Carter Nilson took home his first-ever feature win at Madison tonight by winning the 48 lap main event for the Big 8 Late Models as part of Liuna! Local 464 Night.
Other winners included Bentley Thompson and Cael Slater (Legends), Oliver Weinkauf and Brayden Adams (Bandoleros) and Dave Edwards (Modifieds).
It was Kids’ Night as well with many prizes awarded during the night plus the young fans had the opportunity to race during intermission in the annual Bike, Big Wheel, and Power Wheel races.
Nilson Best of the Big 8
Carter Nilson has been so close at Madison this year. But now that’s all in the past as he not only won the 48 lap Big 8 race tonight, but he fought off Zack Riddle and Michael Bilderback in doing so. This was the 29th race at Madison for the Big 8 dating back to 2005. Nilson is now the 16th different driver to win at Madison.
Jon Reynolds Jr. and Jerry Mueller paced the field to the green flag with Mueller getting a slight advantage after the first lap. Mueller was able to open up a three car length advantage while Reynolds Jr. was battling with Carter Nilson for second. Nilson took the second spot on lap 3 while Bilderback took third from Reynolds Jr. on lap 4. Riddle moved into fourth on lap 5. A spin at the rear of the field brought out the yellow flag on lap 6.
Mueller led the field back to the green flag followed by Nilson and Bilderback. On lap 8 Riddle moved up to third ahead of Bilderback.
On lap 10 Nilson moved to the inside of Mueller to take the lead. A spin brought out the second caution of the race.
It was Nilson’s turn to pace the field back to green while Riddle wasted no time getting by Mueller for second. Nilson and Riddle broke away from the pack while Mueller, Bilderback, and Bobby Wilberg were fighting it out for third. A caution for a spin on lap 16 negated the sizeable lead for Nilson and Riddle.
Once again It was a great restart for both Nilson and Riddle who jumped back out front with Bilderback getting by Mueller for third and Ryan Goldade cracking the top five. On lap 18 Wilberg returned to the top five. This time it was Nilson, Riddle, and Bilderback breaking away from the field. At the half way point Nilson’s lead over Riddle was 0.472 seconds.
With twelve laps to go, a lapped car slowed Nilson allowing Riddle to close the gap, but Nilson calmly kept his focus straight ahead as he was able to keep Riddle at bay. With five laps to go Nilson’s lead was 0.6 seconds.
Nobody was going to take this one away from Nilson as he held off Riddle the rest of the way to pick up the checkered flag. Following Nilson in the top five were Riddle, Bilderback, Wilberg, and Landry Potter.
“It feels great. The car was on rails, I’ve got to thank my mom and dad,” said a jubilant Nilson who was joined by family and friends in victory lane.
In weekly Late Model racing this year he has had three podium finishes and has been in the top five eight out of twelve times.
Bobby Wilberg won the Odd Heat while Nilson took the win in the Even Heat. Zack Riddle set fast time with a lap 18.811 (95.689 mph)
Bentley Thompson is a Legends Winner
Thompson won the first 20 lap feature for the Slater Racing Legends. It was his first Legends win at Madison after previously getting two wins in the Bandolero division.
Tyler Edmundson and Carter Stein led the field to the green flag. Edmundson jumped out to the early advantage with Bentley Thompson quickly up to second. On lap 5 Bentley Thompson took the lead coming out of turn four only to see Cael Slater take the lead away from him one lap later. A spin on lap 7 brought out the first yellow flag.
Slater brought the field back to green followed by Thompson, Stein, and Lincoln Cain. Cain moved up to third on lap 8 as the top four broke away from the pack. Cain moved past Thompson on lap 9 to take the second spot. Slater opened up an eight car length lead over Cain with lapped traffic ahead. A spin on lap 14 brought out the caution flag and took away Slater’s multi-car lead.
Slater and Stein lined up side by side for the restart with Slater jumping back out to the lead with Cain on his rear bumper. With three laps to go it was another spin and another caution setting up another restart.
