PORTAGE, Wis. (June 7, 2021) – Kulwicki Driver Development racer Max Kahler knows that each TUNDRA Super Late Model Series race in his rookie season is going to be a challenge.
Saturday’s Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial Presented by Incredible Bank and A&A Lock Service at Marshfield Motor Speedway may pose the biggest test for the teen racer out of Caledonia, Ill., as it his first visit to the Central Wisconsin half-mile. But he and his team seem to be up to the task.
“Marshfield is another track that I have never been to, but I know it’s really slick,” Kahler said.
The big, sweeping half-mile is much different than what Kahler experienced in his first visit to Wisconsin International Raceway in TUNDRA’s Great Lakes Testing Round One. Marshfield has wide turns, short straightaways, and rewards momentum. Kahler knows he’ll have to start fresh.
“When I go to a track I’ve never been to I try and follow guys in practice that have ran there a lot and learn as much as I can from them,” Kahler said of his strategy.
In his first visit to Marshfield, Kahler will be looking to make up some ground in the EPYK Media Rookie battle and standings overall. He held in at WIR during Round One and drove to an 11th Place finish.
“I really liked WIR, it’s a really fun track,” Kahler said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results we were hoping for due to brake issues, but the car was fast, and we learned a lot.”
TUNDRA Round Two is just another stop along a busy schedule for Kahler, who has competed in several events since Round One. Every step in the process has provided a learning opportunity for Kahler and his team.
“Being a part of the KDDP has been awesome so far,” Kahler said. “We haven’t performed as well as I had hoped – struggled with shocks going bad and brakes going bad. Hopefully all that is fixed now, and we can have some good finishes for Alan”
Kahler is hoping that this Saturday’s event at Marshfield will be a step in the right direction, and one that propels him to start bringing home the big results he knows he and his team can get.
“The TUNDRA race at Marshfield will be fun and challenging for us. As long as I get the feel for the track quickly I expect us to be pretty fast,” he said.
The Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial is presented by Incredible Bank and A&A Lock Service. TUNDRA will be joined by the Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series and the Midwest Dash Series. Qualifying is scheduled for 5:45 pm with racing at 7 pm.
Marshfield Motor Speedway is located at 10853 County Rd H just outside of Marshfield, Wis. For more information visit http://www.marshfieldspeedway.com
PORTAGE, Wis. (June 5, 2021) – When Darren Jackson decided to join the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series on a full-time basis for the 2021 season, there was a race he had circled boldly in red on the schedule – the Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial
Jackson’s anticipation is continuing to build as TUNDRA’s stop at Marshfield Motor Speedway is now less than a week away, next Saturday, June 12.
The race has huge meaning for the 2019 Marshfield Motor Speedway Champion. Not only does he get to welcome his fellow TUNDRA travelers to his home turf, but he also gets to compete in honor of one of his all-time favorite race fans.
“I can’t wait to get to Marshfield for the TUNDRA race,” Jackson said. “This is the race I’ve been looking forward to the most, not only because it is my home track, but it honors a very special lady we all miss dearly.
These sentiments have been very clear throughout TUNDRA’s involvement in the Bev Memorial. Eugene Gregorich was victorious in the event two years ago, and let his emotions be shown in Victory Lane. Dalton Zehr and Colin Reffner both explained the importance of winning the race when they captured the victories. Clearly this is an event that those who knew Bev want to win. Jackson hopes it could be his turn.
“The Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial is the biggest race of the year,” Jackson said. “The Aschenbrenner family means so much to the racing community and to our team. They have always made sure to come to the pits to talk with us after the races, no matter the outcome of the night. She was a very special lady, and it’s great to honor her with this event.”
What’s more for Jackson, it’s a chance to prove himself in his own stomping grounds. Marshfield is where Jackson began his Late Model career. As shown by his 2019 Championship, it’s a place where he’s found a lot of success, as well.
“Marshfield is a special place for me,” Jackson said. “The track has multiple grooves and has a little character. It makes it fun to race.”
