I-94 History 1997-1999

In my opinion from my view ... I-94 Track history (part 3 of 4) "Building blocks" 1997-1999

By Jason Dale Searcy, track announcer

*Reprinted from the track program in 2003

Racing Friday nights at 8pm... Promoter: Mary Beth Cripe/Chanda Lofquist

The real characters of this period had to be #3 Modified Rick (photo below) and Karla Burns.  Rick was the consistent "old school" driver who was one of the toughest guys to pass, he would always run you side-by-side for 6-8 laps before giving up any position.  Karla was the organized, take care of "the issues" crew chief.  If you wanted to know any racing gossip or needed any help,  just ask Karla, to find her just listen in the pits for that distinctive laugh and look for the poofy blond hair.

The two biggest races were the MN Vikings childrens charity fun races.  Craig Pommeranke and Patrick Leopold helped bring many former Vikings to the track to raise money and sign autographs.  The players also raced Legends cars: 

In 1997 Scott Studwell and Steve Jordan crossed the finish line together to tie for the win.  "Benchwarmer" Bob Lurtsema, Darrin Nelson, Carl Eller, Bill "boom boom" Brown, Tommy Kraemer, Joe Senser and Jim Marshall all were in attendance.

In 1998 Jim Marshall backed Gary Meuller's car into the front stretch wall in the heat race.  The Vikings mascot Ragnar won the feature race followed by Carl Eller, Bill Brown, Scott Studwell, Ted Brown, Greg Coleman and Doug Southerland.  These were great events with big crowds and, might I say, the former Vikings could not have been more gracious to the fans.

After a few years of WISSOTA Sanctioning the track switched to NASCAR in 1998 & 1999.  The NASCAR Remax challenge series made a stop at I-94 on Friday June 26th 1998. The race night was rained out and so the cars raced on Saturday afternoon because the staff had to be up at Fergus Falls on Saturday night, Brian Hoppe won.

The best interview of this time was Scott "the iceman" Brandt, he was the Great North Legends champion from 1997-1999.

The trucks raced at I-94 and put on a great show from 1997-1999 even though only 4-6 trucks raced on a weekly basis.  They were all evenly matched and it seemed like they took turns winning exciting features.  Jim Dehann, Greg Meyer and Eugene Dick are the champions.

In 1996 Larry Rossell (photo above) won a close points battle with Steve Johanneck to gain his first point title.  It was tight again in 1997, Larry Button was his closest rival.  Coming into the final feature event and just a few points out of the lead Rossell had to finish ahead of Button for a chance to win the championship.  Button came up big and won the feature event with Rossell on his tail at the checkered flag.  During the post race inspection it was discovered that Buttons muffler fell off during the race resulting in an automatic DQ.   That means Rossell wins the point championship.  Not so fast... Larry Rossell witnessed the whole spectacle and didn't feel right about the situation and volunteered to be DQ'd for a safety violation, so the points would remain the same as before the race and Button would win the point title.  Rossell not only gave up the championship but also had to forfeit the $400 prize money for the night, a very classy move for the #5 Modified driver.  I don't know of too many guys who would've given up a point title to show respect for another competitor.  This should go down as one of the best stories in I-94 History.

After a seven year run the "Speedway Show" on KMSR radio ended in 1997.  I was the announcer at the I-94 track in Fergus Falls and due to a work conflict was not able to attend every race night at Sauk Centre during this period but, with the help of Rick Burns, Jim Fischer and Mark Blom we built a four cyl race car.  I raced in the new UCAR division part-time for three years, finishing 11th in points twice and won a heat race with Nick Binsfeld on my rear bumper the last couple laps.  Those are years I will never forget.

1997-1999 was a "building block" time at I-94, some very big changes were on the horizon.



