The temperature was hot and the action on the Ring of Fire event hotter as the fifth annual Cheese Curd Cup saw five drivers take home victories including Kenny Morris (6Shooters), Gracie Flanagan (HSRA), Easton Riedner (Hobby Stocks), Kyle Riedner (Bandits), and Mark English (Midwest Dash). The Riedner victories now mean a member of that racing family has won at least one race in all five Cheese Curd Cups.
Madison International Speedway would like to thank all of the drivers who supported this event in 2025. The purpose of the “Cup” has always been to provide the opportunity for some divisions and drivers that don’t race “weekly” at Madison to show off their talents on the Ring of Fire. Tonight was exactly what these drivers did.
A big thank you goes out to Tim’s Detailing who once again this year provided additional money for the Hobby Stocks. Some of our lucky fans also received giveaways thanks to a variety of donations from businesses and individuals.
Easton Riedner Races to Victory Lane
Fourteen year old Easton Riedner made his hobby stock debut on the Ring of Fire and won the 25 lap feature for the Tim’s Detailing Hobby Stocks.
It was the grandfather (Scott) and the grandson (Easton) Riedner bringing the Hobby Stocks to the green flag. Easton jumped out to the early lead followed by Scott Riedner and Matt Cleveland.
On lap 8 fast qualifier Waylon Robinson was up to challenge Cleveland for the third spot moments before a spin brought out the yellow flag. Easton Riedner paced the single file field back to the green flag. Contact between Cleveland and Riedner for second allowed Easton Riedner to extend his lead to six car lengths at the half-way point.
With ten laps to go Robinson and Cleveland were still running side by side for third while Easton Riedner was building up a ten car length lead over the field. Nobody was going to catch the young Riedner who cruised to victory lane picking up his first win at Madison.
When asked about his switch to driving the full size cars Riedner said, “It’s a lot of fun.” His dad, Brandon, is a two-time Cheese Curd Cup winner in the Hobby Stocks.
Scott Riedner won the eight lap heat race.
Fastest in qualifying was Waylon Robinson with a lap of 14.719 (61.145 mph)
Mark English Wins the Dash Race
English waited for the right opportunity and found it with one lap to as he went on to win the 30 lap feature for the Midwest Dash Series.
Al Strobel and Steve Dickson led the field to the green flag. Strobel took the early lead with Minnesota driver Justin Schelitzche and Mark English in pursuit. Justin Pierson moved into third on lap 4 with the caution flag waving one lap later.
Strobel retained his lead with English up to second and Mark Dewey in third. Dewey used the momentum on the outside to move up to second and challenge Strobel for the lead on lap 10.
At the mid-point of the race Strobel continue to lead with Dewey doing everything he could to make the pass. On lap 20 Strobel got loose coming into turn one giving the top spot to Dewey, but took back the lead one lap later. With six laps to go English cleared Dewey for second and began challenging Strobel for the lead. With one lap to go, Strobel drifted up the track coming out of turn four which allowed English to take the lead. Strobel finished second followed by Schelitzche, Tyler Muller, and Phil Malouf.
“I waited for him to mess up and the opportunity came with one lap to go,” said English.
Heat races were won by Al Strobel and Tyler Muller.
Mark Dewey set fast time with a lap of 14.138 (63.658 mph)
Kyle Riedner Makes it Two in a Row
Riedner won the 25 lap feature for the Bandits. It was his third Cheese Curd Cup win in a row after winning the Midwest Dash race in 2023 and the Bandits last year.
Ryan Helling took the early lead Ryan Oetzel up to second and Riedner in third. On lap 3 Riedner moved into second ahead of Oetzel. Riedner moved to the outside of Helling and sling shotted his way to lead coming out of turn two on lap 6.
With Riedner opening up a fifteen car length lead over the field, the best race on the track was for second with Matt Krinke getting by Oetzel on lap 10 while Jordan Goecks moved into third one lap later. Krinke started cutting into Riedner’s advantage which was now down to 1.723 seconds with ten laps to go.
