GRIESBACH FENDS OFF BUTZ FOR RED RACE WIN

KAUKAUNA, Wis. (May 12, 2025) – Grant Griesbach stood his ground on a late charge from Chad Butz to claim the Rich Somers Memorial Red Race Presented by A&W Towing and L&S Electric Thursday night at Wisconsin International Raceway.

Taking the checked in the $3,000-to-win 50-lap main scored Griesbach his first Fox River Racing Club Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Model win of the season and second big pay day at WIR, having captured the $6,000-to-win TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Bear 96 in May.

Griesbach seized control of the lead at the drop of the green.  The race itself got off to a slow start with two incidents in the first three laps.  On the lap three restart Griesbach and Casey Johnson were able to jump away from the field and start to log laps up front.

As the leaders started to build their advantage Sawyer Effertz and Butz moved through the field. Effertz took Third on lap ten with Butz securing Fourth seven laps later.  At lap 21 Butz took Third from Effertz, but was nearly a straightaway behind the leaders.

The laps continued to click off at a furious pace in the second half of the race. Eventually Johnson caught Griesbach just after lap 30.  Butz caught them both by lap 40.

After challenging Griesbach for the lead, Johnson was challenged by Butz for Second on lap 43. The duo raced side by side until lap 47 when Butz finally cleared Johnson. The jousting match allowed Griesbach to rebuild his advantage.  However, Butz caught Griesbach in the final lap.  Butz was able to mount a quick challenge, but Griesbach had enough in reserve to turn him away and pick up the win.

JJ VANDERLOOP SURVIVES LATE CHALLENGE FOR PRO LATE WIN

Much like Griesbach, JJ Vanderloop made a part-time appearance in the Fox City’s Towing Pro Late Models worth while.  Vanderloop, who won the Alburetor 28 in May, scored the win in the 20-lap feature.

The first five laps saw a couple of incidents that slowed the pace of the race. Getting the worst of the incidents was Bryan Monday who went airborne on the front stretch and collected Brady Baldry. Both drivers were ok after the incident.

Justin Woller paced the field after the restart as he did before the incidents. Both Braison Bennett and Alex Stumpf were in the mix as well.   However, on the restart it was Vanderloop who took charge.  Vanderloop swung past Stumpf and Brian Henry to take Second off the restart.

Past halfway Vanderloop stayed close to Woller with Bennett and Stumpf behind. Vanderloop grabbed the inside lane on Woller and secured the lead on lap 13. Bennett and Stumpf followed one lap later.

In the final laps Bennett surveyed his options to make a pass on Vanderloop. A single file restart with four laps to go gave Bennett one final chance to set the table.  He was able to keep close and tried to dive to the inside coming off turn four on the final lap.  However, Vanderloop read his move and made sure he laid claim to the inside line to secure the win.

ETHAN BEATTIE SUPER IN THE STOCKS AGAIN

Ethan Beattie left no doubt in the 20-lap Novus Auto Glass Super Stock feature – claiming his second victory of the year.

Beattie took the lead from fellow front-row starter Philip Meyerhofer.   The race settled in without incident until lap 16 when a scramble from third on back sent Adam Peterman spinning to the infield.

On the single file restart Beattie proved too strong to be challenged, leaving Meyerhofer to fend off Mike Gilson for the runner-up spot.

CALMES OUTDUELS BRADY VANDERLOOP FOR SPORT TRUCK WIN

Mason Calmes outlasted Brady Vanderloop in the 20-lap Wisconsin Sport Truck feature.

Kasey Vanderloop, Calmes, and Brady Vanderloop quickly moved to the front of the field after Luke Wollenberg secured an early lead. Calmes grabbed the lead on lap seven with the Vanderloops following behind the next lap.

At halfway the Vanderloops worked past Calmes to take the lead until a caution on lap 12. Brady Vanderloop took the lead on the restart and Calmes took Second after Kasey Vanderloop spun to the infield.

Despite being passed by Vanderloop earlier in the race, Calmes found some extra jump. He was able to make the pass on Brady Vanderloop on lap 17 and held him off over the final three laps of the race.

SCHULTE STEALS SIZZLIN 4 VICTORY LATE

Ben Schulte may have led the bulk of the 20-lap Roundabout Bar and Grill Sizzlin 4s feature, but he had to snatch victory late in the event.

Schulte was chased down in lapped traffic by Shane Schwaller, who grabbed the lead with two laps remaining.  Schulte kept close and put the bumper to Schwaller in the final set of turns. The move opened the inside, allowing Schulte to secure a thrilling win.

VANDEWETTERING BACK IN FIGURE 8 VICTORY LANE

After taking a couple years off to chase some bigger Figure 8 race around the country, Craig VandeWettering found himself victorious in the 13-lap Marty Nussbaum Racing Firgure 8 feature once again.

VandeWettering kept pressure on early-race leader Mike Meyerhofer until Meyerhofer clipped the infield and spun with three laps remaining. VandeWettering then cruised to a large victory of the rest of the field.

UP NEXT…

Another huge night looms for the Fox River Racing Club and Wisconsin International Raceway. NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin will be inducted into the WIR Circle of Fame and will be signing autographs from 6pm – 8pm this Thursday.  The night also features the Rob Vandermoss Memorial in the Wisconsin Sport Trucks and the return of the Pete’s Auto WIR ¼-Mile Late Models.  Racing begins at 6:30pm.