Racing interviews
In the sixth and final episode with local racing legend Chuck Grall, Chuck recalls getting the new-at-the-time IMCA northern sportmod class running at the Langlade County Fairgrounds in Antigo.Grall also spent that year wheeling his sportmod on the pavement at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek. Give episode 6 a listen courtesy of Muenster Service Center!
It' not often a local, low buck short track racer can beat a NASCAR star like Mark Martin.But it did happen at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek in July, 1986.Chuck Grall won one of the very first IMCA modified "specials" in northeast Wisconsin when 141 Speedway was still a paved, quarter-mile bullring.In episode 5, Chuck breaks down that wild night. Enjoy!
In episode 4 with northeastern Wisconsin racing legend Chuck Grall, Grall recalls the birth of the IMCA modified in the greater Green Bay area beginning in the early-1980's.Listen in, as Grall recalls the days when most cars were very affordable, and were mostly constructed with parts obtained from the junkyard!
Prior to the 1980 season, Chuck Grall built a somewhat controversial race car dubbed the "Imposter Impala."Chuck battled in the loaded sportsman division field in Fox River Racing Club (FRRC) competition at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.Listen in to episode # 3 as Chuck details the drama surrounding the construction of this fast hot rod!
In the 1970's and into the early 1980's, Chuck Grall enjoyed racing on both the asphalt of WIR in Kaukauna and Saturday on the dirt at Shawano Speedway.In episode # 2, Grall describes the lengths he would go through to maintain a car to race on both surfaces.Enjoy episode # 2!
Antigo, Wisconsin native Chuck Grall is one of the true "Last of the Mohicans." As a driver, he took pride in building all of his own race cars from the ground up! Listen in to episode # 1, as Grall explains how he cut his teeth into the racing world in northeastern Wisconsin.
In our 6th and final interview episode with longtime Luxemburg Tri-Star Speedway promoter Kelly Hafeman, we play the always-fun "name dropping" game.Kelly talks about some of the key drivers and track officials who helped make the third-mile, clay oval at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds one of the best dirt tracks in the Midwest.Give episode 6 a listen courtesy of Muenster Service Center in Green Bay!
After the 2001 season wrapped up at Luxemburg Tri-Star Speedway, promoters Kelly & Debbie Hafeman, along with partner Ralph Aschenbrenner, had 'been there' and 'done that.' Their highly successful, Friday night program continued to boast solid car counts and near capacity crowds weekly. Kelly & Debbie talk about what prompted them to bow out after 13 seasons. Enjoy episode 5 courtesy of Muenster Service Center of Green Bay!
Kelly and Debbie Hafeman, along with partner Ralph Aschenbrenner, had a very successful run promoting Luxemburg Tri-Star Speedway from 1989 through 2001. The Hafeman's are quick to point to their loyal staff members over the years who helped keep their fast-paced, efficient racing program running smoothly. A few of the names of those employees and sponsors they may have missed in this story they wanted to give proper credit to include: Joe Faltynski, Pat Truttmann, Dennis Flavion and Kevin Jauquet. Also Porky and Nick DeGrand and Mike Schraufnagel as well. Give episode 4 a listen!
After the 1988 season, Kewaunee County was seeking a new promoter for their dirt track. Kelly & Debbie Hafeman, along with partner Ralph Aschenbrenner, answered the bell. The trio hosted weekly, Friday night races at Luxemburg until 2001. Their program was highly successful and boasted solid crowds and a pit area chock full of talented, local drivers. But as Kelly points out in episode 3, all was not rosy in the beginning. Give this episode a listen courtesy of Muenster Service Center!
In the mid-1980's, the IMCA modifieds were introduced to Northeastern Wisconsin, running first at Seymour Speedway's half-mile in 1984 and then a season later at 141 Speedway (back then a paved quarter-mile) in Francis Creek. Kelly Hafeman had a front row seat. 41 years after the popular open-wheeled class was introduced to the greater Green Bay area, Hafeman takes us back to the thought process back then and revisits the early days of the IMCA modifieds locally. This one is a dandy! Give it a listen!
For longtime Luxemburg Tri-Star Speedway promoter and former IMCA modified champion Kelly Hafeman, he was bitten by the racing bug as a youngster at the long defunct Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere, Wisconsin. Listen in to episode 1 of this six segment series where Kelly describes how and when his involvement with stock car racing kicked off. This segment courtesy of Muenster Service Center in Green Bay!
We recently caught up with Montello racing legend Larry Richards. Listen in as this "Original Outlaw" talks about his racing career, and dodging death at Beaver Dam Raceway in 2023. Give it a listen!
When he was nicknamed "The Kid" in the early 1970's Jerry Jonet was cutting his teeth at dirt ovals close to home at Luxemburg and Door County in addition to trying the big "half-mile" at the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere. Since his racing days wrapped up in the late 1970's Jonet has been an integral part of the racing action at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg. Listen in as this Luxemburg Speedway Hall of Famer reflects upon his own racing career in addition to his current role at the fairgrounds. Give it a listen!
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 Evil 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 Evil 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!