Shows
joeverdegan.comJOE HAFERKORN - 2025 SHAWANO SPEEDWAY HALL OF FAMERWe recently caught up with Norway, Michigan's Joe Haferkorn during his recent induction into the 2025 Shawano Speedway Hall of Fame.The veteran racer reflected upon his career racing IMCA modifieds at the half-mile, clay oval from the late 1980's into the early 2000's. Give it a listen!
2025-06-0908 min
joeverdegan.comKELLY HAFEMAN EPISODE 4 - RACING IS A PEOPLE SPORTKelly and Debbie Hafeman, along with partner Ralph Aschenbrenner, had a very successful run promoting Luxemburg Tri-Star Speedway from 1989 through 2001.
The Hafeman's are quick to point to their loyal staff members over the years who helped keep their fast-paced, efficient racing program running smoothly.
A few of the names of those employees and sponsors they may have missed in this story they wanted to give proper credit to include: Joe Faltynski, Pat Truttmann, Dennis Flavion and Kevin Jauquet. Also Porky and Nick DeGrand and Mike Schraufnagel as well.
Give episode 4 a listen!
2025-01-2812 min
Crack House ChroniclesEp. 214 Joe Verdegan talks Tom MonfilsIn this episode of the Crack House Chronicles Donnie and Dale have the pleasure of talking to Joe Verdegan. Joe is a best selling author and lives in Wisconsin. He is currently writing a book on the Tom Monfils case. He has interviewed a lot of the players in this case and has first hand knowledge of the events surrounding Toms death. You can find out more about Joe Verdegan and his work and his ongoing research in the Tom Monfils case on the links below. https://www.facebook.com/share/UDyL7LWGp1tiUYLo/ https...
2024-06-031h 00
joeverdegan.comROGER VAN DAALWYK - KK SPORTS ARENAAs a teenager, Roger Van Daalwyk performed any task whatsoever as directed by his dad, Joe Van Daalwyk, as KK Sports Arena hosted stock car races in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in the mid to late 1960's.
Those tasks prepared him for when he would later take over as the track's general manager. Listen in to Roger's great stories!
2024-01-1210 min
joeverdegan.comTHE 'BURG SPEEDWAY'S 2022 SEASONWhat's on tap for the 2022 season at The 'Burg Speedway in Luxemburg, Wisconsin? Listen in as Joe Orsini fills us in.
2022-03-2510 min
joeverdegan.com1981 - LOWELL'S MAIDEN VOYAGE AT SLINGER SPEEDWAYIt was in 1981 when Lowell Bennett fell in love with the high-banks of Slinger Super Speedway.
Lowell talks about the very successful 1981 campaign and winning at the world's fastest quarter-mile in only his second outing.
Give it a listen!
2022-03-1109 min
joeverdegan.com1980 - 'IT WAS A DISMAL YEAR FOR RACING"By the time 1980 rolled around, dirt tracks at De Pere, Seymour and Oshkosh had all closed their doors within three years of each other in northeastern Wisconsin.
Car counts were dwindling at Shawano - which was the only half-mile dirt track that remained open that year.
Still, Lowell Bennett soldiered on and continued to race weekly on dirt at Shawano and pavement at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. All with the same race car.
Listen in!
2022-03-0311 min
joeverdegan.com1979 - SMALL BLOCKS, AND DIRT & TAR WITH THE SAME CARIn episode 7 of the Lowell Bennett podcast series Lowell talks about his big switch to a small block motor and racing against many brand new race cars on both dirt and asphalt in 1979.
It was during the '79 season the dirt and asphalt cars also began to evolve into two different animals. Thus to run both surfaces with the same car required more work in the shop.
Give it a listen!
2022-02-2408 min
joeverdegan.comTHE BELT IS BACK - THE 2022 LEAGUE OF CHAMPIONSRacer and former promoter Eric Mahlik is "getting back into the game" of promoting - sort of.
Mahlik talks about the "League of Champions" and how it will work in 2022 at northeastern Wisconsin dirt ovals.
Check it out!
2022-02-2408 min
joeverdegan.com1978 - A FASTER CAMARO, SOARING GAS PRICES AND RACE TRACKS CLOSINGWhen 1978 rolled around Seymour Speedway had closed, gas prices began to soar and Lowell Bennett bought his dad's Camaro.
Lowell began to hang with the big dogs like J.J. Smith, Roger Paul, Pete Parker and the other big dogs of that era.
Check out episode number 6 of the Lowell Bennett podcast series!
2022-02-1809 min
joeverdegan.comLOWELL'S FIRST FEATURE WIN AT LUXEMBURG SPEEDWAYIt didn't take too long for Lowell Bennett to score his first ever feature win early in his career.
The victory was on the dirt - and it was at Luxemburg Speedway's third-mile, clay oval.
Lowell tells the story! Listen in!
2022-02-1308 min
joeverdegan.comRICK SCHLABOWSKE - RACING'S P.T. BARNUM OF THE '80sRick Schlabowske's tenure promoting race tracks seldom lasted very long.
