By: Paul Reichert
June 13, 2025
We remember a driver that had a promising future, but was taken from us way too early. Tim Myer was a force to be dealt with in the Sportsmen division during the late 1990s and the early 2000s. While he was a promising star on the rise in the racing world, we here at Tomah Sparta Speedway will never forget what he meant to us. Myer would no doubt have been proud to witness a most exciting 11th running of the Tim Myer Memorial Shootout. Mike Krueger Jr. put on a very impressive driving performance while holding off fourth hungry competitors to go gate-to-wire and add a Tim Myer Memorial win to his resume. Krueger Jr. becomes the fourth two-time winner of the race, and the third driver to score back-to-back runnings of the race.
In the 30 lap Tim Myer Memorial Shootout feature for the Sportsmen, Mike Krueger Jr. charged past Eric Montour to assume the race lead. Krueger Jr. pulled out a small lead on the field, but soon the pack would catch back up to the leader. That pack included the likes of Jason Stark, Conrad Jorgenson and Andrew Borntreger. Now the race was on between these four drivers as we got eight laps into the feature. While most of those drivers ran the inside line, Borntreger dared to go to the outside lane to make his way forward. On lap 12 contact with another car got Borntreger loose as he tried to gather things up but fell back to fifth. A lap later after halfway Charles Vian Jr. was the new driver joining this hot and heavy dog fight for the lead. Jorgenson moved to the outside of Stark on lap 19 in the hopes he would be able to pressure Krueger, Jr. for the lead. The yellow flew with eight laps remaining after Jason Bolster cut a tire thanks to contact with the inside front straight wall and spun out in turn one. Jorgenson had his chance to go for the top spot as he lined up alongside Krueger Jr. for the restart. They battled that way for several laps before the lead battle made contact with each, getting Jorgenson loose and sending him back to fourth. Stark had one last shot to dive under Krueger Jr. for the top spot, but Krueger Jr. stood his ground to maintain the lead and capture the victory.
Taylor McMullen made his debut in the Hobby Stock class as he drove past Landon Lockington to lead the first lap of the Hobby Stock feature. The lead actually would become a see-saw battle between McMullen and Lockington with the rest of the pack waiting for a chance to go for the lead. That opportunity came on lap five when McMullen got loose in turn four and gave Jesse Fischer the opening he needed. Fischer got alongside Lockington down the back straight and powered around him to capture the lead position on lap six. A lap later Scott Riedner took to the outer lane as well to swoosh past Lockington to settle into second. Riedner bided his time waiting for the opportunity to power around Fischer for the lead, but the laps were winding down as Riedner continued to look for that moment to pounce. The best battle on the track late in the going was over third between feature winner Easton Riedner and fast qualifier Jimmie Jorgenson. Riedner would hold onto the last podium position in the end. Fischer kept Scott Riedner behind him to drive away with his fourth career Tomah feature victory.
The Hornet feature saw defending champion Glen Bush Jr. drive around the cars ahead of him to assume command of the race down the back straight. The yellow flag flew two laps into the race when Ashtin Quinnell spun in turn three and Tristan Finnian collided with him. Landon Peterson moved into second spot on the restart, but was not able to catch up to Bush Jr. for the lead. Even though they started towards the back of the field, Taylor Dawson and Paul Finch were making their way through the pack. Both drivers would boot Josh Schwartz back to fourth on lap six. As the crossed flags were displayed Dawson moved to the outside to drive around Finch and take over third. Dawson made quick work of Peterson for second spot on lap nine, then only needed two laps to catch and pass Bush Jr. to take charge of the race. Dawson slowly pulled away from his competition down the stretch to see the checkered flag first.
Dan Frye outran James Gratz to turn one to lead the early going of the Sixers feature. Points leader Curtis Hellickson wasted little time to progress quickly through the field before catching and passing Frye for the top spot on lap three. Frye and Gratz got into their own fight over the runner-up position as Hellickson pulled away, but in the end Frye was able to open a little bit of a gap over the younger Gratz. As we entered the second half of the race, the best battle on the track now was over fourth between Mike Gratz and Alivia Moore. Moore tried to look for a way around Gratz, even applying the ‘chrome horn’ to Gratz’ rear bumper a few times. Gratz would not waiver and held onto fourth place. Back up front Hellickson left the field in his dust as he strengthened his point lead with victory number two of the season.
