BLUE RACE WIN CAPS JOHNSON’S THIRD RED, WHITE, AND BLUE TITLE

KAUKAUNA, WI (August 20, 2026) – Casey Johnson secured his third Red, White and Blue State Championship style in the best way possible Thursday night at Wisconsin International Raceway with a win in the Action Auto Blue Race presented by Valley Gasket, Appleton Breakfast Rotary Club and Al Huss Auto.

Johnson darted around several cars on a restart after a lengthy red flag on lap three and held off a late charge from Dalton Zehr.  The Red, White and Blue title was Johnson’s first since 2021. He won his first in 2016.

Jeff VanOudenhoven took an early lead in what turned out to be a chaotic first three laps of the 51-lap main event. As he, Andy Monday and Grant Griesbach did battle, contact was made that resulted in Monday spinning and sitting broadside exiting turn four.  Drivers scrambled to avoid disaster. Unfortunately, several including Saywer Effertz, JJ Vanderloop, Jordan Thiel and Alex Prunty did not make it through unscathed.

On the restart VanOudenhoven and Griesbach engaged in a tussle for the lead. Eventually VanOudenhoven emerged with the top spot and Johnson followed with Chad Butz closely behind.  Johnson quickly swept around the outside of Griesbach to take Second, then immediately went to the outside of VanOudenhoven on lap eight.  He made a quick pass into the lead on that lap, with Butz again tailing him into Second.

Both Johnson and Butz broke away from the field and began to log laps until a yellow fell on lap 20 for an incident involving Pete Vandermolen, Lou Goss and Mike Anthony.

Johnson jumped away from Butz on the restart. Dalton Zehr lined up behind Johnson on the outside and took Second from Butz on lap 22.  The duo got out front and Johnson maintained a healthy advantage past the halfway point.

In the final ten laps, Zehr started to close the gap on Johnson.  He got as close as 2 car lengths behind, but Johnson had enough in reserves to maintain the top spot to the checkered flag.  Butz finished Third behind them.

OUDENHOVEN CELEBRATES RWB TITLE WITH BLUE RACE WIN IN PRO LATES

Jesse Oudenhoven made a strong statement to seal the Red, White and Blue title in the Fox City’s Towing Pro Late Models with a fast time and a feature win.  Oudenhoven and Brent Strelka were tied in the standings entering the night. Oudenhoven put together a banner event to seal the Championship.

Matt Wittman took an early lead in the 20-lap feature with Bryan Monday following into Second.  The lone incident came on lap three when Andy Kluck and Todd Verhagen made contact, sending Verhagen into the outside wall. He was unable to continue.

On the restart it was Wittman getting away from Monday with Strelka following into Second.  For the moment Strelka had Oudenhoven behind, where he needed him to stay.  However, Oudenhoven patiently waited until the time was right to struck. He took Second from Stelka on lap 11, then set his sights on the leader.

Shortly after securing Second, Oudenhoven got to the inside line of Wittman and vaulted himself into the lead.  Oudenhoven built a large advantage as Wittman rode in Second and Strelka tried to fight a loose handling race car.

Once out front there was no catching Oudenhoven on his way to the win. Wittman would score a Second Place finish and Alex Stumpf found his way past Strelka in the final few lap to come home Third.

HOWARD TAKES SUPER STOCK BLUE RACE

A second opportunity paid dividends for Ed Howard on his way to a win in the Novus Auto Glass Super Stock 20-lap Blue Race.

With his Fourth Place win, Tony Wilz was able to win a battle with Jake Fuller and Andy Casavant to secure the division’s Red, White and Blue Championship.

Howard initially surrendered the lead at the start of the race, but used the outside line on a restart to capture the lead and didn’t look back.

Rachel Evans took an early lead and rode out front with the race being stalled by a pair of cautions.  On the second restart Howard was able to take off on the outside and secure the lead. He did the same again on yet another restart on lap two.

Once the laps started to click off Howard and JJ Tuyls stepped away from the pack. Tuyls initially kept close with Howard, but eventually Howard widened his lead up front.  By lap eight his lead had grown to a few car lengths and Tuyls was forced to hold off the challenges of Josh Mueller, who had worked his way through the field.

In the final five laps, Tuyls and Mueller closed the gap on Howard.  However, no major challenge could be made and Howard was able to cruise to the win.  Tuyls was able to hold Second over Mueller.

MASON CALMES WINS RWB TITLE WITH BLUE RACE ROMP

Thursday was just another notch in Mason Calmes’ belt during what has been a superb 2026 season.  Calmes collected his sixth feature win of the campaign and locked up the Red, White and Blue title as well.

Quinten Calmes led early and worked to distance himself from the pack as Mason Calmes and Brady Vanderloop jumped through the field in the early goings of the 20-lap event.   Eventually they found themselves in Second and Third by lap eight.

Feeling the heat from Brady Vanderloop, Mason Calme went on the attack and took the lead from his brother on lap 12.  One lap later Vanderloop was able to secure Third just before a caution fell.

The restart saw Mason Calmes get away from Quinten in a hurry and Vanderloop file into Second.  However, the remaining eight laps went off without a hitch for Mason as he built his lead on the way to the win. Vanderloop was Second and Quinten Calmes Third.

WOLLER DOMINATES CROWN VICS

Justin Woller took the 15-lap encore race for the Crown Vics.  Tim Reichenberger led the opening laps until Woller secured the lead off a lap three restart.  Woller went on to jump away on another restart just past halfway and cruised to victory over Reichenberger and Logan Neuman

BILLY SCHOMMER TAKES SIZZLIN’ 4 BLUE RACE

Billy Schommer capitalized on a restart halfway through the Roundabout Bar and Grill Sizzlin’4 feature to capture the lead and go on to win the Blue Race.

Unofficially, Jeremy Czarapata and Mike Klein tied to take the division RWB Championship.

Rachel Czarapata led early and seemed to be on cruise control until the yellow at halfway. Schommer, who had dashed through the field make his move shortly after the restart to take the lead.  He brought TJ Everard along for the ride into Second.

Jeremy Czarapata made two late moves including passing Everard for Second with two laps to go to force the tie with Klein.

KRUEGER BESTS FIGURE 8S

Craig Krueger led all 13 laps of the Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8 feature on his way to his second win of the season. 

An official finish is still being determined as of this writing that will impact the RWB Championship for the Figure 8s.

UP NEXT…

The Fox River Racing Club has just two nights of racing remaining in the 2026 season. The Pete’s Auto WIR ¼-Mile Late Models join the show for their final night of the year and will crown their season Champion. Racing begins at 6:30pm.