shawanospeedway Archives

Racing For A Reason at Shawano helps young cancer patients, families

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]

Common foe was childhood cancer as Shawano raced for a reason Saturday

SHAWANO, Wis. (Aug. 1) – On a Saturday night when drivers and fans united at the track to battle a common enemy, childhood cancer, Racing for a Reason again delivered a victory at Shawano Speedway. With donation baskets and silent auction items galore, more than $16,000 was raised while on the track, the action in one word … incredible! A caution on the initial start of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car Feature was the only time the yellow flew as the action-packed class lived up to its Too Tough To Tame reputation. While Gary Kasparek took the early lead the racing behind him was what everyone comes to see. Chucky Forstner took the top spot with Jeremy Christians moving to second on lap seven. The two fought side-by-side for the next five laps until Christians grabbed the lead for good on lap 11. Christians drove away and picked up his 99th IMCA career win in the division. Forstner settled in second with Travis Van Straten third. The Karl Kustoms Northern Sport Mods hit the track with [Read More]

Yarie, Mullen are Shawano IMCA Modified winners, Siefert, Christians score Classic Stock Car victories

SHAWANO, Wis. (July 24 and 25) – The inaugural event at Shawano Speedway billed as the Mid-Summer Classic proved to be just that. Marcus Yarie and Mike Mullen earned $1,150 IMCA Modified feature wins and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berths, Jared Siefert and Jeremy Christians were $1,000 IMCA Sunoco Stock Car winners and Jeff Schmuhl swept $600 to win Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod features July 24 and 25. Opening night set a high bar when it came to action on the track with multiple features providing three-wide racing all around the oval. Three-time track champion Yarie outlasted the competition for the Modified win, taking the checkers ahead of Johnny Whitman and Mullen. Siefert, himself no stranger to victory lane at Shawano, grabbed the Stock Car win by a nose over Brandon Czarapata and Christians. Mullen, doing double duty, powered past Lance Arneson for the front spot in Saturday’s Modified headliner on the 12th circuit, then Mullen cruised to victory over the final nine laps. Yarie was second and Konnor Wilinski third. Night two IMCA Modified [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds to headline Shawano’s July 24, 25 Mid-Summer Classic shows

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.

‘B’ main to victory lane for Michonski on Hall of Fame Night

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (June 27) – The fans that came out in droves for Hall of Fame Night at Shawano Speedway enjoyed a hall of fame caliber performance from Dan Michonski Saturday night. After qualifying from a ‘B’ feature, Michonski started 17th and hustled all the way to the front of the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature field. Trent Nolan and Jeremie Hedrick fought for the lead at the start and were quickly joined by Rod Snellenberger and Brandon Czarapata at the front. With Nolan leading, Czarapata took to the outside to pass for the lead on lap seven. Czarapata looked to be firmly on charge when a caution flew on lap 13. Czarapata continued to lead [Read More]

Michonski, Nolan fight to the finish

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (Aug. 24) – Nate Michonski and Trent Nolan brought the Shawano Speedway crowd to its feet as the two traded paint in the race to the checkered flag in Saturday’s IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Michonski prevailed for his first win of the year. The feature started with a four-wide battle to lead lap one with Vern Stedjee ahead of the pack by a bumper. The four-wide battle continued on lap two, but this time it was Tom Riehl leading the way. On lap three, Nolan took his car to the front of the pack. Michonski moved to second on lap five and the lead duo began to pull away a bit from the rest of the field. On lap 17, Michonski pulled to the inside and led by the slightest of margins at the line. Nolan tried to return the favor on lap 18 as he went to the inside but to no avail. Not giving up the chase, Nolan again pulled alongside Michonski on the final lap. The two made contact exiting [Read More]

Shawano Races for a Reason Saturday night

By Dave Buss SHAWANO, Wis. (July 27) – There a couple of nights where the action on the track takes second stage to the events going on at the track. On Saturday, Racing for a Reason took center stage as the amazing fans and race teams at Shawano Speedway worked together to raise money for the fight against childhood cancer. Mark Weisnicht grabbed the lead from his front row starting spot and never give it up on his way to an $800 IMCA Modified payday. Marcus Yarie moved into second and kept the pressure on to the finish but not have enough to get around Weisnight. Lucas Lamberies came from the 12th starting spot to grab third with Jason Czarapata and Lance Arneson scored next. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars hit the track with Kurt Olson grabbing the early lead. Mike Schmidt, driving the number 57 car in memory of Mark Mitchell, moved to second and began to chase down Olson. Chummy Arneson, Jeremy Christians and Dan Michonski all joined the battle for the lead. Schmidt [Read More]

Van Straten wins third straight at Shawano

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (July 13) – Halloween at the Half Mile had no tricks, just treats for Travis Van Streten, Konnor Wilinski and Jordan Bartz. Van Straten outdueled Dan Michonski for his third straight Shawano Speedway IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win while Wilinski scored his first IMCA Modified feature of the season and Bartz got Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod win number three. The Stock Car feature saw Kurt Olson lead the opening two laps before Michonski snuck past. On lap five, Van Straten got around Olson and into second. As has consistently been the case lately, Michonski and Van Straten began a duel for the lead. Van Straten took the lead on lap seven working the lowest line on the track. Michonski took the lead back on lap eight running the highest line. They continued to battle door-to-door on lap nine with Van Straten holding the lead on the lap. Over the next 11 laps, Van Straten had his hands full as Michonski worked high and low trying to a find a way back to [Read More]

Rookie Teske wins first career feature

By Scott Owens SHAWANO, Wis. (July 6) – Jeffery Teske has roots at the Shawano Speedway going back to his grandfather Jeff, a multi-time feature winner in the IMCA Modified division in the early 1990s. Now, only eight races into his rookie campaign in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod division, Teske has notched his name in the Shawano Speedway record books after recording his first career feature win. Fellow rookie Dylan Waldvogel led the early stages as Teske chased him in second. Teske got underneath Waldvogel on lap six to snag the top spot. Teske looked like a seasoned veteran as he pulled away from the field down the stretch. Point leader Jordan Bartz got to second but could not catch Teske, who cruised to the win followed by Bartz, 17th starting Bryce Clements, Matthew Radtke and Kevin Bethke. Marcus Yarie was the IMCA Modified winner and Travis Van Straten topped the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main.

Christians best in Shawano barnburner

By Dave Buss SHAWANO, Wis. (June 22) – Some on social media were calling Saturday’s IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature at Shawano Speedway one of the best they have seen. Winner Jeremy Christians wouldn’t disagree. Rod Snellenberger took command of the race in the first few laps but was soon joined by Dan Michonski and Eric Arneson as Christians fought through traffic. With multiple four-wide battles behind him Snellenberger, seemed to be on his way to the win. Michonski, Arneson, Christians and Mike Schmidt, however, had other plans. The four quickly closed to the back bumper of Snellenberger. Michonski ran the high side with the others working the low side. Lap after lap, positions were swapped between the challengers with Snellenberger maintaining a slight lead. On lap 19, slight contact between Christians and Snellenberger caused a tire to begin going down on Snellenberger’s ride. Christians pounced on the opportunity and in a drag race down the front stretch edged out Michonski. Snellenberger held onto third with Schmidt fourth. Marcus Yarie was the IMCA Modified winner [Read More]