Craig Dollansky celebrates atop his Sprint Car after winning the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial World of Outlaws feature at Beaver Dam Raceway, June 29, 2014. (Bob Cruse photo)

By Bert Lehman

Editor, Full Throttle Magazine

Dirt tracks in eastern Wisconsin have upped the ante over the last few years, introducing several special events. It’s not only the drivers who benefit from these specials, the real winners are — the fans.

Outlaws invade

The open wheel warriors of the World of Outlaws Dirt Sprint Car Series make their first appearance in eastern Wisconsin at Wilmot Raceway, Friday, May 9.

Less than two months later they will make their return to the high banks of Beaver Dam Raceway, Saturday, June 28. The series has made an annual trek to Beaver Dam Raceway since the early 1990s. A few years ago this event became known as the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial race.

At least year’s event, Craig Dollansky raced to an emotional win. The Boyd family was instrumental in Dollansky’s development on and off the track.

“This is for them,” Dollansky said after the race. “Jim Boyd was just a great person and an inspiration for me and an awesome individual. He passed away a couple of years back. He’s gone but not forgotten.”

About a month later, the World of Outlaws Dirt Late Model Series returns to Shawano Speedway for a $10,000-to-win 50-lap feature. This will be the fifth straight year the World of Outlaws venture to Shawano Speedway. The event, scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, will feature two support classes instead of one. IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Northern SportMods are also on the card.

You never know what to expect when attending a World of Outlaws Dirt Late Model Show. At last year’s show at Shawano Speedway, Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, PA., pulled off the upset. The win was Satterlee’s first World of Outlaws win in more than 80 tries. Prior to the win, his best finish was a fourth place.

“I knew we could [win]. That’s why we came here. We didn’t drive 14, almost 15 hours, to not try to do this,” Satterlee said after last year’s race.

Show me the money

141 Speedway has new owners in 2014, but the Clash at the Creek $10,000-to-win Modified show is back. This year’s event is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, June 25-26. Several out-of-state drivers made the haul last year to compete in this event. Expect more of the same this year.

Rain on the second night of the event last year delayed the conclusion of the event for about a month. Benji LaCrosse will be looking to repeat as the winner of the race.

Late Model rumblings

In addition to the weekly Late Model programs hosted by Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car at Manitowoc Expo Raceway, Plymouth Dirt Track and Shawano Speedway, there are some Late Model specials to chase after in eastern Wisconsin.

Fans of the high-powered, full-bodied cars have the opportunity for a double dose of fun the weekend of June 14-15. Shawano Speedway will be hosting a $2,000-to-win, 40-lap Late Model feature during its regular race program, Saturday, June 14.

The next night, the UMP Late Model Summer Nationals Hell Tour makes an appearance at Wilmot Raceway. The Summer Nationals brings in local and regional drivers, as well as some national drivers.

Last year the Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series made its first appearance in eastern Wisconsin at Luxemburg Speedway and Plymouth Dirt Track. The series raced three straight nights, with two of those races at Luxemburg Speedway.

The series returns to eastern Wisconsin in 2014, again for three straight nights of racing. This time those three nights will be at three different tracks. The series kicks off the eastern Wisconsin swing on Thursday, Aug. 21 at Luxemburg Speedway. The series ends the three-race swing at Plymouth Dirt Track, Saturday, Aug. 23.

In between those two dates, the series stops at Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway for the George Scheffler Memorial Race. This will be the first time the memorial race will be sanctioned by the Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series. This year’s George Scheffler Memorial Race will pay $6,000 to the winner.

Wisconsin Dirt Late Model Association specials will be held at a few tracks throughout the season. Seymour Speedway will once again host WDLMA Late Models around the holidays. The first WDLMA appearance is Sunday, May 26. The next appearance is Sunday, June 29, and round out with an appearance on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Wilmot Raceway will host WDLMA Late Models on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Chilton Speedway will host WDLMA Late Models on two occasions. The first will take place Friday, Aug. 29. WDLMA will return for the Chilton Fall Invitational, Sept. 19-20.

Fenderless fanatics

The IRA Outlaw Sprint Car Series will make appearances at six tracks in eastern Wisconsin.

The series makes five appearances at Beaver Dam Raceway; three appearance each at Wilmot Raceway, and Plymouth Dirt Track; two appearances each at Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway and 141 Speedway; and one appearance at Seymour Speedway.

Wilmot Raceway will also host the Badger Midget Salute to Harry Turner Special, Saturday, Aug. 2.

For more detailed information about these special events, or to see what other race events are taking place during the summer, visit the “Events” section at www.fullthrottlenow.com.

(This article first appeared in the April 2014 issue of Full Throttle Magazine)