By: Kevin Ramsell
(Kaukauna, WI) – It’s a tradition that started 44 years ago in 1981 when Mark Martin won the “Dixieland” ARTGO race at Wisconsin International Raceway near Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Today, it continues to be a crown jewel super late model event not just in Wisconsin, but in the Midwest.
What makes it unique is that it is always competed on the first Tuesday night in August, and it would attract drivers from down south, or the land of Dixie, to come up and race against the best of the Midwest on the unique D-shaped half-mile oval.
The 44th running will take place on Tuesday, August 5th at WIR with the ASA Midwest Tour’s Gandrud Auto Group 250. Or, as many long-time fans would call it the Dixieland 250.
The origin was a collaboration between famous ARTGO promoter John McKarns and WIR owner Joe Van Daalwyk. Today, Gregg McKarns, son of John McKarns and Dan Van Daalwyk, grandson of Joe Van Daalwyk, will oversee the event.
Over the years, the event has hosted different sanctioning bodies along with some of the best local, regional, and national drivers.
On Tuesday, August 5th, with the support from Gandrud Auto Group, the stars & cars of the ASA Midwest Tour will once take 250 trips around WIR hoping to take home a big check of $15,000.
What makes this race a “must see” race? There are many reasons.
For one, advance admission is only $25 ($30 race day) with kids 12 and under FREE. For $25, you will get the ASA Midwest Tour competing in a 250-lap event along with the popular Midwest Truck Series.
This admission will allow you to see some of the best in the Midwest in a very competitive race that will have controlled pit stops as teams strategize to make their cars just right to make a run to the checkered flag.
The driver that many will keep their eye on is five-time Midwest Tour champion Ty Majeski who is defending the title he has captured in five of the last years.
The one driver to interrupt that streak was when Paul Shafer, who won it in 2021, came in second. Shafer, just like the other teams competing, would come into this race with a strategy in mind, but would have to quickly adapt to changes throughout the night. This is one thing that makes this race interesting to watch in person, seeing your favorite drivers adapt to the changes and hope it moves them forward.
Something that Shafer recalled the night he went to victory lane:
“It was such a hard, it was a hard race! Because I think I was running 10th, maybe 14th, somewhere in there, and we weren’t good. We pitted early because we were bad,” Shafer recalled of his 2021 victory. “So we pitted, we were bad, put the tires on, made our adjustments, made it back out, and we rode and rode and rode, and I rode and probably 15th or 16th, saving tires.
“So I knew that everybody else in front of me had to come in, we would leapfrog them. So we knew that was kind of a deal. So when we got going after that restart, I knew I just had to run my tail off for the rest of the race and I did. We were fast, and I think the tires there leveled out, everything kind of leveled out, and we did enough saving early in the race that, you know, we still had something at the end, so it made a lot of fun.”
This event was one of the first events to use what is now known as “controlled pit stops.” This allows teams so many laps to make a stop to make adjustments, change tires, add fuel, etc., and return to the field in the same position along with the others who also pitted, but restart behind those who didn’t pit. This allows various lead changes throughout the race.
It’s about strategy, endurance, and honestly luck in some cases to not only survive but to take the checkered flag. Many times, the winner won’t shine until the last few laps.
It is worth spending a summer Tuesday night at the track with friends and family. Make your plans now and order your tickets today!
ASA Midwest Tour’s Gandrud Auto Group 250
Tuesday, August 5th – Wisconsin International Raceway, Kaukauna, WI.
Tuesday, August 5th Racing Divisions: The ASA Midwest Tour Super Late Models will be joined Tuesday Night by the Midwest Truck Series.
Schedule of Events for Tuesday:
10 a.m. ASAMT Pit Gate Opens
2:15 p.m. Practice Begins
4 p.m. Front Gates Open
5 p.m. Qualifying Begins
6:30 p.m. Racing Begins
General Admission Pricing Tuesday:
Adults $30, Children ages 12 and under admitted free. Advance tickets available on the Ticket Hoss App for $25, click here.
Location: Wisconsin International Raceway is located at W1460 County Rd KK in Kaukauna, WI. For camping and other information visit www.wirmotorsports.com or call 920-766-5577.
Complete List of Past Gandrud Auto Group 250 Winners1981 Mark Martin
1982 Jim Sauter
1983 Dick Trickle
1984 Mark Martin
1985 Butch Miller
1986 Butch Miller
1987 Dick Trickle
1988 Butch Miller
1989 Rich Bickle Jr.
1990 Dick Trickle
1991 Dick Trickle
1992 Steve Holzhausen
1993 Scott Hansen
1994 Joe Shear
1995 Bryan Reffner
1996 Joe Shear
1997 Steve Carlson
1998 Steve Carlson
1999 Scott Hansen
2000 Brian Hoppe
2001 Steve Carlson
2002 Brian Hoppe
2003 Steve Carlson
2004 Steve Carlson
2005 Stephen Leicht
2007 Kyle Busch
2008 Steve Carlson
2009 Steve Carlson
2010 Johnny Sauter
2014 Johnny Sauter
2015 Nick Murgic
2016 Dennis Prunty
2017 Casey Johnson
2018 Chase Purdy
2019 Ty Majeski
2020 Ty Majeski
2021 Paul Shafer, Jr.
2022 Ty Majeski
2023 Ty Majeski
2024 Ty Majeski
