joeverdegan.com: Recent Episodes
Joe Verdegan
Bear Creek, Wisconsin's T.M. Miller kicked off his racing career at Shawano Speedway in 1980.
The son of Wolf River Racing Association (WRRA) legend 'Squeak' Miller, T.M. earned a reputation as a very likeable, clean racer whom most everyone had a lot of respect for.
Listen in as this two time Shawano Speedway sportsman champion recalls his fun and colorful racing career!
Towards the end of Verlyn Giguere's racing career, it became difficult to keep loyal pit crew members as they started families and had other interests keeping them busy.
The Green Bay driver and 2024 Shawano Speedway Hall of Famer reflects about that final year of racing. Give it a listen!
During one season in the mid 1990's Verlyn Giguere, driving for car owner Bernie Baye, raced 100 shows.
That included a four night a week weekly run plus any and all special events they could find.
How in the world did they pull it off? Listen in to episode No. 6 and find out!
In the mid to late 1990's when it seemed most top IMCA modified drivers were wheeling Pro chassis', Verlyn decided he'd take a stab at building his own chassis.
Something that even in the '90's was slowly becoming a thing of the past.
Give episode No. 5 a listen!
In the mid 1990's Verlyn Giguere served as a 'hired gun' of sorts - driving for Bernie Baye.
Giguere and Baye were a solid team - racking up feature wins and track championships along the way.
One year Verlyn raced 100 nights!
Give episode No. 4 a listen!
By the time the late 1980's rolled around the IMCA modifieds had begun to soar in popularity in northeastern Wisconsin.
After racing the late model class for several seasons, Verlyn Giguere decided to give this new open wheel division a try.
Give episode No. 3 a listen!
The racing world recently lost Warren 'Corny' Schmidt.
Corny hailed from the Leopolis/Pella area and was a big part of Shawano Speedway history dating back several decades. He raced himself and served as a flagman and race director over the years.
We caught up with Corny last year and Corny reflected on some stories from racing over the years. Enjoy these memories. Rest in peace Corny.
While his own stock car racing career wasn't all that long, Doug Vanden Langenberg served as the chief starter for a number of northeastern Wisconsin dirt tracks.
Doug shares some great stories with us during his flagging career. Give them a listen!
In episode two of our series with 2024 Shawano Speedway Hall of Famer Verlyn Giguere, the Green Bay native talks about things like 'bending the rules' a bit and that may or may not include a story about (gasp) nitrous oxide!
Give episode No. 2 a listen!
Current Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) president Tom Hockers gives us a sneak preview of sorts of what's ahead for the FRRC's 'Thursday Night Thunder' schedule at Wisconsin International Raceway in 2024!
Give it a listen!
In this maiden voyage of the Verlyn Giguere podcast series of interviews, Verlyn talks about getting his feet wet in his rookie season at Shawano Speedway in the early 1980's.
Give it a listen!
Before he was an accomplished starter at a number of Northeastern Wisconsin dirt ovals, Doug Vanden Langenberg had some fun behind the wheel of a dirt late model himself during the mid 1980's.
Listen in as Doug tells us all about it!
De Pere native Larry Ingebretsen years ago uttered the most famous of quotes that relates directly to the "fun" factor in short track racing.
"When your toolbox gets bigger than your cooler, you've got a problem."
Listen in as we talked to this retired racer who's among the likeable fellows you'll ever meet.
In 2012 we caught up with Billy Moyer at the World of Outlaw late model show at Shawano Speedway.
Interesting to hear some of Moyer's takes on the sport of DLM racing some 12 years later. Some things have changed. Some things have REALLY changed.
Give it a listen!
When Brian Waechter's racing career kicked off in the late '80's in northeastern Wisconsin the IMCA modifieds were still relatively new to the area.
The Kewaunee pilot raced his way to track titles on the dirt in Seymour and Luxemburg. We recently caught up with Waechter who reflected upon his racing career which wrapped up almost a quickly as it started in the early 1990's.
Give it a listen!
In our 8th and final episode of the Roger Van Daalwyk podcast series , the longtime WIR track owner/general manager provides some keen insight to some of the more colorful players who've helped shape WIR into the iconic facility it is to this day.
Give it a listen!
One of the more popular events at WIR's oval throughout the decades is the popular event that takes place every year in early September - the Eve of Destruction.
Longtime track owner/general manager Roger Van Daalwyk talks about teaming up with Mike Bunnell and building this iconic event of epic proportions. It's the Daytona 500 for the Figure 8 drivers with a whole lot of mayhem thrown into the mix!
Give episode No. 7 a listen!
In episode six with longtime WIR track owner/general manager Roger Van Daalwyk, Roger details the birth of the popular 'Dixieland' races on the first Tuesday night in August.
The big event drew several big name NASCAR drivers over the years and continues to do so to this day.
Give it a listen!
We recently caught up with the new promoters of The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay.
Listen and learn about what prompted John and Adam Sternard to take the plunge and keep the lights on for racing in Door County in 2024!
For several decades the Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) has been the club that has promoted the weekly 'Thursday Night Thunder' races at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
Longtime WIR owner/general manager Roger Van Daalwyk talks about the history of WIR and working with the club officers over the years. Enjoy!
Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car (EWSC) announced their 2024 season schedule for another year of weekly racing at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds.
We recently caught up with EWSC's John Tienor who gave us a glimpse of what lies ahead on Friday nights this summer at the third-mile, clay oval located in Seymour, Wisconsin.
Give it a listen!
Dick Trickle was the first ever Red, White & Blue state champion at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in 1972.
In episode # 4 of our podcast series with longtime WIR owner/general manager Roger Van Daalwyk, Roger recalled how and why the RW&B series got started. Who was all involved in it's creation and all the top drivers who have competed in the prestigious series over the decades.
Enjoy this episode!
When legendary daredevil Evel Knievel made an appearance at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in the early 1970's, Roger Van Daalwyk was sort of 'assigned' to be a personal assistant of sorts to the flamboyant showman.
In episode # 3 Roger recalled his weeks when Evel stayed at the Van Daalwyk's home and what Evil was like. Give it a listen!
The year is 1972. Richard Nixon is the president of the United States. Don McClean's 'American Pie' topped the billboard charts.
And an 18-year-old Roger Van Daalwyk took over as General Manager of KK Sports Arena - later to be renamed Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
Listen in as Roger talks about his early tenure at the fabled oval!
As a teenager, Roger Van Daalwyk performed any task whatsoever as directed by his dad, Joe Van Daalwyk, as KK Sports Arena hosted stock car races in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in the mid to late 1960's.
Those tasks prepared him for when he would later take over as the track's general manager. Listen in to Roger's great stories!
