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Runkle Memorial, which honors late Midwest Mod driver, will return to Rice Lake this year

By Ed Reichert

RICE LAKE, WI – Kyle Runkle was only 22 years old when he passed away on November 23, 2016 following an accident. He was a Midwest Modified driver who was just starting to make big progress in his racing career when his life was cut short.

His family organized a memorial race in his honor, the K-Runk Memorial race, which was first held in 2017 at Rice Lake Speedway. After two years, the event was moved to another speedway in the area where it has been held since.

However, with the closure of that speedway, the Runkle family met with Rice Lake Speedway co- owner and promoter Kolby Kiehl and both are pleased to announce that the race will return to Rice Lake in 2025.

The race is scheduled to be held on Thursday night, July 3 at the family's request, making it a part of what will now be an even bigger Firecracker special.

The Firecracker, long one of the most popular races on the schedule for the speedway each year, will be even larger with the addition of the Runkle race for the Midwest Modifieds.

Joe Chaplin Jr. was the winner of the first K-Runk Memorial race in 2017. Other winners of the prestigious event since include Tony Bahr, Shane Halopka, George Dalbeck, Joey Jensen and Nick Koehler.

Further details on the purse structure for the Runkle will be announced by the family and track officials in the coming weeks. All five classes that race regularly at the speedway will be a part of the Firecracker and K-Runk Memorial event.

The first on-track activity for the newly reshaped speedway will be a practice night slated for April 16, before the 73rd annual season opener gets underway on Saturday night, April 19.

For more information, visit ricelakespeedway.net.