Unfortunately, Jackson’s first full season with TUNDRA got off to a rocky start in Great Lakes Testing Round One at Wisconsin International Raceway on May 15. He broke a steering component while in traffic and was collected in an incident with Colin Reffner. Jackson was able to make the repairs and has since scored a couple Second Place feature finishes at Marshfield. He believes this will translate to success come next Saturday.
“I expect to make the show by time and have a solid run. We’ve had a very good car at MMS this season starting with back-to-back 2nd place finishes,” Jackson explained. “We have one more week to dial in the car some more before the TUNDRA show.”
The Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial is presented by Incredible Bank and A&A Lock Service. TUNDRA will be joined by the Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series and the Midwest Dash Series. Qualifying is scheduled for 5:45 pm with racing at 7 pm.
Marshfield Motor Speedway is located at 10853 County Rd H just outside of Marshfield, Wis. For more information visit http://www.marshfieldspeedway.com
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (May 15, 2021) – Casey Johnson battled two foes late in Saturday’s TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Great Lakes Testing Round One at Wisconsin International Raceway. One was familiar, the other is one he’s getting to know very well.
Johnson chased down driver and protege Grant Thompson to take the lead after the halfway point of the 60-lap feature event. He then had to fend off fellow multiple-time TUNDRA Champion Dalton Zehr on a late restart to secure the win.
After battling on and off showers throughout the afternoon, the skies cleared in time for the 60-lap main event. Thompson, making his Super Late Model debut, and Riley Stenjem led the field to green and Thompson quickly secured the lead from the inside line. He held that spot until the midway point of the main event.
As Thompson built his advantage, Stenjem was left to deal with the duo that put on a dazzling display in TUNDRA’s last visit to WIR – Justin Mondeik and Dennis Prunty. Mondeik was the first to get past Stenjem, setting his sights on Thompson. However, on lap 7 a mechanical issue sidelined Mondeik and handed Second to Prunty. He worked furiously to catch Thompson with Stenjem in tow.
While things were sorting themselves out in the top Five, Casey Johnson was on the move. By lap 21 he had moved to Fourth and began challenging Stenjem, making the pass on lap 23. Five laps later he powered past Prunty into Second.
Quietly, Dalton Zehr was also picking his way through the field. Zehr missed the invert, but won his qualifying race and picked up speed throughout the day. He battled his way into the Top Five just before the halfway point. Unfortunately, there was some track position to make up, but Zehr kept clicking off quick laps.
Johnson tailed Thompson for the better part of five laps after catching him. Thompson held strong, forcing Johnson to bide his time. He would make his move on lap 35, sliding to the inside of Thompson as the duo hit lapped traffic. The traffic cleared just in time for Johnson to secure the top spot coming back to lap 36.
As Johnson solidified his spot up front, Zehr continued to chop his way through the Top Five. He moved past Stenjem on lap 43 and Prunty just a few laps later. Zehr quickly closed the gap on Thompson and swiped the spot with a dozen laps remaining.
It looked as though Zehr was closing the gap, but not quickly enough. He got his chance when a caution flew for an incident involving Darren Jackson and Colin Reffner.
After a botched restart, Johnson and Zehr were left to do battle. Johnson was able to power away from Zehr using the high line as Zehr was left to deal with Thompson. Several laps later the field settled again after an incident involving Brock Heinrich, who was experiencing mechanical issues, and Andy Monday.
On the single-file restart Johnson was able to get away cleanly, leaving Thompson to try to fight off Zehr. A slight bobble by Zehr coming off turn four allowed Thompson to jump back into the runner-up spot with two laps remaining. Zehr swept down low at the start finish line to try to take the spot back, but came up just short.
Behind the lead trio Dennis Prunty finished Fourth Riley Stenjem rounded out the Top Five.
In all, it was a banner day for the four-time and defending Champion Johnson. He nearly broke his own track record in qualifying, he was able to give his car owner Aaron Larson his first TUNDRA win on his birthday, his driver Thompson finished Second, and he was able to snag a huge trophy for his daughter’s seventh birthday.
