Oregon, WI- The region’s best Super Late Model drivers will have their sights set on the $15,000 top prize at Madison International Speedway this Sunday May 1, 2022 when the ‘Stars and Cars’ of the ARCA Midwest Tour are joined by 2003 NASCAR Cup Champion Matt Kenseth for the Joe Shear Classic 200 presented by Keen Parts. The 28 car starting field will include Headline Makers from across the Midwest in a 200 lap contest paying tribute to one of the finest short track racers. Joining the Super Late Models will be the Midwest Trucks and 602 Outlaw Late Models. Here is a look at the expected entries for the ARCA Midwest Tour event which pays $1,500 to start.
Expected Entries for Sunday May 1, 2022 (29 as of 4/25/22)
SLM WINNER 2 Gregory Borchardt Prior Lake MN Dan’s Auto/Turnkey Boatworks/Prior Lake Auto/Schaeffer’s Chevrolet -Borchardt has become a regular at the Joe Shear Classic, finishing 17th a season ago. Making limited Super Late Model starts, the former Sportsman division standout visited LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway Super Late Model victory lane at Oktoberfest a few seasons ago. He and his family continue to improve their Super Late Model efforts and will again seek a starting position in the Joe Shear Classic this Sunday.
BIG 8 CHAMPION 2 Michael Bilderback South Beloit IL Jim Olson Collision/Crazy Times Pub & Grub/Mastermold/Fabiano Law Chevrolet -He is a three time Rockford Speedway Track Champion and is best known for his successes at the famed quarter-mile facility, but Michael Bilderback has plenty of success outside of Rockford. The 59th Bettenhausen Memorial 100 winner at Grundy County Speedway has four Big 8 Series titles to his credit and has made the best of his visits to ‘Wisconsin’s Fastest Half Mile’, having a Big 8 win and two weekly Late Model wins at Madison. Bilderback has three career top five Tour efforts heading into the Joe Shear Classic.
SLM CHAMPION 4 Luke Fenhaus Wausau WI Soda Sense/Dun-Rite Exteriors/Zilisch Asphalt/Pioneer/Central WI Vending Chevrolet -Last Sunday afternoon, Fenhaus swept the day at Slinger Super Speedway, setting fast time, winning his qualifying feature and then he was the first to race under the checkered flag in the 75 lap finale, securing his first ARCA Midwest Tour feature win. Fenhaus the 2021 Slinger Super Speedway Track Champion and Midwest Tour point runner-up and Rookie of the Year has moved to North Carolina to chase his racing dreams. He finished second to Marco Andretti in Slinger SRX action, a race he earned a start in by winning the Slinger Nationals. Additional accolades a season ago for the 2018 State Park Speedway Champion included the Kulwicki Driver Development Championship as well as the Alive for 5 Series title.
TOUR CHAMPION 5 Casey Johnson Edgerton WI Montgomery Ward/Hougan Farms/UAW Region 4 Chevrolet -No driver may have carried more speed than Johnson to end the 2021 Midwest Tour season and he does not appear to have slowed down. Johnson was second last Sunday at Slinger. The two-time Tour Champion won the Howie Lettow Classic at MIS last August and LaCrosse’s Oktoberfest. Last season he won his second Red, White and Blue State Championship by winning the White and Blue races at WIR. Johnson has amassed two championships at Wisconsin International, three at Jefferson, two in Big 8, two Tundra titles, six Wisconsin State Championships, the 2013 and 2016 MIS Triple Crowns and two National Short Track Championships at Rockford Speedway.
SLM WINNER 7 John DeAngelis, Jr Hubertus WI DeAngelis Construction/JD7 Trucking Ford -A flat tire early in the going of the Miracle on the High Banks last Sunday spoiled his plans to win his first Tour race during the Tour’s inaugural visit to Slinger, a track he has multiple Super Late Model wins at. DeAngelis has been racing his fair share in the Southern United States but has made his home region starts count including a win in last year’s Falloween at Dells Raceway Park. He put the competition on notice as he dominated the first half of the Gandrud Auto Group 250 last August, setting a blistering pace. DeAngelis finished third the last time the Tour visited MIS during the Howie Lettow last August and was runner-up in the Jim Sauter Classic last Labor Day at Dells.