Riedner increased his lead over Krinke to more than two seconds with five laps to go and it appeared that only a caution flag would slow him down. The yellow flag never waved and Riedner rolled his way to victory lane. Krinke finished second followed by Goecks, Jones, and Helling.
“I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight and the drivers who supported the show. This is a great track and I love it,” said Riedner who was an original competitor in the Bandits when the division debuted here in 2006. He now has eight Bandits wins in his Madison career.
Helling and Goecks picked up the wins in the heat races.
Riedner was fast time with a lap of 15.134 (59.469 mph)
Kenny Morris Holds Off Jason Van Hise for 6Shooters Win
Morris won the 18 lap main event for the Roto Rooter 6Shooters by holding off Jason Van Hise. It was his first win of the season and fourth for his career at Madison.
Noah Karr and Nolan McNallie brought the field to the green flag. Karr took the early lead followed by Ken Morris, McNallie, Christopher Webb, and Matt Crowell. After two cars spun on lap 3 the first caution flag came out.
Karr brought the field back to the green. On lap 4 Van Hise pulled to the outside of McNallie to grab the third spot. With ten laps to go Karr had a two car length lead over Morris. The top three broke away from the pack. With four laps to go Karr drifted up the track which allowed Morris and Van Hise to move up to the top two spots.
With two laps remaining Van Hise was trying everything he could do to get by Morris, but time ran out and Morris picked up the win. Webb finished a season high third followed by Randy Grancorvitz and Karr.
“That Van Hise was fast. I didn’t think there was any way we could hold him off,” said Morris from victory lane.
Winning the heat races were Karr, McNallie, and Mathison.
As a result of his second place finish, Van Hise is now the points leader with a 624-614 edge over defending champion Dylan Klinger. Grancorvitz, Jacob Mathison, and Ozzie Osborne complete the top five. Noah Karr has a 481-455 lead for Rookie of the Year honors.
Gracie Flanagan Returns to Victory Lane at Madison
It was a dominant performance by Flanagan who made the most of her first appearance of the year at Madison by winning the 15 lap feature for the Finishline Towing HSRA. She now has three career wins at Madison.
The four car field was brought to the green flag by Jakob Koppers and Kennedy Krueger. Koppers led for the first two laps before Grace Flanagan powered past him on the outside on lap 3. From there Flangan built up an eight car length advantage over Koppers.
There was no slowing down the speedy Flanagan who cruised her way to victory lane winning by more than ten lengths. Koppers held off Krueger for second with Colin McKeown finishing in fourth.
“This feels good,” said Flanagan in a post race interview as she thanked her crew and sponsors.
