The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series is changing its look beginning in 2021 to honor it’s new era of old school racers.

TUNDRA Racers hit the track with passion and determination, chasing every checkered flag. They are the new era of old school racers. And to them… winning is all that matters.

The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series has set its schedule for the 2021 season, again featuring six dates at six exciting venues.

The season-opening event will take place at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wis., on Saturday, May 15 with a 2 pm start time. An afternoon start has proven to be most-preferred by teams and fans.

Last season Dennis Prunty outlasted Justin Mondeik to win his third straight TUNDRA event at the half-mile. Prunty has stated his intention to seek a fourth straight this season.

Marshfield Motor Speedway will host the second stop of the 2021 season with the annual Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial on Saturday, June 12. The Bev has become one of the most coveted checkered flags to grab on the TUNDRA calendar.

Last season Dalton Zehr scored his second TUNDRA series win at Marshfield in front of a large, energetic crowd. It was his first Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial win.

Saturday, July 17 will see the series making it’s annual stop at Jefferson Speedway. Wisconsin’s Action Track has become a favorite for TUNDRA regulars, as well as outsiders looking to test the tricky quarter-mile.

Last year’s race saw some history as 28 entrants made their way through the gates to do battle on the bull ring. Jordan Devoy snagged a new track record, and Gabe Sommers held off Casey Johnson for the win.

TUNDRA will begin the second half of the season at State Park Speedway in Wausau, Wis on Saturday, August 8. The tight quarter-mile has made for plenty of exciting events.

Justin Mondeik reigned supreme in 2020, grabbing fast time and his first ever TUNDRA win at his home track. He then went on to win the track Championship.

From Wausau, the Labor Day tradition continues at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, Wis., on Monday, September 6. The race has traditionally featured large car counts and plenty of action around the sweeping third-mile.

After a rain delay postponed the feature to October, Justin Mondeik captured the win at Golden Sands, rounding out a very strong TUNDRA season. Like Wausau, Mondeik also captured the track Championship at GSS.

The 2021 season will round out at the birthplace of TUNDRA – Dells Raceway Park – on Sunday afternoon, September 26. This race will be part of a large Showdown weekend at DRP.

Last season DRP hosted the opener of the TUNDRA campaign after the start was delayed until July 4. Dalton Zehr grabbed the win in the North American Cup Dedicated to Carl Wegner.

Support classes for each event will be named soon.

2021 TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Schedule

Round One – Saturday, May 15 – Wisconsin International Raceway (2 pm start)
Round Two – Saturday, June 12 – Marshfield Motor Speedway
Round Three – Saturday, July 17 – Jefferson Speedway
Round Four – Saturday, August 8 – State Park Speedway
Round Five – Monday, September 6 – Golden Sands Speedway
Round Six – Sunday, September 26 – Dells Raceway Park

PLOVER, Wis. (October 2, 2020) – In an event that was put on hold when the rains fell on Labor Day, Justin Mondeik was sure to make good on the 2020 season finale for the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series at Golden Sands Speedway Friday night.

Mondeik maneuvered past Casey Johnson just past the halfway point of the 75-lap main event and carefully picked his way through lapped traffic to cruise to his second win of the season. Johnson went on to finish Fifth, wrapping up his third straight series Championship, and fourth overall.

The event marked the latest TUNDRA had ever raced into a calendar year.  It was also coldest with the temperatures dipping below 40 degrees.  This, along with little practice and no preliminaries made for an intriguing back drop for the 75-lap main event.

Polesitter Josh Wallace jumped into the top spot and paced the field for the first six laps of the race.  Casey Johnson followed him closely, and swiped the lead on lap six.  The race was slowed only once for a spin by Jake Zellmer, who went on to recover for a Ninth Place finish.

Trailing Johnson when the yellow fell, Mondeik elected to stay on the inside line.  The move would pay off as he and Johnson escaped, leaving the likes of Brock Heinrich (who had tried the outside for the restart), Jordan Thiel and Jordan Devoy to mix things up at the back end of the Top Five.

