GRIESBACH BEGINS TITLE DEFENSE WITH DOMINATING WIN

KAUKAUNA, Wis. (May 21, 2026) – Grant Griesbach began his Fox River Racing Club Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Model title defense the best way possible with a dominating win in the Hank & Karen’s Pub & Grill Season opener on Thursday Night at Wisconsin International Raceway.

Griesbach outgunned Travis Rodewald on an early restart to secure the lead on lap nine and ran away to victory in the 30-lap main event.

Rodewald took the early lead from Taylor Vandermoss.  Griesbach quickly jumped to Third with Chad Butz and Sawyer Effertz in close pursuit. Griesbach was able to take Second on lap three while Butz and Effertz remained side by side trying to get past Vandermoss.

The only caution of the race fell when Effertz tried to tuck in line behind Butz and in front of Jeff VanOudenhoven.  The result saw Effertz take a slow turn into the infield.

On the restart Griesbach was on the outside of Rodewald, who got the initial jump. Rodewald’s lead was short-lived as Griesbach eventually got to the inside line and took the lead on lap nine.  Butz cleared Vandermoss on the same lap to take Third.

As the laps clicked off Butz was able to take Second on lap 12.  By this point, Griesbach had already checked out.  JJ Vanderloop made a couple moves in the second half of the race and worked his way to round out the podium in Third.

STUMPF SHINES IN HIS TITLE DEFENSE TOO

Prior to the Super Late Model main, Alex Stumpf set the standard with a strong performance in the Fox City’s Towing Pro Late Model 20-lap feature.  Stumpf slipped past Brian Henry on lap 14 then held pace over Brent Strelka.

Henry took an early lead and ran away from the pack as Stumpf and Strelka worked their way through.  At halfway Stumpf got to Second and Strelka to Fourth.  Stumpf then chased down Henry and took the lead just before the caution fell for a melee in turn two.

On the restart Stumpf stepped away from Henry and Strelka followed into Second.  Over the final six laps Strelka kept pace, but could not get close enough to challenge. Andy Kluck made a last-lap pass to take Third behind the lead duo.

KOSTICHKA AND THOMSON WIN ¼-MILE LM THRILLERS

Both Pete’s Auto WIR Quarter-Mile Late Model 15-lap features came right down to the wire.

In the first feature Evan Beattie paced the field and looked to hold off Henry Neerdaels in the final laps.  The two came together on the final lap, opening up space for Kostichka to shoot the gap and steal the lead on the final lap.  Kostichka held on to the line to score the win.

In the second feature Neerdaels was again in contention, as he held the outside line on Thomson who had led from the drop of the green.  Neerdaels led a pair of laps after a restart, but could not hold the top spot on the outside line. Eventually Thomson’s inside positioning reigned supreme and he secured the lead with two laps to go.  Thomson took the checkered while Neerdaels was able to hold Second in front of Ty Fietzer.

RAYGO RETURNS TO VICTORY LANE

Larry Raygo picked up his first Novus Auto Glass Super Stock feature win in four years in the season opening 20-lap main.

Raygo led all 20 laps, but faced some hearty challenges along the way. The strongest challenges came at the midway point of the race from Josh Mueller.  Eventually Mueller slipped in some fluid which took him out of contention and brought out a lengthy caution at the midway point.

On the restart Raygo was challenged by Rachel Evans, making her return to the division.  Despite keeping close proximity, Evans was unable to make a significant challenge on Raygo.  He went on to win by a few car lengths over Evans with Dylan Steinbach finishing Third.

CALMES SCORES STATEMENT WIN IN SPORT TRUCKS

Mason Calmes appears to be a young man on a mission in the Wisconsin Sport Trucks this season.  He picked up a dominating win in the 20-lap season opener after taking the Spring Classic last Friday.

Kyle Quella took an early lead and built up a strong advantage. However Calmes make some quick moves to put himself in Third by lap four and Second on lop five.  By lap eight Calmes had caught Quella.  He then shot around the outside of Quella and secured the lead on lap 11.

A caution on lap 16 brought some contenders back to Calmes, but he proved too strong on the restart. Quella went on to finish Second and Brady Vanderloop stole Third at the line.

BILLY SCHOMMER SWIPES SIZZLIN’ 4 FEATURE

Billy Schommer snuck into contention and grabbed the 20-lap Roundabout Bar & Grill feature win late in the event.

Jacoby Pollei led the bulk of the feature but then faced challenges from Justin Fickel and Jeremy Czarapata in the final five laps.  Pollei watched Fickel and Czarapata scrap for Second, which opened the door for Schommer to jump from Fourth to the outside of Pollei to battle for the lead.

Schommer was able to move past Pollei on the outside with four to go.  Czarapata quickly got past Fickel and Pollei. He was ready to challenge Schommer, but ran out of time.  Schommer won by a car length over Czarapata with Pollei holding Third.

DONNY VAN CAMP BACK TO FIGURE 8 VICTORY LANE

After several season off Donny Van Camp picked up a win in the 13-lap Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8 feature.  Van Camp was challenged heartily by Mike Meyerhofer Jr for most of the race, but was able to hold him off to score the win.

UP NEXT…

Fox River Racing Club action returns for week two with all normal divisions in action.  The Crown Vics will make their second appearance of the season with the ¼-Mile Late Models off.  Racing begins at 6:30pm.