The Scoop - SNELLENBERGER SNAGS IMCA STOCK WIN NO. 222 – WEEKEND WRAPUP, REGIONAL DIRT FEATURE TOTALS & MORE (2024)

Posted on: Monday June 10, 2024

Pulaski’s Hot Rod Snellenberger scored IMCA stock car career win No. 222 at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour Friday. (danlewisphoto.net)

It’s almost like a broken record – weather has remained an issue most weekends in northeastern Wisconsin since April and this past weekend once again was no exception.

Friday night went without a hitch at Outagamie Speedway Friday. Despite Dirt Kings Tour pulling a few area cars that traveled to the west, a decent field of 18 late models competed with Shawano veteran Tom Naeyaert picking up a popular win.

The driver who know is in his mid-60’s no longer races as often as he once did. Outagamie has a good thing going by sprinkling in some late model shows. Seymour had a 162 car field on hand and despite folks who may have questioned Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car (EWSC) not chopping any other classes to make room for the late model shows, for the most part the show ran fairly smoothly with a few minor hiccups.

When he won more frequently he often got booed but nowadays the cheers outnumber the jeers for Pulaski’s “Hot Rod” Snellenberger. Wisconsin’s winningest IMCA stock car driver picked up sanctioned career win No. 222 and the victory was a popular one for the locally partisan crowd. “Hot Rod” followed that performance up two nights later at Luxy Raceway where the veteran wheelman topped a stout 58 car field to which he fattened his wallet with a $2,100 payday.

Snellenberger’s Sunday night win was part of Luxemburg’s Prelude to the clash at 141. Others who earned sizeable paydays were Cole Czarneski in the modifieds and Robert Wittkopf in the northern sportmod division. The racer’s victories were each worth $2,200.

Saturday night rain hampered efforts at both 141 Speedway in Francis Creek along with the Ken Schrader night at Shawano Speedway. As evidence that money is no longer the sole factor that decides where drivers decide to race, a meager nine late models turned out for a $1,500-to-win show for late models.

Granted there is some heartburn possibly with a few teams regarding their current rules package. And truth be told Dirt Kings really didn’t take that many of their ‘regular’ drivers away. On Saturday in Decorah, Iowa, the ‘locals’ (locals defined as northeastern WI area drivers including Plymouth regulars) in attendance there were Nick Anvelink, Brett Swedberg, Bill Edler, Paul Parker and Waukesha’s Taylor Scheffler). It was sort of a surprise to see Shawano’s Lucas Postl rolling into Shawano from Fountain City, opting to support their hometown track.

Meanwhile at 141 Speedway a 191 car field in six classes were on hand before Mother Nature tossed out the final checkered flag with persistent, pesky rain showers which wound up canceling both shows.

BY THE NUMBERS – FIVE is the number of drivers who pulled ‘double duty’ racing in more than one class Friday night at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour. They included Beaver Dam’s Brandon Schmitt (IMCA modified & stock car), Denmark’s Cole Czarneski (IMCA modified & stock car), Seymour’s Jayden Schmidt (late model & IMCA modified) and Gillett’s Kyle Frederick (late model & IMCA stock car). 162 is the number of cars in attendance at Seymour in their six division show Friday. 18 is the number of late models in attendance for the first late model race of the year at Outagamie.

DIRT KINGS LEFTOVERS – Navarino’s Nick Anvelink fared the best of the locals that made the tow out west this weekend for a pair of Dirt Kings Tour outings. The second-generation racer placed fourth at Mississippi Thunder Speedway (MTS) Friday night while on Saturday night at Winneshiek Raceway in Decorah, Iowa he wound up the same fourth position. Shawano’s Brett Swedberg took seventh at Winneshiek Saturday. Rochester, Minnesota’s Dustin Sorenson picked up the win both nights. The next Dirt Kings series event is scheduled for Saturday, June 22 at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek for the Diamond 46 which will pay $4,600-to-win and $460-to-start.