Although Johnson looked to be strong on the day, Mondeik reeled him in at the halfway point of the race.  With a great amount of pressure on the leader, Mondeik was able to slip past and begin to build his lead.  He slowly picked his way through lapped traffic and maintained a strong advantage.

As Mondeik built his lead, Johnson was left to try to fend off Thiel and Devoy.  Both would slip past and try to chase down Mondeik in the final 20 laps of the race.

Thiel and Devoy gained ground on several occasions, but could not get close enough to mount a challenge.  In the final laps, Devoy pressured Thiel, but ultimately could not make the pass.

Mondeik cruised to his second win of the 2020 TUNDRA season and completed a campaign that will see him as the runner up to Johnson. 

Johnson secured the title with the picture-perfect amount of consistency, recording finishes of Fourth, Second, Third, Second, Seventh, and Fourth.  He also appeared in four of six dashes, accumulating precious qualifying points along the way.

Thiel rounded out a solid 2020 with his second Second Place finish of the year, placing him Third in the final TUNDRA standings. Jordan Devoy capped off a breakout campaign with a Third Place finish, vaulting him and his teammate James Swan to a Fourth Place points finish.

Behind Johnson in Fifth was Brock Heinrich, who sealed up the EPYK Media Rookie of the Year title with and Sixth Place in the standings behind Mike Lichtfeld.

The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series hopes to hold a banquet this offseason and will make an announcement shortly, provided accommodations can be made throughout the continued public health situation.  Stay tuned to the TUNDRA site for more information.

The series is also looking forward to 2021 with several preliminary agreements in place for race dates.  Dates will be announced on the TUNDRA site and social media pages.

Full Results

KAUKAUNA, Wis. (September 21, 2020) – Dennis Prunty continued his TUNDRA Super Late Model Series dominance at Wisconsin International Raceway by capturing his third straight series feature event at the half-mile Sunday afternoon in the Transport Services LLC 75.

Much like the last two wins, Prunty stormed to the lead early in the main event then was forced to turn away strong competition. This year’s challenger was Justin Mondeik, who gave Prunty several hearty challenges throughout the second half of the race.

The match up between Prunty and Mondeik was something to behold.  The two aligned on several restarts in the second half of the race.  Each time Mondeik looked to be close, Prunty was able to turn him away.  Mondeik then remained right on Prunty’s bumper looking for an opportunity to pass.

“Mondeik really gave me a workout,” Prunty said in Victory Lane. “He kept making me nervous that whole race being so close.  In the end we had enough to hold him off.”

The best opportunities for Mondeik came after the lap 50 break where teams were allowed to refuel and make adjustments.  Mondeik had backed away from Prunty three laps prior to the scheduled stop in hopes of saving something.

“I really felt like we had the car to beat,” Mondeik commented afterward. “But hats off to Dennis, we had a heck of a battle for the win.”

Prunty stormed to the lead using the outside line from his Eighth Place starting spot.  He jumped to Fifth by lap three, then swung past Dalton Zehr to take Second on lap six.  Four laps later he shot around early-race leader RJ Braun and started to cruise.

As Prunty settled in up front, Mondeik’s ascent to the front was a little more deliberate.  He had been hanging around his Sixth Place starting spot until the first caution on lap 27.  After the restart he quickly picked his way through to grab Second.  That is when he and Prunty began to joust.

Meanwhile, the battle was on for Third among Braun, Dalton Zehr, Casey Johnson, and Andy Monday.  Just before the break it was Monday who would get the edge, although he was unable to shake RJ Braun until just before the lap 50 break.

After the break, Prunty and Mondeik quickly separated themselves from the pack again.  Monday solidified his spot in Third when Braun and Zehr came together, causing damage to both machines.  Both were able to maintain a safe pace and the caution did not fly.  This brought a hard-charging Wyatt Brooks from 16^th into the Top Five, as well as leading EPYK Media Rookie contender Brock Heinrich.

