Oregon, WI- A new batch of entries have arrived for the Joe Shear Classic presented by SCAG Power Equipment at Madison International Speedway on Sunday afternoon May 6. Track Championships, Series Champions and ARCA Midwest and CRA Champions make up the latest additions to the growing entry list.
Spectator gates will open Sunday May 6 at 11:30am, racing begins at 2pm and will also feature a post qualifying fan autograph session in the Turn 4 Party Pavilion. Adult general admission tickets are $25, Whelen Heroes, Seniors and Students (ages 12-17) $22, Kids (6-11) $10 with Children (5 & under) Free. Family Pricing is also available for $60 which includes up to two adult tickets and up to four admissions for those ages 17 and under. For additional information visit www.misracing.com or call 608-835-9700.
11 Bobby Kendall, Montello, WI ISC Waukesha/Tabitha Pierce Am Family Chevrolet: This second generation driver is quickly making a name for himself on the Wisconsin Short Track Scene, following in his father Jeff’s footsteps. The elder Kendall is a six-time Dells Track Champion and former NASCAR Elite Series winner. Bobby however has found Thursday nights at WIR to his liking and after winning the Fox River Racing Club’s Rookie of the Year honors in 2013, he captured the 2017 Red, White and Blue State Championships at Kaukauna last season.
75 Chris Weinkauf, Merrill, WI Breber Music/Walter & Sons Waste Hauling Chevrolet: Ten fast qualifying awards and one feature win in ARCA Midwest Tour competition place Chris Weinkauf as one to watch when the #75 car takes to the track. The 2009 State Park Speedway Super Late Model Track Champion is also a former Dick Trickle 99 Oktoberfest winner as well as the 2017 WCS Champion. Longer races such as the Joe Shear Classic are suited well for Chris, who has led laps during the Shear Classic, Dixieland 250 and Oktoberfest 200 in recent seasons.
77 Jonathan Eilen, Hamption, MN Eilen & Sons Trucking/Graber Auto Body Ford: The all-time feature start leader in the ARCA Midwest Tour started by being the first to etch his name in the record books, claiming the checkered flag at the first ever tour event, at his home track Elko Speedway. After a successful Mid-American Stock Car Series career, Eilen transitioned into Super Late Model racing well. The 2012 ARCA Midwest Tour Champion sits 6th on the all-time Tour win list with 5 career triumphs.
44 Justin Mondeik, Gleason, WI AGRA Industries/Kulwicki DDP Chevrolet: An engineering student at Michigan Tech, Mondeik plans on running over forty events during 2018 including the full ARCA Midwest Tour. Now a second year participant in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, the former State Park and Marshfield Champion looks to build upon a solid 10th place points showing following his Rookie campaign on tour.
9 Kyle Calmes, Gillett, WI Brew Pub Pizza/Ken’s Sports Toyota: A familiar face at Wisconsin International Speedway, Kyle Calmes has had his most Tour success at the Dixieland 250 at WIR. The 2006 Fox River Racing Club Limited Late Model Champion, was a contender during the 2016 running and most notably finished in the runner-up position to Steve Carlson in the 2009 Dixieland event. Now Calmes and his family’s team will travel to Oregon in search of Joe Shear Classic success.
45 Jeff VanOudenHoven, Kaukauna, WI VanDenHeuvel Electric Ford: Hopes were high for this team as they had a fast piece during practice for the 2017 Joe Shear Classic before being sidelined on practice day by mechanical woes. Recovering from a season ending injury in 2015, VanOudenHoven roared back to the front of the field at WIR, laying claim to his fifth Super Late Model title in Fox River Racing Club action, to go with his three Red, White and Blue State Championship crowns.
71 Johnny VanDoorn, Coopersville, MI Lisa Thomas Salon/VanDoorn Racing Chevrolet: A three time ARCA CRA Super Series Champion, Johnny VanDoorn will attempt to make his first start in the ARCA Midwest Tour during the Joe Shear Classic. Known as one of the top drivers in Michigan, VanDoorn teamed up with TK Racing and has found success early and often in the familiar Lisa Thomas Salon colors. A third place showing earlier this month in a CRA, Southern Super Series and CARS Tour event has this team ready to contend on May 6.
