BUTZ BATTLES PAST THIEL FOR THIRD FRRC WIN OF 2025
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (July 10, 2025) – Defending Fox River Racing Club Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Model Champion Chad Butz snuck past Jordan Thiel on the final lap of the feature Thursday night, scoring his third win of the season at Wisconsin International Raceway.
The race, presented by Bergstrom Victory Lane Imports, got off to a furious start as Thiel and Riley Stenjem scrapped for the lead. Stenjem was able to hold Thiel off until the first caution on lap 12. By that point Butz had moved into the Top Four.
After Stenjem initially recaptured the lead on the restart, Thiel made his move into the top spot on lap 15. Just one lap later Butz made the pass into Second. Shortly after an incident between Lowell Benett and Grant Griesbach brought out the yellow flag. Bennett called the gentleman’s agreement, giving Griesbach his spot back.
Thiel and Butz swapped the lead on the restart, with Thiel eventually emerging at the front of the field. He and Butz broke away to settle the score in the final ten laps.
Coming to two laps to go, Butz was able to gain the inside line on Thiel. He edged ahead slightly at the line with Thiel clinging to his outside. Thiel gave one final effort in the final lap, but Butz was able to surge ahead exiting turn four to the checkered flag. The win was Butz’s third of the season and second in a row.
STUMPF GETS HAPPY IN PRO LATES
Alex Stumpf also secured his third Fox City’s Towing Pro Late Model feature win of the season.
The race got off to a rough start as an aborted green flag saw Brian Henry get shuffled into the outside wall and Braison Bennett collected in the incident. Henry was unable to continue and Bennett came out to turn laps near the midway point of the race.
Wayne Posselt grabbed the lead off the next start as TJ Spierowski and Stumpf moved into the Top Three. Stumpf shot around the outside of both to grab the lead and Spierowski took Second on lap four.
As the race rolled on Spierowski stayed with Stumpf and provided several challenges. However, he was unable to make a pass and Stumpf went on to win by three car lengths at the line.
MEYERHOFER AND NEERDAELS SPLIT ‘DUKE’ FEATURES, KOSTICHKA IS OVERALL WINNER
Twin 15-lap features in honor of Jim Duchow were run in the Pete’s Auto WIR ¼-Mile Late Models. With two Fourth Place finishes and a Third Place qualifying effort, 15-year-old Kaden Kostichka was deemed the overall winner of “The Duke of WIR” presented by Great Lakes Testing.
Mike Meyerhofer seized the lead early in the first 15-lap feature. He then had to hold off Rick Spoo on two restarts, including one with just two laps remaining. Meyerhofer sealed the bottom and was able to hold on at the checkered flag.
After rookie Payton Linder led the first lap of the second feature, Henry Neerdaels swept to the lead on lap two and didn’t look back until late in the race. Dan Thomson and Ty Fietzer provided challenges, but could not shake Neerdaels, who held them off in the final laps.
EVAN BEATTIE SOARS ON OUTSIDE LANE FOR SUPER STOCK WIN
Evan Beattie reigned supreme on the night in the Novus Auto Glass Super Stocks, claiming his first feature win after setting fast time earlier in the evening.
Larry Raygo led early and turned away challenges from Adam Petermann. Evan Beattie jumped to the outside line and methodically started picking off positions. On lap 12 he took Third, on lap 13 he took Second, and on lap 14 he took the lead.
A restart with five laps remaining saw Beatie break away from Raygo. Beattie went on to a large margin of victory.
BRADY VANDERLOOP WINS SIBLING RIVALRY IN VANDERMOSS MEMORIAL
Brady, Cody, and Kasey Vanderloop all found themselves at the front of the Rob Vandermoss Memorial Wisconsin Sport Truck feature. In the end it was Brady who bested his older brothers.
The Vanderloops made their way to the font of the field after the restart on lap 11. Brady surged to the lead past Kyle Quella on lap 13. After another restart Kasey and Cody joined in.
The final restart saw Cody get past Brady to take the lead. However, Brady was able to steal the lead back from his brother with three laps to go. He distanced himself from Cody and Kasey who battled for Second until Kasey looped his machine exiting turn four on the final lap. The win was Brady’s third of the year.
SCHWALLER SNAGS FIRST SIZZLIN’ 4 WIN
Shane Schwaller came close to his first Roundabout Bar & Grill Sizzin’ 4 feature win just a few weeks ago. He would not be denied this time around.
Schwaller took the lead on lap seven and held off the advances of Jeremy Czarapata throughout the midway point of the race. The feature went green to checkered in the division for the third straight event in a row.
VANDEWETTERING TAKES FIGURE 8S
Craig Vandewettering won his second Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8 feature of the season. Vandewettering grabbed the lead off a restart at the halfway point of the race and cruised to the win.
NEXT WEEK…
The White Race brings the second leg of the Red, White and Blue State Championship Series back to WIR. Extra laps are on the table for the Super Late Models with plenty of visitors expected in all divisions. The action will be presented by Anglers Bar & Grill and Campground, Kurz Industrial Solutions, and Werner Electric. Racing begins at 6:30pm.