*Thanks to Tim Olson for #5 photo

If you have any photo's to contribute to this article e-mail them to i94raceway@gmail.com

1991 Point standings

1991 I-94 Speedway (Sauk Centre) Unofficial Final Point Standings:

 Championship Sprint Cars:
 1. Dale Johnson #27 230
 2. Ron Carlson #C1 228
 3. Rick Sandberg #71 221

 

 4. Dennis Fike #18 216
 5. Mike Thompson #22 213
 6. Dave Virgilito #1x 176
 7. Tim Almquist #7 116
 8. Raleigh Sandberg #17 102
 9. Randal Guida #3 68
 10. Dwain Wilmes #21 29


Late Models:
 1. Jim Bruggeman #44 221
 2. Jeff Hinkemeyer #4F 213
 3. Steve Fegers #52 197
 4. Steve Laursen #19 188
 5. Jerry Legatt #71 154

 6. Scott Patton #6 153
 7. Jeff Wildung #50 152
 8. Dick Johanneck #94 146
 9. Leroy Schuelke #11 121
 10. Steve Egersdorf #3x 110

 Modifieds:
 1. Ryan Muzik #23 233
 2. John Henkemeyer #1A 177
 3. Shawn Nolan #66 152

4. Terry Merten #14 149
 5. Jamie Lemke #17L 139
 6. Shawn Kirwin #10 133

7. Mike Wold #11 125
 8. Gary Reents #1 118
 9. Bud Martini #42 117
 10. Roger Canon #47 115


Sportsman:
 1. Tom Hiebert #22 164
 2. Ron Flynn #84 164
 3. Leon Brutger #8 150
 4. Dennis Terning #24 148
 5. Butch Stearns #24 108
 6. Larry Crouse #29 96
 7. Tyrone Swanson #72 93
 8. Rob Lynch #44 91
 9. Joel Tesch #31 82
 10. Irvin Cook #20 81

 Four-Cylinders:
 1. Dave Nielsen #4 258
 2. Frank Gabrelcik #44 208
 3. Pat Henry #11 157
 4. Tony Stock #86 153
 5. Gary Servatius #1 152
 6. Don Eischens #9 131
 7. Steve Pitcher #26 93
 8. Kurt Reiner #13 83
 9. Steve Morgan #15 75
 10. Troy Nelson #71 73

If you have any photos to share from 1991 send them to i94raceway@gmail.com

Thank you to Thunderlineracing.org
#71, 71 & #10 photos from BOLT
#14 photo from Cricketprints
*Special thanks to Ray Beste & Jason Searcy

1992 Point Standings

1992 I-94 Speedway Unofficial Sauk Centre Final Point Standings

 Late Models:
 1. Jim Bruggeman #44 365
 2. Jeff Hinkemeyer #4F 326
 3. Joel Cryderman #51 306
 4. Steve Fegers #52 296
 5. Jeff Wildung #50 252
 6. Scott Hillig #98 222
 7. Jerry Legatt #71 206
 8. Jim Jacobson/Dick Johanneck #I94 202
 9. Scott Patton #6 178
 10. Tom Nesbitt #1 170

Modifieds:
 1. Jamie Lemke #17L 332
 2. Ryan Muzik #23 318
 3. Shawn Kirwin #10 309
 4. John Henkemeyer #1A 257
 5. Larry Rossell #5 251
 6. Rick Iees #66 250
 7. Rich Snyder #1 233
 8. Roger Canon #47 210
 9. Shawn Nolan #79 206
 10. Terry Merten #14 192

 Sportsman:
 1. Tom Hiebert #22 360
 2. Leon Brutger #8 354
 3. Danny Hanson #7 344
 4. Butch Stearns #24 334
 5. David Laabs #6 304
 6. Tyrone Swanson #72 283
 7. Andy Elwood #21 272
 8. Scott Atkinson #21 226
 9. Dave Cain #32 185
 10. Al Stewart #22 168