De Pere's Tom Hockers has been in some form of motorsports nearly his entire life.
We recently caught up with the current Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) president. Hockers reflects upon his own racing career, which began as a youngster racing motocross.
Give it a listen!
Whether it's announcing a stock car race, hockey game or hosting his radio show, Curt Keene has been announcing sporting events since his teenage years.
We turned the tables on this Wausau native recently as Keene was on the other end of the microphone, sharing his stories.
Give it a listen!
When it comes to spotters whether it's the paved short tracks or the bigger shows in ARCA and NASCAR, Green Bay's Craig Kowaleski has earned a reputation as one of the best in the biz.
We recently caught up with Craig and he talks about how he got his start into being a top notch spotter and the incredible path and the number of drivers he's worked for over the years.
This one's a dandy! Give it a listen!
Ross Goldbeck was one of the competitors in the Fox River Racing Club's tough sportsman division that did battle on the quarter-mile oval at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in the 1970's and into the 1980's.
Goldbeck tells stories about his he got into the racing biz.
Give it a listen!
At just 20 years old, Rhinelander, Wisconsin native Parker Retzlaff continues to turn some heads in the NASCAR Xfinity series.
We recently caught up with Retzlaff as he returned to his roots at Eagle River Speedway's third-mile clay oval.
Give it a listen!
It's not often a NASCAR Cup driver randomly shows up at a dirt track nestled in Wisconsin's northwoods on a Tuesday night in the middle of the summer.
But NASCAR Cup driver Josh Bilicki of Richfield, Wisconsin did just that in a recent "pop in" visit to Eagle River Speedway. Bilicki talked about his road racing, the grind of beating the bushes to raise money to race in NASCAR, and a whole lot more.
Give it a listen!
Willard Raddant served as secretary of the Wolf River Racing Association (WRRA) and raced exclusively Ford stock cars with his brother LeeRoy Raddant in the 1970's and beyond.
We recently caught up with Willard, who spends time in the summer months back in Wisconsin watching his grandson Kyle Raddant keep the family name going in the local racing circles.
Give it a listen!
De Pere native Pete Vercauteren had a great career as a motorsports journalist, covering races starting in the late 1960's at the long defunct Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere, Wisconsin.
We recently caught up with Pete and he reflected about his time covering races, a lot of great De Pere racing history, and much more. Give it a listen!
Pulaski's Al Snellenberger is one of a few remaining folks left who battled in the ultra-popular coupe era of the 1960's at the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere and the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg.
Al reflects upon those days in this podcast. Give it a listen!
Bonduel, Wisconsin's Dillon Kralovetz enjoyed a ton of success at Norway (MI) Speedway - winning five straight late model championships before hanging up his helmet.
At 35, Kralovetz recently became the youngest ever inductee into the Speedway's Hall of Fame. Kralovetz revealed what drew him to tow north from Shawano County all those years to battle weekend traffic on Friday nights.
Give it a listen!
Norway, Michigan's Terry Mott got his start as a volunteer corner worker at Norway (MI) Speedway in the 1960's.
The 2023 Norway Speedway Hall of Famer reflected upon his colorful career, which included racing, his famous Cadillac Seville in 1980, and serving in several capacities for the Dickinson County Racing Association.
Give it a listen!
We recently caught up with 2023 Norway Speedway Hall of Famer Don Britton.
The Marquette, Michigan native reflected upon his brief but successful racing career - one which saw him race four times in three days including twice on Sundays!
Give it a listen!
Green Bay's Eddie Muenster is considered one of the pioneers of the northeastern Wisconsin IMCA modified racers dating back to the late 1980's.
We recently caught up with this 2023 Shawano Speedway Hall of Fame inductee. Eddie reflected upon his career in motorsports, which actually began in motocross. Give it a listen!
Spooner, Wisconsin's Ed Reichert has been covering the short track racing scene on dirt tracks for decades in Wisconsin, Iowa and MInnesota.
We recently caught up with the retired school teacher and we talked about the days of the popular racing trade papers, short track trends over the decades and much more. Give it a listen!
Gordie Seegert Jr. , a recent Shawano Speedway Hall of Fame inductee, had a solid career wheeling dirt late models at tracks like Shawano and Langlade County Speedway in Antigo. He actually cut his teeth at the long defunct Hales Corners Speedway near Milwaukee.
We recently caught up with Gordie and he shared with us some great stories about his storied racing career. Give it a listen!
In our ninth and final segment with Scott Hansen we throw some names at Scott of fellow racers, friends and other players in the racing community and Scott provides his honest take on those folks. Everybody from NASCAR, ASA, ARTGO and many others.
This one's a dandy folks and a great way to wrap up the "Titletown's Racing Champion" podcast series. Enjoy!
When the late '90s came about Scott Hansen partnered up with his old friend Kenny Schrader to do a little NASCAR Craftsman truck series racing.
Hansen will be the first to admit it wasn't really his cup of tea - for a number of reasons. Enjoy episode number 8!
In the '90s the sponsor money flowed freely and the regional and national pavement short track scenes remained on solid footing.
Scott Hansen, racing for Baker Motorsports and All-Star Racing, enjoyed racing for a living on the paved short tracks from coast-to-coast.
Hansen talks about those experiences in episode 7. Give it a listen!
Green Bay's Scott Hansen, despite not having a Fox Valley zip code, managed to win five straight Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) late model track titles from 1985 thru 1989 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
During that period he was able to land a lucrative sponsorship from Budweiser with Dean DIstributing, and even got into a bit of a tiff with ARTGO promoter John McKarns and WIR promoter Roger Van Daalwyk when it came to getting appearance/show money or a lack of it.
Scott tells all in episode # 6. Give it a listen!
We recently caught up with Brian Ambrosius of Little Buckaroo Jr Motorsports Park in Cecil, Wisconsin.
Brian talks about the upcoming season of Friday night karting in this podcast episode! Check it out!
In the early 1980's Green Bay's Scott Hansen continued to battle on the dirt tracks of northeastern Wisconsin.
But it was a chance meeting with a Green Bay insurance agent at a car wash of all places which turned out to be an eventual game changer for the soon-to-be five time WIR late model champion.
Check out episode # 5!
When the 1980 season rolled around, Scott Hansen purchased an asphalt exclusive race car for the first time out of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
It was rough going at times, racing at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna during a truly loaded field each Thursday night. Scott also paid an occasional visit to the newly repaved Norway (MI) Speedway with his buddy Bob Menor the "Ranger City Racer."
Give episode # 4 a listen courtesy of Muenster Service Center!
Green Bay native Roger Perret is one of a handful of former racers still around who battled in the popular coupe era of the 1960's at tracks like the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere and Shawano Speedway in Shawano.