ARTGO CHAMPION 8 Eddie Hoffman Wheaton IL Feece Oil/Advanced Generator Chevrolet -The eight time Chicagoland Champion (7 Grundy and 1 at Illiana), Hoffman has two career Midwest feature wins to his credit, both coming at Grundy County Speedway where he is the winningest driver in track history. Looking to join the Midwest Tour full time in 2022, Hoffman has done little touring racing since being a favorite in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when he captured three Oktoberfest titles, Hoffman has remained a favorite each time his familiar number 8 is unloaded in the pit area.
CUP CHAMPION 8 Matt Kenseth Cambridge WI Pathfinder Chassis Pathfinder -Kenseth returns to MIS to compete for the first time ever in the Joe Shear Classic. The 1994 Madison International Speedway Track Champion has 27 career Super Late Model wins here including his lone Tour victory and will make his first Super Late Model start since leading and eventually finishing fourth during the Howie Lettow Classic at MIS in August of 2019. The 2003 NASCAR Cup Champion is slated to compete in Sunday’s Joe Shear Classic, the Slinger Nationals and three SRX events this summer. Kenseth’s son Ross won the Joe Shear Classic in 2011, the race is named after one of the eldest Kenseth’s mentors in racing.
LM CHAMPION 8 Shaun Scheel Lake Mills WI Griffin Ford/Tiry’s Race Engines/Wagner Const/Ryan’s Auto Care Ford -Last May he made his first Midwest Tour start and he is back for more at this year’s Shear Classic. Shaun Scheel won back to back Championships at Jefferson Speedway in 2019 and 2020 after claiming the Late Model title at Slinger in 2018. Scheel has scored three feature victories at Madison including one last season and has finished fifth and fourth in the point standings the last two race seasons.
PRO CHAMPION 9 Derek Kraus Stratford WI B&K Trucking/Fanetti, Inc Chevrolet -The youngest winner in Midwest Tour history returns to his Midwest roots again this weekend, after charging from fifteenth to fourth last Sunday. Currently in the mix of contenders each week in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the former K&N West Series Champion is quickly making a name for himself in the NASCAR Garage. Kraus is currently twelfth in the Truck standings, less than 75 markers out of the top five. Kraus has two top fives to start his Super Late Model racing season here in the Midwest.
SLM CHAMPION 11 Bobby Kendall Montello WI Lecker Septic Systems/Hinz Farms/Eagle Homes II/Am Family Insurance Chevrolet -He unofficially turned the fastest lap of practice last Saturday at Madison International Speedway and Bobby Kendall is coming to contend at this year’s Joe Shear Classic 200. The 2020 Fox River Racing Club Champion at Wisconsin International Raceway is typically one to watch. Having won back to back Red, White and Blue State Championships at WIR in 2017 and 2018, Kendall has two career Tour top fives and six top ten finishes.
JSC WINNER 14 Austin Nason Roscoe IL Montgomery Ward/Haase Builders/JRS Shocks/Kar Korner Ford -Nason put himself on the map by winning the Joe Shear Classic 200 in 2018, the first year that it paid $10,000 to win. Now he is gunning for the first ever $15,000 payday this Sunday. He has had a resurgence as of late, placing third at South Alabama Speedway’s Rattler 250 in March and posting a fourth place effort earlier this month at the Dells. Nason is a two-time Tour point runner-up and has big wins including the 2019 Father’s Day 100 at The Milwaukee Mile and Rockford’s All-Star 100 to go along with a 2018 Madison Triple Crown Championship and 2015 Tour Rookie of the Year title.
TOUR WINNER 15 Gabe Sommers Plover WI WI Potato & Veg Growers Assoc/DeKalb/Kwik Trip/Rowdy Energy Toyota – Sommers recorded his breakthrough win at the Larry Detjens Memorial at State Park Speedway in 2019. He went on to become the 2019 Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year and backed up that effort with a runner-up points finish in 2020 and fifth a season ago. A winner last June at California’s Irwindale Speedway, the young driver placed second at Milwaukee on Father’s Day in 2021. Sommers found himself in a battle with NASCAR Cup Series winner William Byron during the 2022 World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway in February, eventually finishing second. Sommers was a contender last Sunday, rounding out the top five.
