Entry List for Annual State Park Speedway Marquee Event
Wausau, WI (July 18, 2023) – The top three in the ASA Midwest Tour points standings will battle it out at one of their home tracks this Saturday night, July 22nd, at State Park Speedway in Rib Mountain, Wisconsin for the Annual Larry Detjens Memorial 125.
2019 Detjens winner Gabe Sommers currently holds a 48-point lead over 2020 Detjens winner Justin Mondeik coming into Saturday night’s main event. Levon Van Der Geest, who is third in the points only 57 points back, will be trying to get his first Detjens victory.
Making his first appearance in Wisconsin since his breakthrough ARCA Menard’s Series win last Saturday at Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA, former SPS Track Champion, Wausau, Wisconsin driver Luke Fenhaus will return home to compete after his big win.
Here are the competitors who have filed an entry for this Saturday night.
Expected Entries (As of 7/18/23)
No. 4
Luke Fenhaus
Wausau, WI
Dun-Rite Exteriors/Crystal Finishing/Zilisch Asphalt/Pioneer/Central WI Vending Chevrolet
– Recent ARCA Racing Series Winner (Iowa Speedway)
– 2021 Slinger Nationals Winner (2nd in 2023)
– Former State Park Speedway Champion
– Former Kulwicki Driver Development Program Champion
– 2021 Slinger Speedway Champion
– 2021 ASA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year
– 2021 Alive for Five Champion
No. 5
John Beale
Verona, WI
Gildan/First Business Bank/American Apparel/Comfort Colors/Make-A-Wish Chevrolet
– 2020 CWRA Champion
– 2019 WCS Champion
– 2020 Marshfield Motor Speedway Champion
No. 12
Mark Mackesy
Wausau, WI
Dale Will Ent/Hougan Farms/Lerch Inc/A+A Lock Service Chevrolet
– 4x State Park Speedway Champion
– 2011 ASA Midwest Tour Winner at State Park Speedway
– Detjens winner in 1999, 2006, 2012
No.15
Gabe Sommers
Plover, WI
Kwik Trip/WI Potato & Veg Growers Assoc/Farmers Promise/Meristern/Dekalb Ford
– Current ASA MT points leader
– Two ASA MT wins – 2019 Larry Detjens Memorial at State Park, 2022 Jim Sauter Classic at Dells Raceway Park
– 2022 Alive For Five Series champion at Dells
No.17
Max Kahler
Caledonia, IL
Windsor Auto Sales/Retool/B&K Concrete Ford
– 2020 Big 8 Series champion
– Former National Short Track Championships winner
– Alive For Five Series winner at Dells
No. 22
MG Gajewski
Wausau, WI
Tiffin Motorhomes/King’s Camper/KZ Towables Chevrolet
– Former State Park Speedway Champion
– Flip Merwin Memorial Winner
No.23
Levon Van Der Geest
Merrill, WI
Zilisch Repair/Breeber Music/Tiry’s Race Motors/Central Sawdust Chevrolet
– Currently third in ASA MT points, recent winner at Golden Sands
– 2019 Midwest Truck Series champion
– Youngest winner in Milwaukee Mile History
No.44
Justin Mondeik
Gleason, WI
Aqua Finance/Agra Industries/Power House Lawn & Leisure/Merrrill MFG Chevrolet
– Currently second in ASA MT points
– Track championships at State Park, Golden Sands, Norway; defending TUNDRA SLM Champion
– One ASA MT Win – 2020 Larry Detjens Memorial at State Park
No. 56
Kolton Gurlaski
Wausau, WI
Legends Direct/Acoustech Supply/Advantage Enterprises/Imperial Industries Toyota
– 2021 2nd Points at Jefferson Speedway/Late Model Rookie of the Year
– 2017 State Park Speedway Bandolero Champion
– 2020 2nd Points Pure Stocks
No.58
Joseph Scholze
West Salem, WI
Chosen Valley Farm Chevrolet
– Former weekly Late Model winner at Jefferson and LaCrosse
– Made Midwest Tour debut at Slinger
– Made Big 8 Series debut at Oktoberfest
No.77
Riley Stenjem
Utica, WI
Sreamin’ Norwegian/Hausz Contractors/Hougan Farms/Direct Networks Chevrolet
– 2021 TUNDRA Super Late Model Series champion
– Kulwicki Driver Development Program finalist 2022-2023
– Two top-five finishes in four ASA MT appearances in 2022
No.79
Barrett Polhemus
Wimberley, TX
Baja/Alverson Motorsports Chevrolet
– Currently 5th in ASA MT Points
– 2022 TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Rookie of the Year
– Running for ASA MT Rookie of the Year in 2023
No.81
Bryan Syer-Keske
Lakeville, MN
Fredrickson Signs/Advanced Diesel Power/Scheill’s Mobile RV Service Chevrolet
– Currently 4th in ASA MT Points
– Elko Speedway weekly Late Model winner
– 2022 SLM Futures race winner at Oktoberfest
No.95
Harley Jankowski
Sparta, WI
Hableman Brothers Cranberrys/Kurts Shop/Modern Disposal Sys Chevrolet
– 2022 ASA MT Rookie of the Year
– Former CWRA winner at Golden Sands, Dells
– Weekly LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway Late Model winner
No. 02
Rayce Haase
Wausau, WI
Rain Auto Wash/Aftershock Bar/Omni/KRH/Badgerland Doors Chevrolet
– 2021 State Park Speedway Rookie of the Year
– Former Detjens Winner in 4cyl.