But this jovial race promoter brought the "entertainment" factor to places like 141 Speedway, Luxemburg and Chilton in the mid to late 1980s. Things like hot dog races, professional wrestling, bump-and-run races, jello wrestling and just about any other whacky idea wasn't out of the question of a Rick Schlawbowske-promoted production.
Check out this podcast with this Luxemburg Speedway Hall of Famer.
2022-02-0811 min
joeverdegan.comLOWELL BENNETT'S MAIDEN VOYAGE - SHAWANO SPEEDWAY 1976How many racers can lay claim to winning the first race they ever competed in?
Lowell Bennett can. In his maiden voyage in 1976 at Shawano Speedway Lowell scored the first heat win.
Listen in!
2022-02-0409 min
joeverdegan.comJIM KROUSE TALKIN' LUXEMBURG, DE PERE & THE COUPE ERA OF THE '60SGreen Bay's Jim Krouse is one of just a handful of retired racers still around who experienced the thrilling days of the coupes trading paint at tracks in De Pere and Luxemburg, Wisconsin in the 1960s.
Those were days of packed grandstands and an occasional scuffle amongst drivers in the pits. Drivers and crew members wore white pants and teams could build a car with every component straight out of the local salvage yard.
Check out Jim's story here!
2022-02-0211 min
joeverdegan.comTHE 1970'S & THE LATE MODEL EXPLOSION IN N.E. WISCONSINIn episode # 3 of the Lowell Bennett podcast series, Lowell talks about the explosion in the early 1970s of the newer full-bodied late model cars in northeastern Wisconsin.
Lowell's Dad "Mr. B" Bobby Bennett also acquired a hot rod of a Chevelle - a car formerly driven by Jerry "Medina" Smith.
Check it out!
2022-01-2810 min
joeverdegan.comTALKIN' ABOUT THE LEGENDARY 'MR. B.' BOBBY BENNETT - LOWELL BENNETT PODCAST SERIES EPISODE 2In episode 2 of the Lowell Bennett podcast series Lowell reflects upon the character and toughness of his dad, 'Mr. B.' Bobby Bennett.
Bobby was a pioneer of the northeastern Wisconsin racing scene who raced USAC stock cars and survived an airplane crash that would have left most people dead.
Listen in to this free content @ joeverdegan.com courtesy of Muenster Service Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin!
2022-01-2109 min
joeverdegan.comWE'RE TALKIN' .50 CENT PIT PASSES, SHIOCTON, APPLE CREEK & LEO'S SPEEDWAY - LOWELL BENNETT PODCAST SERIES EPISODE 1Lowell Bennett remembers a lot as four-year-old, including .50 cent pit passes at Shiocton Speedway in 1962.
Shiocton, Apple Creek & Leo's Speedway are among the earliest racing memories for Lowell as a little tyke.
Check out some of Lowell's early stories growing up in a racing family as a kid with his Dad "Mr. B" Bobby Bennett
including the creation of the Wolf River Racing Association (WRRA) in episode #1 in the Lowell Bennett podcast series.
2022-01-1410 min
joeverdegan.comFROM RANDERCAR RACING TO RIGHT FOOT PERFORMANCEIn the mid 1990's an opportunity came about for Mike Randerson to get back into the racing game.
Listen in to episode 15 of the Mike Randerson podcast series as Mike talks about the birth of Right Foot Performance.
2022-01-0613 min
joeverdegan.comSELLING RANDERCAR RACING AND HELLO OSHKOSH TRUCKIn 1992 Mike Randerson sold the successful business he had built up (RanderCar Racing) and went to work for Oshkosh Truck.
Mike talks about that transition in episode 13.
Enjoy!
2021-12-3112 min
joeverdegan.com1990 - THE BIRTH OF THE GRAND NATIONALS AT CHILTON SPEEDWAYIn 1990 promoter Steve Rudolph reopened the Chilton Speedway, a 1/4 mile dirt bullring located at the Calumet County Fairgrounds.
Rudolph had one class and one class only - the Grand Nationals. Rudolph saw the car as a more affordable weekly division headliner compared to the more costly late models or sprint cars at that time.
Mike Randerson talks about the early 1990's and the explosion of this new division which also was the precursor of the Mid American stock car series on pavement. Good stuff here! Give it a listen!
2021-12-2409 min
joeverdegan.comTHE PAVEMENT LATE MODEL EXPLOSION OF THE MID-1980'SFueled in part by the cost-saving 9:1 engine compression rules and the ARTGO tour, the pavement late model scene exploded in the Midwest in the mid-1980's.
Mike Randerson was smack dab in the middle of this ever-evolving technology, and RanderCar Racing did it's best to continue to stay on top of both the pavement technology and the dirt late model scene. For Randerson the struggle was real as Mike details in this episode 12 series podcast.
Enjoy!