Cain chose to line up in the second row behind Slater for the restart with Stein taking the outside next to Slater. With two laps to go Cain and Slater made contact bringing out the caution flag and sending both to the back of the field.
Stein and Thompson now made up the front row followed by Ryan Laatsch and Lee. Thompson took the lead from the outside and hung on to hold off Stein, Laatsch, Dalton Lee, and Marianna Kubicz.
“This is exciting to be in victory lane,” said Thompson.
Cael Slater Back in Victory Lane
Slater picked up his second win of the season by taking the checkered flag on the final lap in the second 15 lap feature for the Legends.
Mark Wellman and Gage Kubicz led the field to the green flag with Art Hahn taking the early lead before the caution flag waved on the second lap for a spin. Hahn brought the field back to green followed by Dalton Lee with Lee taking the lead on lap 3 before another caution flag for a spin.
Lee continued to lead after the green flag waved and opened up a ten car length lead over Hahn and Cael Slater. At the half-way point Lee’s lead over Slater was 1.4 seconds, but Lincoln Cain was the fastest car on the track and had moved up to third.
Slater was cutting into the lead as the leaders were closing in on lapped traffic with three laps to go. On the final lap Slater found room on the inside of Lee coming out of the final turn and squeezed by to take the win. Finishing behind Slater were Cain, Lee, Laatsch, and Stein.
“I didn’t think I was going to be able to catch him,” said Slater from victory lane.
Fast time was established by Lincoln Cain with a lap of 13.704 (65.674 mph)
The Slater Racing Legends are back in action for their championship night on August 21st.
Oliver Weinkauf Makes It Two in a Row at Madison
Weinkauf won the 15 lap Bandolero “A” Feature for the second time in two trips to Madison in 2026.
Jaxxton Jump and Axel Oldenhoff led the field to the green flag. Jump leaped out to the early lead with Emily Billings wasting no time getting up to second. On lap 4 Billings was able to get the lead before spinning in turn four bringing out the caution flag.
Jump paced the field back to green followed by Oliver Weinkauf who took the lead over Jump with Brayden Clossey in third. Clossey took the second position on lap 6 with Weinkauf building up a solid lead out front. A spin back in the pack on lap 8 brought out another caution flag.
For the restart Weinkauf chose to line up on the inside of the first row with Clossey choosing to line up inside of row two which allowed Wesley Baumeister to move up to the front row. With six laps to go Baumeister made his way to the inside of Weinkauf to take the lead.
With two laps to go Weinkauf got to the inside of Baumeister to take the lead and led the rest of the way to pick up the win. Billings worked her way all the way back up to third with Clossey and Hunter Graham rounding out the top five.
“I just thought the race isn’t over until it’s over,” said Weinkauf from victory lane.
Heat winners were Jarrett Reynolds, Jaxxton Jump, and Wesley Baumeister. Baumeister was fast qualifier with a lap of 14.373 (62.617 mph)
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Brayden Adams Travels to Victory Lane
Fourth generation driver Brayden Adams won the 10 lap “B” feature for the Bandoleros.
Wyatt Robinson and Jarrett Reynolds led the field to the green flag with Reynolds vaulting out to the early lead. Kinsleigh Weber and Brayden Adams were closing the gap on Reynolds at the half-way point. Adams took the lead with four laps to go after Reynolds drifted up the track coming out of turn two.
There was no denying Adams who led the rest of the way and made his first trip to victory lane.
“This feels awesome,” said Adams from victory lane.
Dave Edwards Wins the Modified Match Race
Corey Swanson and Dave Edwards came to Madison to race tonight!
The pair raced a head to head match race of three, five lap segments. Swanson won the first segment with Edwards taking the win in the second race. Edwards was victorious in the third and final segment to pick up the overall win.
Edwards won the heat race.