IT’S CLASH WEEK – Drivers from several states are expected to converge on 141 Speedway in Francis Creek this week with the 16^th annual Clash At The Creek running June 10-12.

A pair of $10,000-to-win IMCA modified features are on tap on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, in part due to support from Quietwoods RV Sales and Service. Monday night will serve up hot laps and free admission for the fans.

Both Tuesday and Wednesday nights the IMCA stock cars and northern sportmods will also race for $1,000 top prizes. Fans can follow the track’s Facebook page for additional information.

THE HILL BACK ON – Racing resumes Saturday, June 15 at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay. Joining the track’s regular weekly divisions will be the visiting class grand nationals. The action at John Miles Park kicks off at 6 p.m.

IMCA STOCKS AT EAGLE RIVER – For the first time in track history Eagle River Speedway will host IMCA stock cars weekly. The season opening race at the third-mile, clay oval in Wisconsin’s northwoods is set for Tuesday, June 11. Eagle River late models, B modifieds, Unified street stocks, 300 and 600 micro sprints are also part of the weekly program at Eagle River. Racing gets underway at 7:30 p.m. For additional information it’s best to check the Eagle River Speedway Facebook page for regular updates, including weather related posts.

ANTIGO OFF – An effort to bring some more semi-weekly stock car racing at the Langlade County Fairgrounds in Antigo has fizzled out. In a post from Justin Zirngible via their ‘High Speed Half Promotions’ Facebook page, Zirngible announced that they will not be able to promote any shows at the clay half-mile in 2024. However he did mention the group was attempting to get ‘stuff ready’ for the 2025 season. The Dirt Kings late model tour will host a King of the Fair race at Antigo on Friday, July 26.

Shawano’s Lyla Springborn races at GSR Kartway Wednesdays and Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park on Fridays.

KARTING KORNER – After battling Mother Nature most Wednesdays GSR Kartway in Clintonville will attempt to get their kart and lawn mower racing program in again Wednesday, June 12. Hot laps begin at 6 p.m. with the first green flag scheduled to fly at 7 p.m. Little Buckaroo Jr. Motorsports Park in Cecil will again host their racing program beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 14.

PAVEMENT PONDERINGS – The first leg of the Red, White & Blue state championship series kicks off Thursday, June 13 with the Red Race at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Leading the expected entries in the super late models is NASCAR truck series star Ty Majeski from Seymour. Casey Johnson and teen phenom Ty Frederickson from Minnesota are expected to give the stout field a locals a run for their money. The action gets underway at 6:45 p.m.

TUNDRA LEFTOVERS – Gleason’s Justin Mondeik picked up the win in the Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial race at Marshfield Motor Speedway Saturday in the TUNDRA super late model series. Rounding out the top five finishers were Madison’s John Beale, Wausau’s Brock Heinrich, Jeremy Lepak & Wisconsin Rapids Mark Eswein who placed 2^nd through 5^th, respectively.

The next event scheduled for the TUNDRA super late model series is set for July 6 at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells for the North American Cup dedicated to longtime engine builder Carl Wegner.

The ASA STARS national tour will make a doubleheader swing into Wisconsin this coming weekend. Friday, June 14 the tour stops at Madison International Speedway with the traditional Father’s day race taking place at the Milwaukee Mile Sunday, June 16. For additional information please check out starsnationaltour.com. The Midwest Truck Series will also be in action at the Milwaukee Mile June 16.

No matter where it is, get out and support your local race track IN PERSON whenever possible. Nothing wrong at all with online streaming but NOTHING beats BEING THERE in person! Have a great week!

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN REGIONAL DIRT TRACK FEATURE WIN TOTALS 2024 (as of 6/10)

(Tracks included, but not limited to, include Outagamie Speedway, 141 Speedway, Shawano Speedway, Plymouth Dirt Track, Gravity Park, The Hill Raceway, Beaver Dam Raceway, The ‘Burg & Plymouth Dirt Track. These totals will also reflect any driver feature wins that occur out-of-state or at other ovals in Wisconsin)

LATE MODEL

Brett Swedberg 2

Troy Springborn 2