Kaukauna, WI- In the past twenty years, just four Fox River Racing Club regulars have finished on the podium of the Gandrud Auto Group 250. When the annual event at Wisconsin International Raceway comes to town this Tuesday night August 2, there will be plenty of local standouts looking for the $15,000 payday. Many have led laps, been close, but not since five-time WIR Champion Scott Hansen topped Butch Miller and Bryan Reffner in 1993 and again finished ahead of Larry Middleton, Jr and Kenny Wallace six years later, has a bay area driver hoisted the winner’s trophy.
Terry Baldry raced to third in 2002, Kyle Calmes came the closest with a second place finish in 2008 while Bobby Kendall and Brent Strelka both finished third in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Defending Fox River Racing Club Champion Kendall, another five-time Champ in Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Dixieland Delight winner Braison Bennett and 2017 Champion Andy Monday are amongst the local contingent that look to keep the trophy and $15,000 winner’s check in the area as drivers from around the nation come to Kaukauna for the ARCA Midwest Tour special event to take on the region’s best drivers Tuesday night. Former track champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Matt Kenseth will also be on hand.
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Bobby Kendall has been a front runner this season at WIR winning three races so far and currently sits second in weekly point standings. Kendall is a two time Red, White and Blue State Champion at WIR in 2017-18.
Jeff Van Oudenhoven has been a mainstay at Wisconsin International Raceway. JVO as he is known as is a five-time FRRC Champion that also has 3 Red, White and Blue Championships to his credit as well as a three-time Midwest Allstar Racing Series Champion. Van Oudenhoven’s best career 250 run came in 2017 where he led 89 laps and came away with a 5th place finish.
Braison Bennett looks to keep his momentum rolling into the 250. The Neenah, WI native is behind the wheel of his own number 9 car for this event. This season he has two feature wins in weekly competition driving for Chase Motorsports. Bennett is also a former winner of the Dixieland Delight 38 when the Big 8 Late Model Series was a part of the event.
2017 FRRC Champion Andy Monday will once again climb behind the wheel of his family owned #10 on Tuesday night. Monday looks to get the monkey off his back and get his first win of the season as well as the biggest win of his career Tuesday night August 2nd.
Spectator Gates open at 4pm with qualifying for the ARCA Midwest Tour and Midwest Truck Series beginning at 5pm. A general autograph session is planned for the fastest 16 qualifiers at 6pm. An early start time of 6:30pm for racing has been set for Tuesday night August 2. Adult general admission tickets are $25 and are available online in advance or at the ticket gates on race day. Wisconsin International Raceway is located at W1460 County Road KK in Kaukauna, WI. For additional information call 920-759-7456 or visit www.wirmotorsports.com or midwesttour.racing.