BIG 8 CHAMPION 17 Max Kahler Caledonia IL Windsor Auto Sales/Retool/B&K Concrete Ford -Last Saturday night, Max Kahler had the car to beat at Rockford’s Spring Classic and he delivered for his family operated team, dominating the 88 lap contest to start the Big 8 Season. Kahler led early in just his second Tour start during last season’s Salute the Troops 100 at Jefferson Speedway. The young pilot had quite the week in October of 2020, charging at the end and making a late race pass on Dale Nottestad to win the National Short Track Championship at Rockford and then having trailed in the Big 8 point standings he put together an impressive run at Oktoberfest to claim the Big 8 Series title.
TRUCK CHAMPION 23 Levon VanDerGeest Merrill WI Central Sawdust of WI/Breber Music/Culver’s Chevrolet -Levon VanDerGeest became the youngest winner in Milwaukee Mile history when he rolled to the Midwest Truck Series victory on Father’s Day 2019. Levon went on to become the 2019 Truck Champion and finished second in the 2021 ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year standings. Levon started 2022 on the right foot, qualifying tenth at Slinger, finishing third in his qualifying feature and overcoming oil pressure issues to finish ninth last Sunday. Levon has one Midwest Truck Series victory at MIS coming in August of 2019.
MID-AM CHAMPION 25 Jeff Storm East Troy WI Great Lakes Components/3D Ranch/Oak Creek Automotive/River City Lanes Chevrolet -Storm’s last two Tour starts at MIS resulted in a fifth place showing during last May’s JSC and a sixth place in August’s Howie Lettow Classic. Two solid runs at one of his favorite tracks are positive indicators for the Midwest racing veteran. The two time Mid-American Stock Car Series Champion qualified third last Sunday to start the Tour season and posted a second place at the Dells earlier in April. Storm finished fifth in Alive for 5 Series points last year at the Dells before going on to claim the last qualifying transfer position in the Snowball Derby and Pensacola’s Five Flags Speedway.
SLM CHAMPION 26 Mark Lamoreaux Bloomington MN Capsule Technologies/Refinishers Supply Ford -Some drivers are referred to as veteran drivers, and they are, but few in the field can say they won a Track Championship in the 70’s and the 90’s, Lamoreaux can. Having won the title at Elko Speedway in 1976 and then becoming the final CWRA Champion at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway in 1991, Lamoreaux has numerous wins at those two tracks as well as Raceway Park in Shakopee, MN. The Minnesota native intends to run the full Midwest Tour schedule in 2022. In forgotten racing history, Lamoreaux’s crew chief Dean Cornelius was victorious at MIS during a Labor Day Weekend Midwest AllStar Racing Series Super Late Model event way back in 2005, take notes, this will be on the test.
TOUR WINNER 34 Brandon Hill Genoa City WI Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly/Spectrum Coating/Bruno’s Liquor Chevrolet -Brandon Hill has filed his entry for the $15,000 to win, $1,500 to start Joe Shear Classic. Hill returns to ‘Wisconsin’s Fastest Half Mile’, the place of his biggest Super Late Model win. His lone ARCA Midwest Tour victory came at MIS in July of 2007. Hill has five career top tens in 50 career Midwest Tour starts and looks to add a sixth to his stat line this Sunday in his new look #34.
SLM CHAMPION 35 Carson Kvapil Mooresville NC LKN Mechanical/Corvetteparts.net/Wehrs Machine Chevrolet -The CARS Super Late Champion and current CARS Tour Late Model Stock point leader returns to the Midwest in search for his second big payday of the young season. Carson Kvapil won his first ever Tour start in August of 2018 at Golden Sands and hasn’t stopped winning around the country since. The eldest of 1996 MIS Champion Travis Kvapil’s sons, Carson was signed to drive for JR Motorsports (Dale Earnhardt, Jr) this season and kicked the season off by winning the Old North State Nationals at Caraway Speedway. Not to be outdone, little brother Caden won the Pro Late Model race earlier that day.
TOUR CHAMPION 36 Dan Fredrickson Lakeville MN Herman’s Landscape Supply/Justman Freight Toyota -He won the first Joe Shear Classic in 2008 and believes he has his shot at a second JSC victory this Sunday and the $15,000 payday that comes with it. The two-time Midwest Tour Champion was a contender in last year’s edition, leading early and finishing sixth after contact battling for the top spot with Ty Majeski. Fredrickson ranks second on the all-time Tour win list with 16 victories including four Oktoberfest triumphs. His second Super Late Model win at MIS came in 2017 on his way to the Triple Crown Championship. Fredrickson mentored 2021 USAC National Midget Champion Buddy Kofoid on asphalt last year, nearly nabbing a weekly win at MIS.