Results
Big 8 Late Models
Feature: (1-10) Carter Nilson, Zack Riddle, Michael Bilderback, Bobby Wilberg, Landry Potter, Jerry Mueller, Josh Lundy, Jon Reynolds Jr., Tyler Harding, Steve Rubeck
(11-15) Garrett Scott, Alex Braseth, Ryan Goldade, Dave Cooter, Jake Gille
Odd Heat: (1-8) Bobby Wilberg, Zack Riddle, Michael Bilderback, Jerry Mueller, Alex Braseth, Tyler Harding, Steve Rubeck, Garrett Scott
Even Heat: (1-7) Carter Nilson, Jake Gille, Jon Reynolds Jr., Josh Lundy, Ryan Goldade, Landry Potter, Dave Cooter
Qualifying: (1-10) Zack Riddle, Carter Nilson, Michael Bilderback, Jake Gille, Jon Reynolds Jr., Bobby Wilberg, Josh Lundy, Tyler Harding, Alex Braseth, Landry Potter
(11-15) Steve Rubeck, Dave Cooter, Garrett Scott, Ryan Goldade, Jerry Mueller
Slater Racing Legends Qualifying
1.5C-Lincoln Cain, 13.7040; 2. 11L-Cael Slater, 13.7300; 3. 18L-Ryan Laatsch, 13.7820; 4. 69L-Devon Lee, 13.8080; 5. 22T-Bentley Thompson, 13.8200; 6. D1L-Dalton Lee, 13.9440; 7. 21L-Trevor Lami, 14.1470; 8. 11T-Carter Stein, 14.2080; 9. 21E-Tyler Edmundson, 14.2360; 10. 111K-Marianna Kubicz, 14.3250; 11. 80H-Art Hahn, 14.3410; 12. 126K-Gage Kubicz, 14.3680; 13. 13S-Michael Sina, 14.4180; 14. 76W-Mark Wellman, 14.4400; 15. 115G-Aaron Genske, 14.4460; 16. 23W-Matt Weber, 14.8550; 17. 114K-Peyton Kubicz, 15.7890
Legends – Feature 1 20 Laps
1. 22T-Bentley Thompson, West Salem, WI [5], 2. 11T-Carter Stein, Germantown, WI [2], 3. 18L-Ryan Laatsch, Beloit, WI [7], 4. D1L-Dalton Lee, Hustler, WI [4], 5. 111K-Marianna Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [10], 6. 80H-Art Hahn, Hartford, WI [11], 7. 126K-Gage Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [12], 8. 5C-Lincoln Cain, Slinger, WI [8], 9. 76W-Mark Wellman, Slinger, WI [14], 10. 11L-Cael Slater, Hayward, WI [9], 11. 21E-Tyler Edmundson, Johnson Creek, WI [1], 12. 23W-Matt Weber, Whitewater, WI [16], 13. 21L-Trevor Lami, East Troy, WI [3], 14. 115G-Aaron Genske, Pardeeville, WI [15], 15. 13S-Michael Sina, Whitewater, WI [13], 16. 114K-Peyton Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [17], 17. 69L-Devon Lee, New Lisbon, WI [6]
Legends – Feature 2 20 Laps
1. 11L-Cael Slater, Hayward, WI [10], 2. 5C-Lincoln Cain, Slinger, WI [2], 3. D1L-Dalton Lee, Hustler, WI [6], 4. 18L-Ryan Laatsch, Beloit, WI [7], 5. 11T-Carter Stein, Germantown, WI [8], 6. 22T-Bentley Thompson, West Salem, WI [9], 7. 69L-Devon Lee, New Lisbon, WI [17], 8. 21E-Tyler Edmundson, Johnson Creek, WI [11], 9. 80H-Art Hahn, Hartford, WI [4], 10. 111K-Marianna Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [5], 11. 13S-Michael Sina, Whitewater, WI [15], 12. 21L-Trevor Lami, East Troy, WI [13], 13. 114K-Peyton Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [16], 14. 23W-Matt Weber, Whitewater, WI [12], 15. 76W-Mark Wellman, Slinger, WI [1], 16. 126K-Gage Kubicz, Whitewater, WI [3], 17. 115G-Aaron Genske, Pardeeville, WI [14]