A final caution pitted Prunty and Mondeik against one another again with 14 laps remaining.  Prunty slid up the hill in turns one and two, giving Mondeik a slight edge.  However, Prunty was able to maintain on the outside line and hold the lead. 

Over the final five circuits Mondeik held within a car length of Prunty, hoping for a mistake to pounce upon.  Although Prunty suffered a couple of slides, it was nothing the veteran racer couldn’t handle.  He was able to keep Mondeik at bay despite the heavy pressure.

Mondeik went on to finish Second, Monday was Third, leading Heinrich made a late-race move to finish Fourth, and Wyatt Brooks rounded out the Top Five.

Current point leader Casey Johnson admitted during the break that his car was not as cooperative on the day as they had hoped.  He went on to finish Seventh, maintaining a 51-point lead over Mondeik. 

A clutch problem and unfortunate early retirement for Mike Lichtfeld dropped him from Second to Fourth in the standings while a Sixth Place finish by Jordan Thiel moved him into the Third Place points spot.

TUNDRA will conclude its season on Friday, October 2 at Golden Sands Speedway with the 75-lap feature from the postponed Labor Day event.  TUNDRA will be joined by several other support divisions that will run full programs on the night.  Racing is scheduled to begin at 7:45 pm.

Full Results

PORTAGE, Wis. (September 17, 2020) – The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series will visit Wisconsin International Raceway for the seventh time in series history this Sunday, September 20.  If history is any indication, Transport Services LLC Round Five won’t be short on intrigue.

The original question loomed large when the race was first announced before the 2014 season.  Would the TUNDRA Travelers be able to keep pace with the local favorites?  Or, would some of the top drivers from the area be able to take the trophy out of the Fox Valley?

What transpired was a perfect combination of both.  Eventual 2014 TUNDRA Champion Dalton Zehr visited Victory Lane in the series debut at the D-shaped half-mile.  However, he did so in the locally-owned Chase Motorsports ride.  Local race car, traveling driver.  Zehr went on to win multiple features and claim Rookie of the Year honors in that car at WIR in 2014, adding to a tremendous season which included his first TUNDRA title.

Claiming the win was no easy task.  Bobby Kendall – who was in his early years as a full-time racer at WIR – set fast time for the event and marched through the field.  Kendall moved to Second late in the race and challenged Zehr with seven laps remaining.  Just as he had done on two previous restarts against Tom Gee Jr., Zehr chose the outside lane and slipped away at the drop of the green.

The 2015 season brought a new challenger to the forefront – an upstart racer by the name of Ty Majeski.  Majeski, from nearby Seymour, had competed weekly at WIR a few seasons prior.  After teaming up with Toby Nuttleman, Majeski began to see more and more success.

Round One of 2015 was a who’s who at the front of the feature field.  Majeski had to battle Zehr, Casey Johnson, and Steve Apel.  Initially, Zehr and Johnson scrapped up front for the lead.  Zehr was in his familiar Coleman 119, while Johnson was now piloting the Chase Motorsports machine.  The two put on an incredible battle with Johnson charging ahead.

Just past the midway point Majeski stormed past Johnson on a restart.  Not too long afterward, Apel slid into Second and set his sights on Majeski.  The duo engaged in a 15-lap, back-and-forth battle.  Ultimately Apel was on the tail of Majeski at the checkered flag but could not make the move.  Johnson settled for the Third and another podium for the Chase Motorsports car.

The story was eerily similar in 2016, except this time it was Majeski who was the predator.  Apel led early from a front-row starting spot and paced the field until Majeski caught up.  With seven laps to go Majeski made his move to the inside of Apel to capture the lead.  Apel kept close but was unable to make the move back around Majeski.  He would settle another podium.  Behind them, a hard-charging Casey Johnson closed the gap on the leaders but ran out of time once he moved past Apel into Second, securing yet another podium for Chase Motorsports.

The 2017 season brought Kroll’s West on board as the title sponsor.  Once again, it was a memorable event and one that featured Zehr, Apel, and the Chase Motorsports entry – this time with Travis Sauter behind the wheel.

