Wisconsin International Raceway

The Wisconsin International Raceway (WIR) is a stockcar racing oval and drag strip in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA.

tockcar track

The main track is a half mile D-shaped paved oval. Inside the half mile track is a quarter mile paved conventional oval. The half mile track was added around the existing quarter mile in 1969. [cite book |title=The Golden Age of Wisconsin Auto Racing |last=Grubba |first=Dale |year=2000 |publisher=Badger Books |location=Oregon, Wisconsin |isbn=1-878569-67-8 |pages=page 45] The corners for the quarter mile track double as the corners for a Figure 8 track.

tockcar weekly divisions

There are six divisions at the track. The Super Late Model and Limited Late Model divisions race on the half mile track. The Super Stock, Wisconsin Sport Trucks, and Sizzlin 4's (stock four cylinder) divisions race on the quarter mile track. The Figure 8 cars end programs on the Figure 8 track. A automated timing and scoring system was set up for the 2007 season, and each racecar carries a transponder.

The Fox River Racing Club began helping promote the weekly events in 1975.

tockcar special events

The track had an annual American Speed Association event. The track resumed hosting ASA events after the series was reorganized, and it will host an event in 2007.

The track has hosted the annual "Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series" for super late models since 1973. The series consist of three race nights in June (red), July (white), and August (blue). The series was part of the Midwest Challenge Series (formerly ARTGO). The blue race is now part of the Wisconsin Challenge Series. 7,832 people watched Dick Trickle win the first red race.

Famous drivers to race on the stockcar track

All of the following drivers appeared at the track before moving on to at least one of the big four NASCAR divisions (Cup, Busch, Truck, Autozone):

*Lowell Bennett (1991 and 1998 track champion)
*Rich Bickle
*Scott Hansen (1985-89 track champion)
*Matt Kenseth (1994 and 1995 track champion)
*Todd Kluever
*Alan Kulwicki (1979 track champion)
*Dave Marcis
*Mark Martin (Red, White, and Blue champion)
*Ted Musgrave [cite book |title=The Golden Age of Wisconsin Auto Racing |last=Grubba |first=Dale |year=2000 |publisher=Badger Books |location=Oregon, Wisconsin |isbn=1-878569-67-8 |pages=page 201]
*Robbie Reiser
*Jim Sauter (1981 track champion)
*Tim Sauter
*Jason Schuler
*Dick Trickle - (many Red, White, and Blue championships)
*Tim Rothe - 2008 (Red, White, and Blue State Champion)

Trickle had so many wins that the track dedicated the Dick Trickle Pavilion in Turn 2.

List of late model track champions

*2008 Jeff Vanoudenhoven
*2007 Tim Rothe
*2006 Tim Rothe
*2005 Rod Wheeler ["Appleton Post-Crescent" newspaper, May 21 2006, Racing Report (page B-8)]
*2004 Terry Baldry
*2003 Terry Baldry
*2002 Terry Baldry
*2001 Terry Baldry
*2000 Terry Baldry
*1999 Terry Baldry
*1998 Lowell Bennett
*1997 Terry Baldry
*1996 Mark Schroeder
*1995 Matt Kenseth
*1994 Matt Kenseth
*1993 Terry Baldry
*1992 Jim Weber
*1991 Lowell Bennett
*1990 J.J. Smith
*1989 Scott Hansen
*1988 Scott Hansen
*1987 Scott Hansen
*1986 Scott Hansen
*1985 Scott Hansen
*1984 Terry Baldry
*1983 Terry Baldry
*1982 Terry Baldry
*1981 Jim Sauter
*1980 Alan Kulwicki
*1979 Alan Kulwicki
*1978 Rich Somers
*1977 Jerry Smith
*1976 Larry Schuler
*1975 Rich Somers

Trivia

*Parts of the 2004 independent film "Dare to Dream: The Alan Kulwicki Story" were shot at Wisconsin International Raceway during Thursday Night Thunder. The film crew used a 1982 Chevy Camaro to re-create the WLPX racing Camaro Kulwicki used in the early 80's. Other cars used in the film were from the Lion's Club racing group.

Dragstrip

The dragstrip is a 1/4 mile paved track. It is one of three operating dragstrips in Wisconsin.

Dragstrip weekly divisions

There are six weekly divisions that compete on Saturday nights: Top Eliminator Class, Hot Rod Eliminator, Street Eliminator, Pro-Bike and Snowmobile, Street Bike, and Junior Dragsters.

Eve of Destruction

The track has hosted an annual "Eve of Destruction" each September since 1993. The 10,000 seat raceway is packed. The Post-Crescent, September 16 2006, "Crash fans covet Eve of Destruction" (page A1)] Drivers compete in a variety of unusual events such as chain races (two cars are chained together), spin to win (race backwards and then spin around forward for the finish), trailer races (part of the trailer must remain intact to continue racing), etc. Ten school buses compete in a survival-of-the-fittest competition, where the last bus standing wins. Track owner Roger Van Daalwyk described the Eve of Destruction: "We kind of wreck everything." The Post-Crescent, September 16 2006, "Crash fans covet Eve of Destruction" (page A3)]

Media

References

External links

* [http://www.wirmotorsports.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.frrcracing.com/ Fox River Racing Club website]
* [http://www.sportrucks.org/ Wisconsin Sport Truck division website]
* [http://www.racingwisconsin.com/midam060731.htm Article on the Red, White, and Blue state championship series beginnings] , accessed August 2006