EFFERTZ EXCELS IN FRRC SUPER LATE FINALE, STENJEM IS CHAMPION
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (September 3, 2026) – Sawyer Effertz scored his first feature win of the season in the Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Models while Riley Stenjem secured the division title in Thursday Night’s Fox River Racing Club program presented by Valley Liquor, Wisconsin Distributors and LiUNA 330.
After climbing through the field Effertz took the lead on lap 21 and pulled away to take the win. Stenjem remained consistent throughout the night and secured the title with a Fourth Place finish.
Travis Rodewald took an early lead from fellow front-row starter Lowell Bennett. While those two settled in, Effertz made a swift three-wide pass around the outside to secure Fourth, then took Third by lap three. He then settled in behind Bennett, who was still closely pursuing Rodewald.
On lap 11 Bennett found his way past Rodewald into the lead. Effertz went on the attack, but ended up in a deadlocked battle for Second with Rodewald until he took Second on lap 16. One lap later Michael Anthony and Rodewald made contact exiting turn four, resulting in Anthony spinning. Drivers scrambled to avoid, including Stenjem who spun to avoid and got his spot back.
Rodewald contested Bennett on the restart until Bennett got away on lap 18. Effertz then Jordan Thiel and Grant Griesbach followed. Eventually Effertz would catch Bennett and was able to make his move into the top spot on lap 21.
From there Effertz build a strong advantage to take the win. Thiel was able to continue his late-season magic by finishing Second, Grant Griesbach kept the title battle close with his Third Place finish and Stenjem secured the title for himself and team driver Casey Johnson in the Chase Motorsports machine with his Fourth Place run.
STRELKA WINS PRO LATE FINALE (AGAIN), MONDAY IS CHAMPION
Brent Strelka seems to have a knack for winning the season finale in the Fox City’s Towing Pro Late Models. He completed the feat once again in Thursday’s 20-lap closing event. With yet another consistent finish, Bryan Monday was able to secure the season Championship.
Monday was in pursuit of capping the season with a win when he followed Jerry Vanderloop into the top two at the start of the feature. He then cruised to the lead on the second lap. However, Strelka was right behind and ready to challenge.
After jumping to the outside, Strelka kept even with Monday for five laps. He eventually took the lead on lap eight and built up a large advantage until the lone caution fell for an incident involving Andy Kluck and Alex Stumpf on lap 12.
The restart brought Monday back into the front row with Strelka. Although Monday battled on the high side for a lap, Strelka was able to take off and build up another strong lead on the way to the win. Monday secured the title with Second Place and his eighth Top Five finish in 12 features. Jerry Vanderloop capped a strong run by finishing Third.
FULLER BECOMES 11TH DIFFERENT SUPER STOCK WINNER, MUELLER CLAIMS TITLE
Jake Fuller became the 11th different Novus Auto Glass Super Stock driver to win at least one of the season’s 13 FRRC feature. Josh Mueller, who won the Spring Classic but did not win a Thursday night feature, claimed his second straight Championship with teammate Dave Meyerhofer.
Fuller immediately took the lead from Josh Vissers in the feature and built a cushion over the field until a caution on lap nine. Fuller fended off Chuck Gilbertson Jr. on the reastart while Adam Peterman and Rachel Evans followed into the Top Three.
A yellow on lap 11 pitted Fuller against Evans in the front row, but again the inside lane proved to reign supreme, giving Fuller the edge and the lead once again. Fuller went on to capture the win while Evans and JJ Tuyls rounded out the podium. Mueller went on to finish Seventh, but his consistent fast times, and 12 Top 10s in 13 features proved to be the difference in the season Championship race.
VANDERLOOP FINISHES WITH FIFTH SPORT TRUCK WIN, CALMES IS CHAMPION
Brady Vanderloop held off a late charge from Tom Gee Jr. to win his fifth Wisconsin Sport Truck feature of the season. Although he faced mechanical issues, Mason Calmes secured the Championship early in the night.
Tanner Fickel took an early lead from Samantha Verhagen who settled into Second. Unlike most weeks, the front of the field remained mostly settled early in the race. However that changed when a caution fell on lap four.
On the restart Fickel again took the lead, but Jason Van Handel and Vanderloop started making quick moves. On lap six Vanderloop had shot around the outside of the pack and made his way into the top spot.
Vanderloop then pulled away from the pack, leaving Fickel to battle with Gee and Van Handel. Gee took Second by halfway and was nearly a straightaway behind. He methodically closed the gap on Vanderloop and got to his tailgate by the end of the race, but did not have enough time to mount a final challenge for the win. Van Handel went on to finish Third.
Closing night was the lone blemish on Calmes’ Championship season. He recorded an impressive seven wins and 12 Top Fives in 13 starts.
CMEJLA SCORES FIRST SIZZLIN’ 4 WIN, FICKELS ARE CHAMPS
Marty Cmejla scored his first ever Roundabout Bar and Grill Sizzln’ 4 feature win while Justin Fickel secured the Championship for himself and his brother Jordan as a team.
Scott Griesbach took an early lead in the feature until Cmejla found some space by lap two and secured the top spot. The lone caution fell on lap four, leaving Cmejla and Beth Craig on the front row for the restart.
Cmejla was able to secure the lead and built up a strong advantage over the pack. Just after halfway, Fickel, who had been charging through the field, found himself in the Top Four. Fickel made two passes before lap 15 to find himself in Second a straightaway behind.
Despite a furious charge that brought Fickel within a car length, Cmejla’s lead was too much to overcome. Beth Craig rounded out another solid run with a Third Place finish.
BEATTIE WINS FIGURE EIGHT FEATURE NUMBER FOUR, BAUER IS CHAMP
Ethan Beattie survived a wild start to the Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8 Feature and went on to win after securing the lead on lap six. Matt Bauer maintained his position and secured the Championship for himself and teammate Craig Vandewettering.
UP NEXT…
The Fox River Racing Club enters the offeason. More information about the Thursday Night Thunder 2027 program and 2026 banquet will be made available in the coming weeks.