Thanks to Great Lakes Testing, Darboy Corner Store, B&B Race Engines, Speed51.com, and Section 715 Throwing Co., Johnson secured a payday of $2,100 toward the $2,300 investment for the 2021 TUNDRA season – with five races and a point fund check yet to go.
The next stop for the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series is at Marshfield Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 12 for the Bev Aschenbrenner Memorial Presented by Incredible Bank and A&A Lock Service. Qualifying will begin at 5:45 with racing at 7 pm. TUNDRA will be joined by the Midwest Dash Series and Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series.
Marshfield Motor Speedway is located at 10853 County Rd H just outside of Marshfield, Wis. For more information visit http://www.marshfieldspeedway.com
PORTAGE, Wis. (May 14, 2021) – Qualifying seemed all but settled in last year’s TUNDRA Super Late Model Series visit to Wisconsin International Raceway. But late in the qualifying session, a dark horse in his first visit to the track surged to the top of the charts.
Riley Stenjem’s 19.199 second lap to capture the Section 715 Axing the Competition Fast Qualifier Award seemingly came from nowhere. It left the remainder of the field and fans stunned. WIR isn’t an easy place to get around, so for the young driver to set fast time in his first visit was something special. The surprise wasn’t lost on Stenjem either.
“Yes, I definitely was surprised to set fast time at WIR my first time there,” Stenjem said. “We really didn’t prepare any different than I did going to any other track the first time, I just felt like being later in the year I had a few races under my belt and became a little more comfortable in car and had a better idea what I was looking for in the setup.”
For those who have followed the career of Stenjem, the fast time couldn’t have been too much of a shock. He cut his teeth at the always-tough Jefferson Speedway, the same place he made his series debut just a couple months earlier. In that debut Stenjem rounded out the podium with a Third Place finish.
Stenjem went on to finish 14th in TUNDRA standings, having missed the season opener at Dells Raceway Park. Had he not, he certainly could have posed a significant threat to fellow rookies Brock Heinrich and Kody Hubred in the EPYK Media Rookie of the Year battle. However, with the pressure of point racing off, Stenjem was able to hone his skills and learn each facility for the first time in a Super Late Model.
“The main thing I learned in my first TUNDRA season was how to be as prepared as possible when we showed up to the racetrack,” Stenjem said. “Being new to about half of the tracks , we just made sure we had a decent baseline to start and a good plan of attack for the short amount of practice time we had.”
Now having a feel for the facilities, Stenjem is ready to shake the expectation of being a dark horse, and become a favorite. If he rips off another monster lap on Saturday, no one should sit in stunned silence as they did last year. The same goes when he inevitably starts challenging for Top Fives and wins.
“For our second season in TUNDRA I definitely have a little higher expectations than my rookie year last year,” Stenjem said. “This year I’m hoping be closer to the Top Five everywhere we go, which will hopefully put us in position for our team’s main goal which is to win a race this year with TUNDRA.”
Stenjem returns to TUNDRA Super Late Model Series action this Saturday, May 15 in Great Lakes Testing Round One at Wisconsin International Raceway. Qualifying is scheduled for 12:30 pm and racing is slated for 2 pm. TUNDRA will be joined by the Midwest Dash Series, WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, and Wisconsin Sport Trucks.
Wisconsin International Raceway is located past the intersection of Highways 55 and KK just outside of Kaukauna, Wis. For more information visit http://www.wirmotorsports.com
PORTAGE, Wis. (May 13, 2021) – Viewers of Speed51.com’s Bull Ring sat on pins and needles awaiting the final selection into the 2021 Kulwicki Driver Development Program. Finally, a young driver was able to slip out of his high school football team meeting to take the call and accept his spot in the KDDP.
That young driver was 2020 Big 8 Series Champion Max Kahler from Caledonia, Ill. Already with an impressive resume in a short period of time, Kahler has earned the national attention he’ll now receive. He’ll spend part of his busy 2021 schedule as an EPYK Media Rookie with the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series.
“I’m really looking forward to getting more experience in the Super Late at different tracks and learning everything I can while racing with some of the best drivers in the Midwest,” Kahler said of his entry into TUNDRA.