 Four Cylinders:
 1. Scott Atkinson #21 337
 2. Jim Rau #94 327
 3. John Notch #76 325
 4. Craig Christiansen #4c 288
 5. Randy Nierenhausen #72 282
 6. Scott Nouis #3D 252
 7. Gary Servatius #1 211
 8. Chuck Mikkelson #69 151
 9. Kenny Ziesmer #9 149
 10. Steve Morgan #25 136

If you have any photos to share from 1992 send them to i94raceway@gmail.com 

*4f photo from Bolt
*17 photo from Lemke racing
*22 Photo from Tom Hiebert
*bottom 2 photos from race program
*special thanks to Ray Beste & Jason Searcy

1993 Point Standings

1993 Unofficial point standings I-94 Speedway Sauk Centre (MN)

#68 Terry Lamphear, #4f Jeff Hinkemeyer,  #09 Mike Chamernick, #54 Cullen Brown, #23 Ryan Muzik.

Late Models:
1. Jeff Wildung #50 291
2. Steve Fegers #52 274
3. Ryan Muzik #23 261

4. Cullen Brown #54 245
5. Jerry Legatt #71 244
6. John Schleogl #39 192
7. Mike Chamernick #09 182
8. Joel Cryderman #51 182
9. Scott Patton #6 178
10. Jim Dehaan #30 136

Modifieds:

1. Jamie Lemke #17L 312 (photo above)
2. Ron Jones #7 277

3. Dann Olson #14 256
4. Curly Williams #99 230
5. Ricky Kluver #6x 228
6. Dave Zimmerman #27 214
7. Shawn Nolan #79 206
8. Rick Iees #66 202 (Holt Motors #66)
9. Rich Snyder #1 194
10. Shawn Kirwin #10 190

Sportsman:
1. Tyrone Swanson #72 335

 2. Butch Stearns #7 309  (photo above)
2. Dave Cain #32 309
4. Leon Brutger #8 287
5. Chris Groth #11 279
6. Scott Rudolph #13 278
7. Andy Elwood #31 254
8. Al Stewart #22 228
9. John Lerass #89 175
10. Pat Henry #11 142

4-Cylinders:

1. Craig Christiansen #4c 362
2. John Notch #76 356
3. Scott Atkinson #21 262
4. Randy Nierenhausen #64 252
5. Scott Noius #3D 248
6. Roger Christiansen #K12 235
7. Gary Servatius #1 197
8. Dave Schafer/Scott Searcy #94.3 165
9. David Deters #2 157
10. Jim Rau #94 117

The track was changed to asphalt in 1994.


*Thank you to Ben Kruchten and Jason Searcy
*Photos #23 by Bolt racing
* #7 photo, Late Model, Mods & 4cyl photo's from cricketprints
*#17 photo courtesy of Lemke racing

If you can contribute photo's from 1993 send them to i94raceway@gmail.com

I-94 Obit

10-26-2010

Jason D Searcy http://www.speedtalkon1360.com/

*update 8-10-11
I am told that the power company has rented space for the next 18 months or so at the old I-94 Speedway site for storage of the power polls that are in construction along the freeway all the way from Monticello to Fargo.  No new racing is planned at I-94 Speedway.

After talking with people on all sides of the situation, I believe that I-94 Speedway (Sauk Centre, MN) will never again be open as a racetrack.

The back concessions stand has been torn down and some gravel and fill have been moved around, but this recent activity has nothing to do with racing.  The sound system has been removed and any modification of the property is in an effort to increase the efficiency of storage space for the current owner of the land.

The south parking lot is now a storage area for wood logs and the "pits" area is filled with semi-tractors and trailers.

The track has been vacant for only a year but, the wooden seats on the backstretch stands are already warped and separating.

The racetrack itself looks like a super sized chia-pet gone bad.  Waist high weeds are growing through the dirt surface all the way around this 3/8th mile track.

19 seasons of racing at this amazing facility 1991-2009.   4 years of dirt racing and 15 years as an asphalt track.