Zehr – now driving Wayne Brevik’s 711 – set the tone early in the day with a new track record.  It looked as though he would be heading to Victory Lane, as well, as he secured the lead before lap 20 by battling past Apel.  However, Apel continued to keep pace and Zehr eventually fell off when a sway bar bolt broke on his racer.  The timing was just right for Apel to track Zehr down and slip past him exiting turn four on the way to the checkered flag.

A Second Place finish for Zehr would prove to be crucial as it helped propel him to last season’s Championship.  It also marked the third time in four TUNDRA races that the fast qualifier finished Second in the feature.  And, once again, the Chase Motorsports entry finished on the podium as Sauter secured Third.

The 2018 version of Round One brought an excellent field, but a poor day for racing.  Although the hour-by-hour forecast predicted no rain early in the day, the skies darkened shortly before qualifying. Despite getting in what turned out to be a frantic last chance race, the skies opened up, and the race had to be delayed to the following day – Mother’s Day.

Once again a battle erupted late in the race.  This time it was Dennis Prunty and – to no surprise -Steve Apel.  Prunty had taken the lead from early-race leader Jordan Thiel on a lap-27 restart.  The move came with a little controversy as Prunty had slid up and ran Thiel out of room after the drop of the green.  He admitted the fault later in Victory Lane.

Although away from Thiel, Prunty was hardly out of the woods.  Slowly but surely, and as he had done in previous races, Apel began to creep in on Prunty.  Over the final 22 laps Apel would catch Prunty, only to be turned away.  An incredible duel between Mike Lichtfeld and Casey Johnson took place behind the leaders, with Lichtfeld holding on to fill out the podium.

For the first time, and as attempted the year before, TUNDRA was able to race under the lights at WIR in 2019.  Although the scenery changed, the end result did not, with Dennis Prunty picking up his second straight series win at the half-mile.

Prunty had to be in survival mode early in the race as he escaped a spinning Luke Fenhaus, avoiding what would have caused major damage to both machines.  After that early restart Prunty followed local standout Alex Stumpf through the Top Five.  Once the two had moved to the top two spots, Prunty made his move and secured the lead.

Once again Prunty’s lead was anything but comfortable.  Casey Johnson, who had won the 2018 track and TUNDRA Championships was hot on his heels after a furious toe-to-toe battle with Stumpf.  After Johnson shook free he was able to track down Prunty, but ran out of laps to muster a challenge.

Sunday’s visit to WIR will give plenty of time for the movers and shakers to get through the field as it will increase from 50 to 75 laps.  Now what’s left to find out is how the seventh version of the story is written.

TUNDRA Transport Services LLC Round Five will feature the Super Late Models, Midwest Dash Series, WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, and Wisconsin Sport Trucks.  Qualifying is scheduled for 12:30 and racing is to begin at 2 pm.

Wisconsin International Raceway is located just past Highway 55 and KK outside of Kaukauna, Wis. For more information visit http://www.wirmotorsports.com

PORTAGE, Wis. (September 16, 2020) – It’s been a while since fans have been able to enjoy fall racing at Wisconsin International Raceway.  This Sunday’s TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Transport Services LLC Round Five will not disappoint with a large field of standout drivers ready to rumble the half-mile.

The power-packed field will all be chasing Dennis Prunty who has won two straight series events at WIR.  The 2012 TUNDRA Champion looks to keep making history by extending a streak by winning three straight races at a given track.

It wil be anything but easy for Prunty, however, with a field full of past TUNDRA and WIR Champions, including two reigning Champions.  Current TUNDRA point leader and three-time series Champion Casey Johnson will be looking forward to heading back to a track where he’s seen a lot of success over the past few seasons.  He won two straight Thursday night Championships in 2018 and 2019 before competing in a limited schedule this year. 