2021-12-1712 min
joeverdegan.com1982 AND THE DIRT AND ASPHALT SPLITBy the time the 1982 season rolled around in northeastern Wisconsin the late model divisions had evolved into two totally different animals on the dirt tracks like Shawano Speedway and on the tar at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
Mike Randerson was an integral part of the last three drivers in northeast Wisconsin who still worked to remain competitive on both surfaces - Lowell Bennett, Cliff Ebben and M.J. McBride.
Check out episode 11!
2021-12-1209 min
joeverdegan.comSCOTT SIPPEL TALKING WIMSA MINI SPRINTS, 360'S AND MOREWho remembers the WIMSA mini sprints?
They were a great division at the old quarter-mile at the Calumet County Fairgrounds in Chilton, Wisconsin.
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin's Scott Sippel had that racy bullring figured out. Sippel reflects upon his division championships at Chilton, Wilmot and racing a 360 sprint car.
Listen in!
2021-12-0410 min
joeverdegan.comAUGUST 1, 1981 - MIKE RANDERSON PODCAST SERIES EPISODE 10The short track racing world lost a legend on August 1, 1981 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin when Wausau's Larry Detjens passed away as a result from injuries suffered in a crash with Alan Kulwicki.
Randerson was one of many who responded to assist Detjens after the crash at the backstretch pit entrance. Randerson talks about the aftermath of the crash and how Kulwicki took some heat after that wreck and rebounded from it.
Give it a listen.
2021-12-0311 min
joeverdegan.comEPISODE 9 - KULWICKI MEETS RANDERSONIt was during a rainout one Thursday night from the races at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna when Alan Kulwicki met Mike Randerson.
Listen in as Randerson talks about Kulwicki, his quirks and intense desire to be the absolute best he could be.
Check it out!
2021-11-2611 min
joeverdegan.comEPISODE 8 - PARKER, PEARSON, IVERSON AND THE HOWE RACING DEALERSHIPIn 1977 Mike Randerson became a dealer for Howe Racing Enterprises race cars. That dealership was ultimately the impetus for RanderCar Racing.
Randerson formed relationships during that time period with drivers like Pete Parker from Kaukauna, Wisconsin and began to spread his wings to Michigan's Upper Peninsula with champions Kent Pearson and Bob Iverson.
Give it a listen!
2021-11-1811 min
joeverdegan.comMIKE RANDERSON EPISODE 7 - RACING RELATIONSHIPS AND THE 1976 SEASONThe sport of short track racing is all about relationships.
In episode 7 of the Mike Randerson podcast series Mike talks about a few of those important relationships heading
into the 1976 season. People like Dennis Frings, Carl Wegner, Lynn Blanchard, Tom Hamilton and Bill Bembinster to name a few.
Enjoy!
2021-11-1111 min
joeverdegan.comRANDERSON PODCAST # 6 - THE '75 SEASON AND DOMINANCE WITH "THE BEAR"In 1975 when the promoters of De Pere and Seymour went head-to-head on Sunday nights, Roger "The Bear" Regeth opted to run De Pere in loyalty to Jack Peters.
That left Shawano to reap the benefits of having Regeth and J.J. Smith going head-to-head against each other on Saturday nights.
In episode 6 of the Mike Randerson podcast series Mike talks about that season of dominance in the Les Stumpf Ford 96 car and the incredible of amount of time, blood, sweat and tears Randerson, Geno Weber and Regeth put into that successful season.
Listen...
2021-11-0510 min
joeverdegan.comMIKE RANDERSON SERIES EPISODE 5 - HITTING THE CENTRAL WISCONSIN PAVEMENT SCENEIn this week's MIke Randerson podcast series episode 5, we go back to the 1972 season when Randerson teamed up once again with Jerry "Medina" Smith and began racing in the tough, central Wisconsin racing circuit against the likes of Reffner, Trickle, Marzofka, etc.
Listen in!
2021-10-3009 min
joeverdegan.comSEAN JEROVETZ - STAYING BUSY IN THE STOCK CAR RACING GAMEAlthough he no longer races his IMCA modified or even attends stock car races regularly, Suamico's Sean Jerovetz remains front and center in the stock car racing scene.
Check out Sean's story!
2021-10-2811 min
joeverdegan.comMIKE RANDERSON SERIES EPISODE 4 - TEAMING WITH THE "FLYING FARMER" ROGER PAULMike Randerson assisted dozens of racers in their racing careers over the decades.
One of them was The "Flying Farmer" Roger Paul, the most famous racer to emerge from New London, Wisconsin.
Listen in! This one is a dandy.
2021-10-2210 min
joeverdegan.comMIKE RANDERSON PODCAST SERIES - EPISODE 3In this week's edition of the Mike Randerson podcast series, Mike talks about Jerry "Medina" Smith's USAC stock car victory that he was robbed of in Ohio, and his eventually teaming up with "The Bear" Roger Regeth!
Enjoy!
2021-10-1409 min
joeverdegan.comMIKE RANDERSON PODCAST SERIES - EPISODE 2In this Mike Randerson podcast series interview Mike talks about racing upwards of four to five nights a week with Jerry "Medina" Smith in the late 1960s. Their travels included racing not only in northeast Wisconsin but in Central Wisconsin and dabbling even in the USAC stock car series.