Bandoleros Qualifying
1.4B-Wesley Baumeister, 14.3730; 2. 76W-Oliver Weinkauf, 14.4530; 3. 60C-Brayden Clossey, 14.4670; 4. 707G-Hunter Graham, 14.5220; 5. 17R-Ryder Robinson, 14.5340; 6. 29O-Axel Oldenhoff, 14.6190; 7. 10B-Emily Billings, 14.6700; 8. 62O-Ace Oldenhoff, 14.6740; 9. 19J-Jaxxston Jump, 14.7210; 10. 63R-Jase Riedner, 14.7470; 11. 5T-Ransom Tate, 15.0860; 12. 51T-Brody Thompson, 15.2610; 13. 6B-Blake Burlingame, 15.3150; 14. 14M-Jack Maurer, 15.3520; 15. 49A-Brayden Adams, 15.3640; 16. 125W-Kinsleigh Weber, 15.4010; 17. 13R-Jarrett Reynolds, 15.7000; 18. 38B-Riley Burlingame, 16.4200; 19. 3R-Wyatt Robinson, 16.8800
Bandoleros – HEAT 1 6 Laps
1. 13R-Jarrett Reynolds, Loves Park, IL [1], 2. 49A-Brayden Adams, Sun Prairie, WI [3], 3. 125W-Kinsleigh Weber, Whitewater, WI [2], 4. 14M-Jack Maurer, Brooklyn, WI [4], 6. 38B-Riley Burlingame, Marengo, IL [5], 7. 3R-Wyatt Robinson, South Beloit, IL [6]
Bandoleros – HEAT 2 6 Laps
1. 19J-Jaxxston Jump, Adams, WI [3], 2. 51T-Brody Thompson, West Salem, WI [5], 3. 5T-Ransom Tate, Doylestown, WI [1], 4. 62O-Ace Oldenhoff, Lake Mills, WI [4], 5. 6B-Blake Burlingame, Marengo, IL [6], 6. 63R-Jase Riedner, Lodi, WI [2]
Bandoleros – HEAT 3 6 Laps
1. 4B-Wesley Baumeister, Beloit, WI [4], 2. 76W-Oliver Weinkauf, Merrill, WI [3], 3. 17R-Ryder Robinson, Beloit, WI [5], 4. 707G-Hunter Graham, West Bend, WI [1], 5. 29O-Axel Oldenhoff, Lake Mills, WI [6], 6. 10B-Emily Billings, Waterloo, WI [7], 7. 60C-Brayden Clossey, Orfordville, WI [2]
Bandoleros – FEATURE 15 Laps
1. 76W-Oliver Weinkauf, Merrill, WI [8], 2. 4B-Wesley Baumeister, Beloit, WI [9], 3. 10B-Emily Billings, Waterloo, WI [3], 4. 60C-Brayden Clossey, Orfordville, WI [7], 5. 707G-Hunter Graham, West Bend, WI [6], 6. 17R-Ryder Robinson, Beloit, WI [5], 7. 62O-Ace Oldenhoff, Lake Mills, WI [2], 8. 19J-Jaxxston Jump, Adams, WI [1], 9. 5T-Ransom Tate, Doylestown, WI [11], 10. 14M-Jack Maurer, Brooklyn, WI [14], 11. 51T-Brody Thompson, West Salem, WI [12], 12. 29O-Axel Oldenhoff, Lake Mills, WI [4], 13. 63R-Jase Riedner, Lodi, WI [10]
Bandoleros – B-MAIN 8 Laps
1. 49A-Brayden Adams, Sun Prairie, WI [5], 2. 13R-Jarrett Reynolds, Loves Park, IL [3], 3. 125W-Kinsleigh Weber, Whitewater, WI [4], 4. 3R-Wyatt Robinson, South Beloit, IL [1], 5. 38B-Riley Burlingame, Marengo, IL [2], 6. 64T-Jensen Tate, Doylestown, WI [6]