heat winners were Cory Podolski and Tom Gee Jr. Street Stock feature went to Andy Casavant while Scott Baker took the Sport truck feature over Rob Vandermoss. Dan Vixmer was the sport truck fast qualifer. There was no figure eight race tonight. (05-22-03) We understand there were quite a few figure 8 drivers that were suspended for 2 weeks after the actions they showed opening night when they were told there weren't enough cars to run the feature event. (05-23-03) Correction: they were suspended for 1 week. (05-28-03)

If you have been involved in racing for at least the last five years you will recognize the name Jim Weber. There are some circling reports that Jim Weber will be making a return to driving this season. Not sure if he would return to the local tracks or tackle the ITEMS Series. It just so happens that Jim's good friend George Prentice has an open seat after Tim Rothe vacated it. (05-22-03)

For Sunday’s Budweiser Spring Opener at Wisconsin International Raceway, Lowell Bennett was there. Bennett will race in any event that is put on by track owner Roger Van Daalwyk, but not in any race sanctioned by the FRRC. “If the club is gone and Roger runs it on Thursday nights, I’d probably be back,” he said. “But I’m not happy with things there. Besides, they won’t even let me come back without paying a fine.” Full story at Post Cresent (05-21-03)

Sunday at WIR it is our understanding that 4 of the 5 teams running the Spec engine in the Limited Late Model all has distributor problems. There is already some question whether one team has a legal piece under the hood in this division. (05-20-03)

We understand that Conrad Morgran will be making some rare appearances to Wisconsin International Raceway for the Red, White and Blue Series. We are told Conrad will run all 3 races. There is also the great possibility that Steve Carlson will run the Red, White and Blue Series also. (05-19-03) AND Track officials have confirmed this to be true. (05-20-03)

Terry Baldry is the defending champion in the traveling Midwest Allstar Racing Series, but he is cutting back on his schedule. “The traveling gets to be a lot and I’m getting too old for this,” the 49-year-old Baldry said. Full Story in the Post Crescent (05-20-03)

Over seventy-five cars brought on an action-packed program of racing at Columbus 151 Speedway Friday night. The car and fan counts alike were in partiality due to the Pepsi Triple 60 Round One feature event for the late models. The number 40 of Scott Patrick would once again return to Victory Lane at Columbus 151 Speedway concluding the first race of the Pepsi Triple 60 series. Press Release (05-19-03)

When it comes to Slinger Super Speedway Brad Mueller is on a roll this season. Brad has been getting closer and closer to the record every week. This week was no different as Brad shows his dominance once again, Brad took fast qualifying time. He then followed it up by making a last lap pass on Mike Egan to take the feature win. Info Via Phone Call (05-18-03)

WIR held their Budweiser Spring Classic today for the first time the race ran under clear sunny skies! Terry Baldry was your fast qualifer in the MARS Late Models. The 100 lap race was caution filled, a total of 37 laps were run under caution (this laps did not count). Jay Kassera took the limited late model feature win. More results shortly (05-18-03) More information in the press release (05-18-03)

We had reported that we were hearing that there was a parting of ways between Jim Duchow and Lamers Motor Racing. We have been told that this has NOT happened and that Jim will be in the #66 Lamers Racing car tomarrow at WIR. We will see if anything changes, but as of right now nothing has happened. (05-17-03)

We are told that Butch Miller had a V8 engine in his camaro when he set the track record, he ran Goodyear 1000 tires (super sticky). The weather was great horsepower weather, for the record Jim Weber set a 19.3 that night so the track was really fast. (05-16-03)

Craig Schei nosed ahead of Mark Miller on the 27th lap of Friday night’s season opening Sierra Mist Late Model feature at the Norway Speedway and then never looked back in capturing the win to highlight the track’s first event of 2003. Mike Bubloni topped the Auto Value Super Stock feature event while Eric Menza came home the winner in the slammer feature race. Brettt Bray won the only Fab Four feature held. The Town and Country Ford Season Opener drew an impressive field of cars to the track including 29 late models, 30 super stocks, 16 slammers, and 69 Fab Four’s for a record first night car count of 144. Press Release (05-17-03)

Wisconsin International Raceway has a new website where you can find out everything you want to know about the circle track and the drag strip. Up to date with all new and current information, check it out at www.wirracing.com (05-15-03)