Enjoy!
2021-10-0710 min
2021-10-0400 min
joeverdegan.comMIKE RANDERSON PODCAST SERIES - EPISODE 1"I hit everything but the ambulance and the wrecker" said Mike Randerson regarding his early days of climbing behind the wheel himself in 1960.
This is the first episode in the weekly series of interviews with Randerson.
Enjoy!
2021-09-3011 min
joeverdegan.comSTEVE HAAS - BACK FROM A 'SEMI-RETIREMENT'Thorp, Wisconsin's Steve Haas is back behind the wheel racing his WISSOTA modified after taking several years off.
Listen in as Haas talks about his past late model racing days and how the sport has changed in 2021.
Listen in!
2021-09-2407 min
joeverdegan.comMIKE KELLY - ONE OF UPPER MICHIGAN'S BESTWhen conversations around the water cooler center around legendary stock car drivers from Michigan's Upper Peninsula Mike Kelly is most certainly among those wheelmen who get talked about.
We caught up with number 77 this summer at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Mike talks about how he got his start, beating Dick Trickle in Norway Speedway's Stateline Challenge, racing with his boys and much more.
Listen in!
2021-09-1309 min
joeverdegan.comALEXANDER GILHART - BEEN FLAGGING SINCE HE WAS A KIDRemember that little kid at WIR, who had his own set of flags and from behind the flagstand and would mimic every move the starter would perform on Thursday nights?
His name is Alexander Gilhart and in 2021 at the age of 19 he's one of the busiest starters in the Midwest.
Listen to Alexander's story!
2021-09-0907 min
joeverdegan.comERIC PEMBER - ENJOYING A NEW RACING ROLE IN '21Pittsville, Wisconsin's Eric Pember has been out of racing himself regularly since 2015.
However Pember still has his hand in motorsport in the role of a mentor/crew chief of sorts in northern and north central Wisconsin.
Listen in as Pember talks about that role, and his own racing career at places like Central State Speedway in Colby, the now defunct World Dirt Racing League and the old United States Modified Series BEFORE they added the "T" for touring.
Check it out!
2021-08-3008 min
joeverdegan.comJERRY SCHNEIDER - TALKIN' RACIN', WIR CIRCLE OF FAME AND MOREKaukauna, Wisconsin's Jerry Schneider has been active in the racing scene at his home track Wisconsin International Raceway for several decades now.
Listen in as we talk to Jerry about the past and the present - including where the idea came from for WIR's Circle of Fame. Listen in!
2021-08-2311 min
joeverdegan.comJOHN ROESER - A SEASON OF SPORT TRUCK DOMINANCEGreen Bay's John Roeser had a season most drivers can only dream of in 2011.
Listen in as Roeser talks about racing in the old mini champ class in 1989 and the conversion to the sport truck class in 1990.
2021-07-3007 min
joeverdegan.comRICHIE WAUTERS - STILL SHORT TRACKIN' THRU THE DECADESRichie Wauters racing career began as a curious 12-year-old riding his bike over to Scott Hansen's garage after hearing the race car's engine rumble on Green Bay's west side.
Wauters moved down south decades ago and is still short tracking. Listen in!
2021-07-3008 min
joeverdegan.comBOB SCHMIDT - SHAWANO'S 'RACING CONSTABLE'Bob Schmidt from Marion was not only a long time fixture at Shawano Speedway in the sportsman and Fastrak late model divisions for decades he was also Shawano County Sheriff for a stint.
Listen in as Bob recalls his racing days and how he got involved in the sport.
2021-07-3010 min
joeverdegan.comSTEVE CARLSON - SHORT TRACK MASTER OF THE TOURING SERIESWest Salem, Wisconsin's Steve Carlson has a pretty impressive resume, which includes NASCAR late model titles, ARTGO, RE/MAX CHALLENGE SERIES AND ASA MIDWEST TOURS. Throw in La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, WIR's Red, White and Blue and multiple Dixieland 250 crowns and you've got a legit short track legend who's still scoring feature flags in 2021.
Listen in!
2021-07-0909 min
joeverdegan.comJERRY REICHENBERGER - TALKIN' LEO'S SPEEDWAY, MOPARS AND MOREOshkosh, Wisconsin's Jerry Reichenberger was a regular fixture at Leo's Speedway in Oshkosh, Wisconsin right up until the track held it's last race at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds in 1978.
Listen in as Reichenberger talks about his colorful racing career - along with the careers of his son Mike Reichenberger and grandson Brandon Reichenberger. Enjoy!
2021-07-0708 minjoeverdegan.comJASON SCHULER - TALKING ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF SHORT TRACK RACINGCambridge, Wisconsin's Jason Schuler has competed in the NASCAR Busch Series for four seasons.
As of late he's best known in the short track racing circles as one of the partners in Pathfinder Chassis.
We recently caught up with Jason as he reflected upon his own racing career and talked about the short track racing chassis business.