Picking up where Johnson left off, Bobby Kendall grabbed the 2020 Championship at WIR.  He enjoyed a stretch in the middle of the season where he won four of five features, including three straight.  Kendall also has two Red, White, and Blue titles, and is a former fast qualifier in TUNDRA action at WIR.

Another former Champ with strong ties to WIR is three-time series Champion Dalton Zehr.  He won the first ever TUNDRA event at the facility in 2014.  Zehr is looking to keep his and his teammate John Beale’s title hopes alive, but will still have to leap frog a pair of 44 cars.  Mike Lichtfeld sits Second in TUNDRA standings and has a past podium finish in TUNDRA action at WIR.  Justin Mondeik sits Third and showed great improvement with a strong run in the Dixieland at WIR earlier this season.

The TUNDRA Travelers will be ready to be heard from, as well.  Colin Reffner has seen his share of Top Fives in TUNDRA action at the facility.  Jordan Thiel has shown excellent speed and awaits another solid finish.  James Swan returns to WIR where he scored many Mid-American Stock Car Series and Midwest Truck wins.  Jake Zellmer rides a ton of momentum after setting fast time for the delayed Golden Sands Speedway event.

The rookie battle will also look to heat up with Brock Heinrich and Kody Hubred positioned very closely in the standings.  Both will be visiting WIR in a Super Late Model for the first time.

Other WIR past Champions include multiple-time track and Red, White and Blue titlists Lowell Bennett and Jeff Van Oudenhoven.  Both set fast times this year at WIR, but are still seeking a feature win.  Both came close on occasion, including a Second Place finish for Van Oudenhoven on the final Thursday night.

2020 Late Model (and now three-time) Champion Braison Bennett will join the field as well.  The youngest of the racing Bennetts has shown good speed in his two TUNDRA appearances thus far this season. 

Other WIR drivers looking to make noise include 2017 track Champion Andy Monday, 2020 Super Late Model Rookie of the Year Jeff Holmgren, Taylor Vandermoss, and Top Ten point getter Randy Schuler.

A pair from a race track to the south of WIR could be heard from as well.  RJ Braun races at Slinger Speedway regularly, but has found some serious magic at WIR.  In his two appearance Braun finished Second to Casey Johnson in the Blue race and won the following Thursday.  Brad Keith will also make his return to the series to test WIR for the first time.  Keith set multiple fast times this season on the way to a Third Place finish in the standings.

A pair of drivers from the north will invade, as well, as Norway Speedway regulars Dan Lindsley and Jason Wells are slotted to return after joining the series at Marshfield earlier in 2020.

TUNDRA will be joined on the half-mile by the Midwest Dash Series.  The WIR ¼-Mile Late Models and Wisconsin Sport Trucks will compete on the tight quarter-mile.  Qualifying is scheduled for 12:30 with racing to begin at 2 pm.

WIR is located just past the intersection of Highways 55 and KK outside Kaukauna, Wis. Rough camping is allowed on the grounds Saturday night before the event.  For more information visit http://www.wirmotorsports.com

Round Five – Wisconsin International Raceway
Sunday, September 20
Expected Entry List (35 as of 9/16/20)
00 – Darek Gress, Neillsville, Wis. [TT]
2 – Jordan Thiel, Darboy, Wis. [TT]
2 – Lowell Bennett, Neenah, Wis.
3 – Taylor Vandermoss, Darboy, Wis.
5 – Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis.
9 – Braison Bennett, Neenah, Wis.
10 – Andy Monday, Appleton, Wis.
11 – Bobby Kendall, Montello, Wis.
12 – Terry Schoppenhorst, Berlin, Wis.
12 – Craig Krueger, Kaukauna, Wis.
18 – Michael Ostdiek, Lakeville, Minn. [TT]
20 – Kody Hubred, Utica, Wis. [TT][R]
25 – Wyatt Brooks, Amherst, Wis. [TT]
31 – Jason Wells, Kingsford, Mich.
32 – Steve Lichtfeld, Portage, Wis. [TT]
33 – Kevin Kneuse, Waukesha, Wis. [TT]
40 – Curt Tillman, Rockford, Ill.
42 – Dennis Prunty, Knowles, Wis.
44 – Mike Lichtfeld, Pardeeville, Wis. [TT]
44 – Justin Mondeik, Gleason, Wis. [TT]
45 – Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Kimberly, Wis.
47 – Casey Johnson, Edgerton, Wis. [TT]
48 – Brad Keith, West Bend, Wis.
52 – Brock Heinrich, Wausau, Wis. [TT][R]
54 – Chad Devine, Mackville, Wis. [TT]
71 – Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
72 – Randy Schuler, Mequon, Wis.
77 – Riley Stenjem, Stoughton, Wis. [TT][R]
79 – Dan Lindsley, Vulcan, Mich.
87 – Colin Reffner, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. [TT]
87 – Josh Wallace, Genoa City, Wis. [TT]
97 – James Swan, Genoa City, Wis. [TT]
98 – RJ Braun, Wales, Wis.
99 – Jake Zellmer, Burlington, Wis. [TT]
119 – Dalton Zehr, Verona, Wis. [TT]

