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Rice Lake Speedway’s WISSOTA Modified top-five in 2024 included (L to R): Joe Chaplin, Jr., champion; Kyle Helling, 2nd; and Aiden Hoffman, 4th and rookie of the year. (Brent Creaser Photo)

Rice Lake Speedway drivers, families & fans gather to celebrate 2024 one final time

By Ed Reichert

RICE LAKE, WI (February 1) – Drivers, families, pit crews, fans, track employees, and sponsors all gathered at the Rice Lake Elks Club on Saturday night, February 1 to celebrate the 2024 racing season at Rice Lake Speedway.

This year’s banquet was the first hosted by the new owners of the speedway. Kolby and Dean Kiehl, along with Dick Kalow, purchased the track early in 2024 and made vast improvements for the 2024 racing season.

Honored at the banquet were the top five drivers in each of the five divisions that race weekly at the track. Rookies of the Year in each class were also honored.

Track announcer Ben Brost was the master of ceremonies for the event and introduced the track owners to the crowd. Promoter Kolby Kiehl spoke, updating everyone on more improvements slated to be made at the track, and highlighting the newly shaped racing surface, which drivers are eagerly awaiting to test out. He also previewed the 2025 racing schedule, which begins Saturday, April 19. Special nights have been scheduled for all five classes that race at the track, along with special events featuring the WISSOTA and USRA Late Models, as well as winged and traditional Sprints. The annual fireworks display will be on Thursday, July 3, and the season will conclude with the second annual Dairyland Dash to be held Friday and Saturday, August 30-31.

The top five drivers in each class were introduced by Brost with them receiving trophies.

Winning his first-ever Modified point title was Joe Chaplin, Jr. from Cameron. He was followed in the standings by: Kyle Helling from Rice Lake; Travis Anderson from Colfax; Aiden Hoffman from Rice Lake; Austin Ellis from Rice Lake and Madison; Brent Prochnow from Colfax; Dave Mayala from Barron; Kevin Adams from Cameron; Nick Oreskovich from Mason; and Pat Hoffman from Rice Lake. Aiden Hoffman was the rookie of the year.

Rice Lake Speedway’s WISSOTA Super Stock top-five in 2024 included (L to R): Curt Myers, champion; Eric Olson, 2nd; Alex Myers, 3rd; Ryan Olson, 4th; and Randy Graham, 5th. (Brent Creaser Photo)

Breaking a three-year string of point titles won by Eric Olson, Curt Myers from Cameron was the Super Stock point champion. Olson, from Ladysmith, settled for second in 2024. He was trailed by: Alex Myers from Cameron; Ryan Olson from Ladysmith; Randy Graham from Trego; Simon Wahlstrom from Mikana; Clay Albrecht from Cameron; Josh Cappo from Almena; Mickey Anderson from Dallas; and Austin Tilton from Turtle Lake. Second generation driver Alex Myers was the rookie of the year in the Super Stocks.

Winning his first-ever point title in the Midwest Modified class was Mike Schnider from Chetek. He was followed by: Jake Stai from New Auburn; Mike Grover from Chetek; Cody Cimfl from Chetek; Kenny Kincaid from Shell Lake; Rusty Taber from Sheldon; Bently Prochnow from Colfax; Travis Anderson from Colfax; Brady Larson from Amery; and Nick Traynor from Barron. Grover was also the rookie of the year.

Rice Lake Speedway’s WISSOTA Midwest Mod top-five in 2024 included (L to R): Mike Schnider, champion; Jake Stai, 2nd; Michael Grover, 3rd; Cody Cimfl, 4th; Kenny Kincaid and Turbo, 5th. (Brent Creaser Photo)

Rice Lake Speedway’s WISSOTA Street Stock top-five in 2024 included (L to R): Danny Richards, champion; Cody Cimfl, 2nd; Cole Richards, 3rd; Dylan Baskin, 4th; and Shawn Amundson, 5th. (Brent Creaser Photo)

Winning his second straight Street Stock point title was Danny Richards from Mondovi. Like Travis Anderson, Chetek’s Cody Cimfl also finished in the top 10 in two different classes, as he took runner-up honors in the Street Stocks. He was followed by: Cole Richards from Mondovi; Dylan Baskin from Arkansaw; Shawn Amundson from Rice Lake; Nolan Brown from Barron; Conner Franson from Conrath; Jay Kesan from Weyerhaeuser; Jenna Herrman from Barron; and Cody Kummer from Medford. Brown was also the rookie of the year.

Bob Wahlstrom from Chetek won his first-ever Pure Stock point title at the track. He edged out Charlie Pitcavage from Menomonie to win the award. They were followed by: Bob Thompson from Cameron; Dusten Holub from Chetek; Austin Fencl from Bruce; Terry Kemp from Barron; Aaron Holmberg from Rice Lake; Brent Mindock from Prentice; Trevor Phillips from Eleva; and Rob Grabon from Rice Lake. Brian DeNucci from Centuria was the rookie of the year.

Rice Lake Speedway’s WISSOTA Pure Stock top five in 2024 included (L to R): Austin Fencl, 5th; Dustin Holub, 4th; Bob Thompson, 3rd; Charlie Pitcavage, 2nd; and Bob Wahlstrom, champion. (Brent Creaser Photo)

The Unsung Heroes award, presented by the promoters, went to Jen Stovern and Colleen Bender for their assistance behind the scenes to the new owners.

Upcoming dates to keep in mind for the 2025 season include the annual car show at Rice Lake's Cedar Mall, slated for March 21-23. The first practice on the newly shaped racing surface is scheduled for April 16, before the opener three nights later.

A new event on the schedule, the Race Fever party, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, March 8 at the Tree Stand Tavern in Barron, will feature numerous activities, prizes and raffles and serve as an opportunity for racers and fans to gather to get ready for the 2025 racing season. Tree Stand owners Courtney and Jodi Rose have generously stepped forward to host this event, which is designed as an opportunity for race folks to gather in anticipation for the 2025 racing season. The Rose family will use any proceeds from the event to purchase more merchandise for Kid's Night at the speedway, scheduled for May 17.

Watch for much more information on this event, along with other news for the 2025 racing season, on the speedway’s website and think spring!