Listen in! Good stuff here!
2021-07-0708 min
joeverdegan.comNASCAR TRUCK RACER JOHNNY SAUTER - 'AT HEART, I'M STILL A SHORT TRACK RACER'At 43, Johnny Sauter remains one of the elder statesman in NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series.
But the second-generation driver from Wisconsin still has his roots planted firmly in the short track late model scene in the Midwest.
Listen in!
2021-07-0506 min
joeverdegan.comDAVE PANSKE - 'IT ALL STARTED AT LEO'S SPEEDWAY WHEN I WAS FIVE'Oshkosh native Dave Panske has had a hand in working at race tracks as a photographer, writer, board member and promoter for much of his adult life.
Listen in as this Oshkosh native talks about how his love for racing got started and where.
2021-06-2906 min
joeverdegan.comJIM VANDENBERG GOES 'ON THE RECORD'Kimberly, Wisconsin native Jim Vandenberg had ties to Pete Parker, Alan Kulwicki and Mike Randerson during his career of racing on pavement and dirt tracks starting in the 1970s in northeastern Wisconsin.
Listen in as Vandenberg reflects on his racing days.
2021-06-2109 min
joeverdegan.comDENNIS LAMPMAN - RACING'S 'GENTLE GIANT'Perhaps no driver had more fun chasing the pavement late model racing scene in Wisconsin and the Midwest than Dennis Lampman did in the 1980s into the '90s.
Listen in as this Oak Creek, Wisconsin resident recalls tales from racing at WIR, Slinger, ARTGO and ASA.
2021-06-1709 min
joeverdegan.comMARK MILLER - TALES FROM A NORWAY SPEEDWAY HALL OF FAMERThe city of Kingsford, Michigan has produced quite a number of top flight racers over the decades.
Norway Speedway Hall of Famer Mark Miller is one of them.
Listen in as we take a trip down memory lane with number 41.
2021-06-1408 min
joeverdegan.comRICH BICKLE - "40 OF THE 50 BEST SHORT TRACK RACERS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE FROM WISCONSIN OR NORTHERN ILLINOIS'We were fortunate enough recently to catch up with Edgerton, Wisconsin's Rich Bickle Jr.
A man who's not afraid to hold back his thoughts - Bickle talked about his humble beginnings, racing against the best late model pilots in the country, NASCAR politics and everything else in between!
This is MUST listen to stuff! Enjoy!
2021-06-1110 min
joeverdegan.comRANDY BOEGH - NORTHEAST WISCONSIN'S FIRST EVER IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE WINNERWhen the IMCA modifieds were introduced to Seymour (WI) Speedway's half-mile in 1984 Randy 'Bing Bong' Boegh won the first ever race. Boegh talks about how the modifieds at the time were a newer, inexpensive option for dirt trackers and he chats about his days on the pavement at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
2021-06-0707 min
joeverdegan.comSTEVE SMITS - WIR SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONDe Pere, Wisconsin's Steve Smits won in his first outing in 1/4 mile sportsman action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin in the early 1980s.
Listen in as Smits reflects upon his days of trading paint with his sportsman foes.
2021-06-0307 min
joeverdegan.comDAVE SCHNEIDER - THE STORY BEHIND RIGHT FOOT PERFORMANCEMany folks don't know that the man at the helm of Right Foot Performance, Dave Schneider, got his start in racing in the mid-1970s tagging along with Gene Wheeler and his multiple racing endeavors.
Listen in as Dave Schneider talks about his own racing career in both late models and modifieds and his take on the technical end of racing these days.
2021-06-0111 min
joeverdegan.comBRAD LUEPKE - BEHIND THE SCENES AT SHAWANO SPEEDWAYPromoting a weekly racing program is a 7-day-a-week task - especially during the season.
Listen in as Shawano Speedway's Brad Luepke explains how it's much more than simply turning the lights on
and opening the gates on Saturday nights.
2021-05-2007 min
joeverdegan.comKURT SCHWEITZER - FROM RACER TO FRRC PRESIDENTKurt Schweitzer has been around motorsports for most of his adult life.
The current president of the Fox River Racing Club talks about how it all got started for him in the 1970s and his current position within the club that promotes the weekly 'Thursday Night Thunder' action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
2021-05-1608 min
joeverdegan.comDAN PETERMAN - TALKIN' WIR 1/4 MILE SPORTSMAN SCRUMSBrillion, Wisconsin's Dan Peterman was always in the thick of things in the Fox River Racing Club's sportsman division races on the quarter-mile oval at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Listen in as Dan talks about the strength and parity within the class and the move from the quarter-mile to the half-mile and the evolution to what was referred to as a 'limited late model' at the time. Listen in!
2021-05-1207 min
joeverdegan.comMIKE SCHMELZER - RACING FROM HIS DOOR COUNTY ROOTSDoor County native Mike Schmelzer is most well-known for being the man behind Bay Speed Center in De Pere, Wisconsin. However Schmelzer had a racing career in northeast Wisconsin from the 1970s through the 1990s where he'd often race four nights a week on both dirt and asphalt. Listen in!