Kahler cut his teeth at the always-tough Rockford Speedway before traveling with Big 8. Despite a banner season with Big 8, Kahler made his biggest mark at his home track. He was able to top a star-studded field to win the National Short Track Championship, becoming one of the youngest drivers ever to do so.
“The win certainly helped push him towards the eventual selection into the KDDP. He’ll join the likes of Ty Majeski, Reagan May, and Justin Mondeik to run a full season with TUNDRA representing Kulwicki.
“It is truly an honor to represent Alan Kulwicki and the KDDP this year, Alan’s career started out in the Midwest racing at some of the same tracks I am, it’s really cool to carry on his legacy,” Kahler said.
With the jump from full-time Big 8 action to full-time Super Late Model action will come challenges. Most of those challenges come in visiting facilities for the first time.
“This year will be a big challenge for me and my team, but we’re ready and hope to be competitive every race, battling for a win,” Kahler said. “It will be my first time at WIR, Marshfield, Golden Sands, and my first time at State Park Speedway in the Super Late.”
Kahler already has one start with TUNDRA, joining the series for last year’s race at Jefferson. He had a respectable day, making the field by time while 14 others had to try race their way in. He went on to record a Tenth Place finish.
With some momentum to build on, Kahler is ready to take on the challenge. He’s already going to the his football-playing mindset and watching tape before Saturday’s opener.
“I know very little about WIR, but have been trying to learn as much as I can through watching videos and asking questions, I really enjoy going to new tracks so I’m sure it’ll be fun,” Kahler said.
Kahler makes his TUNDRA Super Late Model Series debut this Saturday, May 15 in Great Lakes Testing Round One at Wisconsin International Raceway. Qualifying is scheduled for 12:30 pm and racing is slated for 2 pm. TUNDRA will be joined by the Midwest Dash Series, WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, and Wisconsin Sport Trucks.
Wisconsin International Raceway is located past the intersection of Highways 55 and KK just outside of Kaukauna, Wis. For more information visit http://www.wirmotorsports.com
PORTAGE, Wis. (May 11, 2021) – Brady Bill’s beard may have him looking like a grizzled veteran racer, but the 22-year-old racer is on his way up the ranks with an eye on the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series – and he has a past Champion in his corner.
Bill will be chasing EPYK Media Rookie of the year honors with help from Super Star Motorsports and 2011 Alive For Five (renamed to TUNDRA in 2012) Champion Frank Kreyer.
Prior to stepping into the short track racing scene, Bill raced motocross. A very physically demanding sport gave Bill an excellent grounds for the speed and adrenaline of short track racing, but that didn’t necessarily translate to the shop and setups.
“We just started racing cars about three years ago and we had no clue what we were doing. We were just at the track wrenching by ourselves,” Bill recalled of his earlier days in the sport. “I ran into Frank and he helped us one night. We gained almost half a second. So, I thought, I want to have this guy help us.”
The partnership has paid dividends already. Bill collected honors as the 2019 Dells Raceway Park Late Model Rookie of the Year in 2019. Last season he was the UMA 602 Late Model Champion at Dells Raceway Park.
“We’ve been hooked up with him and It’s just awesome,” Bill said. “He sets the car up at the shop and he’s teaching me how to set things up. We get to the track and it’s pretty good right out of the box normally.”
Kreyer echoes the same sentiments about Bill. Having worked with young racers in the past, Kreyer recognizes the talent and poise of Bill behind the wheel. He feels his background in motocross has put him in good position to find success on the short tracks. He expects to see Bill running up front at many races this season.
“My main goal is to get rookie of the year and get at least one feature win,” Bill said. “That would be awesome. That’s the main goal for sure.”
Bill opened some eyes in his first Super Late Model race of 2021 at Dells Raceway Park. He qualified into through a grueling qualifying session filled with heavy hitters. He then closed in on two past TUNDRA Champions and top runners in the Midwest.
“We got up to Third right away,” Bill recalled of the Icebreaker. “We started catching Johnson and Zehr, I honestly about went into shock. I got to his bumper, made a mistake and spun him around. That’ll happen. Rookie mistake. We’ll learn from it and try not to do it again.”
