Wisconsin International Raceway

Coordinates: 44°14′44″N 88°15′37″W / 44.2455°N 88.2603°W / 44.2455; -88.2603

Wisconsin International Raceway
Location Kaukauna, Wisconsin (town of Buchanan)
Major events Dixieland 250
Red, White and Blue State Championship Series
1/2 mile
Surface asphalt
Length .50 mi
Turns 4 plus dogleg on frontstretch
Lap record 19.026 (Johnny Sauter, , 2015, ARCA Midwest Tour)
1/4 mile
Surface asphalt
Length 0.25 mi
Figure 8
Surface asphalt
Drag strip
Surface asphalt
Banking flat

The Wisconsin International Raceway (WIR) is a stockcar racing oval and dragstrip in the Town of Buchanan, in Outagamie County, just outside Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA.

Stockcar track

The main track is a half mile D-shaped paved oval.[1] 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.[2]

Stock car weekly divisions

There are six divisions at the track.[1] The Super Late Model and Late Model divisions race on the half-mile track.[1] The Super Stocks, Sport 4's (stock four cylinders modified for racing), and Wisconsin Sport Trucks[1][3] divisions race on the quarter-mile track. The Figure 8 cars end programs on the Figure 8 track.[1] An 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.

Stock car special events

2014 ARCA Midwest Tour race

The track had an annual American Speed Association event. The track resumed hosting ASA events after the series was reorganized, and it held an event in 2007. Earlier the USAC Stock Car series had raced at the track.[4] The ASA series returned to the track in 2014 now sanctioned as the ARCA Midwest Tour.

The track has hosted an annual "Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series" for super late models since 1972.[5] The series consist of three races in June (red), July (white), and August (blue).[5] The series changed from Saturday nights to Thursday nights to combine with the weekly series in 2009.[5] The series was part of the Midwest Challenge Series (formerly ARTGO) and later part of the Wisconsin Challenge Series. 7,832 people watched Dick Trickle win the first red race.[5]

Notable drivers to race on the stockcar track

Dick Trickle pavilion in Turn 2

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

Trickle had so many wins that the track dedicated the Dick Trickle Pavilion in Turn 2. Joe Shear won the Red, White, and Blue series 1979, 1987, and 1988.[7]

List of super late model track champions

List of Super Stock track champions

List of Sizzlin' 4 track champions

List of Figure-8 track champions

Trivia

Dragstrip

Looking down the drag strip

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 and it is the tracks' annual season finale for the stock car. The Eve of Destruction is one of the biggest events hosted at track, as the 10,000 seat raceway is generally packed.[9] 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. In between races, fans are entertained by stunt car drivers. 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."[10]

Media
Figure 8 racing
Figure 8 racing at Wisconsin International Raceway — 3.3 MB
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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Goff, Tom (2009-05-26). "Get Your Motor Running". The Post Crescent.
  2. ↑ Grubba, Dale (2000). The Golden Age of Wisconsin Auto Racing. Oregon, Wisconsin: Badger Books. p. 45. ISBN 1-878569-67-8.
  3. ↑ Wisporttrucks.com
  4. ↑ "Bay Darnell race results". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Goff, Tom (2009-05-28). "Thunder and Lightning". The Post Crescent. pp. B–1, B–5.
  6. ↑ Grubba, Dale (2000). The Golden Age of Wisconsin Auto Racing. Oregon, Wisconsin: Badger Books. p. 201. ISBN 1-878569-67-8.
  7. ↑ Grubba, Dale (2000). The Golden Age of Wisconsin Auto Racing. Badger Books Inc. p. 205. ISBN 1-878569-67-8. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  8. ↑ Appleton Post-Crescent newspaper, May 21, 2006, Racing Report (page B-8)
  9. ↑ The Post-Crescent, September 16, 2006, "Crash fans covet Eve of Destruction" (page A1)
  10. ↑ The Post-Crescent, September 16, 2006, "Crash fans covet Eve of Destruction" (page A3)
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