Madison International Speedway

The Madison International Speedway (MIS) is a stock car racing oval in the town of Rutland in rural Oregon, Wisconsin (near Madison) a short distance off of Wisconsin Highway 138. The track is billed as "The Track of Champions" and "Wisconsin's Fastest Half Mile." The weekly program at the track runs on Friday nights.

History

The track was known as Capital Super Speedway. Tony Zidar and his brother Bob purchased the track in 1983 and the added 29 rows of grandstand seating. They built a quarter mile track in the infield of the half mile so that sportsman drivers from Jefferson Speedway could race at the track. [Grubba, page 188] It was closed in the 1980s. The track continued operation as a dirt track under the name of Impact Speedway, where the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars made numerous appearances. The track was closed down until 1992 when Wayne Erickson, the owner of Slinger Super Speedway, took over. Wayne ran the track until 1996 when Jerry Fillner and his son Kevin Fillner took over. The Fillner family operated the track and made several improvements to the pits and upper concession areas. In 2001 Chicago area businessman Terry Kunes purchased the racetrack and hired Roy Kenseth (Matt Kenseth's father) to be the promoter. After two seasons Roy Kenseth started RK Promotions and decided to leave the track. Steve Einhaus was hired to fill the void left by Kenseth. In 2007 Einhaus will be focusing his attention on the newly formed ASA Midwest Tour Super Late Model Series. Track promotions have been turned over to long time competitor and official Dave Grueneberg.

Track

The track was a quarter mile long before it was torn up and replaced with a half mile paved oval 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 first winner on the half mile was Ramo Stott, and the surface's first champion was Jimmy Back. [Grubba, page 46] The track seats over 10,000 spectators. [ [http://www.madisoninternationalspeedway.com/history.php Track history at the official website] ] There is a quarter mile track inside the half mile. A track veteran described racing the track by saying that you drive into the corners way over your head before you stand on the brakes. The more that you frighten yourself in the corners, the faster that the laps ended up. [Grubba; page 174]

tock car weekly divisions

As of 2007, MIS will featured three weekly divisions: Madison Late Models, Limited Late Models, and Bandits. The 2006 season had featured Area Sportsman and Hobby Stock divisions as the fourth and fifth divisions. The revised program will include a fourth division that will vary on any given Friday night. The fourth divisions will include Super Trucks, Super Stocks, Ford Focus, Midgets, Legends, and Bandoleros.

There is a quarter mile track inside the half mile track. The quarter mile track was created between the 2005 and 2006 seasons. The Bandits, Hobby Stocks, Area Sportsman, Super Stocks, Ford Focus Midgets, Legends and Bandoleros all run on the quarter mile track.

tock car special events

The track holds events in the ASA Midwest Tour and ASA Late Model Series Northern Division. The track regularly held American Speed Association events before the national touring series ended. The United States Super Trucks, Mid-American Stockcars, the HOSS series, and the USAC midgets will be making appearances in 2007.

Alumni

Former track champions include:
*Matt Kenseth
*Travis Kvapil
*Tom Reffner
*Joe Shear
*Dick Trickle
*Bobby Wilberg
*Johnny Ziegler
*Dale Nottestad
*Rich Bickle (1985, 1986) [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 161 ]

Other notable competitors:
*Steve Carlson
*Nathan Haseleu (former and now current)
*Ryan Mathews
*Michael Pickens

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References

External links

* [http://www.madisoninternationalspeedway.com/ Official track website]