GREEN BAY, Wis. (July 18, 2024) – The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series will make its fourth stop of the 2024 season Friday night at Golden Sands Speedway for the Blue Knight 88 honoring the legendary Tom Reffner.

It will be the first time TUNDRA has raced at Golden Sands on a Friday since 2020 and the first scheduled Friday visit since 2013.  Justin Mondeik was victorious when the race was made up on a Friday night four years ago. Paige Decker won (ironically enough) on Friday, July 19, 2023.

EPYK Media Rookie Ty Fredrickson leads the charge into Golden Sands coming off a Second Place finish in the series’ last race at Dells Raceway Park. Fredrickson won the Trickle Memorial earlier this season at Golden Sands and finished on the podium in the TUNDRA event there last season.

The Top Three are separated by just 25 points with Justin Mondeik in hot pursuit. Mondeik is a former GSS Champion and winner in TUNDRA action. Heinrich has had up and down luck at Golden Sands in TUNDRA action, but has shown good speed. Rounding out the top four will be John Beale. Last year’s co-Champion tags in for Dalton Zehr and has found the podium in TUNDRA action at Golden Sands before.

Another who will look to play a factor will be Colin Reffner – who honors his grandfather in this race and is a past fast qualifier at Plover for TUNDRA events. Former Golden Sands Champions Mark Eswein and Frank Nitzke will also be in the mix.  Last year’s fast qualifier Travis Volm also hopes to play a factor.

There may be some father and son battling as both Lowell and Braison Bennett are expected to join.

TUNDRA will be joined by the Pro Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, and Six Cylinders. Qualifying is at 6:30 with racing at 7:45.

Expected Entries

# – Driver, Hometown
2 – Darren Jackson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2 – Lowell Bennett, Neenah, Wis.
2 – Jerad DeBoer, Sherry, Wis.
5B – John Beale, Verona, Wis.
7 – Mitchell Haver, West Bend, Wis.
9 – Braison Bennett, Neenah, Wis.
18 – Frank Nitzke, Berlin, Wis.
19 – Michael Haggar, Hanover, Minn.
20 – Jevin Guralski, Wausau, Wis. [R]
36 – Ty Fredrickson, Webster, MN [R]
44 – Justin Mondeik, Gleason, Wis.
52 – Brock Heinrich, Wausau, Wis.
71 – Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
76 – Travis Volm, Mosinee, Wis.
87 – Colin Reffner, Stevens Point, Wis.
91 – Mickey Schallie, Darboy, Wis.
99 – Dan Thomson, Appleton, Wis.

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (July 6, 2024) – Tristan Swanson cashed in on the biggest winner’s pay day in TUNDRA Super Late Model Series history Saturday night at Dells Raceway Park.

After battling with young gun Ty Fredrickson and local favorite Mike Lichtfeld, Swanson was able to work his way into the lead in the second half of the race and carefully pick his way through lapped traffic. Swanson scored $5,000 by taking the North American Cup Presented by Assembly Products & Tom and Sharon Lichtfeld in Remembrance of Carl Wegner.

“It’s just unreal, honestly,” Swanson said. “Never in a million years did I think I’d be in this position. It’s so surreal.”

Swanson was quick to thank his family and his team, plus the aid of the team of his top competitor on the day – Team 36.

“It’s hats off to my team,” Swanson said. “It’s pretty much just my family and I, a four-person team. This one’s for all the small-town families that don’t think they can do it. They can do it.”

The first half of the races saw four stoppages for cautions, all spins with the competitors continuing on. The first of those cautions, perhaps, was the most heart-stopping.

Seven laps in Fredrickson had worked his way to the front and past early-race leader and fellow EPYK Media Rookie contender Jevin Guralski.  Guralski kept close tabs on Fredrickson and made a run to his back bumper coming back to lap ten. Unfortunately, Guralski made significant contact, which sent Fredrickson spinning.  Guralski tapped out via the gentleman’s agreement, heading to the tail and returning Fredrickson to the lead.

That incident was the start of a dazzling run by Guralski, who patiently and powerfully picked his way back through the field in the remaining laps of the race. He ended up with a Sixth Place finish.

At that same time, Mike Lichtfeld and Swanson were on the march towards the Top Five.  Brent Edmunds, who was second fastest in qualifying, was also on the charge. He restarted alongside Fredrickson and took the lead.  Swanson and Lichtfeld filed in line behind Fredrickson.