We have received some email regarding the record that Terry Korth set, there has been some misleading information in the newspapers and press releases that simply state "new track record". The record that Terry set is the FRRC record in other words the fastest lap that has been turned on a Fox River Racing Club event. Terry Baldry set the FRRC record last season on August 22nd, Terry beat that record on Sunday. The track record is still held onto by Butch Miller with a lap of 19.238, we understand that Butch set this record while running a 2 barrel carb, which alot of the teams are running this year. (05-06-03) UPDATE: We understand that Butch had a V6 engine when he set the track record at WIR. (05-07-03) UPDATE: Well now which type of engine did Butch have in his car when he set the record, sources tell us that Butch told them it was a V6 engine. Track sources tell us it was not a V6 engine, which is it? (05-14-03) FINAL UPDATE: We are told that Butch Miller had a V8 engine in his camaro when he set the track record, he ran Goodyear 1000 tires (super sticky). The weather was great horsepower weather, for the record Jim Weber set a 19.3 that night so the track was really fast. (05-16-03)

We understand that it was Zoomin Randy Neuman that blew his motor at the WIR season opening practice. This might have just put a wrap to the season for Zoomin. Early reports that we received stated Zoomin would drive the car as long as the motor stayed togethor, it if blew the season might be over. (05-15-03)

We understand limited late model driver Pat Braun will indeed race this Sunday even after having surgery on his foot. Pat was involved in a last lap accident at the season opener at WIR, some said it looked like he didn't know it was the last lap while others thought it was intentional. Either way Pat will be behind the wheel of the Six Crew Racing Coors Light Sponsored car since his car hasn't been repaired. He will run it as a limited late model. (05-14-03)

Over the winter, the club decided that at least eight cars were needed for a race, but for various reasons, only six showed up and were not allowed to race. Fortunately, it looks as if it was a one-time thing, and fans will be enjoy the show put on by the wild and crazy figure 8s for the rest of the season on Thursday nights. Full Story at Appleton Post Cresent (05-14-03)

Other than being named champion of the Fox River Racing Club, being crowned rookie of the year is the next most coveted award. This year, five drivers are after that prize: Brent Strelka, Bob Danes, Kyle Waush, Eugene Gregorich Jr. and Matt Van Elzen. Full Storey at Appleton Post Cresent (05-14-03)

Tony Strupp has had a rough start to the 2003 season and it sounds like the final piece has fallen. Tony ran at Madison International Speedway Friday night and slide in oil that was put down in front of him which resulted in hard contact with the wall. Team sources tell us the car is pretty much junk, the tranny is broke and the motor got it also. The team will not be racing for a while as they piece the car back togethor, they figure they have spent more on repairs in the first 3 weeks this year than they did the last 2 seasons. (05-13-03)

Pro Power Racing, the Franklin based race engine business, is for sale. Pro Power has established a name in Wisconsin auto racing over the years and owners, Al & Gwen Schill, are now selling the business. All inventory and business is available, less building and land. Wisconsin Race Report (05-11-03)

Slinger Super Speedway has cancelled their events for this evening due to wet grounds and rainy weathers. LTN Radio (05-11-03)

We understand the races were cancelled for Norway Speedway this evening. Apparently alot of rain fell in the area today, look for the season to get started next week. (05-09-03) UPDATE: Persistent rain showers and cold weather forced Dickinson County Racing Association officials to cancel the scheduled 2003 Bob's Homes Season Opener at the Norway Speedway Friday. Press Release (05-10-03)

As everyone knows Geno Weber, Rod Wheelers long time crew chief left him during the 2002 season The announcer at WIR on Sunday mentioned that Rod's new crew chief Jim Stabe has left to go help Jeff Van Oudenhoven. (05-07-03) Actually being told Jim Stabe is reuniting with Jeff Van Oudenhoven. (05-09-03)

Photos from the 2003 FRRC opener at WIR are now available. (05-08-03) Link is fixed (05-11-03)

Brent Strelka, driver of the #1 Stockbridge Engineering Super Late Model was involved in a wreck and made hard contact with the wall. He was transported to the hospital, reports we received said he was doing fine. We will be updated by team officials as to Brent's condition. (05-04-03) UPDATE: Apparently Brent has a really bad whiplash, we will add anything more that we find out. (05-04-03) UPDATE: Team sources tell us that Brent has a headache and a sore neck, otherwise he feels fine after taking the hard hit. Brent and the #1 team will be back this Sunday at WIR. (05-07-03)