The quickness of what happens in a Super Late Model race may have bit Bill at Dells, but he certainly didn’t shy away from the speed. Participating in a practice last week at Wisconsin International Raceway, Bill got a new dose of high-speed action.
“The first couple times out I was white-knuckling the wheel. You’re moving pretty good,” he said of the half-mile. “Now we’ve got the car pretty dialed it. We’re getting comfortable out there and that’s the main part now is just to get the laps and learn the line.”
Bill makes his TUNDRA Super Late Model Series debut this Saturday, May 15 in Great Lakes Testing Round One at Wisconsin International Raceway. Qualifying is scheduled for 12:30 pm and racing is slated for 2 pm. TUNDRA will be joined by the Midwest Dash Series, WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, and Wisconsin Sport Trucks.
Wisconsin International Raceway is located past the intersection of Highways 55 and KK just outside of Kaukauna, Wis. For more information visit http://www.wirmotorsports.com
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (May 12, 2021) – If Dennis Prunty is going to get to Victory Lane for the fourth straight time in TUNDRA Super Late Model Series action at Wisconsin International Raceway this Saturday, he’ll have to earn it.
A rock solid field of former Champions, race winners, and challengers is ready to roll for Great Lakes Testing Round One. The prize for winning Round One is up to $2,000 for the winner and $1,000 for the runner up. It has provided some extra incentive to stall Prunty’s hot streak.
Among the TUNDRA Travelers expected to challenge is defending Champion Casey Johnson who teams with Larson Motorsports this season for the first time. Johnson will be working double duty as Crew Chief to EPKY Media rookie Grant Thompson. The young, up-and-coming Alabama driver will join TUNDRA for each event this season.
Gildan Racing could prove a threat as well with both John Beale and Dalton Zehr filing entries for Saturday’s event. Beale comes off a win last weekend in Marshfield’s weekly opener. Zehr is a past winner of the event, capturing the checkered flag in 2014.
Prunty’s closest challenger last season is prepared to take the torch this year. Justin Mondeik pressured Prunty throughout the main event last year, coming up just short of the win. Mondeik had a break out season last year claiming two TUNDRA wins and grabbing track Championships at both Golden Sands and State Park Speedway.
Other TUNDRA Travelers to keep an eye on include hometown driver Jordan Thiel, who has spend time leading the event on multiple occasions, last year’s EPYK Media Rookie of the Year Brock Heinrich, Jeremy Lepak, last year’s fast qualifier Riley Stenjem, and the always-quick James Swan, Colin Reffner, and Jake Zellmer.
There will be plenty of local flavor to pressure Prunty as well. Top locals include 2020 WIR Fox River Racing Club Champion Bobby Kendall, 2020 Red, White and Blue Champion Jesse Oudenhoven, 2017 FRRC Champion Andy Monday, and multiple-time WIR feature winner Kyle Calmes.
Aside from Thompson a few other newcomers to TUNDRA will hope to make some noise including last year’s Big 8 Series Champion Max Kahler, 2019 Marshfield Champion Darren Jackson, EPYK Media Rookie Brady Bill, and Central Wisconsin front-runner Mike Olson.
Qualifying for Great Lakes Testing Round One takes place at 12:30 pm with racing to follow at 2 pm. TUNDRA will be joined by the Midwest Dash Series, Wisconsin Sport Trucks, and WIR ¼-Mile Late Models.