We recently caught up with Roger and he recalled his racing days - which began in the 1960's. Give it a listen!
In 1979 Scott Hansen hooked up with the Luebke Bros. racing team out of the Fox Valley. Hansen's car was affectionately dubbed "The Arkansas Hog Scraper" and Hansen continued to ply his craft, learning weekly on the dirt tracks at De Pere, Shawano and he even began dabbling more with the pavement at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
You could say it was a "precursor" of things to come.
Give it a listen!
After two seasons of being primarily a backmarker and racing in mainly the slow heats and semi-features, Scott Hansen's Uncle Curt Hansen purchased a Boyce Trackburner chassis from Gene Wheeler of Appleton heading into the 1977 season.
Driving that car, Scott Hansen not only captured his first feature win that year (Luxemburg Speedway) he was able to mix it up with some of the best - Roger Regeth, J.J. & Jerry Smith, Roger Paul and the like instead of following them.
Give episode # 2 a listen!
Cleveland, Wisconsin's John "Ripple" Born was a top competitor in the sportsman division in the 1980's at both the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth and at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek when the track was still a quarter-mile, paved oval.
We recently caught up with Born and he reflected upon his racing career. Give it a listen!
Scott Hansen got bitten by the racing bug as a kid - tagging along as his dad Rollie Hansen flagged at a handful of race tracks in northeastern Wisconsin in the 1950's and 1960's.
Check out the first episode of nine as this five time WIR champion and five time Milwaukee Mile winner talks about the early days of his racing career!
In this eighth and final episode of "Meet The Muellers" at joeverdegan.com Roger Mueller opines about getting inducted into the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame. Eric Mueller chats about his role as the P.A. announcer at Road America and more.
Enjoy!
After hanging up the microphone Roger Mueller kept himself in the local racing circles, taking on a variety of roles at other ovals.
Everything from flagging or as a race director - Mueller didn't have much trouble finding work at many different Wisconsin ovals.
Give 'Meet The Muellers' podcast episode 7 a listen!
Green Bay's Les Yaeger is a 2011 Shawano Speedway Hall of Famer. The veteran dirt tracker recalled some great tales from his racing career that started in the '60s - including having to bolt red lights on the roofs of their cars because of the excessive dust on the track!
Give it a listen!
In episode 6 of "Meet The Muellers" both Roger and Eric Mueller chime in about winged sprint cars, late models and where they are the best fit in weekly racing - namely Plymouth and the now defunct Manitowoc County Expo.
This one is a dandy folks! Whether or not you agree with them in this one - give it a listen!
As Roger Mueller backed away from the microphone in the late '90's and took on other roles in racing such as flagging and race directing, the door was opened for Eric "Lil Mouth" Mueller to launch his own race track announcing career.
Give episode 5 of "Meet The Mueller's" a listen!
When it comes to racing legends in Michigan's Upper Peninsula Jamie Iverson's name is bound to pop up in the conversations.
With five Stateline Challenge titles under his belt, the son of Michigan racing legend Bob Iverson talks about growing up as a kid during the modified era, street stocks, the progression to asphalt super late models and more.
This is good stuff here! Give it a listen!
While announcing at Plymouth in the '90's Roger Mueller also hosted a local radio show "Let's Talk Eastern."
The show would have in studio guests, listener call ins and his 12-year-old producer at the outset was none other than "Lil' Mouth
Eric Mueller - his son.
Relive some of the funny tales with Roger and Eric in episode of 4 of "Meet The Muellers!"
With a few exceptions time trials are pretty much a thing of the past for weekly dirt track shows in Wisconsin.
However during the heyday at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth track announcer Roger Mueller did his best to make
qualifying exciting for the race fans. Roger talks about it in in episode 3 of "Meet The Muellers!"
It was common at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds in Plymouth, Wisconsin in the 1970's into the 1990's for drivers to earn a nickname from track announcer Roger Mueller.
Whether it was John "Ripple" Born, Wayne "Wiener" Goetsch or "The Flying Painter" Dick Berth, earning a nickname was almost a right of passage during the heyday of Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Association (EWSCA).
Roger shares some stories about how some of those monikers came to fruition in episode No. 2 of "Meet The Muellers." Check it out!
Roger "The Mouth" Mueller and his son Eric "Lil Mouth" Mueller have been track announcers going on six decades now throughout Wisconsin.
This is the first episode of eight and in this "maiden voyage" Roger talks about how he cracked into the business announcing at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wisconsin at the age of 17. Give it a listen!
Located in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin near the Wisconsin/Michigan border, Five Star Bodies has been manufacturing race car bodies and race car body parts for several decades.
We caught up with Five Star's Corey Schultz who gave us the lo down on the history of the business and where they see things headed into 2023.
Listen in!
Bassett Racing Wheel based in Burlington, Wisconsin was one of a handful of Badger state businesses showcasing their products for the 2023 racing season at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Indianapolis recently.
We caught up with Brian Gill of Bassett at the PRI show and he talked about the history of the business and where things are headed in 2023.
Give it a listen!
One of the more time consuming tasks in dirt track racing can be tire grooving/siping.
A Green Bay-based business 5 Point Fabrication has taken away a lot of that time and effort
with it's EZwheel. We caught up with 5 Point's Mike Coel at the PRI show in Indianapolis.
Check out what he had to say!
During the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show at Indianapolis earlier this year we caught up with IRA Outlaw sprint car president Steve Sinclair.
Sinclair reflected upon his long career in racing including where it's been, and where it's headed into 2023 and beyond.
Give it a listen!
The Captain of the Speedway Illustrated ship - Karl Frederickson - opines on the state of short track racing in the United States. And his outlook remains a positive one!
Give it a listen!
Two Rivers, Wisconsin's Bucky Wagner was a standout racer during the coupe era in the 1960's at Northeast Wisconsin ovals at Apple Creek and Francis Creek at 141 Speedway. Bucky tells some tales about the "good ol' days."
Give it a listen!
Manitowoc, Wisconsin's "Wild Bill" Fitzgerald had his mother Cecelia sign off on a waiver so he could begin his stock car racing career at 16-years-old. Cecelia shed a tear as she signed off but Fitzgerald never looked back. Now 92-years-young, Fitzgerald reflected upon his storied racing career that began in the late 1940s at race tracks that have been defunct now for several decades.
Give it a listen!
At the NASCAR level Cup, Xfinity and Truck rely upon reliable, "weekend warriors" who travel with the teams to the respective cities and lend a hand at each race weekend - wherever that may be.
Green Bay, Wisconsin's Dave Deprey has served as one of those "weekend warriors" for JD Motorsports Xfinity Team going on five years now. Listen to his story here courtesy of Muenster Service Center of Green Bay.