2021-05-1011 min
joeverdegan.comMATT PANURE - TALKIN' TUNDRA SUPER LATE MODELSMatt Panure wears many hats. He's the voice of "Thursday Night Thunder" at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. He calls the action on the Dirt Kings late model tour. He one of the main players involved in promoting the TUNDRA super late model series.
Listen in as Matt discusses the unique business plan behind this series and why it remains an affordable option for both racers and track promoters alike.
2021-05-0608 min
joeverdegan.comJASON SHULTZ - BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE DIRT KINGS TOURWhat prompted Jason Shultz to put together the Dirt Kings late model tour? Listen in to find out!
2021-05-0306 min
joeverdegan.comMIKE KUDICK - RETIRED LAKESHORE RACERManitowoc, Wisconsin native Mike Kudick grew up in a racing family racing. Retired from racing for a bit now, Kudick talks about moving up north, running his own business and that non stop temptation to possibly return the the race track. Enjoy!
2021-04-2907 min
joeverdegan.comGENE COLEMAN - THE PRIDE OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGANIt was a race track in Peshtigo, Wisconsin of all places where Gene Coleman's passion for stock car racing was ignited as a youngster.
Listen in as we chat with a legendary racer, car owner and true business success story who emerged from humble beginnings in Menominee, Michigan.
2021-04-2208 min
joeverdegan.comRORY MELBINGER - TOP FLIGHT WHEELMAN ON DIRT & TARMarshfield, Wisconsin's Rory Melbinger has been a winner on both dirt and asphalt ovals in his career in central Wisconsin.
Listen in as he talks about his racing career that started in the mid 1970s!
2021-04-1907 min
joeverdegan.comSTEVE GEISE TALKS WIR 1/4 MILE SPORTSMAN SCRUMSMenasha, Wisconsin's Steve Geise battled in the rough-and-tumble 1/4 mile sportsman class in Fox River Racing Club action at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. After hanging up the helmet Geise served as a steward for the FRRC. Join us as Steve reflects upon his racing career which began at the now defunct Outagamie Speedway in Apple Creek.
2021-04-1207 min
joeverdegan.comTHE 'BRANCH FLASH' - GREG HERRMANNNot many know where Branch, Wisconsin is, but it's the hometown of 'The Branch Flash' Greg Herrmann.
Herrmann is a former Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Association (EWSC) and Mid-American sportsman racer. He's also a race car builder and as of late has been instrumental in breathing new life into the Wisconsin and Michigan dirt street stocks through the Unified Street Stock rules package.
Listen in!
2021-04-0511 min
joeverdegan.com'DON'T MESS WITH NESS' - CATCHING UP WITH GREEN BAY NATIVE GREG NESSThe Ness name has been a popular one in the Green Bay area racing circles dating back to Earl Ness' dominance at the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere in the '50s and '60s. Greg Ness kept that family name alive in local racing circles for several seasons beginning in the late 1980s. Listen in as Greg talks about his career which started out in Shawano Speedway's hobby stock division.
2021-03-2909 min
joeverdegan.comJIMBO SCHLEIS - FROM RACER TO TRACK OFFICIALWhen it was time for Manitowoc, Wisconsin's Jimbo Schleis to hang up his helmet he found a way to stay involved with the sport he loved - he became a track official.
Listen in on this interview as Jimbo talks about the mini champ era that was strong in the 1980s at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek and eventually at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Schleis also wheeled a Mid-American Sportsman car at 141 until the track's very last pavement race that was held in September, 2009.
2021-03-2505 min
joeverdegan.comJERRY MUENSTER - LIVING LIFE IN THE FAST LANEGreen Bay's Jerry Muenster shows no signs of slowing down. He'll turn 80 in May, yet he plans on a full season of racing his IMCA modified at Shawano Speedway in Saturday nights in 2021.
2021-03-2211 min
joeverdegan.comPETE CLOVER - A GREEN BAY COP WHO RACED 'UNDERCOVER'Green Bay's Pete Clover was a Green Bay police officer who was pressured to race under an assumed name - Joe Scharenbroch.
Listen in on this funny story about a man who wheeled a race car during the popular coupe racing days in the '60s in De Pere and Luxemburg, WIsconsin.
2021-03-1909 min
joeverdegan.comMICHIGAN'S RON BACIAK - FROM DIRT TRACK WINGED MODS TO LATE MODELS ON THE TARNorway (MI) Speedway 2017 Hall of Famer Ron Baciak of Vulcan, Michigan talks about his days of slinging clay with the big and powerful winged modifieds in the 1970's and the transition to pavement late models in the 1980's and beyond. Listen in!
2021-03-1612 min
joeverdegan.comANDY GEIGER - FROM 100 CAR ENDUROS TO WIR SPORT TRUCK CHAMPIONSHIPSBrillion, Wisconsin's Andy Geiger got his racing career started racing full sized car enduros at 141 Speedway's paved track. From there he wound up toying with a mini champ and eventually scored a pair of Fox River Racing Club sport truck crowns at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Listen in as Andy reflects upon his colorful career!