After Christopher Neal took the lead at the start of the Hippo feature, he would have a very intense battle for the lead with Monty Odegard. They ran side-by-side for four laps with Neal getting a better run out of turn four to hold onto the top spot. Odegard got a better run in turns three and four to nose ahead of Neal at the end of the fifth circuit, then got an even better run in turns one and two to claim full control of the number one position. Soon Odegard would have to deal with fast qualifier and new track record holder Kevin Laufenberg as the battle for the lead picked up. Laufenberg stalked Odegard for several laps but was not able to find a way around him. With a handful of laps remaining, Odegard began to slowly open up a gap on Laufenberg. Odegard proved you do not have to be the fastest race vehicle as he drove away with his second straight feature win.
The Wisconsin Sport Trucks put on a very exciting show in their debut race. Cadyn Liedke powered by Tom Gee Jr. to lead the opening two laps of their feature. It would not take long for Mason Calmes to come from the back of the field to power by Liedke to settle into first place on lap three. Owen Voight needed to work a little harder to chase down Calmes, but he eventually moved around Liedke to take over second by lap six. A few laps later Masyn Liedke drove around sibling Cadyn to move into a podium position. Voight was trying everything he could to catch up to Calmes, but he was unable to make any sort of dent in Calmes’ lead. Calmes was the complete class of the field as he notched the first feature win at Tomah Sparta for the Wisconsin Sport Trucks. Calmes also registered a clean sweep of their division that included a heat win and establishing a new track record.
Join us next Friday, June 21 for another exciting race program on Cheap Date Night. All adult fans will be admitted to the races for just $5. The on-track action will feature the Hornets, Sixers, Great North Legends, Born Construction Bandoleros, the High School Racing Association, plus the Upper Midwest Vintage Racing Series will make their annual trip to Tomah Sparta Speedway. We will also be holding a Penny Scramble for the kids where they could get some tasty things from the concession stand, and maybe even a cash prize for the youngster that finds a special penny. Gates open at 5:30, group qualifying hits the track starting at 6 and the racing steps on the gas starting at 7.
Call the track office at 952-994-1282, visit our website at tomahspartaspeedway.com and be sure to like our track’s Facebook page for more information about Tomah Sparta Speedway and the 2025 schedule of events.
RESULTS
MJ Services and Contracting Sportsmen
Feature (30 laps): 1. Mike Krueger Jr., 2. Jason Stark, 3. Charles Vian Jr., 4. Conrad Jorgenson, 5. Keith Paulsrud, 6. Julie Jorgenson, 7. Jesse Vian, 8. Andrew Borntreger, 9. Jason Bolster, 10. Eric Montour
Heat #1 (10 laps): 1. Mike Kreuger Jr., 2. Eric Montour, 3. Julie Jorgenson, 4. Jason Bolster, 5. Keith Paulsrud, 6. Henry Vian, 7. Jesse Vian
Heat #2 (10 laps): 1. Jason Stark, 2. Conrad Jorgenson, 3. Charles Vian Jr., 4. Andrew Borntreger, 5. Tom Sorem
Qualifying: 1. Andrew Borntreger 15.192 (New Track Record), 2. Tom Sorem 15.266, 3. Conrad Jorgenson 15.462, 4. Charles Vian Jr. 15.538, 5. Jason Stark 15.562, 6. Mike Krueger Jr. 15.613, 7. Eric Montour 15.756, 8. Jesse Vian 15.773, 9. Henry Vian 15.791, 10. Jason Bolster 15.958, 11. Julie Jorgenson 15.986
Victory Fireworks Hobby Stocks
Feature (20 laps): 1. Jesse Fischer, 2. Scott Riedner, 3. Easton Riedner, 4. Jimmie Jorgenson, 5. Landon Lockington, 6. Taylor McMullen
