Slinger Speedway

Track history

The track opened in 1948 and continued with a clay surface through the 1973 season. When it opened for the 1974 season on June 2, track promoter Rollie Heder had the track converted from a flat 1/5 mile dirt track to a 1/4 mile high-banked asphalt track. The track hosted modified and sportsman classes on the new surface. At the end of July 21, 1974, the classes were switched to late models, sportsman, and road runner stocks. As the modified points leader, Larry Ninneman was named the track's modified champion. Joe Shear won two late model special races and another three of five regular season late model races to be named the track's 1974 late model champion over his teammate Dave Watson. Watson won the 1975 late model championship. The track had a paved "X" infield added in the late 1970s, allowing for figure 8 racing at the end of the weekly Sunday night race events. In 2021, track owner Todd Thelen brought the then all-new Superstar Racing Experience (SRX series) to Slinger Speedway. The July 10, 2021 race was won by Marco Andretti. It was the first time in the track's history that an event was broadcast live on national television (on CBS).

Weekly divisions

There are seven divisions running for points in a weekly program: File:2019 Slinger Super Late Model 51 Steve Apel Slinger Nationals.jpg|Super Late Model (2019) File:2019 Slinger Late Model Jacob Nottestad.jpg|Late model (2019) File:Bill Prietzel Area Sportsman Slinger.jpg|Sportsman (2013 Bill Prietzel) File:2019 Slinger Bees.jpg| Slinger Bees (2019) - 4-cylinder cars File:2019 SlingerFigure 8.jpg|Figure 8 (2019)

Notable drivers to appear at the track

Rich Bickle, Erik Darnell, Ryan Mathews (2001 Late Model Rookie of the Year), Robbie Reiser, Joe Shear, Lowell Bennett, Dick Trickle, Dave Watson and Scott Wimmer competed at Slinger before they moved to NASCAR. Several NASCAR Cup Series champions including, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, and Chase Elliott have competed at the track.

Slinger Nationals

The track's biggest race of the year is the Slinger Nationals. The 200 lap super late model stock car race occurs in the middle of summer. The winner wins the Larry Detjens Memorial Trophy, which was named for the 1980 winner who died in a racing incident at another Wisconsin track later in the season. The 2025 Slinger Nationals will be the 46th running of this event.

The event is usually held on a Tuesday night in order for the nationally and regionally known drivers to participate in the Nationals. NASCAR stars frequently come to the circuit for a one time drive in a local car owner's car in the signature race. Non-local NASCAR drivers frequently race in the event. The 1987 event featured Davey Allison, his father Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Ted Musgrave, and Butch Miller. Kenseth was already a Cup regular when he won his second Nationals in 2002. Three Roush Racing drivers, one from each of the three national series, raced in 2006. The 2007 event had ten drivers with experience in at least one of the three major NASCAR series: Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Erik Darnell, Dick Trickle, Rich Bickle, Scott Wimmer, Chris Wimmer, Lowell Bennett, Kelly Bires, and Brad Mueller. Other notable drivers who have raced in the Slinger Nationals include Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Sterling Marlin, Kyle Petty, Rusty Wallace, Ken Schrader and Michael Waltrip. In 2021, by virtue of his win in the Nationals on Tuesday, Luke Fenhaus was granted an automatic invitation to compete in the SRX series race that Saturday as the series' "Local Ringer".

List of Slinger Nationals winners

• 1980 Larry Detjens
• 1981 Alan Kulwicki
• 1982 Dick Trickle
• 1983 Dick Trickle (2)
• 1984 Mark Martin
• 1985 Dick Trickle (3)
• 1986 John Ziegler
• 1987 Joe Shear
• 1988 Butch Miller
• 1989 Dick Trickle (4)
• 1990 Joe Shear (2)
• 1991 Joe Shear (3)
• 1992 Rich Bickle
• 1993 Joe Shear (4)
• 1994 Matt Kenseth
• 1995 Butch Miller (2)
• 1996 Rich Bickle (2)
• 1997 Lowell Bennett
• 1998 Tony Strupp
• 1999 Conrad Morgan
• 2000 Lowell Bennett (2)
• 2001 David Prunty
• 2002 Matt Kenseth (2)
• 2003 Rich Bickle (3)
• 2004 Lowell Bennett (3)
• 2005 Nathan Haseleu
• 2006 Matt Kenseth (3)
• 2007 Lowell Bennett (4)
• 2008 Matt Kenseth (4)
• 2009 Matt Kenseth (5)
• 2010 Lowell Bennett (5)
• 2011 Kyle Busch
• 2012 Matt Kenseth (6)
• 2013 Rich Bickle (4)
• 2014 Chris Wimmer
• 2015 Dennis Prunty
• 2016 Matt Kenseth (7)
• 2017 Bubba Pollard
• 2018 Ty Majeski
• 2019 Matt Kenseth (8)
• 2020 Ty Majeski (2)
• 2021 Luke Fenhaus
• 2022 William Byron
• 2023 Ty Majeski (3)
• 2024 Brad Mueller
• 2025 Ty Majeski (4)

List of Slinger Nationals winners by driver

References

References

1. Paul, Gregg. "Slinger Lays Claim To Be World's Fastest Quarter Mile Oval". Xtra Laps.com.
2. Bloom's lap eclipsed the track record set by [[United States Automobile Club. USAC]] [[midget car racing
3. (December 12, 1974). "Shear Dominant at Slinger in Year of Major Changes". Midwest Racing News.
4. "Auto racing: SE Wisconsin Short Tracks Hall of Fame adds Madison International Speedway legends".
5. (July 11, 2021). "SRX at Slinger results: Marco Andretti outduels Luke Fenhaus to win thrilling green-white-checkered finish". [[CBS Sports]].
6. (July 11, 2021). "How Marco Andretti Covered the SRX Field at Slinger Speedway".
7. [http://www.racingwisconsin.com/story.asp?aid=214 Scott Wimmer And Erik Darnell Added To Miller Lite Slinger Nationals, racingwisconsin.com, Dated June 28, 2007, Retrieved July 15, 2007]
8. [http://www.racingwisconsin.com/story.asp?aid=214 Scott Wimmer And Erik Darnell Added To Miller Lite Slinger Nationals], June 28, 2007, Retrieved July 18, 2007
9. [http://www.racingwisconsin.com/story.asp?aid=360 Lowell Bennett Bests NASCAR Drivers To Win 28th Annual Miller Lite Slinger Nationals]; Steve Zautke July 17, 2007, Retrieved July 18, 2007
10. "Slinger Nationals:1980-03". Third Turn.
11. (2009-07-22). "Kenseth sets record: Driver wins event for the fifth time". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
12. Kallmann, Dave. (July 12, 2010). "Slinger Nationals results: Bennett's fifth victory". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
13. Kallmann, Dave. "Steve Apel disqualified; Rich Bickle named winner at Slinger Nationals". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
14. "Matt Kenseth wins seventh Slinger Nationals title". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
15. "Ty Majeski's second Slinger Nationals title comes a lot harder than it looked". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
16. (7 July 2021). "Luke Fenhaus to Race in SRX After Slinger Nationals Win".
17. "NASCAR star William Byron's debut Slinger Nationals victory is tinged by doubt". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
18. "Ty Majeski earns third victory in Slinger Nationals". [[NASCAR]].