Racing is back this Friday night at Madison with double the fun and excitement with twin features in all four divisions on tap.
This Friday night at Madison International Speedway Bobcat of Janesville presents Hall of Fame Night featuring double features for the Club LaMark NASCAR Late Models, Dave’s White Rock Sportsman, Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits and the visiting Legends. Fans will enjoy nearly 200 laps of feature racing on both Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile and the Ring of Fire.
All divisions will qualify at 6:15 with the RA Heating and Air Conditioning Dashes for the three weekly divisions starting off the racing program at 7:30 followed by eight feature events.
Pit gates open at 3:30, practice at 5:00, qualifying at 6:15 and racing at 7:30. Adult admission is $14 / Whelen Hero-Seniors are $12 / Students are $8 /Family Pricing is just $30
Four new members of the Hall of Fame will be inducted during intermission with Father Dale Grubba joining us for the presentations. Their names will be displayed on the outside wall of the track along with last year’s inductees Joe Shear, Dick Trickle, Sam Bartus, and Tom Reffner.
Hall of Fame Inductees
Thank you to Gary Schmelzer for providing the following information.
Conrad Morgan of Dousman, Wisconsin, won track championships at Madison in 1983, 1984, and in 1992. He won a total of 10 feature wins on Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile. He began his racing career in hobby stocks in the mid-1960’s and continues to race today primarily at the Slinger Speedway. He won Super Late Model track championships at Slinger in 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, and 1999. He also won the Slinger Nationals in 1999.
Dave Watson of Milton, Wisconsin, won the 1976 track championship at Madison and quickly went on the fast track in racing. He earned 18 feature wins at Madison. In 1976 he won 41 races in 69 starts throughout the Midwest. . Besides Madison he won track championships at Lake Geneva, Slinger, and Rockford plus the Red White and Blue Series on three occasions, National Short Track at Rockford, and Oktoberfest in LaCrosse. Watson won ARTGO and ASA championships, was USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year in 1977…won a USAC event at Milwaukee in his first start. Rising to the highest level of stock car racing in 1979, he had 5 Winston Cup starts. He also raced in IMSA and SCCA. He began his racing career in Go Karts and is a Vietnam Veteran.
Bob Schmelzer of Madison, Wisconsin, was involved in the local racing scene for over 50 years and was a long-time employee at Madison beginning back in 1963 performing a variety of roles and continuing for several different owners / promoters. From 1992 until the time of his death he ran the pit gate at Madison. Bob and his wife Darlene began going to races in the early 1950’s and before long Bob was actively involved in the racing community. Prior to his time at Madison, he performed a variety of roles from flagging to scoring at area tracks including Jefferson, Dells, Beaver Dam, and from 1970-1974 he and his family owned and promoted 151 Speedway near Columbus. He worked closely with the McKarns family and the ARTGO series as well as other touring groups. Bob passed away in 2011.
Fred “Fritz” Bishofberger of Waterloo, Wisconsin, drove the #18 car for several years at Madison before the half-mile was installed in 1969. In 1968 he set fast time on four nights plus won two features at Capital Speedway along with track championships at Columbus and the Dells. He was a strong competitor who won many races throughout the region racing with legends such as Trickle, Shear, and Reffner. When the half-mile opened in 1969, he set fast time at the very first event on the big track with a time of 20.10. He raced at many area tracks and was a fierce competitor in the CWRA ranks. His son, Ron, won a track championship at Madison in 1983 and grandson Zeke continues to race today. Fritz passed away in 1997 at the age of seventy.
Sign Up Now for the Racer’s Reunion
Calling all former racers: A Racer’s Reunion will also be held on July 8th for all drivers who raced at Madison from 1953-2006. The reunion will take place from 6-8 PM and drivers must register at http://misracing.com/racers-reunion/ by July 6th. Each driver will receive one free ticket and may take one guest with them to the reunion.
Upcoming Events in July
An exciting schedule of racing events continues in the month of July at Madison International Speedway.
Just a reminder that Family Pricing is good for two adults and up to four students and / or kids. The Whelen Hero discount is $2 off for veterans and those in public safety (Police, Fire, EMS).
Thursday, July 14: One on One Street Drags plus Shine N Show Contest. Nearly 100 competitors were here in June before persistent rains washed away the program. There is an opportunity for just about every vehicle to get on the 300 foot drag strip so join us for the street drags. Entry fee is only $10 per bracket. $10 admission to the speedway.
Friday, July 15: Buck Night featuring Club LaMark NASCAR Late Models, Dave’s White Rock Sportsman, Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits, and Roto Rooter 6Shooters. Concessions $1.00 / Beer $2.00…some restrictions apply.
Friday, July 22: Super Late Model Triple Crown Challenge Round 2 plus Club LaMark NASCAR Late Models, Dave’s White Rock Sportsman, and Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits. It’s also Kids’ Night with all children eleven and under admitted free with a $1000 coin scramble at intermission.
Friday, July 29: Salute to the Workin’ Man- half price admission with a current pay stub. Mid American Stock Car Series, Great Northern Sportsman, Midwest Trucks, Midwest Dash plus the Beer Mile (Must be 21 to enter this unique running race).
Points Update
As we roll into July it’s time to start looking at the point races in the three weekly divisions at Madison. Please note: Late Model and Bandit points for qualifying and heats on June 10th are now posted and included in the point standings. Feature results will be added when completed on August 5th.
A clean sweep on Friday night means a total of 215 points is possible for one driver (100 for each feature / 15 for qualifying).
Late Models: Multi-time and multi-division track champion Bobby Wilberg is on top of the leader board with 350 points with John Beale in second at 307 points. Completing the top five are Kevin Knuese (306), Zack Riddle (287), and John Baumeister Jr. with 267 points.
Sportsman: Two-time champion Robert Hansberry leads with 577 points followed by Ryan Goldade (513), Steve Anderson (485), Mike Taylor (431), and Trevor Robinson (395).
Bandits: Brandon DeLacy shows the way with 264 points with James Junget and Chris Tolliver tied for second with 194 points each followed by McKayla Adams (182) and Steve Dickson (174). Of the top five only Dickson has won a Madison track championship.
Triple Crown Challenge: After one event Ty Majeski has 117 points followed closely by Casey Johnson and Austin Nason with 112 points.
Current leaders in the RA Heating and Air Conditioning Dash are Wilberg (Late Models), Hansberry (Sportsman), and DeLacy (Bandits). Dash points are maintained separately from championship points.
Complete standings available at misracing.com
See you this Friday night at Madison International Speedway. Keep following us on Facebook and Twitter @MISRacing