Merrill's Bruce Stanley's racing career kicked off in 1975 at dirt ovals now defunct in Neilsville and Colby, Wisconsin. He's raced at Marshfield on both dirt and asphalt and in 2022 he's still going strong on where he's a fixture many Tuesday nights at Eagle River Speedway.
Listen in to Bruce's story free of charge courtesy of K and E Sales and Service.
In this eighth and final episode of the Tom Wagner podcast series Tom share a funny tale involving Wayne Lensing at Dells Raceway Park, pinch hitting at places like Norway Speedway and a look back at his several decade career of announcing and writing about stock car racing. Give it a listen!
Former Milwaukee area racer Pat "Hacksaw" Heaney has emerged as one of the unofficial historians of the long defunct Hales Corners Speedway in Franklin, Wisconsin.
We recently caught up with Pat and he recalled some great tales from Hales and some other goodies! Listen in!
Tom Wagner is known as an accomplished stock car racing announcer. But not everyone knows he's been an integral part of the snowmobile racing scene in the Midwest during the winter months.
Listen in as Tom tells us all about it!
We recently caught up with 2022 Norway Speedway Hall of Famer Red Adair of Menominee, Michigan.
Red talked about how he got into the racing biz which included a stint into road racing before his time on the ovals of Michigan's Upper Peninsula! Give it a listen!
In episode # 6 Tom Wagner talks about pinch hitting at other tracks, expanding into the pavement scene, and some hilarious tales involving the late Gary Vercauteren that are guaranteed to leave you in stitches!
Listen in!
If you've been a track announcer for any length of time you're going to run into technical "glitches" from time to time.
In episode 5 Tom Wagner recalls the night at Sturgeon Bay when the p.a. system broke down. Turning the lights off accidentally at Seymour Tri-Oval at the Hit The Jackpot late model series race. Lotta laughs in this one! It's a dandy!
Aided in big part by the "Bomb Squad" which featured affordable, LOCAL racers from Door and Kewaunee Counties, longtime track announcer Tom Wagner talks about the true "rebirth" of racing in Door County in 1993 with promoters Rick Ledvina and Carolyn Tordeur at the helm.
Tom also talks about some of his favorite driver nicknames. This is my personal favorite podcast of the four so far that we've shared and it's a dandy! Listen in!
Earlier this summer we caught up with 2022 Hall of Famer at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay "Revin Kevin" Sternard.
Kevin talked about his career which included success in the bomber, street stock and IMCA modified divisions.
Give it a listen!
In episode three of the Tom Wagner podcast series Tom shares with us a story about getting 'snubbed' on an announcing gig, the success of Luxemburg Tri-Star Speedway in the late '80's into the '90's and much more!
Give it a listen!
When Tom Wagner's race track announcing career launched in the late 1970's he had big shoes to fill. Wagner replaced the legendary Fritz Van and there were a few bumps in the road along the way during the early days of Wagner's announcing and race writing career.
Tom tells us about it in Episode #2. Check it out!
Veteran track announcer and Door County racing historian Tom Wagner got hooked on races as a kid at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg, Wisconsin.
Funny thing his family as a whole really was not into stock car racing all that much.
Listen in to episode one of the Tom Wagner podcast series!
From the Harry Canary 111 to the Ken Tebon-owned red number 12, Brussels' Randy Guelette was a hired gun for most of his racing career in both the open wheeled modified and late model ranks mainly in Door and Kewaunee counties.
Listen to Randy's racing stories here!
Kewaunee's "Flyin' Brian" Bruechert can lay claim to have earned track championships in three different dirt track divisions in northeastern Wisconsin - street stocks and IMCA stock cars & northern sportmods.
We recently caught up with Brian who has hinted at a possible return behind the wheel down the road.
Listen in!
The track preparation by Merle Lisowe is one of the reasons 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wisconsin draws the highest dirt track car counts in the nation.
Listen in as Merle gives us the skinny on what all goes into preparing a dirt track for a night of racing.
Enjoy!
Appleton, Wisconsin's Dennis Monday has been around motorsports for most of his adult life.
Listen in to this "On The Record" interview where Dennis talks about the WIR quarter-mile sportsman days, serving on the pit crew for the late Jim Pagel, and his son's own racing careers.
Enjoy!
Neenah's Pete McVey emerged from a "semi-retirement" of sorts a few years ago to battle in the WIR 1/4 mile late model division.
Listen in as Pete talks about getting into motorsports through road racing and what he likes about WIR's quarter-mile late model class.
Rudolph, Wisconsin native Bryan Reffner had an occupation for several years that most kids from the Midwest only dream about - he raced stock cars and trucks for a living. Driving for Don and Marilyn Fanetti in the American Speed Association and then later in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the second-generation driver reflects upon his career, how and when he got his start and the current state of short track racing.
Check it out! (featured photo courtesy of Pete Vercauteren)
Appleton, Wisconsin's Ray Trudell was a fixture on the northeastern Wisconsin race tracks dating back to 1956. Trudell raced until 1978.
We recently caught up with the 86-year-old Trudell and he talked about his storied career.
Listen in!
Gary Roehborn is a well known racer from the Fox Valley who excelled on both the dirt and paved tracks of Northeastern Wisconsin in the 1970s and 1980s. He's also helped pit for a number of racers on occasion including national dirt late model hall of famer Pete Parker.
In this segment Roehborn shares many tales, including dealing with a very driven, perfectionist of a race car driver named Alan Kulwicki while he worked at RanderCar Racing. Check it out!
Vinyl lettering of race cars has been commonplace for a few decades now. Up in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Bryan "Woody" Wodack continues to design some top notch, award winning race cars.
Listen to the story of the man who hand lettered his first race car as a teenager and is still going strong in 2022.
We recently had the time to chat with one of the partners promoting The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay - John Sternard.
Sternard sizes up what's happening at the third-mile, clay oval located at John Miles Park. The season opener kicks off Sunday, May 29 with the Nathan Bouche Memorial. Give it a listen!
What's on tap for the 2022 season at The 'Burg Speedway in Luxemburg, Wisconsin? Listen in as Joe Orsini fills us in.
After the 1982 season Lowell Bennett had said goodbye to racing on dirt, had fallen in love with Slinger Super Speedway and began traveling to compete at ARTGO Challenge Series shows around Wisconsin.
Check out episode 10 of the Lowell Bennett podcast series!
It was in 1981 when Lowell Bennett fell in love with the high-banks of Slinger Super Speedway.
Lowell talks about the very successful 1981 campaign and winning at the world's fastest quarter-mile in only his second outing.
Give it a listen!