TOUR CHAMPION 39 Andrew Morrissey DeForest WI AllTrucksUSA.com Chevrolet -His Tour starts are few and far between these days as the 2011 Midwest Tour Champion has positioned himself as one of the top setup men in the region. Sunday, Morrissey chases his third Joe Shear Classic, having won the event in 2012 and again in 2017. History states that Morrissey wins this event every five years, will 2022 again be his year? The 2018 Oktoberfest winner has five Midwest Tour wins in his career and trails only Jonathan Eilen in career starts. His MIS record includes twelve Super Late Model wins and he holds the all-time track record at MIS in a Late Model, turning a lap of 16.639 second, 108.180 MPH in an Outlaw Late Model in 2017.
SLM CHAMPION 44 Justin Mondeik Gleason WI Powerhouse Lawn & Leisure/Metsa Machines/Merrill Manufacturing/Agra Chevrolet -His last MIS resulted in a seventh place showing in August and how he looks to again improve upon that. This past February Justin Mondeik again took his talents to Florida during Speedweeks for the World Series of Asphalt. With four top fives and seven top tens in seven features at New Smyrna Speedway, Mondeik finished fourth in the World Series points. Having won the track Championships at both State Park Speedway and Golden Sands Speedway the past two seasons, he has also been highly successful in the UP of Michigan, posting back to back wins in the Stateline Challenge at Norway Speedway. Mondeik has one Tour win to his credit, the 2020 Detjens Memorial.
TOUR CHAMPION 77 Jonathan Eilen Hampton MN Eilen & Sons Trucking & Landscape/Graber Auto Body Ford -Having to use a provisional to make the starting field last Sunday, you’d never have known it by the end of 75 laps at Slinger. Eilen was the Hard Charger of the race, charging his way to an eighth place effort after starting twenty-first. The 2012 ARCA Midwest Tour Champion and 2007 Tour Rookie of the Year has a total of five career feature victories including the first ever Tour event in 2007 held at his home track, Elko Speedway. Eilen, who is seventh on the all-time wins list will make his 144th Tour start on Sunday. Eilen has one Super Late Model win at Madison in 2019 and also has a Mid-American Stock Car win at MIS in 2005.
SLM CHAMPION 77 Riley Stenjem Utica WI Sreamin’ Norwegian/Hausz Contractors/Hougan Farms/Direct Networks Chevrolet -Stenjem has adopted quickly to Late Models, the three-time Legend State Champion won the Jefferson Speedway Late Model Rookie of the Year Award along with winning two out of the three Wisconsin State Championship feature events in 2019. With limited Tour starts, he has posted two top ten finishes, coming during last year’s Howie Lettow Classic and Oktoberfest 200. Stenjem, the 2021 Tundra Series Champion is part of the 2022 Kulwicki Driver Development Program.
SLM WINNER 81 Bryan Syer-Keske Lakeville MN Advanced Diesel Power/Fredrickson Signs/Bros Jorgenson Chevrolet -The former Elko Speedway weekly Super Late Model winner has a strong Oktoberfest last fall finishing eighth overall in the Dick Trickle 99 and qualifying for Sunday’s ARCA Midwest Tour 200 lap Championship Feature. Syer-Keske believes he is in the best position he has ever been in to compete with the ‘Stars and Cars’ of the ARCA Midwest Tour and looks to make his first ever start in the Joe Shear Classic this Sunday.
LM WINNER 87 Brent Edmunds Monroe WI Schultz’s Inter-State Ag/L&S Truck Services/Regez Supply Co/Precision Drive Chevrolet -His first Tour start did not go completely as intended last August at Madison’s Howie Lettow Classic, finishing 23rd. The young driver did however earn a starting spot in the field which sent many home, thanks to his sixth place qualifying effort, just shy of NASCAR Cup winner William Byron’s 17.366 second lap. Edmunds has two career Madison weekly Late Model wins to his credit including a win during last year’s Championship Night, catapulting him to a fifth place points finish.
TOUR CHAMPION 91 Ty Majeski Seymour WI iRacing.com/Ken’s Sports/Lucas Oil/CRC Industries/PFC Brakes Ford -Recording his fifth ARCA Midwest Tour Championship in 2021, the all-time Tour win leader will run a partial schedule in 2022 when his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule allows. He was the fast qualifier for the Trucks at Daytona and has a season best finish of third at Atlanta. Majeski, recorded his record fifth Rattler 250 victory in March at South Alabama Speedway and continues to be amongst the elite in Super Late Models. Majeski has 29 Tour wins and won the 2020 Snowball Derby. He rallied to a third place Tour finish as Slinger last week and seeks his second Joe Shear Classic win this Sunday.