The heat race was won by Flanagan.
Krueger, the defending champion, leads the points race going into the final night of double features with a 401-340 lead over Colin McKeown who is representing McFarland High School.
Results
Tim’s Detailing Hobby Stocks
Qualifying
- 1. 133WR-Waylon Robinson, 14.7190; 2. 67RN-Rj Nicholson, 15.0330; 3. 1MC-Matt Cleveland, 15.0760; 4. 26SR-Scott Riedner, 15.1780; 5. 7DER-Easton Riedner, 15.2050; 6. 4EH-Elliott Hawkins, 15.2120; 7. 9JM-Jacob Mathison, 15.2270
Hobby Stocks – Heat 8 Laps
- 1. 26SR-Scott Riedner, Waunakee, WI [2], 2. 7DER-Easton Riedner, Waunakee, WI [1], 3. 1MC-Matt Cleveland, LaCrosse, WI [3], 4. 67RN-Rj Nicholson, Stoughton, WI [4], 5. 133WR-Waylon Robinson, Beloit, WI [5], 6. 4EH-Elliott Hawkins, Machesney Park, IL [6], 7. 9JM-Jacob Mathison, Machesney Park, IL [7]
Hobby Stocks – Feature 25 Laps
1.7DER-Easton Riedner, Waunakee, WI [1], 2. 26SR-Scott Riedner, Waunakee, WI [2], 3. 1MC-Matt Cleveland, LaCrosse, WI [3], 4. 133WR-Waylon Robinson, Beloit, WI [5], 5. 67RN-Rj Nicholson, Stoughton, WI [4], 6. 4EH-Elliott Hawkins, Machesney Park, IL [6], 7. 9JM-Jacob Mathison, Machesney Park, IL [7]
Midwest Dash Series
Qualifying
- 1. 17MD-Mark Dewey, 14.1380; 2. 32PM-Phil Malouf, 14.3680; 3. 57ME-Mark English, 14.4500; 4. 78TM-Tyler Muller, 14.5150; 5. 64PM-Anna Price Malouf, 14.6150; 6. 19JP-Justin Pearson, 14.6810; 7. 14JS-Justin Schelitzche, 14.7830; 8. 10SD-Steve Dickson, 15.0160; 9. 86AS-Al Strobel III, 15.1040; 10. 45JW-Jeremy Whitman, 15.3580; 11. 35LP-Lyle Phillips, 15.8020
Midwest Dash – Heat 1 8 Laps
- 1. 86AS-Al Strobel III, Iron Ridge, WI [2], 2. 14JS-Justin Schelitzche, Waconia, MN [4], 3. 19JP-Justin Pearson, Belvidere, IL [5], 4. 10SD-Steve Dickson, Rockton, IL [3], 5. 45JW-Jeremy Whitman, Milwaukee, WI [1], 6. 35LP-Lyle Phillips, Edgerton, WI [6]
Midwest Dash – Heat 2 8 Laps
- 1. 78TM-Tyler Muller, Sun Prairie, WI [2], 2. 57ME-Mark English, Janesville, WI [3], 3. 32PM-Phil Malouf, Manitowish Waters, WI [4], 4. 17MD-Mark Dewey, Janesville, WI [5], 5. 64PM-Anna Price Malouf, Manitowish Waters, WI [1]
Midwest Dash – Feature 30 Laps
- 1. 57ME-Mark English, Janesville, WI [7], 2. 14JS-Justin Schelitzche, Waconia, MN [3], 3. 78TM-Tyler Muller, Sun Prairie, WI [6], 4. 86AS-Al Strobel III, Iron Ridge, WI [1], 5. 32PM-Phil Malouf, Manitowish Waters, WI [8], 6. 17MD-Mark Dewey, Janesville, WI [9], 7. 19JP-Justin Pearson, Belvidere, IL [4], 8. 64PM-Anna Price Malouf, Manitowish Waters, WI [5], 9. 45JW-Jeremy Whitman, Milwaukee, WI [10], 10. 10SD-Steve Dickson, Rockton, IL [2], 11. 35LP-Lyle Phillips, Edgerton, WI [11]
Bandits
Qualifying
- 1. 64KR-Kyle Riedner, 15.1340; 2. 15MW-Mason Wilcott, 15.2350; 3. 29MK-Matt Krinke, 15.4910; 4. 5xJG-Jordan Goecks, 15.5710; 5. 87RO-Ryan Oetzel, 15.7480; 6. 23xLJ-Logan Jones, 15.9300; 7. 1776RH-Ryan Helling, 15.9300; 8. 25DB-Dylan Brown, 16.2240; 9. 29JC-Justin Cutts, 16.2710; 10. 57BS-Brayden Seitz, 16.4470
