Thirteen days later than originally planned, the 2019 Super Late Model season will officially get underway in the state of Wisconsin this Saturday with the 5th Annual Icebreaker 100 at Dells Raceway Park. In just five years, the event has grown exponentially and earned the reputation as being the kickoff event for the short track racing season in The Badger State.
“We wanted the first race in Wisconsin at the Dells to kick off the season,” said Dells Raceway Park promoter Jerry Auby. “It’s turned into one of the premier events as far as premier short track drivers in the Midwest attend every year.”
Thus far, Auby and the staff at Dells Raceway Park have accomplished their goal. In addition the growing interest among race fans, drivers and teams in the region have also increased their support for the event. Now entering its fifth season, more than 30 cars are entered for the 2019 edition of the 100-lap race.
A trio of ARCA Midwest Tour champions – Dan Fredrickson, Andrew Morrissey, and Dalton Zehr – are among the entrants for Sunday’s race, along with Wisconsin racing legend Rich Bickle, World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing breakout driver Gabe Sommers, and back-to-back TUNDRA Super Late Model champion Casey Johnson.
Auby believes the interest received from and generated by those drivers has enabled the growth of the event in an area rich with racing history and lore.
“The drivers grew the interest,” he stated. “The interest came from the drivers. Wisconsin is the hotbed of short track racing. Anywhere in the United States, Wisconsin has the most stock cars per capita of people.”
Saturday's Icebreaker 100 will serve as the first of five races in the growing "Alive for Five Series" held at Dells Raceway Park throughout the year. With teams being limited to just four tires for the 100-lap race around the 1/3-mile bullring, the $3,000-to-win event has become an affordable option for Super Late Model teams in the region.
“The Icebreaker 100 is a way to kick the season off and knock some of the rust off, get ready to go,” Auby commented. “The drivers really like it. It’s a 100-lap race, it’s not an endurance race. It’s one set of tires. That just adds to the popularity. The competition is outstanding. I’m never bored watching a race at Dells Raceway Park.”
After the original race date of April 7 was postponed due to snow early in the week and a dismal weekend forecast, the forecast for the rescheduled race this Saturday is picture-perfect for springtime in Wisconsin. The latest forecast shows a high temperature of 66 degrees with sunny skies.
Hot laps are scheduled for 12 p.m. CT, with qualifying at 1:30 p.m. and feature racing at 2 p.m.
For more information on the Icebreaker 100 at Dells Raceway Park, visit www.dellsracewaypark.com.
-Story by: Brandon Paul, Speed51.com Editor - Twitter: @Brandon_Paul51
-Photo credit: Dells Raceway Park Facebook