LM WINNER 95 Harley Jankowski Sparta WI Hableman Brothers Cranberrys/Kurts Shop/Modern Disposal Sys Chevrolet -The former LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway competitor has made the move to Super Late Models and has found victory during Central Wisconsin Racing Association action. Having recently acquired the former Skylar Holzhausen mount, Jankowski plans on running for the ARCA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year in 2022.
TRUCK CHAMPION 100 Tristian Swanson New Market MN Marthaler.com/Country Joe Homes/Gumm Farms/Hamke Toyota -A second generation driver, Tristian looks to make his second Midwest Tour start on Sunday and has his sights set on the Tour Rookie of the Year Award. Last season, a win at Madison’s Joe Shear Classic put him on everyone’s radar in the Midwest Trucks. Swanson went on to win four features and was crowned Midwest Truck Champion and Rookie of the Year at season’s end. Tristian is a former Legends Track Champion at Dells Raceway Park and started his Super Late Model season by competing in the Chilly Willy at Tucson Speedway in AZ.
TOUR CHAMPION 119 Dalton Zehr Verona WI Gildan/First Business Bank/American Apparel/Comfort Colors/Make-A-Wish Chevrolet -The 2018 ARCA Midwest Tour Champion has a long list of accolades when it comes to racing. Zehr was the 2013 ASA Member Track National Champion, having won the track title at Michigan’s Norway Speedway that season. In 2007 he finished second the Pro Late Model standings during the World Series at New Smyrna, recording one win. A year earlier, he nearly won the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division Championship, finishing second even though he missed one race. He was part of the Battle at the Beach held on the backstretch of Daytona International Speedway. Zehr has done a lot in his racing career, the three time Tundra Series Champion also won the 2019 Alive for 5 Series title at Dells Raceway Park. His three Midwest Tour wins have come at Elko, Grundy and Golden Sands.
About Joe Shear: Joe Shear won four track championships at Capital Super Speedway, now known as Madison International Speedway and posted 66 career wins at the Oregon, WI oval. The two time ARTGO Challenge Series Champion recorded 51 ARTGO wins and was also a five time winner on the ASA National Tour. Shear found success at New Smyrna Speedway as well, winning an All Pro Series event there in 1981 and winning the World Series of Asphalt Series there in 1988, claiming the checkered World Series checkered flag a dozen times in his career. The five time LaCrosse Oktoberfest winner won four Slinger Nationals and was the Red, White and Blue State Champion four times. His home track Rockford Speedway witnessed Shear win eight National Short Track Championships including his final career win in 1997. Shear was a seven time Rockford Speedway Track Champion.
Schedule of Events for Joe Shear Classic 200 presented by Keen Parts
9am Pit Gate Opens
10:30am Spectator Gates Open
11:30am Practice Begins
12:45pm Qualifying Begins
2pm Racing Begins
Advance Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $25
Senior (62+)/Students (12-17)/Whelen Heroes: $22
Kids (6-11): $10
Children ages 5 and under Free
Family Pricing (2 adults and up to 4 youths ages 17 and under) $60
Day of Event Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $30
Senior (62+)/Students (12-17)/Whelen Heroes: $27
Kids (6-11): $10
Children ages 5 and under Free
Family Pricing (2 adults and up to 4 youths ages 17 and under) $60
Divisions: The ARCA Midwest Tour will be joined by the Midwest Trucks and 602 Outlaw Late Models
Location: Madison International Speedway is located at 1122 Sunrise Road in Oregon, WI. For additional information visit misracing.com or call 608-835-9700.
Past Winners of Joe Shear Classic
2008 Dan Fredrickson
2009 Nathan Haseleu
2010 Steve Carlson
2011 Ross Kenseth
2012 Andrew Morrissey
2013 Travis Sauter
2014 Nathan Haseleu
2015 Johnny Sauter
2016 Ty Majeski
2017 Andrew Morrissey
2018 Austin Nason
2019 Bubba Pollard
2020 Johnny Sauter (Dells Raceway Park)
2021 Rich Bickle, Jr.
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