Bandits – Heat 1 8 Laps
- 1. 1776RH-Ryan Helling, Janesville, WI [3], 2. 23xLJ-Logan Jones, Janesville, WI [4], 3. 29JC-Justin Cutts, Janesville, WI [1], 4. 25DB-Dylan Brown, Jefferson, WI [2], 5. 57BS-Brayden Seitz, Edgerton, WI [5]
Bandits – Heat 2 8 Laps
- 1. 5xJG-Jordan Goecks, Janesville, WI [1], 2. 29MK-Matt Krinke, Watertown, WI [2], 3. 64KR-Kyle Riedner, Waunakee, WI [4], 4. 15MW-Mason Wilcott, Watertown, WI [3], 5. 87RO-Ryan Oetzel, Brodhead, WI [5]
Bandits – Feature 25 Laps
- 1. 64KR-Kyle Riedner, Waunakee, WI [7], 2. 29MK-Matt Krinke, Watertown, WI [5], 3. 5xJG-Jordan Goecks, Janesville, WI [4], 4. 87RO-Ryan Oetzel, Brodhead, WI [3], 5. 1776RH-Ryan Helling, Janesville, WI [1], 6. 23xLJ-Logan Jones, Janesville, WI [2], 7. 29JC-Justin Cutts, Janesville, WI [9], 8. 25DB-Dylan Brown, Jefferson, WI [8], 9. 15MW-Mason Wilcott, Watertown, WI [6]
Roto Rooter 6Shooters
6Shooters – Heat 1 6 Laps
- 1. 67NK-Noah Karr, Belleville, WI [1], 2. 74MC-Matt Crowell, Lodi, WI [3], 3. 71JV-Jason Van Hise, Janesville, WI [4], 4. 74DK-David Killerlain, Columbus, WI [5], 5. 76JM-Jason Morgan, Evansville, WI [2], 6. 10KR-Kalee Ryan, Oregon, WI [6]
6Shooters – Heat 2 6 Laps
- 1. 101NM-Nolan McNallie, Verona, WI [1], 2. 24DL-Dominic Lynch, Waterloo, WI [3], 3. 1DK-Dylan Klinger, Albany, WI [4], 4. 3oo-Ozzie Osborne, Fitchburg, WI [5], 5. 13CW-Christopher Webb, Poynette, WI [2], 6. 81JG-Jeff Graf, Oak Creek, WI [6]
6Shooters – Heat 3 6 Laps
- 1. 9JM-Jacob Mathison, Machesney Park, IL [3], 2. 9KM-Kenny Morris, Windsor, WI [1], 3. 4GR-Gene Robbins, Evansville, WI [2], 4. 33RG-Randy Grancorvitz, Fort Atkinson, WI [4], 5. 2TK-Todd Klinger, Madison, WI [5]
6Shooters – Feature 18 Laps
- 1. 9KM-Kenny Morris, Windsor, WI [3], 2. 71JV-Jason Van Hise, Janesville, WI [10], 3. 13CW-Christopher Webb, Poynette, WI [5], 4. 33RG-Randy Grancorvitz, Fort Atkinson, WI [12], 5. 67NK-Noah Karr, Belleville, WI [1], 6. 4GR-Gene Robbins, Evansville, WI [6], 7. 74DK-David Killerlain, Columbus, WI [13], 8. 101NM-Nolan McNallie, Verona, WI [2], 9. 1DK-Dylan Klinger, Albany, WI [11], 10. 74MC-Matt Crowell, Lodi, WI [7], 11. 81JG-Jeff Graf, Oak Creek, WI [17], 12. 3oo-Ozzie Osborne, Fitchburg, WI [14], 13. 9JM-Jacob Mathison, Machesney Park, IL [9], 14. 24DL-Dominic Lynch, Waterloo, WI [8], 15. 76JM-Jason Morgan, Evansville, WI [4], 16. 10KR-Kalee Ryan, Oregon, WI [16], 17. 2TK-Todd Klinger, Madison, WI [15]
Finishline Towing High School Racing Association
HSRA – Heat 8 Laps
- 1. 73GF-Gracie Flanagan, Oregon, WI [4], 2. 99JK-Jakob Koppers, Channahon, IL [1], 3. 34KK-Kennedy Krueger, Sparta, WI [2], 4. 09CM-Colin McKeown, McFarland, WI [3]
HSRA – Feature 15 Laps
- 1. 73GF-Gracie Flanagan, Oregon, WI [4], 2. 99JK-Jakob Koppers, Channahon, IL [1], 3. 34KK-Kennedy Krueger, Sparta, WI [2], 4. 09CM-Colin McKeown, McFarland, WI [3]