21 Dave Tomczak, Franklin, WI Firewise Barbecue Co/Water Cooled Spot Welders Chevrolet: During his forty six years of short track racing, Dave Tomczak has done a little bit of everything. From racing dirt and pavement, ARTGO, ASA, ARCA Super Speedway, NASCAR Elite and Hooters Cup to being a NASCAR Winston Cup Official, Tomczak built a new Super Late Model last season and hopes to make most of the ARCA Midwest Tour events in 2018, starting with the Joe Shear Classic.
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PREVIOUSLY ENTERED BELOW:
39 Andrew Morrissey, DeForest, WI Club LaMark/B&B Enginess Ford: The winner of last year’s Joe Shear Classic, Morrissey put his name into the record books of this event for the second time, he had previously won in 2012. Morrissey passed Travis Sauter with just 16 laps remaining to claim the checkered flag. The 2011 Midwest Tour Champion was one of seven drivers who exchanged the lead ten times during the 200 lap contest.
14 Austin Nason, Roscoe, IL Haase Builders/Erickson Auto Parts Ford: A new Dad over the off-season, the former Rockford Speedway and Big 8 Series standout is looking for his break through season. Nason contended early in last year’s Joe Shear Classic before being relegated to a tenth place finish at Madison, a track where he has recorded a Super Late Model win and multiple fast qualifying awards. The 2015 Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year has been a threat to win at most Tour races in the past year and a half.
8 Billy Mohn, New Market, MN Airgas/Print Lab Wraps Chevrolet: Virtually unknown to most fans in the Badger state, Mohn has strung together a couple impressive back to back ARCA Midwest Tour finishes at his home track of Elko Speedway in Minnesota. He bested an impressive seventh place showing during the 2016 Thunderstruck with a fourth place effort last season, which made many Touring Stars take notice of the #8 car. Mohn plans on starting the Midwest Tour season and seeing what develops.
5 Casey Johnson, Edgerton, WI Hougan Farms/Region 4 UAW Chevrolet: A racer’s racer, Casey Johnson just likes to race, and he has found quite the success in the process. A two time MIS Triple Crown Champion (2013, 2016), Johnson has recorded 4 Late Model wins at Oregon, but has yet to add his name to Joe Shear Classic winners. He won his first Midwest Tour event last August, the Dixieland 250 and the 2015 Jefferson Speedway Champion looks to add another this May.
42 Dennis Prunty, Knowles, WI Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup Chevrolet: Prunty has had a love/hate relationship with ‘Wisconsin’s Fastest Half Mile’. The 2015 Slinger Nationals and 2016 Dixieland 250 victor found himself on the Joe Shear Classic podium following a third place effort in 2016. Many feel the former Slinger Champion will buck the bad luck he has had at MIS as of late and contend for the win on May 6th.
5 John Beale, Verona, WI Evenson Farms/Pathfinder Chassis Chevrolet: Beale led early in last year’s Joe Shear Classic, clawing his way back to an eighth place finish. Success has been a common practice for Beale on the high banks of Madison. A career first Late Model win catapulted him to the 2015 NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors at MIS, he followed that performance with a division leading three wins in 2016. Teamed with veteran Casey Johnson, Beale is seeking the Midwest Tour Rookie honors in 2018, a feat he accomplished during the 2014 Midwest Truck campaign as well as during weekly competition at MIS.
Past Winners of Joe Shear Classic at Madison International
2008 Dan Fredrickson
2009 Nathan Haseleu
2010 Steve Carlson
2011 Ross Kenseth
2012 Andrew Morrissey
2013 Travis Sauter
2014 Nathan Haseleu
2015 Johnny Sauter
2016 Ty Majeski
2017 Andrew Morrissey