By the time 1980 rolled around, dirt tracks at De Pere, Seymour and Oshkosh had all closed their doors within three years of each other in northeastern Wisconsin.
Car counts were dwindling at Shawano - which was the only half-mile dirt track that remained open that year.
Still, Lowell Bennett soldiered on and continued to race weekly on dirt at Shawano and pavement at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. All with the same race car.
Listen in!
In episode 7 of the Lowell Bennett podcast series Lowell talks about his big switch to a small block motor and racing against many brand new race cars on both dirt and asphalt in 1979.
It was during the '79 season the dirt and asphalt cars also began to evolve into two different animals. Thus to run both surfaces with the same car required more work in the shop.
Give it a listen!
Racer and former promoter Eric Mahlik is "getting back into the game" of promoting - sort of.
Mahlik talks about the "League of Champions" and how it will work in 2022 at northeastern Wisconsin dirt ovals.
Check it out!
When 1978 rolled around Seymour Speedway had closed, gas prices began to soar and Lowell Bennett bought his dad's Camaro.
Lowell began to hang with the big dogs like J.J. Smith, Roger Paul, Pete Parker and the other big dogs of that era.
Check out episode number 6 of the Lowell Bennett podcast series!
It didn't take too long for Lowell Bennett to score his first ever feature win early in his career.
The victory was on the dirt - and it was at Luxemburg Speedway's third-mile, clay oval.
Lowell tells the story! Listen in!
Rick Schlabowske's tenure promoting race tracks seldom lasted very long.
But this jovial race promoter brought the "entertainment" factor to places like 141 Speedway, Luxemburg and Chilton in the mid to late 1980s. Things like hot dog races, professional wrestling, bump-and-run races, jello wrestling and just about any other whacky idea wasn't out of the question of a Rick Schlawbowske-promoted production.
Check out this podcast with this Luxemburg Speedway Hall of Famer.
How many racers can lay claim to winning the first race they ever competed in?
Lowell Bennett can. In his maiden voyage in 1976 at Shawano Speedway Lowell scored the first heat win.
Listen in!
Green Bay's Jim Krouse is one of just a handful of retired racers still around who experienced the thrilling days of the coupes trading paint at tracks in De Pere and Luxemburg, Wisconsin in the 1960s.
Those were days of packed grandstands and an occasional scuffle amongst drivers in the pits. Drivers and crew members wore white pants and teams could build a car with every component straight out of the local salvage yard.
Check out Jim's story here!
In episode # 3 of the Lowell Bennett podcast series, Lowell talks about the explosion in the early 1970s of the newer full-bodied late model cars in northeastern Wisconsin.
Lowell's Dad "Mr. B" Bobby Bennett also acquired a hot rod of a Chevelle - a car formerly driven by Jerry "Medina" Smith.
Check it out!
In episode 2 of the Lowell Bennett podcast series Lowell reflects upon the character and toughness of his dad, 'Mr. B.' Bobby Bennett.
Bobby was a pioneer of the northeastern Wisconsin racing scene who raced USAC stock cars and survived an airplane crash that would have left most people dead.
Listen in to this free content @ joeverdegan.com courtesy of Muenster Service Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin!
Lowell Bennett remembers a lot as four-year-old, including .50 cent pit passes at Shiocton Speedway in 1962.
Shiocton, Apple Creek & Leo's Speedway are among the earliest racing memories for Lowell as a little tyke.
Check out some of Lowell's early stories growing up in a racing family as a kid with his Dad "Mr. B" Bobby Bennett
including the creation of the Wolf River Racing Association (WRRA) in episode #1 in the Lowell Bennett podcast series.
In the mid 1990's an opportunity came about for Mike Randerson to get back into the racing game.
Listen in to episode 15 of the Mike Randerson podcast series as Mike talks about the birth of Right Foot Performance.
In 1992 Mike Randerson sold the successful business he had built up (RanderCar Racing) and went to work for Oshkosh Truck.
Mike talks about that transition in episode 13.
Enjoy!
In 1990 promoter Steve Rudolph reopened the Chilton Speedway, a 1/4 mile dirt bullring located at the Calumet County Fairgrounds.
Rudolph had one class and one class only - the Grand Nationals. Rudolph saw the car as a more affordable weekly division headliner compared to the more costly late models or sprint cars at that time.
Mike Randerson talks about the early 1990's and the explosion of this new division which also was the precursor of the Mid American stock car series on pavement. Good stuff here! Give it a listen!
Fueled in part by the cost-saving 9:1 engine compression rules and the ARTGO tour, the pavement late model scene exploded in the Midwest in the mid-1980's.
Mike Randerson was smack dab in the middle of this ever-evolving technology, and RanderCar Racing did it's best to continue to stay on top of both the pavement technology and the dirt late model scene. For Randerson the struggle was real as Mike details in this episode 12 series podcast.
Enjoy!
By the time the 1982 season rolled around in northeastern Wisconsin the late model divisions had evolved into two totally different animals on the dirt tracks like Shawano Speedway and on the tar at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
Mike Randerson was an integral part of the last three drivers in northeast Wisconsin who still worked to remain competitive on both surfaces - Lowell Bennett, Cliff Ebben and M.J. McBride.
Check out episode 11!
Who remembers the WIMSA mini sprints?
They were a great division at the old quarter-mile at the Calumet County Fairgrounds in Chilton, Wisconsin.
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin's Scott Sippel had that racy bullring figured out. Sippel reflects upon his division championships at Chilton, Wilmot and racing a 360 sprint car.
Listen in!
The short track racing world lost a legend on August 1, 1981 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin when Wausau's Larry Detjens passed away as a result from injuries suffered in a crash with Alan Kulwicki.
Randerson was one of many who responded to assist Detjens after the crash at the backstretch pit entrance. Randerson talks about the aftermath of the crash and how Kulwicki took some heat after that wreck and rebounded from it.
Give it a listen.
It was during a rainout one Thursday night from the races at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna when Alan Kulwicki met Mike Randerson.
Listen in as Randerson talks about Kulwicki, his quirks and intense desire to be the absolute best he could be.
Check it out!
In 1977 Mike Randerson became a dealer for Howe Racing Enterprises race cars. That dealership was ultimately the impetus for RanderCar Racing.
Randerson formed relationships during that time period with drivers like Pete Parker from Kaukauna, Wisconsin and began to spread his wings to Michigan's Upper Peninsula with champions Kent Pearson and Bob Iverson.
Give it a listen!
The sport of short track racing is all about relationships.
In episode 7 of the Mike Randerson podcast series Mike talks about a few of those important relationships heading
into the 1976 season. People like Dennis Frings, Carl Wegner, Lynn Blanchard, Tom Hamilton and Bill Bembinster to name a few.