Wisconsin International Raceway Saturday, May 15, 2021 Expected Entries (30) as of 5/14/21 # – Driver, Hometown 1 – Jesse Oudenhoven, Kaukana, Wis. 2 – Jordan Thiel, Darboy, Wis. 2 – Darren Jackson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. 5 – Casey Johnson, Edgerton, Wis. 5B – John Beale, Verona, Wis. 9 – Kyle Calmes, Freedom, Wis. 10 – Andy Monday, Appleton, Wis. 11 – Bobby Kendall, Montello, Wis. 16 – Luke Westenberg, Jefferson, Wis. 17 – Max Kahler, Caledonia, Ill. 17 – Grant Griesbach, Pewaukee, Wis. 18 – Cameron Clifford, Norway, Mich. 31 – Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis. 33 – Kevin Kneuse, Waukesha, Wis. 40 – Jeremy Lepak, Wausau, Wis. 42 – Dennis Prunty, Knowles, Wis. 44 – Justin Mondeik, Gleason, Wis. 47 – Braison Bennett, Neenah, Wis. 52 – Brock Heinrich, Wausau, Wis. 54 – Grant Thompson, Mobile, Ala. 64 – Mike Olson, Wausau, Wis. 70 – Brady Bill, Reedsburg, Wis. 72 – Randy Schuler, Mequon, Wis. 77 – Riley Stenjem, Utica, Wis. 87 – Colin Reffner, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. 89 – Mike Egan, Slinger, Wis. 97 – James Swan, Genoa City, Wis. 99 – Jake Zellmer, Muskego, Wis. 107.5 – Darek Gress, Neillsville, Wis. 119 – Dalton Zehr, Verona, Wis.
PORTAGE, Wis. (May 11, 2021) – In its 10 previous seasons the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series has provided a proving ground for up-and-coming Super Late Model racers. One of the latest additions to the EPYK Media Rookie line up may be the next to hit his stride with the series.
Mobile, Alabama teenager Grant Thompson will be behind the wheel of the Casey Johnson Racing #54 this season. The 15 year old will be mentored by and in competition with the defending and now four-time series Champion all year. With Thompson hoping to advance his careers in Super Late Model racing, Johnson offered TUNDRA as the perfect way to get started.
“Casey told me these guys are real competitive and it’s close racing from lap one to the end of the race,” Thompson said. “Up North it’s a little different than down South. To be able to come up here to Wisconsin is really cool.”
A mutual friend helped forge the relationship between Johnson and Thompson. After a quick conversation at the Snowball Derby – where Thompson dominated the Pro Truck race – a group chat came together to put plans into motion.
“I’m really good friends with John Alverson and he’s really good friends with Casey. We just kind of made a little group chat together and started talking about teaming up,” Thompson said. “Casey said if we wanted to come and race for him that we could. We worked it out and got a car together.”
It didn’t take Thompson long to hammer out the details and complete the deal.
“I’m excited about it. The competition level is very high,” he said. “To have the opportunity to be up here and do this is really cool. Casey is one of the best in this series. I feel grateful.”
The youngster comes with an already-impressive resume. In 2020 he won the Pro Truck Championships at both Five Flags Speedway and Crisp Motorsports Park. Along with the titles he finished Second in points at Five Flags in the Pro Late Models. In 2019 he was the winner of the Jr. Late Model camp at Madera Speedway in California.
With a clear progression path, Super Late Models were clearly on the horizon for 2020. Thompson took the opportunity to participate in a Saturday practice session at Wisconsin International Raceway to learn the ropes last Saturday, one week before making his debut in TUNDRA action.
“I love this track. Casey told me if you can be fast here then you can be fast anywhere,” Thompson said of the D-shaped half-mile. “We’re getting better and better every time we go out and I feel like we’ll have a good shot at it.”
With his debut still to come in Super Late Model action, Thompson has set some modest goals for the 2021 season. What’s most important to him is to learn the ropes from Johnson, who should prove to be a capable mentor. Thompson hopes to prove that his natural talent can shine through and the results will follow while making the jump in divisions.
“We just want to earn these guys trust and respect” Thompson said. “I already respect most of these guys out here. We want to have solid finishes, keep the nose and fenders on the car. We’re hoping to get Top Ten finishes every race if we can, if we’re fast. So far it looks like we’re going to be able to do that.”
Thompson makes his TUNDRA Super Late Model Series debut this Saturday, May 15 in Great Lakes Testing Round One at Wisconsin International Raceway. Qualifying is scheduled for 12:30 pm and racing is slated for 2 pm. TUNDRA will be joined by the Midwest Dash Series, WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, and Wisconsin Sport Trucks.