2021-03-1211 min
joeverdegan.comPETE BERKEN - MAKING WIR'S 1/4 MILE OVAL GREAT AGAINAppleton, Wisconsin's Pete Berken has been involved in the stock car racing game since 1970. In recent years the former Fox River Racing Club sportsman champion has poured his heart and soul into breathing new life at WIR's 1/4 oval with the 1/4 mile late model class. Listen in on this dandy of an interview.
2021-03-0907 minjoeverdegan.com"TOM CAT" TOM SIPPEL - EARLY DAYS OF EWSCElkhart Lake, Wisconsin's Tom Sippel recalls the days when you could throw a modified together pretty cheap with scrapyard parts. Sippel's career wrapped up in 1975. Sippel talks about racing at Plymouth, Chilton and Slinger Super Speedway when it was still dirt back in the day. Listen in!
2021-03-0209 min
joeverdegan.comBEETLE BAILEY - NORTHERN WISCONSIN RACING LEGENDMike "Beetle" Bailey, who resides in tiny Argonne, WIsconsin (population 503) is a Northern Wisconsin racing legend who's still going strong in 2021. Bailey won the very first race ever held at KG Raceway (now Eagle River Speedway) in 1975. Listen in as Beetle talks about days gone by and his racing days ahead!
2021-02-2608 min
joeverdegan.comRICK LEMMENS - FROM DRIVER TO CAR OWNERBeginning in the late 1980's Kewaunee, Wisconsin's Rick Lemmens had a colorful racing career on both the dirt and paved tracks across northeastern Wisconsin and the Midwest. Listen to Rick talk about his own time behind the wheel and in 2021 as a car owner for his son Luke Lemmens.
2021-02-2207 min
joeverdegan.com"BROADWAY JOE" HAFERKORN GOES ON THE RECORDNorway, Michigan's Joe Haferkorn talks the winged modified era, pavement late model days, Forest County Potawatomi sponsorship and an incident in the IMCA claim area with Paul Thorpe. Great stuff! Give it a listen!
2021-02-1512 min
joeverdegan.comA LOOK BACK WITH THE "FRANKLIN FLYER" BILL PRIETZELYou'd have to look pretty hard to find a more diverse stock car driver in Wisconsin that Bill Prietzel. The "Franklin Flyer" caught up with Joe Verdegan recently at the Luxemburg Racing Show and talked about the past and his 2021 racing plans. As you can imagine they don't include slowing down anytime soon! Give it a listen!
2021-02-0809 min
joeverdegan.comGOING 'OPEN WHEELIN' WITH RANDY SIPPELRandy Sippel has been an integral part of the Midwestern open wheel scene for decades. The second-generation driver talks about his past days of racing sprint cars himself and transitioning into the crew chief/car owner roles. Enjoy!
2021-02-0311 min
joeverdegan.comREFLECTIONS ON A RACING CAREER - BRIAN THIELKEGreen Bay's Brian Thielke is one of very few drivers who can lay claim to winning a feature in their first time out ever in a late model. That win and his hard-charging, aggressive style quickly earned him respect amongst his peers. We recently caught up with Brian and he reflected upon his brief, but colorful career in northeast Wisconsin! Listen in!
2021-01-2909 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record with Dave ValentyneAfter he racing days were wrapped up in the 1980's Kimberly, Wisconsin native Dave Valentyne became a "right hand man" so to speak for Roger Van Daalwyk at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Dave is still a fixture at the track. We caught up with Dave as he talked about his colorful career which started in the wild and crazy Figure 8 division. Give it a listen!
2021-01-2507 min
joeverdegan.com"THE DUKE" STILL HAVING FUN DURING WIR'S "THURSDAY NIGHT THUNDER"Going on five decades now, Jim Duchow continues to be involved in stock car racing at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Listen to this interview as the former quarter-mile sportsman standout and super late model competitor talks about the past, the present and the future of local racing.
2021-01-1709 min
joeverdegan.comWayne Roffers - On The RecordOneida, Wisconsin's Wayne Roffers started his racing career in the mid 1970's. He bailed out to raise his family in the early '80's and also build a very successful business Wayne Roffers Trucking. We caught up with Wayne in the summer of 2020 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna to talk about the past and the present.
2021-01-1210 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Art "Slugger" SiefertGreen Bay's Art "Slugger" Siefert has been one of the colorful characters on the local racing scene for decades. Although he hasn't climbed behind the wheel himself in a while or flagged a race, we caught up with "Party Hearty With Artie" recently and the Shawano Speedway sportsman champion shared his thoughts on his racing career and that of his son late model ace Jared Siefert. Give it a listen!
2021-01-0608 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - "The Bear" Roger Regeth"The Bear" Roger Regeth played the villain role to a "T" in Wisconsin racing circles in the 1970's and beyond. Listen to "The Bear" in his own words about racing the USAC stock car circuit, mopping up feature wins and track titles with Mike Randerson and Geno Weber and other juicy tidbits!