Enjoy!
In 1975 when the promoters of De Pere and Seymour went head-to-head on Sunday nights, Roger "The Bear" Regeth opted to run De Pere in loyalty to Jack Peters.
That left Shawano to reap the benefits of having Regeth and J.J. Smith going head-to-head against each other on Saturday nights.
In episode 6 of the Mike Randerson podcast series Mike talks about that season of dominance in the Les Stumpf Ford 96 car and the incredible of amount of time, blood, sweat and tears Randerson, Geno Weber and Regeth put into that successful season.
Listen in! This one is a dandy!
In this week's MIke Randerson podcast series episode 5, we go back to the 1972 season when Randerson teamed up once again with Jerry "Medina" Smith and began racing in the tough, central Wisconsin racing circuit against the likes of Reffner, Trickle, Marzofka, etc.
Listen in!
Although he no longer races his IMCA modified or even attends stock car races regularly, Suamico's Sean Jerovetz remains front and center in the stock car racing scene.
Check out Sean's story!
Mike Randerson assisted dozens of racers in their racing careers over the decades.
One of them was The "Flying Farmer" Roger Paul, the most famous racer to emerge from New London, Wisconsin.
Listen in! This one is a dandy.
In this week's edition of the Mike Randerson podcast series, Mike talks about Jerry "Medina" Smith's USAC stock car victory that he was robbed of in Ohio, and his eventually teaming up with "The Bear" Roger Regeth!
Enjoy!
In this Mike Randerson podcast series interview Mike talks about racing upwards of four to five nights a week with Jerry "Medina" Smith in the late 1960s. Their travels included racing not only in northeast Wisconsin but in Central Wisconsin and dabbling even in the USAC stock car series.
Enjoy!
"I hit everything but the ambulance and the wrecker" said Mike Randerson regarding his early days of climbing behind the wheel himself in 1960.
This is the first episode in the weekly series of interviews with Randerson.
Enjoy!
Thorp, Wisconsin's Steve Haas is back behind the wheel racing his WISSOTA modified after taking several years off.
Listen in as Haas talks about his past late model racing days and how the sport has changed in 2021.
Listen in!
When conversations around the water cooler center around legendary stock car drivers from Michigan's Upper Peninsula Mike Kelly is most certainly among those wheelmen who get talked about.
We caught up with number 77 this summer at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Mike talks about how he got his start, beating Dick Trickle in Norway Speedway's Stateline Challenge, racing with his boys and much more.
Listen in!
Remember that little kid at WIR, who had his own set of flags and from behind the flagstand and would mimic every move the starter would perform on Thursday nights?
His name is Alexander Gilhart and in 2021 at the age of 19 he's one of the busiest starters in the Midwest.
Listen to Alexander's story!
Pittsville, Wisconsin's Eric Pember has been out of racing himself regularly since 2015.
However Pember still has his hand in motorsport in the role of a mentor/crew chief of sorts in northern and north central Wisconsin.
Listen in as Pember talks about that role, and his own racing career at places like Central State Speedway in Colby, the now defunct World Dirt Racing League and the old United States Modified Series BEFORE they added the "T" for touring.
Check it out!
Kaukauna, Wisconsin's Jerry Schneider has been active in the racing scene at his home track Wisconsin International Raceway for several decades now.
Listen in as we talk to Jerry about the past and the present - including where the idea came from for WIR's Circle of Fame. Listen in!
Green Bay's John Roeser had a season most drivers can only dream of in 2011.
Listen in as Roeser talks about racing in the old mini champ class in 1989 and the conversion to the sport truck class in 1990.
Richie Wauters racing career began as a curious 12-year-old riding his bike over to Scott Hansen's garage after hearing the race car's engine rumble on Green Bay's west side.
Wauters moved down south decades ago and is still short tracking. Listen in!
Bob Schmidt from Marion was not only a long time fixture at Shawano Speedway in the sportsman and Fastrak late model divisions for decades he was also Shawano County Sheriff for a stint.
Listen in as Bob recalls his racing days and how he got involved in the sport.
West Salem, Wisconsin's Steve Carlson has a pretty impressive resume, which includes NASCAR late model titles, ARTGO, RE/MAX CHALLENGE SERIES AND ASA MIDWEST TOURS. Throw in La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, WIR's Red, White and Blue and multiple Dixieland 250 crowns and you've got a legit short track legend who's still scoring feature flags in 2021.
Listen in!
Oshkosh, Wisconsin's Jerry Reichenberger was a regular fixture at Leo's Speedway in Oshkosh, Wisconsin right up until the track held it's last race at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds in 1978.
Listen in as Reichenberger talks about his colorful racing career - along with the careers of his son Mike Reichenberger and grandson Brandon Reichenberger. Enjoy!
Cambridge, Wisconsin's Jason Schuler has competed in the NASCAR Busch Series for four seasons.
As of late he's best known in the short track racing circles as one of the partners in Pathfinder Chassis.
We recently caught up with Jason as he reflected upon his own racing career and talked about the short track racing chassis business.
Listen in! Good stuff here!
At 43, Johnny Sauter remains one of the elder statesman in NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series.
But the second-generation driver from Wisconsin still has his roots planted firmly in the short track late model scene in the Midwest.
Listen in!
Oshkosh native Dave Panske has had a hand in working at race tracks as a photographer, writer, board member and promoter for much of his adult life.
Listen in as this Oshkosh native talks about how his love for racing got started and where.
Kimberly, Wisconsin native Jim Vandenberg had ties to Pete Parker, Alan Kulwicki and Mike Randerson during his career of racing on pavement and dirt tracks starting in the 1970s in northeastern Wisconsin.
Listen in as Vandenberg reflects on his racing days.
Perhaps no driver had more fun chasing the pavement late model racing scene in Wisconsin and the Midwest than Dennis Lampman did in the 1980s into the '90s.
Listen in as this Oak Creek, Wisconsin resident recalls tales from racing at WIR, Slinger, ARTGO and ASA.
The city of Kingsford, Michigan has produced quite a number of top flight racers over the decades.
Norway Speedway Hall of Famer Mark Miller is one of them.
Listen in as we take a trip down memory lane with number 41.
We were fortunate enough recently to catch up with Edgerton, Wisconsin's Rich Bickle Jr.
A man who's not afraid to hold back his thoughts - Bickle talked about his humble beginnings, racing against the best late model pilots in the country, NASCAR politics and everything else in between!
This is MUST listen to stuff! Enjoy!
When the IMCA modifieds were introduced to Seymour (WI) Speedway's half-mile in 1984 Randy 'Bing Bong' Boegh won the first ever race. Boegh talks about how the modifieds at the time were a newer, inexpensive option for dirt trackers and he chats about his days on the pavement at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
De Pere, Wisconsin's Steve Smits won in his first outing in 1/4 mile sportsman action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in the early 1980s.