I-94 Speedway was built by Dick Johanneck and opened in 1991 as a dirt track.

Notable events:

In 1993 Scott Bloomquist won the UMP Summer Nationals event, he set a fast time of 15.44 seconds and held off Billy Moyer.

1993 Craig Dollansky and Tim Monson won the "Outlaw" Sprint double feature races.  Doug Wolfgang finished second in both races.  Donny Schatz finished third in the second feature.

April 21 of 1994: Dick Johanneck announced he was switching the track surface to asphalt because it was "the future of racing."

Sep 11 1994: was the inaugural "MN Governors Cup," won by Steve Carlson.  Michael Waltrip (back row, 4th from left) and Matt Kenseth (back row, far right) also raced in that event.

Aug 4 1996: was the "Missing Kids" American Indy car 200.  Patty Wetterling was the honorary starter.  Greg Gordon won the race and local star Travis Whitney finished third and Jacques Lazier fourth.

Sep 2000: Dick Johanneck transferred operation of the facility to the Mike Giles/Les Ferris group.

Sep 2001: Tim Olson and his family took over track operations and changed the name to I-94 Raceway.

Jan 2002: I-94 Raceway became one of the original three "ASA Member tracks" in the nation.

July 5 2003:  NASCAR Elite division July Spectacular won by Eddie Hoffman.  Jon Lemke won "fast time" with 16.89 seconds.  Clint Bowyer also raced in this event.

Sep 19 2004:  Fall Nationals event, 166 cars competed. Jeff Van Oudenhoven won the race and Dick Trickle raced in this event.

July 3 2005:  ASL 150 won by Ryan Matthews.  Landon Cassil, Jarit Johnson and Kevin Cywinski also raced in this event.

July 7 2007:  ASA Midwest tour won by Jacob Goede, he also set "fast time" with a 16.97.  Ron Hornaday finished third.

July 5 2008:  ASA Midwest tour won by Dan Fredrickson.  Chris Wimmer "fast time" with 16.76

March 2009:  Dick Johanneck regains operations of track and changes name back to I-94 Speedway.  Removes asphalt and adds new clay surface.

Sep 4 2009:  Final race at I-94 Speedway.  Jamie Lemke won Wissota Mod feature, Zach Johnson in the Late Models and 4 cyl driver Ben Godbee is the final race winner ever.

2010:  Ron Somers and MN Sawdust and shavings takes over operations of the property and discontinue racing.

I raced at this place from 1996-1999 and was the announcer from 2000-2008.  Lots of memories, awesome racing and great people.  Loved every minute of it, hope you did too.

Please check back for more articles on the history of I-94 in the next month on http://www.speedtalkon1360.com/

I-94 Speedway/I-94 Raceway 1991-2009

Former I-94 Racer dies

Former I-94 Raceway driver Gordy Mason passed away of an apparent hear attack on Sunday May 1st, 2011 at the age of 54.

Gordy was a driver in the Limited Late Model division at I-94 Raceway for many years, his most successful year was 2004 when he finished 2nd place in the point standings.

I will remember Gordy's sharp looking #1 car always looking flawless, if he had a scrape one night, it was fixed before the next week.  He was a gentleman driver, never causing trouble, yet always trying hard.

His sponsors & crew were always on his mind, he gave me a list every year of his most important sponsors and helpers, he always mentioned his wife, I think they celebrated their wedding anniversary at the track every year.

WaterJet cutting was a big sponsor for him, he would bring me examples of the metal shapes they could cut with water. I can still remember his sponsors:  Precision Gasket, WaterJet cutting and C C Engineering, one year his sponsors came to the track and rented all the track owned U-CARS, they all raced and had an absolute blast.  I think we had over a dozen different people racing those cars that night.

Funeral service is set for Friday (May 6) at 10am at Minnewashta Church in Shorewood MN.  Visitation will be one hour before the funeral on Friday and from 5-8pm on Thursday (May 5th) at the Huber Funeral home in Excelsior MN.
Rest In Peace Gordy, you were a perfect example of a respectful racer.