Things got furious up front right around lap 13. Fredrickson returned to the bumper of Edmunds as Lichtfeld was attempting to go around the outside of the Top Three. On lap 16 Edmunds slipped, allowing Fredrickson to slide back to the lead, bringing Swanson along, and backing Lichtfeld off into Fourth.

As the laps clicked off Swanson stayed close to Fredrickson and Lichtfeld close the gap to create a three-car battle for the lead.  This was until a caution on lap 32 which restacked the front of the field.

On the restart Lichtfeld took the outside lane. He was unable to power around the outside and Swanson slipped back to the inside for Second.  Another spin on lap 38 reset the field once again.

This restart saw Lichtfeld lead momentarily before Fredrickson was able to wrestle the lead back. Again Swanson followed into Second. This time Dalton Zehr and Justin Mondeik were toward the front after working through traffic. This restart was short-lived as another spin brough out the final yellow.

A single file restart with 59 laps remaining proved to be the last chance for anyone to make a move off a caution.  Fredrickson led Lichtfeld, Swanson, and Zehr back to the line.  Fredrickson built a lead and Swanson slipped past Lichtfeld into Second.

Slowly Swanson began to reel in Fredrickson.  He was to his bumper on lap 60 and began taking looks to the inside line. The opportunity finally came on lap 62.  Swanson powered past at the line on the following lap. Lichtfeld attempted to follow through into Second, but a slip up allowed Fredrickson to tuck back in line.

Over the final 30 laps Swanson picked his way through traffic. Both he and Fredrickson distanced themselves from the competition.  Zehr closed in on Lichtfeld to challenge for Third, but was held off in the final laps.  Behind them Max Kahler cruised from behind the invert to close out the Top Five.

The next event for the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series is Friday, July 19 at Golden Sands Speedway. The Blue Knight 88 honors the late Tom Reffner. 

GREEN BAY, Wis. (July 3, 2024) – The biggest winner’s prize in TUNDRA Super Late Model Series history will be on the line Saturday at Dells Raceway Park. The North American Cup Presented by Assembly Products and Tom and Sharon Lichtfeld in Remembrance of Carl Wegner will pay $5,000 to the winner.

Plenty of heavy hitters will be ready to try to take the prize – including past TUNDRA winners at DRP Dalton Zehr and Mike Lichtfeld.  Lichtfeld captured the TUNDRA win last season at his home track while Zehr last took honors in 2022.

Looking to challenge for a first series win at the track will be point leader Justin Mondeik, current runner-up Brock Heinrich, and top rookie Ty Fredrickson.  Fredrickson won the IceBreaker 100 at DRP this past April and has shown good speed at the facility.

There will be some darkhorses looking to snag the prize as well. EPYK Media Rookie Jevin Guralski comes in with momentum after a win last week at Marshfield. Nick Egan, Braden Berge, Brent Edmunds, and Tristan Swanson have all had strong runs at DRP in the past and will be looking to make noise in their TUNDRA season debuts.

TUNDRA will be joined by the 602 Late Models, Sportsman, Bandits, Sixers, and High School Racing Association.  Qualifying is at 4:30 with racing at 6pm.

Expected Entries
# – Driver, Hometown
2 – Jerad DeBoer, Sherry, Wis.
7 – Mitchell Haver, West Bend, Wis.
7 – Ridge Oien, Bloomington, Minn.
10 – Noah Gajewski, Marathon, Wis.
11 – Bobby Kendall, Montello, Wis.
13 – Nick Egan, Slinger, Wis.
14 – Kody King, Clear Lake, Iowa
17 – Max Kahler, Caledonia, Ill.
20 – Jevin Guralski, Wausau, Wis. [R]
28 – Braden Berge, Elkhorn, Wis.
31 – Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis.
32 – Steve Lichtfeld, Portage, Wis.
34 – Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva, Wis.
36 – Ty Fredrickson, Webster, MN [R]
37 – Kyle Shear, Roscoe, Ill.
44 – Mike Lichtfeld, Pardeeville, Wis.
44 – Justin Mondeik, Gleason, Wis.
52 – Brock Heinrich, Wausau, Wis.
71 – Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
76 – Travis Volm, Mosinee, Wis.
80 – Ryan Farrell, East Troy, Wis.
87 – Colin Reffner, Stevens Point, Wis.
87 – Brent Edmunds, Monticello, Wis.
91 – Tristan Swanson, Elko, Minn.
119 – Dalton Zehr, Verona, Wis.

Full Results

MARSHFIELD, Wis. (June 8, 2024) – Former TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Champion Justin Mondeik notched a large statement win in Saturday night’s Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial presented by IncredibleBank and A&A Lock Service.