PLOVER, Wis. (September 10, 2020) – The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series and Golden Sands Speedway have made the decision to move a pair of dates in order to merge two events into a big racing weekend for race fans.

The make-up date from this past Monday’s Round Five will be moved to Friday, October 2.  The Golden Sands Harvest Race will move to Saturday, October 3. 

The Friday Super Late Model show will be sanctioned by TUNDRA as it was on September 7.  The Saturday show will be sanctioned by Golden Sands Speedway.

“When trying to determine a make-up date on the fly, as we had to on Monday, there are scenarios that may not be immediately clear.  After taking some time to discuss amongst ourselves, we felt there was a better option on the table,” said TUNDRA representative Matt Panure.  “We regret the confusion and are very thankful to have such great partners in Golden Sands. This should make for an exciting and fun weekend of racing for a group of tremendous fans.”

Thanks to Smiley’s Old Time Diner bonuses will be available for the top two TUNDRA Travelers who record the best average finish between the two races.  The overall top driver will receive an additional trophy for being the weekend’s “Combine Champion.”

The Friday October, 2 show will be the make-up date from September 7.  Rain checks from this past Monday will be honored at this event.  Fans who attended are encouraged to contact TUNDRA or Golden Sands if they have questions or concerns about their rain checks.  Admission will be available for fans who did not attend the original event.  More details will be available shortly.

“Moving this date also alleviates a lot of potential stress on our teams trying to race at two very different venues in a weekend,” Panure added. “They’ll now have the opportunity to compete in two big races at Golden Sands without having to worry about extra travel or changeover of their cars between tracks.”

TUNDRA will complete the 75-lap feature and crown its 2020 Champion as the headliner for Friday’s show.  The program will also welcome back heats and a feature for the WIR ¼-Mile Late Models as well as the Wisconsin Sport Trucks.  A fourth division is likely to be named, as well.

Pit gates will open at 3 pm with practice to begin at 3:30. Qualifying for support divisions will take place at 6:30 and racing will begin at 7:45.

The Saturday, October 3 show will feature a full program for the Golden Sands Harvest with a large payoff and lap money to be offered to the Super Late Models.  More details will be available through the Golden Sands Speedway web site. 

Next up for TUNDRA is a stop at Wisconsin International Raceway on Sunday, September 20.  TUNDRA will be joined by the WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, Midwest Dash Series, and Wisconsin Sport Trucks.  Racing begins at 2 pm.

Despite the very best efforts of Golden Sands Speedway and the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series, a continual rain has forced the postponement of Round Five. The event will continue on Friday, October 2.

Fans will be permitted to use their receipt from the track as a rain check, or are encouraged to contact either Golden Sands or TUNDRA for the rain check if they did not receive a receipt.

The starting lineup for the field is set for the 75-lap main event. TUNDRA will be rejoined by the WIR 1/4-Mile Late Models which will run heats and a feature. Other divisions are expected to be added. More details will be announced as they are available.