– Grandfather is a former State Park Speedway Champion
– Father is a former State Park Speedway Champion and Detjens winner
Saturday Racing Divisions: The ASA Midwest Tour Super Late Models will be joined Saturday night by the Bandoleros, Mini-Stocks, Mini-Mods and Pure Stocks.
About Larry Detjens: The Larry Detjens Memorial was started in 1981 after the former short track racing star and 1977 SPS Track Champion lost his life in a racing accident earlier that season. Saturday night we will pay tribute to one of the greatest short track racers of his time. Larry tallied ten ARTGO wins, three ASA wins including the Minnesota State Fair, was the 1977 Capital Speedway Champion, won the Slinger Nationals in 1980, was a two time Oktoberfest winner, won in Florida during New Symrna’s World Series of Asphalt, and won three times in California at Mesa Marin and All-American Speedways. When asked about beating and banging to pass, Detjens noted, “Most of the racers that we race with, the faster man goes around without bumping or banging.”
Schedule of Events for Saturday:
11am ASAMT Pit Gate Opens
2pm Practice Begins
3:30pm Front Gates Open
4:30pm Qualifying Begins
6:00pm Racing Begins
General Admission Pricing Saturday:
Adults $22, Kids (ages 6-12) $10 with children ages 5 and under admitted free.
Friday Night: The two day Detjens Memorial Weekend will feature the Big 8 Late Model Series on Friday night along with the Bandoleros, Mini-Stocks, Mini-Mods and Legends.
Location: State Park Speedway is located at 14771 North Mountain Road in Wausau. For camping and other information visit www.stateparkspeedway.com or call 715-212-9006.
Past Detjens Memorial Winners
2022 Jonathan Eilen
2021 Ty Majeski
2020 Justin Mondeik
2019 Gabe Sommers
2018 Casey Johnson
2017 Chris Wimmer (2)
2016 Derek Kraus
2015 Johnny Sauter
2014 Tim Sauter (2)
2013 Tim Sauter
2012 Mark Mackesy (3)
2011 Chris Weinkauf (3)
2010 Chris Weinkauf (2)
2009 Andrew Morrissey (Golden Sands)
2008 Not Run
2007 Not Run
2006 Mark Mackesy (2)
2005 Allen Check
2004 Charlie Menard
2003 Chris Weinkauf
2002 Scott Wimmer (2)
2001 Scott Wimmer
2000 Chris Wimmer
1999 Mark Mackesy
1998 Jesse Hasse
1997 Donnie Woller (3)
1996 Wayne Breitenfeldt (2)
1995 Kirby Kurth (2)
1994 Donnie Woller (2)
1993 Joe Krzykowski
1992 Kirby Kurth
1991 Donnie Woller
1990 Bryan Reffner
1989 Wayne Breitenfeldt
1987 Tom Reffner (2)
1986 Kevin Cywinski
1985 Dick Trickle (3)
1984 Tom Reffner
1983 Kevin Stepan
1982 Dick Trickle (2)
1981 Dick Trickle