It was Mondeik’s second Bev Memorial win, having captured the event in 2022.

“The Aschenbrenners are a great family,” Mondeik said. “We always knew [Bev] through racing growing up. She was always there to support us no matter if we finished first or 21^st.”

Mondeik stormed to the lead by lap four of the 75-lap affair and left the rest of the field battling for the runner up spot.

At the drop of the green Mondeik wasted no time proving he was a threat to capture the win.  He dipped to look inside Jeremy Lepak and Darren Jackson who were in the second row as Mark Eswein grabbed the lead from Mitch Haver. The furious racing up front was brought to a pause for the lone caution on lap one for an incident involving John Beale and Ty Fredrickson. Both were able to continue.

On the restart Eswein was joined by Jackson in the front row as Mondeik took advantage of the lane choice to join Mitch Haver in row two. Jackson settled into Second and left the outside lane open for Mondeik, who was able to grab the spot on lap two.  Mondeik then set his sights on Eswein.

After just two more laps the battle was on for the lead. Mondeik swung to the inside and had the lead coming back to the line on lap four. Behind him and Eswein, the field was starting to sort out with Brock Heinrich and Travis Volm on the move into the Top Five.

Heinrich quickly went on to pressure Eswin for Second. He and Volm made the same move entering turn one on lap seven to grab Second and Fourth respectively. Three laps later Volm was on the doorstep of the podium. He grabbed Third from Eswein on lap 11.

As the laps continued to click off, Mondeik stretched out his advantage.  Both Jeremy Lepak and John Beale started to close in on Top Five spots. The field settled in as Beale started to close in on Jackson and Volm chopped away at the gap to Heinrich.  Just past lap 25 Beale snuck past Eswein into Fourth.

It was Volm who was showing speed near the midway point of the race. On lap 40 Volm was able to power past Heinrich.  However, Mondeik was ahead by nearly a straightaway.  Unfortunately, gremlins under the hood of Volm soon took away his solid run.  Heinrich got back past Volm on lap 50 and Volm retired just a couple laps later.

The final laps clicked off without any further incident for Mondeik.  Beale chased down Heinrich late in the going and was able to take the spot with 11 laps remaining to take Second. Heinrich finished Third, Lepak Fourth, and Eswein rounded out the Top Five.

“We brought a really good package,” Mondeik said of his dominant race car. “It helped having no yellows, but I think we had them covered today.”

The win helped push Mondeik back to the top of the TUNDRA point standings as he seeks a second title. If it is any indication, the winner of the Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial has won the TUNDRA Championship the last three years.

Next up for the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series is the North American Cup Dedicated to Carl Wegner at Dells Raceway Park on July 6. More info on the event will be available soon.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (June 7, 2024) – The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series will make its next stop Saturday, June 8 at Marshfield Motor Speedway. The event honors long-time race fan and friend to many teams Bev Aschenbrenner.

The expected entry list features former Marshfield Motor Speedway Champions and past winners of the event. It also features opening-race winner and early-season TUNDRA point leader Ty Fredrickson.

Fredrickson has continued to stay hot early this season. After his win in the Battle for the Bear on May 13 he grabbed a win in the Golden Sands Speedway Dick Trickle Memorial and a Second Place finish in the Dells Raceway Park Trickle 99. Last season Fredrickson was Second overall to Dalton Zehr in the twin 50-lap features.

Another TUNDRA Rookie, Jevin Guralski, may also play a factor in this race. Guralski is the current point leader at Marshfield in their Saturday night program. He has shown to be very strong at the three Central Wisconsin tracks this season, and his looking to defend his home turf.

Past winners of the event in the field include 2022 series Champion Justin Mondeik and Colin Reffner. Mondeik won the event in his Championship season and recently made a stop at Marshfield, grabbing a victory last Saturday night. Reffner won the first Bev Memorial that TUNDRA participated in back in 2018. Reffner proved very strong that season, also setting fast time for the event.

Past Marshfield Champions will also be on the card with Darren Jackson, John Beale, and Mark Eswein all looking to capture the trophy. Jackson has been strong early this season setting fast times at Marshfield. Eswein comes off capturing the track title last year and is seeking his first TUNDRA win. Beale claimed the track title in 2020 and has had podium finishes in the event. He is seeking his second TUNDRA feature win.

Other drivers ready to make some noise include Brock Heinrich, who is a past fast qualifier for this event, veteran racer Jeremy Lepak, the always-quick Travis Volm, and last year’s TUNDRA Rookie of the Year Mitch Haver.