2020-12-2816 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Ray DietzenRay Dietzen was one of the founding fathers of the Fox River Racing Club - the organization that has hosted weekly, Thursday night races at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna since the mid 1970's. Listen to Ray's memories on how the whole "Thursday Night Thunder" gig got started.
2020-12-1007 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Steve SvobodaThis summer Kewaunee native Steve Svoboda was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Luxemburg Speedway (rebranded 'The 'Burg in 2020). In this interview the former IMCA stock car champion and Mid-American stock car competitor talks about his racing career - as well as his Dad Les Svoboda's racing endeavors!
2020-11-2807 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - J.J. SmithAppleton, Wisconsin racing legend J.J. Smith had to forge paperwork and say he was older than he was to kick off his racing career at the long defunct Apple Creek race track. Read on about this legend who was a force to be reckoned with on dirt and asphalt for several decades across northeast Wisconsin!
2020-11-1811 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Al GoluekeAl Golueke was a man whose passion for stock car racing started as a kid at the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere in the 1960's. Always known as an innovator during his racing career, we caught up with Golueke in the summer of 2020 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna.
2020-11-1114 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Bob MenorBob Menor is one of the few drivers from Wausaukee, Wisconsin. Known as "The Ranger City Racer" Bob had a successful career on the dirt and asphalt starting out racing at tracks in Crandon, Eagle River and Norway, Michigan. Bob would later in career focus on the pavement exclusively where he won his share of races and titles at Norway, and also ran at WIR in Kaukauna and even a short stint with ASA. We caught up with Bob as he was on his tractor working at his home this summer.
2020-11-0508 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Terry BaldryNobody in the history of Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna has won more super late model track championships than Omro's Terry Baldry. Joe Verdegan got the man of few words to open up about his highly successful racing career.
2020-10-2906 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - "Hot Rod" WheelerNobody wore the black hat and played the villain role at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna better than Appleton's "Hot Rod" Wheeler. Check out Rod's interview with Joe Verdegan during the summer of '20.
2020-10-2310 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Larry SchulerThis week's "On The Record" features longtime midwest late model racer "The Junkyard Dog" Larry Schuler.
2020-10-1406 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Terry AnvelinkTerry Anvelink put the small town of Navarino at the forefront of the Northeast Wisconsin racing circles.
With a career that started in the mid '70's "The Navarino Nightmare" won his share of races and track championships.
Listen to learn more about this drivers near four decade racing career in the dirt late model circles.
2020-10-0609 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Roger Van DaalwykOur "On The Record" segments aren't just for retired race car drivers. On occasion we'll feature retired race track promoters like long time Wisconsin International Raceway owner Roger Van Daalwyk.
Get the inside scoop from the man who took over as general manager of the Kaukauna, Wisconsin oval and dragstrip right out of high school halfway through the 1972 racing season.
2020-09-2810 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Tom ReffnerRudolph, Wisconsin's Tom Reffner is a central Wisconsin short track legend.
In 1975 Reffner won an incredible 67 feature races all across the Midwest, often racing four or five nights a week. Reffner also won the first ever ARTGO Challenge Series event.
Listen to our interview with Reffner we conducted in the summer of 2020.
2020-09-2209 minjoeverdegan.comThe Vault - 1970 De Pere Audio RecordingsIt was May, 1970. The Beatles “Let It Be” was one of the top songs on the pop charts. Richard Nixon was the president and the president and stock car racing was the thing to do in De Pere at the Brown County Fairgrounds.
We at joeverdegan.com were able to unearth some true treasures – two reel-to-reel recordings of full nights of stock car racing on the dirt half-mile located just a few minutes from Green Bay. We believe the announcer back then was Paul Kaczrowski, who would later go on to become a very successful race promoter in his...
2020-09-211h 36
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Wayne WeckwerthAppleton’s Wayne Weckwerth’s racing career started at the small bullring at Apple Creek in Appleton, Wisconsin and would span into racing the dirt and asphalt ovals of Northeast Wisconsin in the 1970’s. He also served a stint as a track announcer at both Seymour and Shawano Speedways.
2020-09-1511 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Scott HansenGreen Bay native Scott Hansen earned five Fox River Racing Club titles at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in the 1980's.
Hansen went on to win rookie-of-the-year honors in both ARTGO and ASA, and was a five time winner at the famed Milwaukee Mile.
Hansen's racing career wrapped up driving a NASCAR Craftsman truck for Kenny Schrader.
2020-09-1510 min
joeverdegan.comOn The Record - Darrell MassartBrussels, Wisconsin's Darrell Massart grew up in the Kewaunee and Door County racing scene starting in the late '60s and into the '70s. His Dad Wally Massart was car owner and crew chief for "The Golden Boy" Irv Ettien." Massart went on to wheel late models and IMCA modifieds where he racked up multiple feature wins and track titles. We caught up with Darrell at 'The Burg Speedway in Luxemburg and talked about the past.
2020-09-1509 min