TJ Harron Photography
Oregon, WI- This Friday Night’s Fan Appreciation Night at Madison International Speedway is shaping up to be quite the night for Late Model fans at ‘Wisconsin’s Fastest Half Mile’. The Club LaMark NASCAR Late Model field will be one of the most competitive of the season, as the current top runners will be joined by former track champions and one driver who is on a quest to bring the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Championship back to Wisconsin.
While Bobby Wilberg attempts to hold off defending Track Champion Zack Riddle, in order to record his eighth Late Model Championship at MIS, a host of other top weekly contenders look to finish their season strong. John Beale has his ride back together after hard contact with the backstretch wall the last time he raced, two weeks ago. Meanwhile, former Rockford and Slinger Champion Jon Reynolds, Jr recorded the win two weeks ago and followed that with a win at Rockford last weekend to continue a strong late season charge. Just three feature races remain for Johnny Baumeister, Tom Gille and Brady Liddle to finally join Kevin Knuese and Brent Edmunds in the winner’s column while young guns Matt Lundberg, Pat Richgels, Hunter Drefahl and Shawn Gunsolus continue to make strides towards their first career feature victories.
He already has two Super Late Model wins to his credit at MIS in 2016 and now Ty Majeski will try his hand at a weekly Late Model win at the track he made his ARCA debut at this past June, finishing fourth. Majeski will be piloting the same car that he swept twin features with last week at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway, where all told he has recorded nine feature victories in ten starts. This has catapulted him towards the top of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series point standings and in order to bring the National Title back to Wisconsin he will need to add some more solid performances to his stats, which also includes three wins and three runner-up finishes during Daytona Speedweeks at New Smyrna Speedway in February.
As if that was not enough excitement, both Jeremy Miller and Casey Johnson have indicated their intentions to park it in victory lane this Friday night. Miller, a four time weekly Late Model Champion at MIS was the 2015 Super Late Model Triple Crown Champion and returned to victory lane following the Big 8 Series Madison visit this June. Johnson, known as ‘Wisconsin’s Busiest Racer’ has been no slouch this season either, recording his second Triple Crown Title this season in addition to winning Wisconsin International’s ‘Red, White and Blue State Championship’. Johnson was victorious last Saturday night at Jefferson Speedway during the final round of the Badgerland Challenge.
Five divisions will be in action Friday night, in addition to the Late Models will be the Dave’s White Rock Sportsman, Pellitteri Waste System Bandits, American Ethanol Super Trucks and Bandoleros. Pit gates open at 3:30pm, practice begins at 5, spectator gates open at 6 with qualifying getting underway at 6:15. The RA Heating and Air Conditioning Dashes begin the racing action at 7:30pm. Adult general admission tickets remain $12, Whelen Heroes and Seniors are $10, Students (12-17) $8, Kids (6-11) $5 with children under 5 admitted free. Be sure to take advantage of our Family Pricing, get two adult admissions and up to four admissions for those under the age of 18 for just $30.
In honor of Fan Appreciation Night, the track will host its final Buck Night of the season with all concessions available for just $1 and cans of beer priced at $2 all night. Additionally the track will be hosting a post-race party in the pit area with a corn roast.
For additional information including directions and times, please visit the Madison International Speedway website at www.misracing.com or call 608-835-9700.
Expected Entries
Club LaMark NASCAR Late Models
Friday Night August 26, 2016
Fan/Driver Appreciation Night
22 as of 8/24/16
Number Name
3 Shawn Gunsolus
5 John Beale
5 Jeremy Miller
5 Casey Johnson
11 Brady Liddle
12 Bill Baumeister
14 Zack Riddle
15 Pat Richgels
18 Brian Beale
19 John Baumeister
20 Zach Less
28 Bobby Wilberg
32 Ken Hoff, Jr
33 Kevin Knuese
40 Tom Gille
66 Adam Peschek
78 Matt Lundberg
87 Brent Edmunds
91 Ty Majeski
95 Paul Dygon
99 Hunter Drefahl
X Jon Reynolds, Jr