Ritchie records first Shawano IMCA Modified win

By Dave Buss SHAWANO, Wis. (June 19) – Last week it was the future in the spotlight, this week it was the past as two new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame at Shawano Speedway.  George Giesen and Ed Bertram were honored for their past accomplishments at the speedway and in racing. With friends and family along with numerous current and former drivers who have benefited from the new Hall of Famers’ contributions to the racing world in attendance, the two were honored in a ceremony at intermission.  IMCA Modifieds hit the track with numerous drivers who got their start in go carts at the GSR Raceway run by Bertram. It didn’t take long until the yellow slowed the action with Jeff Bodendorfer leading the way. Green flew again and it was Bodendorfer building a lead as Lance Arneson ran second and Konnor Wilinski third.  Bodendorfer built a lead of nearly a second. Arneson began to make his way forward and grab the top spot for lap 17 but Bodendorfer fought right back the [Read More]

SHAWANO, Wis. – The two-day show coming up this weekend at Shawano Speedway is guaranteed to be a Classic. IMCA Modifieds race for $1,150 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berths at Mid-Summer Classic shows Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25.  IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars chase $1,000 top checks while Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods race for $600 to win both nights.  IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and KMJ Performance, but no track points will be awarded. There is a $30 draw fee each night for Modifieds and Stock Cars.  Pit gates open at 3 p.m., the grandstand opens at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m.  Modified drivers get another shot at putting their name on the All-Star ballot at Shawano’s $1,200 to win Racing For A Reason childhood cancer benefit on Aug. 1.

SHAWANO, Wis. – While the drivers took the checkers, the real winners of Shawano Speedway’s Aug. 1 Racing For A Reason program were young cancer patients and their families. Proceeds from basket donations, silent auctions, bucket drops and drawings at the annual event approached $17,000, putting the total raised for childlife services provided at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Green Bay over the past decade at some $153,000.  “Shawano is a tightknit community and I tell people the speedway is family. If something happens to someone, we’re all there and that’s pretty cool,” said track marketing and promotions director Brad Luepke. “I would never have guessed this event would grow the way it has every year.”  One hundred percent of the money raised through Racing For A Reason help kids with cancer and their families in a multitude of ways – 2019 proceeds, for example, were used toward the purchase of a state-of-the-art sanitizing closet for shared toys – and the event itself plays out with a full pit area and packed grandstand. “Even drivers who don’t race with us [Read More]