Listen in as Smits reflects upon his days of trading paint with his sportsman foes.
Many folks don't know that the man at the helm of Right Foot Performance, Dave Schneider, got his start in racing in the mid-1970s tagging along with Gene Wheeler and his multiple racing endeavors.
Listen in as Dave Schneider talks about his own racing career in both late models and modifieds and his take on the technical end of racing these days.
Promoting a weekly racing program is a 7-day-a-week task - especially during the season.
Listen in as Shawano Speedway's Brad Luepke explains how it's much more than simply turning the lights on
and opening the gates on Saturday nights.
Kurt Schweitzer has been around motorsports for most of his adult life.
The current president of the Fox River Racing Club talks about how it all got started for him in the 1970s and his current position within the club that promotes the weekly 'Thursday Night Thunder' action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
Brillion, Wisconsin's Dan Peterman was always in the thick of things in the Fox River Racing Club's sportsman division races on the quarter-mile oval at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Listen in as Dan talks about the strength and parity within the class and the move from the quarter-mile to the half-mile and the evolution to what was referred to as a 'limited late model' at the time. Listen in!
Door County native Mike Schmelzer is most well-known for being the man behind Bay Speed Center in De Pere, Wisconsin. However Schmelzer had a racing career in northeast Wisconsin from the 1970s through the 1990s where he'd often race four nights a week on both dirt and asphalt. Listen in!
Matt Panure wears many hats. He's the voice of "Thursday Night Thunder" at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. He calls the action on the Dirt Kings late model tour. He one of the main players involved in promoting the TUNDRA super late model series.
Listen in as Matt discusses the unique business plan behind this series and why it remains an affordable option for both racers and track promoters alike.
What prompted Jason Shultz to put together the Dirt Kings late model tour? Listen in to find out!
Manitowoc, Wisconsin native Mike Kudick grew up in a racing family racing. Retired from racing for a bit now, Kudick talks about moving up north, running his own business and that non stop temptation to possibly return the the race track. Enjoy!
It was a race track in Peshtigo, Wisconsin of all places where Gene Coleman's passion for stock car racing was ignited as a youngster.
Listen in as we chat with a legendary racer, car owner and true business success story who emerged from humble beginnings in Menominee, Michigan.
Marshfield, Wisconsin's Rory Melbinger has been a winner on both dirt and asphalt ovals in his career in central Wisconsin.
Listen in as he talks about his racing career that started in the mid 1970s!
Menasha, Wisconsin's Steve Geise battled in the rough-and-tumble 1/4 mile sportsman class in Fox River Racing Club action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. After hanging up the helmet Geise served as a steward for the FRRC. Join us as Steve reflects upon his racing career which began at the now defunct Outagamie Speedway in Apple Creek.
Not many know where Branch, Wisconsin is, but it's the hometown of 'The Branch Flash' Greg Herrmann.
Herrmann is a former Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Association (EWSC) and Mid-American sportsman racer. He's also a race car builder and as of late has been instrumental in breathing new life into the Wisconsin and Michigan dirt street stocks through the Unified Street Stock rules package.
Listen in!
The Ness name has been a popular one in the Green Bay area racing circles dating back to Earl Ness' dominance at the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere in the '50s and '60s. Greg Ness kept that family name alive in local racing circles for several seasons beginning in the late 1980s. Listen in as Greg talks about his career which started out in Shawano Speedway's hobby stock division.
When it was time for Manitowoc, Wisconsin's Jimbo Schleis to hang up his helmet he found a way to stay involved with the sport he loved - he became a track official.
Listen in on this interview as Jimbo talks about the mini champ era that was strong in the 1980s at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek and eventually at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Schleis also wheeled a Mid-American Sportsman car at 141 until the track's very last pavement race that was held in September, 2009.
Green Bay's Jerry Muenster shows no signs of slowing down. He'll turn 80 in May, yet he plans on a full season of racing his IMCA modified at Shawano Speedway in Saturday nights in 2021.
Green Bay's Pete Clover was a Green Bay police officer who was pressured to race under an assumed name - Joe Scharenbroch.
Listen in on this funny story about a man who wheeled a race car during the popular coupe racing days in the '60s in De Pere and Luxemburg, WIsconsin.
Norway (MI) Speedway 2017 Hall of Famer Ron Baciak of Vulcan, Michigan talks about his days of slinging clay with the big and powerful winged modifieds in the 1970's and the transition to pavement late models in the 1980's and beyond. Listen in!
Brillion, Wisconsin's Andy Geiger got his racing career started racing full sized car enduros at 141 Speedway's paved track. From there he wound up toying with a mini champ and eventually scored a pair of Fox River Racing Club sport truck crowns at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Listen in as Andy reflects upon his colorful career!
Appleton, Wisconsin's Pete Berken has been involved in the stock car racing game since 1970. In recent years the former Fox River Racing Club sportsman champion has poured his heart and soul into breathing new life at WIR's 1/4 oval with the 1/4 mile late model class. Listen in on this dandy of an interview.
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin's Tom Sippel recalls the days when you could throw a modified together pretty cheap with scrapyard parts. Sippel's career wrapped up in 1975. Sippel talks about racing at Plymouth, Chilton and Slinger Super Speedway when it was still dirt back in the day. Listen in!
Mike "Beetle" Bailey, who resides in tiny Argonne, WIsconsin (population 503) is a Northern Wisconsin racing legend who's still going strong in 2021. Bailey won the very first race ever held at KG Raceway (now Eagle River Speedway) in 1975. Listen in as Beetle talks about days gone by and his racing days ahead!
Beginning in the late 1980's Kewaunee, Wisconsin's Rick Lemmens had a colorful racing career on both the dirt and paved tracks across northeastern Wisconsin and the Midwest. Listen to Rick talk about his own time behind the wheel and in 2021 as a car owner for his son Luke Lemmens.
Norway, Michigan's Joe Haferkorn talks the winged modified era, pavement late model days, Forest County Potawatomi sponsorship and an incident in the IMCA claim area with Paul Thorpe. Great stuff! Give it a listen!
You'd have to look pretty hard to find a more diverse stock car driver in Wisconsin that Bill Prietzel. The "Franklin Flyer" caught up with Joe Verdegan recently at the Luxemburg Racing Show and talked about the past and his 2021 racing plans. As you can imagine they don't include slowing down anytime soon! Give it a listen!
Randy Sippel has been an integral part of the Midwestern open wheel scene for decades. The second-generation driver talks about his past days of racing sprint cars himself and transitioning into the crew chief/car owner roles. Enjoy!