Wisconsin International Raceway is located past the intersection of Highways 55 and KK just outside of Kaukauna, Wis. For more information visit http://www.wirmotorsports.com
PORTAGE, Wis. (May 11, 2021) – Dennis Prunty isn’t sure why he’s been so successful in TUNDRA Super Late Model Series races at Wisconsin International Raceway, but he isn’t going to complain about his run of three straight wins in TUNDRA action at the track.
Grabbing a fourth straight could prove to have an added degree of difficulty though. Speed51.com and B&B Race Engines of Appleton, Wis. have pitched in to raise the stakes for knocking Prunty out of Victory Lane in Great Lakes Testing Round One on Saturday.
Prunty is well aware that the competition will be stout. He witnessed it first-hand last year when he battled with Justin Mondeik throughout the feature event.
“It was amazing with Justin last year. The two of us were way out in front and he never let me rest,” Prunty recalled. “He was on me the whole race. The two of us ran a great race and stayed ahead of the field. That was exciting. I know there will be a lot of competitors here.”
Some of the competitors include Mondeik, defending TUNDRA Champion Casey Johnson, former race winner and three-time TUNDRA Champion Dalton Zehr, and local hot shoes Bobby Kendall, Andy Monday, and Jesse Oudenhoven.
All those drivers have found the fast way around the track, but haven’t quite been able to match the magic of Prunty, who has mastered the challenges posed by the D-shaped half-mile when TUNDRA comes to town.
“I’m not really sure what it is at this track. It’s rough. It’s hard to drive, but it just seems like I’ve been doing very well here,” he said. “TUNDRA and I seem to get along really good at WIR, that’s for sure.”
A win in Saturday’s stop at Kaukauna could be just want Prunty needs to turn around the sour luck he’s had to start the season. He suffered DNFs in the two other races he entered early in 2021.
“The way this year has started it’s hard to be confident. We had a flat tire at the first race and broke a ball joint at the second race,” Prunty explained. “We’ll see what happens at the third race. The car’s pretty good. I’ve got faith in this Pathfinder Chassis, and we’re going to make it go.”
Although focused on grabbing another checkered flag, Prunty hasn’t let the accomplishment of winning three straight series races at the facility get lost in the shuffle. He wants nothing more than to keep the streak alive.
“To win three in a row last year, I didn’t think we could do that,” he said “This year we’re going to go for four in a row. I’m definitely going to be having some Pure Fuel to keep my energy level up and hopefully we can get something.”
Qualifying for Great Lakes Testing Round One takes place at 12:30 pm with racing to follow at 2 pm. TUNDRA will be joined by the WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, Wisconsin Sport Trucks, and Midwest Dash Series.
Wisconsin International Raceway is located past the intersection of Highways 55 and KK just outside of Kaukauna, Wis. For more information visit http://www.wirmotorsports.com
PORTAGE, Wis. (May 10, 2021) – There is something to be said about home track advantage. But when it comes to the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series events at Wisconsin International Raceway, no one seems to have a leg up, except Dennis Prunty, of course.
The top runners of WIR are looking to change the course of history this Saturday, May 15 when TUNDRA heads to their home track for Great Lakes Testing Round One. With the likes of 2020 Thursday Night Fox River Racing Club Champion Bobby Kendall, 2020 Red, White and Blue State Champion Jesse Oudenhoven, 2017 track Champion Andy Monday and others in the mix, there should be plenty of local flavor up front.
“We want to keep the trophy here, first and foremost,” Monday said. “We feel we should be able to beat all of those guys because we’re here 15 nights a year and they only come once or twice. That should give us the upper hand, but it is nice racing with some different guys who have a lot of experience around the Midwest, that have won multiple Championships and features.”
Monday fared the best of any regular in TUNDRA’s visit to WIR last September. He qualified Second behind Riley Stenjem and rounded out the podium behind Dennis Prunty and Justin Mondeik. Although he was carrying the torch for the locals, he was surrounded by outsiders in qualifying and the dash.
