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2023 Challenge Series champion Pat Doar (Cody Papke Photo)

New sponsors, schedule release highlight Challenge Series news for 2024

ST. CLOUD, MN - For the first time in the 26-year history of the WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series, every one of the 21 events on the 2024 calendar will pay at least $2,500 to win, with the majority of them paying $3,000 to win and $300 to start.

“I want to thank every track promoter for working with us to raise the payouts for the 2024 series and remove the $2,000-to-win payout option from the series for the first time in series history,” said series director Chris Stepan. “We worked really hard together to raise the payouts at every event for the drivers, while understanding that the tracks need to be able to afford the payouts and pay their bills as well. It is exciting to see what we’ve got ahead of us in 2024.”

In total, 11 of the 21 scheduled events will pay $3,000 to win and $300 to start in 2024, with another seven shows paying $2,500 to win. One show will pay $2,600 to win, one will pay a hefty $5,000 to win, and finally, there is one scheduled to pay a massive $20,444 to the winner.

The series will kick off on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 10-12, with a trio of $3,000-to-win events at I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Viking Speedway in Alexandria, MN, and Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, MN.

The second weekend of the series will include a $2,500-to-win show at KRA Speedway in Willmar, MN on Thursday, June 6, before a pair of $3,000-to-win nights during the Friday-Saturday doubleheader at Fiesta City Speedway in Montevideo, MN June 7-8, capped off with another $3,000-to-win event at Casino Speedway in Watertown, South Dakota on Sunday, June 9.

The series will make its first 2024 trip into the state of Wisconsin with a stop at Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, WI on Friday, July 19 for the annual Twin Ports Twin 25s, which will pay $2,500 for each of the two feature races on the night. The series then heads to Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, WI on Saturday, July 20 for the track’s Month of Money event, which pays $5,000 to win. The series will wrap up the weekend with its second $3,000-to-win visit to Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, MN on Sunday, July 21.

The XR Northern Storm week, held Monday-Saturday, August 5-10, will include an additional event from previous years. The week will include five preliminary events that pay $2,500 to win at Princeton Speedway in Princeton, MN; Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, MN; Hibbing Raceway in Hibbing, MN; Proctor Speedway in Proctor, MN; and Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wisconsin. The series then heads to ABC Raceway in Ashland, WI for the 444 Memorial, which will pay a track-, series- and WISSOTA-record $20,444 to win.

Next, for the first time ever, all four nights of Labor Day weekend will pay $3,000 to win, starting at Proctor Speedway in Proctor, MN for the Silver 1000 (Thursday, August 29). The drivers will then head to Grand Rapids Speedway in Grand Rapids, MN for the WISSOTA Classic on Friday, August 30, and then head to Hibbing Raceway for two programs during the Labor Day Shootout (Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1).

The 26th season of the Challenge Series will wrap up with a $2,600-to-win finale during the opening night of the Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 at I-94 on Wednesday, September 11.

In other news regarding the Challenge Series, Minnesota-based Momentum Truck Group has entered into an agreement with WISSOTA and Structural Buildings to become the “powered by” sponsor of the Challenge Series for the 2024 season. The series will be officially renamed the “Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series, powered by Momentum Truck Group Freightliner Western Star.”

Momentum Truck Group is a full service heavy- and medium-duty truck dealership representing the Freightliner and Western Star brands from Daimler Trucks North America. In addition, they offer parts, service, collision and new and used sales for all makes and models of truck as well as service and parts for buses and RVs.

Momentum Truck Group’s president Jon Pearson and Challenge Series director Chris Stepan share the same vision when it comes to motorsports within the local and regional area, and have created a business plan together to showcase Momentum Truck Group at every series race across WISSOTA-country all season long.

“This is a great opportunity to support dirt track racing and be a part of this popular series that includes some of the best Late Models across the Midwest,” Pearson stated. “I am excited to bring the Momentum Truck Group, Freightliner and Western Star brands to the racing community.”

Stepan and WISSOTA send a big thank you to everyone at Momentum Truck Group for their support.

Series officials also announced that AT21, a leading manufacturer of dirt race car spoilers and body components, has returned as the official points leader spoiler sponsor. Whoever is leading the series points standings will sport a neon yellow AT21 point leader spoiler. Fans will be able to easily pick out the points leader by their bright spoiler at each series event all season long, beginning with the second series weekend of 2024.

Thanks to Aaron and everyone at AT21 for their support of the 2024 series. For all your spoiler and body components, be sure to check out AT21 Spoilers and Body Components on Facebook or visit them online at www.at21-racing.com.

East Bethel, Minnesota’s Shaw Trucking has also signed on again to be the official start zone sponsor for 2024.

Shaw Trucking, owned by Don and Brenda Shaw, have been committed to providing exceptional service to their customers for more than 35 years. Their word is solid and they stand behind their promise. Not only does Don compete at a high level behind the wheel of his No. 42s Late Model, but the Shaws own and operate I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and are very involved in the racing industry in other ways as well.

Fans and drivers will notice Shaw Trucking start zone banners indicating the start zone in turn four at all series races this season.

In additional sponsorship news, SERVPRO has extended their agreement with the series to return as a sponsor of the Star of the Series throughout the season.

Drivers have until the end of the driver’s meeting at the first series event on May 10 to officially commit. To become a SERVPRO Star of the Series, drivers should reach out to series director Chris Stepan for details and a contract.

Being a SERVPRO Star of the Series offers some additional benefits, including additional provisional opportunities, increased online and at-track exposure, refunded entry fees and having your name entered into a drawing for a vacation at season’s end.

Officials thank SERVPRO for their continued support of the series.