Qualifying for the Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial presented by Incredible Bank and A&A Lock Service begins at 6pm with racing at 7. TUNDRA will be joined by the Legends, Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series, Xtreme 4s, and Bandits.

Expected Entries
# – Driver, Hometown
2 – Darren Jackson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2 – Jerad DeBoer, Sherry, Wis.
5B – John Beale, Verona, Wis.
7 – Mitchell Haver, West Bend, Wis.
20 – Jevin Guralski, Wausau, Wis. [R]
31 – Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis.
36 – Ty Fredrickson, Webster, MN [R]
40 – Jeremy Lepak, Wausau, Wis.
44 – Justin Mondeik, Gleason, Wis.
49 – Jerry Mueller, Richfield, Wis.
52 – Brock Heinrich, Wausau, Wis.
58 – Joseph Scholze, Holmen, Wis.
71 – Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
76 – Travis Volm, Mosinee, Wis.
87 – Colin Reffner, Stevens Point, Wis.
711 – Kyle Gennett, Rangeline, Wis.

Full Results

BUCHANAN, Wis. (May 11, 2024) – Wisconsin International Raceway is not a race track where a driver is supposed to win in his first visit to the historic half-mile. Unless that driver happens to be Ty Fredrickson.

The 15-year-old Kulwicki Driver Development Program finalist from Webster, Minn., scored his first TUNDRA Super Late Model Series feature win in The Battle for ‘The Bear’ at Wisconsin International Raceway, becoming the youngest winner in the series’ 14-year history. He also set fast time earlier in the afternoon.

Fredrickson engaged in a back-and-forth battle with four-time series Champion Dalton Zehr on multiple restarts and throughout the second half of the race. He was able to capitalize when Zehr had mechanical issues with 7 laps to go, and cruised to the checkered flag.

“The restarts with the double files were pretty difficult, but we made them work,” Fredrickson said. “I’ve got to thank Hoosier because these tires didn’t wear out. I had the same handling all race.”

Drivers settled in early behind Brock Heinrich. On lap two things began to open up as Jordan Thiel looked to settle in behind Max Schultz.  Contact sent Thiel up the track and others scrambling.  It also opened up the outside line for Fredrickson to close in on the Top Five.  Just a couple laps later Fredrickson was challenging Zehr until a yellow fell for an incident involving Lowell Bennett and Andy Monday.

The first caution fell on lap four for an incident involving Mitch Haver and Josh Butler.  On the restart Heinrich was again able to get away from the field, leaving everyone to battle for Second.  As the laps clicked off the field settled in with Schultz, Thiel, Zehr, and Grant Griesbach rounding out the Top Five.  Fredrickson then charged to Fifth on lap ten.

Heinrich again rocketed away from the field on the restart, leaving Schultz, Zehr and Thiel to settle in.  Defending race winner Sawyer Effertz also jumped into the mix for a Top Five spot.  As the laps clicked off, Fredrickson slid back to Fourth with Effertz following to Fifth on lap 17.

From that point, Fredrickson began to climb. He worked his way past Zehr on lap 23, then battled Schutlz for Second on lap 25.  He started to close the gap until a caution with 41 laps to go. Effertz had a part failure that sent him hard into the outside wall in turn three. He was able to get out of the car under his own power.

When the green fell again Fredrickson shot past Heinrich into the lead.  Zehr immediately went in to challenge for Second.  Heinrich was able to hold on for several laps, until Zehr finally slipped by on lap 40. Another caution fell four laps later, setting up a series of cat-and-mouse restarts between Zehr and Fredrickson.

After the jousting, it was Zehr who got away and set the pace.  Fredrickson stayed close, but Zehr was able to turn away all of his advances.  The race took another turn when Zehr closed in on the lapped car of Jerry Mueller and closed in a bit quicker than he had anticipated. The incident brought out another caution, setting up yet another double file restart between Zehr and Fredrickson.

Again Zehr was able to get the advantage off the restart, but Fredrickson quickly swept to the inside trying to take the lead.  Coming to the line with five laps remaining, Zehr slowed down the front stretch and Fredrickson slipped by.  He held a strong lead over Heinrich, while Justin Mondeik powered past Schultz into Third.

Fredrickson cruised to the victory over Heinrich, Mondeik, Schultz and Alex Prunty rounding out the Top Five.

The next event for the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series is the Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial at Marshfield Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 8. More information on the event will be available soon.