Wisconsin International Raceway, the historic facility just outside of Kaukauna, is poised to host another huge season of stock car and drag racing action in 2025 under the leadership of owners Dan and Ginger Van Daalwyk. Last month we spoke about the Eve of Destruction, the largest event of the season and below are more events for our 2025 Season.
The headlining Thursday night events are the Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series. Those dates are set for June 12, July 17, and August 14. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Ty Majeski was a co-Champion of the triple crown this year with teammate Riley Stenjem in the Chase Motorsports machine. Majeski stated that he would like to return to win the Championship outright in 2025.
Last season Chad Butz scored the Super Late Model Track Championship after a season-long battle with Maxwell Schutz. The Championship was the first for Butz who races for his family-owned team. The Butz family team previously won track championships with former NASCAR Champion Matt Kenseth and 12-time WIR Champion Terry Baldry. Butz is expected to defend his title against the likes of 2023 track Champion Sawyer Effertz, multiple-time Champion Lowell Bennett, former Champion Andy Monday, top runner Jordan Thiel and many others.
Other division Champions in 2024 included Alex Stumpf (Late Models), Mike King (Super Stocks), Eli Schommer (Sizzlin 4’s), Tim Bauman (WIR ¼-Mile Late Models), Kyle Quella (Wisconsin Sport Trucks), and Jordan Gracyalny (Figure 8s).
Another headlining event of the season is the Gandrud Auto Group 250 with the ASA Midwest Tour. The traditional event takes place the first Tuesday in August, which lands on August 5 in 2025. Last year’s event had plenty of twists and turns. Majeski was the winner of the event for the fifth time – surpassing the late and legendary Dick Trickle. This event also promises to bring some of the very best competitors from across the Midwest to battle for the checkered flag.
The 2025 drag strip schedule is yet to be announced, but several key dates have been tabbed. A blast from the past happens on June 7 and 8 with the Ghost Rods Vintage Drags, Car Show and Swap Meet. The event features machines from earlier eras of drag racing and provides enthusiasts a chance to get up close and personal with the cars.
The earth-pounding, high-intensity Jet Cars will be invading WIR’s drag strip twice this year – on Saturday, July 26 as part of the IHRA Sumit SuperSeries Drag Racing and Saturday, August 16 as part of the Les Stumpf Ford Jet Car Nationals. The Jet Cars are a rare breed of race machine that need to be witnessed in person.
Another banner event for the drag strip takes place at the midway point of the season as the bikes invade for the 24th Annual Doc’s Harley Davidson Legal Country Drags for Charity. This event features bikes from across the Midwest in one-on-one drag racing action.
For more information on the Wisconsin International Raceway full season (both the oval track and the drag strip) visit www.wirmotorsports.com. WIR also has very active social media pages on Facebook and Instagram to keep fans up to speed on the latest happenings. WIR is located at W1460 County Rd KK, Kaukauna