You will be missed.

Jason D Searcy (I-94 Announcer)

I-94 History (part 2 of 4)

I-94 Track History (part 2 of 4).  In my opinion.

Jason D Searcy

New Fast Asphalt 1994-1996

Mary Beth Cripe (photo above) was the track promoter during these years, racing was Friday nights at 8pm.

April 21st of 1994 Dick Johanneck announced at a press conference, at the Hayloft in Sauk Centre that he was starting a $120,000 project to pave the I-94 race track.  That was when the "new style" of racing began, Dick was quoted as saying that tar racing "is the future of racing."  I taped that press conference and replayed it back on KMSR radio.

Track announcer Steve Domine started off the 1994 season back at the track by playing a song over the loud speaker, "The boys are back in town," by Thin Lizzy.  Initially the thinking was to run dirt cars on the tar track... now its evolved into so dirt cars are not legal or not competitive in many of the classes.  When the tar was new it was fast but, one groove and hard to pass, quickly many dirt fans went away.  Eugene Dick was the first late Model feature winner as well as the first point Champion.

The most exciting divison:
The Mod 4 cars had the most consistent car counts, had great racing, and brought up some nice talent.  Some of the top divers in the Mod 4 divison were:  Dave Stork, Loyal Skuza, John Notch, Jason Voight, Quin Schreiber, Scott Atkinson, Dave Schaeffer, Shannon Johanneck, Frog Norenberg, Frank Gabrelcik, Dave Ostendorf, Kevin Woeste, Dave Shirmers and Jodi Clark.

Best newspaper reporter:  (other than Dean of course)
Robin Cook at the St Cloud times did numerous articles and features about drivers and issues surrounding the I-94 Speedway.

Best Rivalry:
1996 Superstocks Wade Tschida and Bryan Roach .. intense and fun to watch!

Best Interview:
Late Model runner up in 1995 and 1996 Jesse "the Kid" Klug.

Best Point battle:
1996 Larry Rossell edged Steve Johanneck by 1 point and it went down to the last lap of the last feature.

1996 was the first year for the UCARS that came down from Fergus Falls, and the Great North Legends that came up from the Twin Cities.  The Winged 360 Sprint cars ran on some Wednesday nights and burned off a right rear tire every race, they also lifted their left front tire off the ground exiting corners two and four.

Two big events took place during this time.  The inaugural Governors Cup on Sep 11 1994.  It was a $2500 to win 100 lap race.  Michael Waltrip (photo below) was brought in to be a celebrity driver to get added publicity, he crashed on the first lap of racing when his throttle stuck going into corner number three.  Michael later told me that when he tried to hit the brakes his knee hit the steering wheel because he didnt fit into the car (he is 6 foot 5 inches tall).  He and his wife Buffy stayed and signed autographs for at least an hour after he was done racing.  Steve Carlson won the race, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Cywinski and future I-94 owner Tim Olson also raced in that event.

The Missing Kids Indy Car 200 with the American Indy Car series on Sunday Aug 4 1996.  Patty Wetterling threw the green flag to start this 150 lap race.  It rained hard in the morning and that scared some of the crowd but, the track dried off and 11 Indy cars raced.  Greg Gordon won and MN Sprint car driver Travis Whitney finished third in only his second day in an Indy Car.  Future CART series winner Jacques Lazier finished fourth, he is the brother of INDY 500 winner Buddy Lazier.

1994-1996 was an exciting time at I-94, everything was new and alot of effort was put into promoting the "Newest asphalt tracks in MN."  Kyle Petty's Mello Yellow car was on display one week at the track and Mary Beth Cripe began a long tradition of kids "Box Car racing," during intermission.

*reprinted from track program in 2002
*photo courtesy of http://www.cricketprints.com/