Heat #1 (10 laps): 1. Jesse Fischer, 2. Landon Lockington, 3. Scott Riedner, 4. Jimmie Jorgenson, 5. Easton Riedner, 6. Taylor McMullen
Qualifying: 1. Jimmie Jorgenson 16.805, 2. Scott Riedner 16.872, 3. Easton Riedner 16.934, 4. Jesse Fischer 16.966, 5. Taylor McMullen 17.158, 6. Landon Lockington 17.317
Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. Taylor Dawson, 2. Glen Bush Jr., 3. Paul Finch, 4. Landon Peterson, 5. Braxtyn Moore, 6. Josh Schwartz, 7. Tristan Finnigan, 8. Colten Pennel, 9. Dan Linnehan, 10. Jake Halterman, 11. Tristan Drazkowski, 12. Ashtin Quinnell, 13. A.J. Finnigan, 14. Matt Drazkowski, 15. Aubrie Leis
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Taylor Dawson, 2. Dan LInnehan, 3. Jake Halterman, 4. Aubrie Leis, 5. Matt Drazkowski, 6. Tristan Drazkowski, 7. A.J. Finnigan, 8. Jacob Lodermeier
Heat #2 (8 laps); 1. Glen Bush Jr., 2. Ashtin Quinnell, 3. Braxtyn Moore, 4. Tristan Finnigan, 5. Joshua Schwartz, 6. Colten Pennel, 7. Landon Peterson, 8. Paul Finch (DQ)
Qualifying: 1. Colten Pennel 17.457, 2. Tristan Finnigan 17.499, 3. Landon Peterson 17.513, 4. Josh Schwartz 17.524, 5. Glen Bush Jr. 17.577, 6. Ashtin Quinnell 17.688, 7. Tristan Drazkowski 18.285, 8. Dan Linnehan 18.334, 9. Jake Halterman 18.362, 10. Taylor Dawson 18.454, 11. Matt Drazkowski 19.586, 12. A.J. Finnigan 19.710, 13. Aubrie Leis 19.973, 14. Paul Finch NO TIME (DQ), 15. Braxtyn Moore NO TIME (DQ)
Sixers
Feature (15 laps): 1. Curtis Hellickson, 2. Dan Frye, 3. James Gratz, 4. MIke Gratz, 5. Alivia Moore, 6. Matt Moore, 7. Greg Brown, Jr., 8. Trenton Frye, 9. Zachary Neal, 10. Landin Frye, 11. Austin Shirk, 12. Dawsynn Richmond, 13. Ghage Moore, 14. Christopher Neal
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Trenton Frye, 2. Zachary Neal, 3. Austin Shirk, 4. Landin Frye, 5. Dawsynn Richmond, 6. Christopher Neal, 7. Ghage Moore
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Mike Gratz, 2. Dan Frye, 3. Alivia Moore, 4. Curtis Hellickson, 5. Greg Brown Jr., 6. Matt Moore, 7. James Gratz
Qualifying: 1, Mike Gratz 18.015 (New Track Record), 2. Matt Moore 18.036, 3. Alivia Moore 18.045, 4. Curtis Hellickson 18.096, 5. Greg Brown Jr. 18.113, 6. Dan Frye, 7. James Gratz 18.150, 8. Christopher Neal 18.172, 9. Trenton Frye 18.213, 10. Zachary Neal 18.354, 11. Ghage Moore 18.371, 12. Landin Frye 18.456, 13. Dawsynn Richmond 18.845, 14. Austin Shirk 21.664
Mini-Vans
Feature (15 laps): 1. Monty Odegard, 2. Kevin Laufenberg, 3. Christopher Neal, 4. James Gratz, 5. Russell Goldman
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Monty Odegard, 2. Kevin Laufenberg, 3. Christopher Neal, 4. James Gratz, 5. Russell Goldman
Qualifying: 1. Kevin Laufenberg 18.809 (New Track Record), 2. Monty Odegard 19.024, 3. James Gratz 19.303, 4. Christopher Neal 19.719, 5. Russell Goldman 22.950
Wisconsin Sport Trucks
Feature (20 laps): 1. Mason Calmes, 2. Owen Voight, 3. Masyn Liedke, 4. Cadyn Liedke, 5. Aiden Zwiers, 6. Beth Craig, 7. Samantha Verhagen, 8. Brady Garbrecht, 9. Tom Gee Jr., 10. Grant Gilbert
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Masyn Liedke 2. Cadyn Liedke, 3. Tom Gee, Jr., 4. Beth Craig, 5. Samantha Verhagen, 6. Brady Garbrecht
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Mason Calmes, 2. Owen Voight, 3. Aiden Zwiers, 4. Grant Gilbert, 5. Brooklyn Keinhofer
Qualifying: 1. Mason Calmes 16.187 (New Track Record), 2. Owen Voight 16.683, 3. Brooklyn Keinhofer 16.891, 4. Aiden Zwiers 16.943, 5. Grant Gilbert 16.982, 6. Tom Gee Jr. 17.078, 7. Cadyn Liedke 17.089, 8. Beth Craig 17.560, 9. Samantha Verhagen 17.756, 10. Masyn Liedke 17.819, 11. Brady Garbrecht 18.082