Green Bay's Brian Thielke is one of very few drivers who can lay claim to winning a feature in their first time out ever in a late model. That win and his hard-charging, aggressive style quickly earned him respect amongst his peers. We recently caught up with Brian and he reflected upon his brief, but colorful career in northeast Wisconsin! Listen in!
After he racing days were wrapped up in the 1980's Kimberly, Wisconsin native Dave Valentyne became a "right hand man" so to speak for Roger Van Daalwyk at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Dave is still a fixture at the track. We caught up with Dave as he talked about his colorful career which started in the wild and crazy Figure 8 division. Give it a listen!
Going on five decades now, Jim Duchow continues to be involved in stock car racing at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Listen to this interview as the former quarter-mile sportsman standout and super late model competitor talks about the past, the present and the future of local racing.
Oneida, Wisconsin's Wayne Roffers started his racing career in the mid 1970's. He bailed out to raise his family in the early '80's and also build a very successful business Wayne Roffers Trucking. We caught up with Wayne in the summer of 2020 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna to talk about the past and the present.
Green Bay's Art "Slugger" Siefert has been one of the colorful characters on the local racing scene for decades. Although he hasn't climbed behind the wheel himself in a while or flagged a race, we caught up with "Party Hearty With Artie" recently and the Shawano Speedway sportsman champion shared his thoughts on his racing career and that of his son late model ace Jared Siefert. Give it a listen!
"The Bear" Roger Regeth played the villain role to a "T" in Wisconsin racing circles in the 1970's and beyond. Listen to "The Bear" in his own words about racing the USAC stock car circuit, mopping up feature wins and track titles with Mike Randerson and Geno Weber and other juicy tidbits!
Ray Dietzen was one of the founding fathers of the Fox River Racing Club - the organization that has hosted weekly, Thursday night races at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna since the mid 1970's. Listen to Ray's memories on how the whole "Thursday Night Thunder" gig got started.
This summer Kewaunee native Steve Svoboda was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Luxemburg Speedway (rebranded 'The 'Burg in 2020). In this interview the former IMCA stock car champion and Mid-American stock car competitor talks about his racing career - as well as his Dad Les Svoboda's racing endeavors!
Appleton, Wisconsin racing legend J.J. Smith had to forge paperwork and say he was older than he was to kick off his racing career at the long defunct Apple Creek race track. Read on about this legend who was a force to be reckoned with on dirt and asphalt for several decades across northeast Wisconsin!
Al Golueke was a man whose passion for stock car racing started as a kid at the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere in the 1960's. Always known as an innovator during his racing career, we caught up with Golueke in the summer of 2020 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
Bob Menor is one of the few drivers from Wausaukee, Wisconsin. Known as "The Ranger City Racer" Bob had a successful career on the dirt and asphalt starting out racing at tracks in Crandon, Eagle River and Norway, Michigan. Bob would later in career focus on the pavement exclusively where he won his share of races and titles at Norway, and also ran at WIR in Kaukauna and even a short stint with ASA. We caught up with Bob as he was on his tractor working at his home this summer.
Nobody in the history of Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna has won more super late model track championships than Omro's Terry Baldry. Joe Verdegan got the man of few words to open up about his highly successful racing career.
Nobody wore the black hat and played the villain role at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna better than Appleton's "Hot Rod" Wheeler. Check out Rod's interview with Joe Verdegan during the summer of '20.
This week's "On The Record" features longtime midwest late model racer "The Junkyard Dog" Larry Schuler.
Terry Anvelink put the small town of Navarino at the forefront of the Northeast Wisconsin racing circles.
With a career that started in the mid '70's "The Navarino Nightmare" won his share of races and track championships.
Listen to learn more about this drivers near four decade racing career in the dirt late model circles.
Our "On The Record" segments aren't just for retired race car drivers. On occasion we'll feature retired race track promoters like long time Wisconsin International Raceway owner Roger Van Daalwyk.
Get the inside scoop from the man who took over as general manager of the Kaukauna, Wisconsin oval and dragstrip right out of high school halfway through the 1972 racing season.
Rudolph, Wisconsin's Tom Reffner is a central Wisconsin short track legend.
In 1975 Reffner won an incredible 67 feature races all across the Midwest, often racing four or five nights a week. Reffner also won the first ever ARTGO Challenge Series event.
Listen to our interview with Reffner we conducted in the summer of 2020.
It was May, 1970. The Beatles “Let It Be” was one of the top songs on the pop charts. Richard Nixon was the president and the president and stock car racing was the thing to do in De Pere at the Brown County Fairgrounds.
We at joeverdegan.com were able to unearth some true treasures – two reel-to-reel recordings of full nights of stock car racing on the dirt half-mile located just a few minutes from Green Bay. We believe the announcer back then was Paul Kaczrowski, who would later go on to become a very successful race promoter in his own rights.
The races that year were promoted by Jack Peters of De Pere. The two nights of racing we’ve posted are from the season opener on May 3, 1970 and May 17, 1970. This was an era where the coupes were beginning to die out and De Pere was running what were called “quasi-late models at the time – mainly ’57 Chevys and ’63 Fords and what not.
The May 17 race is significant as we believe this was the first time J.J. Smith came up from Appleton in his ’67 Plymouth. The first true “late model” and this race at De Pere, where J.J. appears in his car number 29 kicked off the late model revolution which mushroomed in popularity week-by-week at the half-mile dirt ovals at not only De Pere but Shawano and Seymour as well. All three were county grandstands and most often all three were full to capacity.
So sit back, click on the link and imagine yourself sitting in that big old concrete, covered grandstand listening to those raced cars and listen to Paul Kaczrowski call the action!
Appleton’s Wayne Weckwerth’s racing career started at the small bullring at Apple Creek in Appleton, Wisconsin and would span into racing the dirt and asphalt ovals of Northeast Wisconsin in the 1970’s. He also served a stint as a track announcer at both Seymour and Shawano Speedways.
Green Bay native Scott Hansen earned five Fox River Racing Club titles at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in the 1980's.
Hansen went on to win rookie-of-the-year honors in both ARTGO and ASA, and was a five time winner at the famed Milwaukee Mile.
Hansen's racing career wrapped up driving a NASCAR Craftsman truck for Kenny Schrader.
Brussels, Wisconsin's Darrell Massart grew up in the Kewaunee and Door County racing scene starting in the late '60s and into the '70s. His Dad Wally Massart was car owner and crew chief for "The Golden Boy" Irv Ettien." Massart went on to wheel late models and IMCA modifieds where he racked up multiple feature wins and track titles. We caught up with Darrell at 'The Burg Speedway in Luxemburg and talked about the past.