The last WIR regular to score a win in the race was the Chase Motorsports machine in 2014, piloted by TUNDRA regular Dalton Zehr. Ty Majeski, Steve Apel, and Dennis Prunty have visited victory lane since. Having seen the trophy leave town, the WIR regulars are more focused on the prize and are closer to a win, says Monday.
We’re coming out here to win. We’ve had a Top Five car the last few times,” Monday said. “Now it’s time to get the monkey off our back and get the win. It’s going to be a stout field of cars, and with it being the season opener everyone is going to have fresh stuff.”
Perhaps one of the two WIR Champions from a season ago will be the ones to finish the task. Neither Kendall nor Oudenhoven were able to compete in the event last season, but they’re ready to be up front come Saturday.
Jesse Oudenhoven, 2020 Red, White and Blue State Champion at WIR
“We like to run this TUNDRA race every year. The TUNDRA series puts on a really great show, and the competition gets better and better every single year,” Oudenhoven said. “You’ve got guys like Casey (Johnson), (Colin) Reffner, Jordan Thiel, and all these guys that are knocking on the door. We have the speed now and have no reason to believe that we’re not going to be the favorite coming into the race.”
Oudenhoven has shown tremendous improvement and speed the last two seasons. He claimed his first Red, White and Blue title in impressive fashion last year and was a threat every Thursday night.
“We had a part-time year a couple years ago. We maybe needed to take that step back and try some different things,” Oudenhoven said. “As far as the Red, White and Blue Series last year, it was just mostly consistency. The car was really fast those nights and for whatever reason the longer races, the car stays very consistent. We eat up a lot of guys late in the race, and that’s exactly what you’ve got to do to be fast and Championship caliber.”
Oudenhoven said he’s hoping to find success at his home track and carry it into Marshfield, which is also cemented into his schedule. Success at those races may turn him into both a WIR and TUNDRA regular.
“I love running Kaukauna with the high speeds; you have a high braking, high acceleration,” Oudenhoven said. “When it comes to Marhsfield, it’s totally different where you have long, sweeping flat turns, three-wide racing all over the place, so it’s two different animals. They’re nice big tracks. If we do well at both of them, you’ll probably see us at the rest of the TUNDRA races.”
Kendall, who tows to WIR each week from Montello, is no stranger to success in the Red, White and Blue series and longer races himself. He dominated the White Race last season and is a two-time RWB Champion himself. Last year he and his team put together a memorable season on their way to the title.
2020 Fox River Racing Club Thursday Night Champion Bobby Kendall
“I think our biggest improvements came in the off seasons, the team and myself put a lot of work into the car to get the results we wanted during the season,” Kendall said. “We also got up here to test a little more and I was able get more involved in the suspension part of it and figure out exactly what I wanted.”
Kendall may be the most familiar with TUNDRA action having run a total of 26 series events since it began in 2011. He set fast time and cruised to a Second Place finish the first time TUNDRA visited WIR in 2014.
“It’s going to be a little tougher competition than a weekly field, although we have a very tough field of super late models here on a Thursday night,” Kendall said “But I feel like we did what we had to do to improve on last year. We had a really good test up there this last weekend and I feel good about the car, so I expect us to be up there competing for the top spot.”
Although the TUNDRA regulars are a threat themselves, many eyes of the locals are on Dennis Prunty. Prunty competed in just one TUNDRA event last year, which was his third straight win in the event.
“It’s always a fun race and good battle, and we’ve got to get that 42 car out of Victory Lane,” Moday said. “What is it, three in a row for that guy? Chuck Norris, we’re taking the trophy from you.
Monday, Oudenhoven, Kendall and their fellow WIR regulars welcome TUNDRA into town this Saturday, May 15. Qualifying takes place at 12:30 pm with racing to follow at 2 pm. TUNDRA will be joined by the WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, Wisconsin Sport Trucks, and Midwest Dash Series.
Wisconsin International Raceway is located past the intersection of Highways 55 and KK just outside of Kaukauna, Wis. For more information visit http://www.wirmotorsports.com
tundrasuperlates.com 