By reshuffling the deck of the top Fox River Racing Club late-model stock car drivers, the ace that may turn up this year just might be Mark Schroeder. Appleton Post Cresent (05-07-03)

It appears that alot of tracks in the area are low on Late Models this season, WIR had 21 cars today, but there are about 4-5 drivers that didn't make it out this week. Apparently these teams will be missing the first 2 weeks of racing. We expect the car count to continue to rise as more and more teams finish their cars. (05-04-03) UPDATE: Everyone ask the question of who has what for a car count each week, like it's a competition. We have put togethor a chart that list the car counts each week for the asphalt tracks in the area. (05-07-03)

But when Butz and Baldry split this year, Tri County also ended its sponsorship agreement with Butz, leaving that sponsorship open. Of the drivers that applied, the choice was Appleton’s John Meidam. Appleton Post Cresent (05-07-03)

A little information that some of you might like to read, a little behind closed doors information. In talking with a Budweiser representative in the area we were told that they were interested in staying with Mike Butz Racing, there were some options given to the team, but they decided not to accept the offers. They didn't state which drivers they wanted in the car as some have reported. Budweiser is excited to be signed on with John Meidam as they feel he will represent the company well. The whole turn of events took only a matter of a month and a half. The change of rides doesn't seem to have affected Terry Baldry any as he is tied for the points lead. Corey was going to have a column about this, but we feel everyone has heard and read enough about this all. (05-06-03)

The 2003 racing season in Michigan's Upper Peninsula will officially kick off this Friday night, May 9th, when the Dickinson County Racing Association presents their season opener at the Norway Speedway. Bob's Homes of Northeastern Wisconsin and Michigan will sponsor the first motorsports event of the spring in the U.P. with late models, super stocks, slammers, and the Fab Four's taking to the 1/4-mile paved oval. Press Release (05-05-03)

On Channel 5 CBS at 10:45pm tonight there will be an interview with Andy Monday. (05-04-03) It was a segment called "driver of tomarrow" it was a well put togethor segment. We really appreciate the channel 5 CBS Sports team for giving WIR and the Fox River Racing Club the coverage they deserve! (05-05-03)

The Fox River Racing Club kicked off their 2003 season this afternoon. Mark Schroeder took the late model feature win this afternoon, top 5: 1. Schroeder, 2. Baldry, 3. Matthews, 4. Van Oudenhoven, 5. Korth. Fast Qualifer was Terry Korth who bested the Thursday night track record. JJ Smith took the fast dash win. In limited late model action it was Pat Braun setting fast time and Gary Bock taking the dash win. Greg Hauser took the feature victory followed by 2. Kassera, 3. Van Handel, 4. LaRocque, 5. Natrop. In Sport Truck action it was Scott Bushman taking the feature win. (05-04-03)Slinger was able to get the late model feature in before the rain came, the rest of the show was scrapped. We understand there was a bad wreck in the late model feature. Brad Mueller set fast time while David Prunty took the feature win followed by Brad Mueller. (05-04-03)

We have received a few different schedules for the Sunday Fox River Racing Club shows. We have received a printed copy of how the day will go. You can print this off and bring it with you to the races to follow along with. Sunday Schedule (05-01-03)

Mike Gardner, Mark Schroeder, Tim Rothe, Nate Van Wyken, Bobby Bemmels, and Robb Vanderloop were testing today at WIR (click names for pictures). It seems alot of teams are running ACE Motors. Understand Mark Schroeder was turning 19.5's on used tires. (05-03-03)

Ryan Matthews, Jim Duchow, and Gary Natrop were all testing this evening at WIR. Ryan Matthews was driving the new Mike Butz built car, although the car is owned by Ryan's dad. Both Matthews and Van Oudenhoven's cars look identical. Click the names for pictures. (05-01-03)

That opener, which is slated for Friday night, May 9th, at the 1/4-mile paved oval located on the grounds of the Dickinson County Fairgrounds, will see the return of the same four divisions that raced in 2002 - late models, super stocks, slammers, and Fab Four's. Press Release (05-01-03)

 

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